The union times., 1948-06-26
Social Welfare Proposals Would AidEntire Nation
Repeal Of Taft-HartIey Law Would Help Labor
 Management Relations

Philadelphia.-The Ameri- can Federation of Labor this week called upon the Republi- can National Convention. in session here, to endorse a broad liberal program for the benefit of American workers and the nation.
 Appearing before the resolu- tlons committee of the conven- ton, AFL President William Green proposed a 12-point pro- gram for inclusion in the Repub- lican platform.
 E'COMPLETE FAILURE"
 First, on MT. Greens list, was demand for the repeal of the Taft-Hartley law and reenactment of the old Wagner Act. Ten months experience under the Taft-Hartley law has demonstrated it to be a complete faiIure," he said.
 Other proposals advanced by the AFL leader included:
 1. An effective and comprehensive program to curb imitation, with em- phaSiS on voluntary efforts but backed up with government action where and when necessary.
 2. A strong declaration for world peace renOuncing all form of im- perialism and reasserting this na- tiOn's belief in the principles of the United Nations.
 }. $1,000,000O00 program of federal aid to education, including the estab- lishment of Labor Extension Service.
 4. An adequate housing program to provide lOw-rent housing accom- mOdatiOns for lOw-incOme families, and to offer reasonable financial assistance to workers desiring to purchase their own homes.
 5. Revised tax policies to eliminate excise taxes, increase the personal ex- emption for income tax purposes, wipe out duplication and overlapping in the tax structure, and plug 1oop-holes in both federal and state tax laws.
 6. Extension of the social secur- ity system to include all wage earners, substantial increase in all benefits, and sick benefit payments.
 7. A broad program of comprehen- Sive medical care insurance for all persons in the United States and its territories, and federal aid to expand medical facilities.
 MINIMUM WAGE
 s. An increase in the minimum wage to $1 per hour
 9. The rebuilding and strengthening of the Labor Department to promote the welfare of the workers of the nation.
 10. Revision of salary schedules for federal employees and the provision for greater participation by workers groups in personnel matters and oper- ations of wage-setting boards.
 II. Enactment of fair employment practice legislation.
 In urging the repeal of the Taft Hartley law, MT. Green offered To- point indictment of the measure which, he said, completely undermines trade unions, prevents collective bargaining, and does not promote peaceful indus trial relations"
 Specifically, MT. Green charged that the Taft-EIartley law:
 Undermines the constitutional, civil, and economic rights of work CTS; has failed to reduce the num- Der of strikes or to encourage the peaceful settlement of disputes; causes delays in collective bargain ing through the breakdown of ad- ministrative machinery under the law; singles out union officers as class and legislates against them.
 Invades the civil rights of citizens by prohibiting political activity on the part of unions; resurrects gOv- ernment by injunction thus throw- ing the power of the courts on tke side of the employer; contains pro- visions inviting destructive and de- laying litigation in labor disputes; denies to unions the right to nego- tiate union security conditions with. out interference; and outlaws sec- Ondary boycotts which in effect compels unions to contribute to their own destruction.