The voice of labor. (Cumberland, Md.) 1938-1942, 1940-07-04

meeting on June 26th endorsed
the Maryland Unemployment
for further date to study the a
benefit amounts.
Elimination Of the two week
any reduction in the present Ia
rating were voted By the Council.
who will forward them 10 the IN
employment Compensation Board.
Those in attendance at the
Council session were: William
TorkinRton. Robert L. Glenn.
r. E. Barnard. James A. Dun
don and Robert Stallings.
The sixth member. Michael j.
Byrnes OF Eckhart was unable to
be present. Fred z. Hetzel. man.
ager Cumberland Employment Ser
vice Office and Leander Schaidt.
claims manager were present.
Long Discussion
The largest part Of the meeting
was given over to. discussion Of
the proposals submitted by letter
to the last meeting by the Western
Maryland Industrial Union Coun-
Gil Of the CLIO.
The CLIO pointed out that the
two weeks waiting period meant
a wait of almost four weeks be-
fore an unemployed claimant re-
ceived even his first check and
then only one weeks benefit. COM
puted at half the regular weekly
earnings. was received.
After a full discussion the Coun-
Gil voted to recommend to the
State Board that the Legislature
amend the law to abolish a wait.
ing period.
No Tax Reduction
The much debated proposal Of
what to do with the large surplus
now laying TO the credit Of the
Maryland Board was taken up.
The CLIO proposed that inasmuch
as the present low benefits were
set until a reserve was accumu
lated. that it was now time to
boost the weekly benefits in both
the weekly amounts and the num-
Der OF weeks. or maximum sums.
The fund was created for the
benefit of unemployed workers
and not for employers" empha-
sized the labor spokesman.
All members participated in
the discussion and a motion was
carried recommending to the
State Board that There be no
reduction made in the present
tax rate required from employ.
ers to the fund"
The larger question OF increased
benefits was deferred pending the
receipt of additional figures and
information from the Baltimore
Offices OF the Unemployment
Board.
Robert L. Glenn. United Mine
Workers representative made an
interesting reference. He said,
THE fund now has a surplus OF
sl9.392. 300 and this surplus keeps
increasing. Now, let us suppose
that the Celanese plant closed
down its plant entirely and left
their full 10000 workers unem-
ployed. These workers would
draw an aveTasa 6: SIC each peT
week from the fund. We will
even assume that every one Of the
10000 would be entitled 70 the full
sixteen weeks of benefit. This
would total 81 100000 to meet the
full claims Of these workers and
there would still be left surplus
Of almost eighteen million dollars
left in the fund.-
Merit Rating
The system Of merit rating" OF
employers which would set UP a
differential tax structure for the
benefit OF those employers who
provide steady work throughout
the year with little turnover in
personnel was touched upon and
rejected by the Council members.
It is NOT a part of the present
law of Maryland, but has been
proposed in certain quarters.
The Council also instructed the
secretary, Robert L. Glenn. TO OBJ
tain copies OF all available ma
terial on unemployment compen'
sation laws and all matters per-
tanning TO the Maryland State Act
The Advisory Council meets
again on July 30th. The meeting
was held In the Offices Of Fred 2.
Hetzel, State Employment Service
Manager, Public Safety Building,
Cumberland.
"Ifs Up To You" neDest CIO
leajlet, tells the story OF Bill
-vee,'s fyencbeyU in pndorSil0