Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1948-04-30
Regional
Views
BY Richard Gosser
Vice-President
international UAW-ClO


are negotiated in April and May, think it
high time that say something on this subject
We all know the Importance of our contracts
being as near Uniform as possible. = l am go
ing to try to impress all of you with the impor-
tance of certain clauses being incorporated in
your contract before it is signed
think one of the most important clauses
Is SC per hour for sick and accident insurance
l think all of you who work for living know
the Importance of sick and accident insurance
None of us ask to be sick or get in an accident
and it is unfortunate when things like this hap
pen to u.s. 1t is bad enough to lie in bed and
suffer without having to worry about money
matters. Sure some of you do have money
laid up for rainy day, but it is mighty hard
to see everything going out and nothing COM
ing in.
You, who have worked hard all your lives,
are entitled to be sick without worrying about
paying the bills It is known fact that worry
is a detriment to anyone's recovery and should
not be necessary in country as wealthy as
ours. The demands for this insurance is only
a demand for healthy parents and sturdy chill
dren. Many our members today are paying
dearly for medical neglect of the past. Unless
we have adequate protection today our children
will pay tomorrow with weakened minds and
bodies. 1t is your duty and responsibility to
make certain that you obtain this clause.
BENEFITS
Most plants today carry disqualification in
surance and the majority of the employees are
covered by their policies However, anyone
who has had serious illness in the past knows
that the benefits are far inadequate to help
take care of their expenses. 1 think you will
all agree that all the benefits connected with
these policies should be increased.
AS an example we will take the case of
John Doe, the only bread winner in his family.
John is taken suddenly i'll and must be hos
pitalize dior several weeks. He spends several
more weeks at home regaining his strength
and getting in shape to carry on the old grind
once more. The hospital plan he now carries
covers a portion of his hospital care, a small
part (f any of the surgeons fee, if case
where an operation was necessary. If no opera
tion was necessary nothing was paid towards
his doctor bill. Perhaps they will pay him SIS
per week for a certain number of weeks
he is off the job.
Under some policies no weekly benefit is
paid and the man has absolutely nothing COM
ing in. All the time he is off the job his ex-
penseS have increased but there is a terrible
drop in his income 1t is only natural that
John will go back to work before he is fully
recovered; his worries are too great for him
to do otherwise This fact alone should carry
a great deal of weight in selling this clause to
the company. Inasmuch as the workers con-
tribute with their brains, their muscles and
the skill of their hands think it is time that
they should receive bigger share of the
wealth they produce. -,-w
OBJECTIONS H-
l have given this subject a good deal Of
thought and for the life of me l cannot see
why the corporations should object too strong
ly to anything as humane as this have often
heard various corporations say they are pay
ing certain portion of the disqualification car
ried by the workers in the plant. If this be
true it is likely this will not cost them penny
more. If not, the most it can cost them 10
nickel and surely they realize 1t can be de-
Quoted from their income tax at the close of
the year. Surely you will have to admit there
are many good selling points in this plan.
This plan has been carefully studied by ex.
perts and SC an hour will give fairly ade-
quate medical, surgical and hospital benefits for
you and your entire family 1t should also give
you liveabe weekly sick benefit for certain
number of weeks out of each year / think
this plan could be worked out in such a way
that all worry would be eliminated in time on
illness What better medicine could your docW
tor prescribe for you?
You were promised a great deal when you
came to the front in the last war. Most OF
these promises were just another day dream
on the part of corporate interest and the Big
Wigs in Washington. Now is the time to i'm
prove the working mans way of life. After
ALL you are only asking for modest share of
the nations progress Let's stick together and
make this dream a reality.