The union times., 1944-06-10
Woll Warns That
 Plan Is Necessary


 the Kilgore bill which calls for planned postwar recOnversiOn of industry SO as to assure maximum employment. The measure also provides liberal benefits for the jobless during the transition period.
 Desperate efforts were made by labor several weeks ago to se- cure passage of the measure as an amendment to the George Murray bill, a contract termlna- tion law which makes generous provision for business when war orders fall off.
 However, despite a stirring ap- peal by Senator Harley M. kilgOre (Dem., W. Va.). backed by all branches of organized labor, the Senate sidetracked the amendment, sweeping through the Ceorge-Mur- ray proposal alone. Since then Xiii gore has re-intrOduced his bill in somewhat modified form.
 It will be considered at hearings soon before the Senate Military Ali fairs Committee, but meanwhile, labor spokesmen started the ball a-rolling for the measure at current hearings being conducted by a Sen ate committe on postwar problems generally, without having specihc legislation in mind.
 At these hearings, Matthew Woll, A. F. of L. vice president, spoke tor the A. F. of L. Committee on Post War Planning, which includes in its membership several chiefs of Stand ard Railroad Labor Organizations.
 Woll warned that, unless proper planning is undertaken now for high production after the war, Am- erica will face the most disastrous unemployment in its history. Ii production falls back to the I94O level, .I9,OOO,OOO persons will b, jobIess,'' he said. That's far more than the number idle during the bottom of the last depression ill 1883.
 He lashed out at propaganda that relief for industry would automati- cally take care of workers.
 From previous experience III our economic history, workers know that IS not true," he said
 Woll also riddled claims that work CTS have laid aside so much ln saw ings as to assure postwar prosper ity. Large figures of these aggregate savings have been tossed about, but Woll declared they are not at all impressive when divided among the millions of breadwinners of the country"
 Millions of workers have no savings, and millions have very little,'' he said. "They are the ones who are most likely to be unem. ployed.
 Industry is relying on the billions of savings and pent up consumer de- mand to support the industrial mar ket during the transition period. But unless these breadwinners see some prospect of more money coming m, they are not going to spend their individual small savings for anything but necessities"
 Besides heavy unemployment, those who do work will suffer the equivalent of a g per cent cut in their incomes, due to elimination of overtime hours, WOll added. That will mean a serious drop in purchasing power unless earning are stabilized SO they don't fall below an adequate level, he de- clared.
 Business is assured of such sta- Utilization through termination leg islation and sscarry back" provi sions of the tax laws, Woll stressed. Also, farmers are guaranteed against a collapse in prices for two years after the war ends.
 ''In all fairness and justice, Con- gress must now act promptly to provide security for workers and ex- service men if our economy is to function properly" Woll insisted.
 Above and beyond everything else, the American worker wants a job at adequate wages" he said. If we set our sights at less than full produc- tion and full employment during the reconversion period, we will be faced with depression conditions and relief problems, and we will have lost the peace"
 The Kilgore bill, Woll asserted, sets up the machinery-with government, labor and management representa- tion-to guide the reconversion pro- cess so as to keep unemployment at a minimum, and to assure reasonable jobless benefits for those who are forced into idleness,
 He demanded that Congress pass the bill speedily. Delay will be dis astrous since cutbacks in produc- ton are already mounting, Woll emphasized.
 ''Only by full employment in this country can we have peace at home and peace in the world," he