Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1949-02-11
5000 Too! And Die Makers

NIE ARE TOLD THAT at the present
w time some 5000 highly skilled tool
and die makers are out of work in Detroit
alone. We know that the Ford Motor
Company alone has laid off 1,700 tool
and die makers. We say 1--WE know" be-
cause we got this information direct from
UAW-CIO Local 600, the union to which
these workers belong.
And to us, this is very serious news.
This explains more than anything else
why officials of our Federal Government
are so concerned by the sweeping spread
of unemployment. Washington reports
that the number of unemployed presently
is very close to four million in the nation.
And the number is growing every day.
We know that right here in Toledo
thousands Of workers have suddenly
found themselves without jobs. There is
hardly a plant in this vicinity where lay
offs have not taken place. Almost over
night, workers with years seniority, have
found themselves on the outside looking
in. Wondering what hit 'em. Wondering
how long this will last Thinking fearfully
of bygone years - the years of depres-
sion, of destitution and suffering.
Is it any wonder that under these cir
cumstances our State Legislature is devot-
ing major part of its time to the con-
sideration of bills dealing with unemploy-
ment compensation? All this brings to
mind the bill introduced in the House in
Columbus by Toledo representatives
Michael j. Damas, Frank w. King and
Morton Neipp. The Damas-King-Neipp
Bill proposes to increase the present
maximum unemployment compensation
from $21 90 per week to $4,000 per week,
plus $500 allowance for each dependent.
The bill further provides for the elimina-
tion of the present two weeks waiting
period and to extend the benefits to 5Z
weeks from the current 10 weeks allow
ance.
In addition to this, the bill provides
that workers forced to strike for their
eligible for unemployment compensation.
Under the present law, striking or locked
out workers are not eligible to receive un-
employment compensation.
Doubtless there will be people who
will consider this BILL originally proposed
by the United Labor Committee of the
9th Congressional District, "exorbitant"
D.,
slider anything that is for the benefit of
the workers 'too liberal and "exorbi-
tant." They do so, because they them
selves don't know what it is to try to live
on $32.50 per week. If they ever tried it
once, better yet, if they had to live on
$3.50 per week they would be in the
forefront of fighting for still higher COM
pensation for our unemployed,
But the workers know what is to be
jobless. They know what it is to go with
out pay-days. Many thousands of them
are doing it right now
Well, we don't know how serious this
sweep of lay offs may turn out to be.
We don't know how many more thou
sands will be thrown out of work in the
COIlllllB weeks, buI we 40 KNOW lIldI IoO
may be next. Therefore it is to your bene-
fit to make your voice heard in support
of the Damas-King-Neipp Bill. Write to
them /. and to Gov. Lausche and tell
them where you stand. 1t is absolutely
imperative that we guarantee a minimum
of income to our unemployed people so
that they and their families may live in
common decency. 1t is not their fault that
they are not working. furthermore, by
giving them this minimum subsistence,
they will be able to continue to buy at
least the basic necessities of life and
thereby help keep the wheels of industry
going,
Most of you remember the shameful
and degrading breadlines of the thirties.
You can avoid that by acting now; by de-.
that our State Government take
the necessary steps in that direction. And
the first step is the adoption of the
Damas-King-Neipp Unemployment Com
pensation Bill.