Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1948-12-31

and the unemployed were p
December issue of the Econo
CIO Department of Education
While pressing vigorously
for improvements in every
phase of the social security
law CIO unions will not relax
their efforts to gain supple
mental security protectio o n
Through collective bargaining
employer-financed plans" the
Outlook predicted. Collective
bargaining can obtain benefits
which meet the special needs of
the WORKERS and union involved,
over and above the basic level
for everyone"
Considerable Progress
Unions must inevitably" bar
gain over the provision of a vast
variety of health and welfare
plans started by employers years
ago." the Outlook pointed out. In
many cases "such plans were in
tended to tie the workers to the
company and keep out unions"
Despite some employer reluc-
lance to bargain over these
plans, number of unions-steel,
auto, clothing, textile and others
have made considerable prog
ress in adopting constructive"
programs fitted to the workers
in the various industries.
Strive To Get More
In bargaining for social secur-
.ity plans, CIO unions usually
strive % to get a definite
amount contributed by the en-
ployer; (2) to have the money
put into a trust fund, so it can
not be used for any purpose
other than social security bene-
fits; and (3) to obtain an equal
voice in developing and operat-
ing the program" the publica-
ton said.
In the sphere of legislation,
the need is clearer than ever for
"a complete national program
with adequate benefits and en-
larged coverage to give protec-
ton against hazards of old age,
survivorship, sickness and un-
employment"
The Outlook said such a legis-
lative program should also pro-
vide a strong national employ
ment service, insurance against
medical costs and rapid expan-
sion of the country's health fa-
cilities, and necessary improve
ments in the public aid program
among them set of minimum
federal standards to raise benefit
payments made by the states.
"A unified national program
with one set of wage reports
would be more economical and
efficient than the hodge-podge
that now exists with 81 separate
state and territorial organiza-
tions in the field of unemploy-
ment insurance, which duplicate
each other and to some extent
the national program of old age
and survivors insurance" the
CIO bulletin said.
The magazine said it was es-
sential that state governors
elected with labor support be
familiarized with the CLOS reas-
ons for a national program, so
that they can resist the deter
mined drive" to mobilize state
officials against federal legisla-
ton.
The Outlook said that old age
and survivors insurance benefits
are "tragically low" Benefits
should be increased two or three
times above the present $25-
$67.50 range, and an increase "of
only 500 would be tragically in
adequate" In addition, the pro-
gram should be extended "to vir-
tually the entire population" the
Outlook said.
Call For Improvement
1t called for improvement in
the service of public employment
offices throughout the country,
and an end to the "grate range
of differences" in unemployment
compensation benefits paid in
various states.
"A good national insurance
system must pay benefits to sick
or injured workers" the Outlook
added. 1t noted that nearly two
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