The union times., 1944-08-26

Upon instructions from the Ma chinists' executive council, Presi- dent Harvey W. Brown, and Sec retary-I Treasurer E. C. Dawson sent circular to all of the unions more than 300 local and district lodges, directing them to set LID machinery to aid in the restraining 0t men injured on the firing lines. These lodges blanket continental United States, Canada, Newfound- land, Hawaii, Alaska and the Canal Zone.
 It IS considered peculiarly appropri- ate tor the MachinistS to take the lead III this movement, because the union has 100000 members employed in nearly every industry in the land large and small.
 Furthermore, the I. A. M. also blazed a trail some months ago when it dropped initiation fees entirely for returning veterans who join the union after taking jobs in the Machinists' jurisdiction. Many other unions have done the same thing.
 Under the new program, each lodge was called upon to establish a veterans rehabilitation commit tee which would cooperate with government agencies in the United States and Canada-FederaI, state and lOcal-in efforts to train dis abled eX-servicemen ''sO that these men, to whom we owe so much. are fitted to take a deserving place again in industry and be seIf-sup- porting"
 Such committees are instructed also to familiarize themselves with all laws relating to disabled veterans and to collaborate with veterans organiza- tons, as we'll as local draft boards. ln rehabilitation programs.
 Even more significant was an an- nouncement by Brown and Davison I that the union would do all in its power to have state industrial insur- ance laws revised so as to remove present barriers against re-employ- ment of disabled soldiers. Other unions are likewise participating in this cam paign.
 As previously pointed out, many Of the insurance companies Operat- ing under these laws have for years forced employers to get rid of ham, dicapped WOrkers-bOth to in- crease their own profits and to reduce the premiums paid by the employers on accident insurance policies.
 If these companies are allowed to continue that policy, thousands of servicemen wounded in battle will be frozen out of jobs, the Ma chinists' leader declared. The Se- lective Service law will be of Iittle help to them, since it calls for re- instatement of ''vets" to their old jobs only if they are ''still quail fled to perform their former du- ties.
 To correct that condition, Eve must insist that industrial insurance laws be draStically overhauled so that the employer hiring the disabled veterans will not be penalized for employing his share of injured vets for train ing" Brown and DaviSon asserted
 Each week finds an increasing number of disabled veterans re- turning from the battle front and desiring employment in industry" they added. ''These men who saw their buddies blown to bits and suf- fered injury themselves under fire must be afforded every opportunity to get the finest type of training to make an adequae living for them selves and families. To take any other position would be unsports- manlike and un-American.
 "Relegating disabled veterans to un- important, poor-paying jobs will break their spirit. A man with a broken spirit is the most unfortunate being on earth
 ''This war has shown that in- dustry can use handicapped work CTS. Disabled veterans must not be thrown on the scrap heap."