The union times., 1944-04-15
Senators Urge A Dismissal Wage
 For War Workers
A.FL Deeply Interested But Believes Passage Of Wag ner-Dngel Bill Would Be Best Cushion To
 Unemployment After The War

America's war workers, who are likely to be thrown out on the street by the millions when the shooting stops, are beginning to get consideration in postwar plans of Congress.
 The first real reminder that work CTS deserve some attention, came this week from war contract sub-com- mittee of the Senate Committee on Military Affairs, headed by Senator James E. Murray (Dew., Mont.)
 Murray's committee put out a re- port advocating enactment of bill to provide for quick settlement of claims arising from termination of war contracts, so manufacturers may be free to resume civilian output.
 However, the committee didn't rest there, but cited the human fac tor involved. For example, it pointed out that at least 8,O0O,OOO workers will be 'dumped'' when war production stops, not to speak of millions of demobilized sol diers.
 "On the manpower side of the pic ture no measures have yet been sub mitted to Congress" the committee stressed. That neglect should be re- paired immediately with proper leg islation 1t declared.
 The problem is already serious, the committee said, pointing out that ''since the middle of l943 we have witnessed rising wave of cutbacks in production"
 "A second wave of cutbacks, much more severe, is due when Germany is defeated," the report predicted. ''And when Japan is de- feated there will be an avalanche of cutbacks.''
 As one method of meeting the threatened disastrous unemployment, the committee suggested the possibility of paying termination wages" to em- ployes who are dropped, running up to maximum of $200 per worker. Murray said an amendment to the contract termination bill providing severance pay is being drafted.
 Evidently realizing that $2OO would be just drop in the bucket, the committee explained, it is nec- essary to plan now for a postwar economy that will provide jobs for all who want them. The nations industrial machine, it said, has been built up to a height that makes possible full employment and the highest standard of living in history.
 When war contracts end, ''the en- tire edifce may topple over," the committee warned Postwar public works can't entirely fill the gap :; what's needed is plenty of purchasing power in the hands of the people, it said.
 As for severance wages for war workers, hearings wll soon be started and labor chiefs will be invited to give their views, Murray explained.
 A. F. of l.. spokesmen are deeply interested but they point out that the subject is complicated and full of perils. Under present plans, they said, the severance pay would come from reserves employers would be allowed to build up.
 Unless there are rigid safe-
 guards, unscruplous bosses could
 pocket the money and find way
 to deprive workers of what's due
 them.
 Furthermore, nearly every war plant also has some employees on ci- william war work; are they to be de- prived of severance pay if laid off :? Also, bosses could shift to civilian production, then lay off the workers, and trapsfer the reserves to their own treasuries.
 These and many other dangers were cited by the A. F. of L., which con- tended that if such reserves are set up at all they should go into a gov ernment fund and be administered by the government.
 Better than severance pay, the A. F. of L. said, would be enact ment of the Wagner-Dingell "cra- dle to the grave'' social security bill.