Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1944-01-09
Miss Perkins Predicts
Need for 100000
Jobs in Postwar Era
BY ]. A. FOX.

Employment of 6O,00O,00o per-
sons probably will be necessary
in this country after the war iii
we are to maintain high Ameri-
can standards and an expanding
economy" Secretary of Labor
Perkins told Congress last night
In the annual report of the Labor
Department, she outlined a pro-
gram for bolstering the labor mar
ket and facilitating the transition OF
industry to peacetime economy
The figure she cited compared
with employment of approximately
$4,000 900 persons in the spring OF
1910 before the preparations for wal
had begun.
Reduced employment of women
and minors were among the sugges-
tons advanced by the Secretary to
speed 1.-The orderly return of the
industrial population to normal
peacetime ways" She also urged
creation of a fund that might be
administered by the United States
Employment Service to re-establish
war workers in civilian employment
Declaring that mo strike is JUS
titled in wartime" the Secretary
highly praised the industrial re-
lationships maintained during the
war, explaining that "the no-strike
pledge of labor leaders and no-lock-
out pledge of management for the
duration was kept at a rate of bet
ter than SO per cent during the
fiscal year
Record Praised.
The ratio of man-days lost
through strikes to time worked was
.06 of per cent" she continued
This is good record in any field
of human relations" The "pre-
ventive work done by labor leaders
was further commended in recalling
that the Cancellation. Service had
settled more than $4,000 disputes
since the Pearl Harbor attack,
practically all of them without
stoppages of work" The report said
'it is too early to report the degree
of effectiveness" of the antistrike
law.
In brief discussion of the bitter
controversy in the coal-mining in
dustry which resulted in four strikes.
the report said many things con-
tributed to the confusion surround
ing this case" This point was not
amplified, and it was explained that
1.-THE problem is not completely set
tied at this writing and no full re-
port can therefore be made on the
stoppage." The report was prepared,
OF course, before the rail and steel
trouble began.
tThe Associated Press quoted
figures from the Bureau of La
Dor Statistics Thursday showing
man-days of idleneSs, as 13,947,273
in 1943, or triple the 1912 total,
and almost double the average
OF the 15-year period preceding
the Pearl Harbor attack
, The Secretary's report showed that
union membership has risen to
l3,500.000 under the impetus of war
production.
Postwar Problems Studied.
In dealing with postwar problems,
the secretary said labor, INDUSTRY
and Government should think
about what lies in store for our
people"
1T is natural. too, that we should
define standards that are practical
and desirable in the field of labor
and employment for the United
States and the national co-operat-
ing in the postwar period" she
added. with the further observation
that the International Labor Or
ganization, created by workers of
all nations after the World War,
will have an important part in
establishing and administering post
war labor standards.
Secretary Perkins said there are
approximately 100000 persons en-
ployed now-an all-time record-in
addition to the millions in the armed
forces. and that approximately A.
100000 of these may be expected
to quit gainful work after the war
This would include young workers
who return to school; elderly per-
sons, and married women.
Federal Assistance Needed.
A strong and vigorous" Federal
employment service will be needed
she continued, Ito assist in the
rehabilitation and reassignment of
wage earners as the munitions in
dustries decline and the consumer
industries increase in their demand
for workers"
Extension of social security to
cover presently exempted classes,
along with additional benefits. also
was advocated, and the report said
"a special service and a. bureau
within the employment service, can
play an important role in the aid of
veterans of the war as they are
demobilized and must be adjusted
and absorbed into civilian indus
tries and occupations
The report continued:
TT may be necessary for the Gov
eminent to develop at least tenn
porary public works program on a
sound and reasonable basis, prob
ably a local basis, as unemployment
is likely to be spotty rather than
general in the transition period. The
main reliance for industrial recovery
is in the development and manufac-
ture for sale by private industrial
lists of goods for which there is a
pent-up need by the consuming
public. Both publicly and privately
financed housing developments will
be required to meet the needs OF
l. ! :.