Montana labor news., 1949-04-28


rance program.
stepping up is l0-year campaign.
~ ,pokcsmen ior AFI. unions pre-
,cnicd a concerted. united front
stand before the House Ways and
Means Committee in support OF bull
II K. 1908 which contains many
~ the changes proposed by the
NII 10 bring the nations social
security system in accord with pre-
sent DAY economic conditions.
Strcs>ing the long and continued
interest Of labor organizations IN
improving ''our basic social secur-
tip.f Mr.. Green warned III hi, ties
timony that il Congress fails to eS-
pand uld-agc and survivors m
urance. labor will have no other
recourse" than To- demand welfare
plans from private employers.
lndorsing President Truman
recommendation that the present
,cale 81 benefits be almos, doubled
Mr. ,.rcen said labor = ready ~
pa, it, share u the additional
monc, required
\rguine lnr extension of cover
age al the social security system IL
groups 81 cmploye, excluded under
the present law. the MI. leader
said
There remains no insurmouiit-
able administrative obstacle to m
LENDING the seli-cmployed and other
ornup> which were lett out oil the
original program Tor administrative
reasons Farm workers and DO
me.,,, workers should be included.
L,vi,c there is no longer any rea-
>on ior excluding the employees
~ sta,es and their political SUD
DIVISION, or the employees OF non
mproi,t and charitable institutions a.
~ r,,k, encountered by these wo'N-
H. lie same a. those confront
tlH ~
ing others.
"a use II protection
through social insurance Tor all
ga,niully occupied citizens Is in the
public interest"
Mr., Grcen specifically excluded
railwa, employees and federal work
ers IRON co,crage OF the law since
they are afforded protection under
! separate system, especially designed
i Ia meet their needs.
j Nelson II. Cruikshank, directo
+ loi social insurance activities for tn
! EAFI., backed up Mr.. Green's testi
c monv with specific details concern
{ ing proposed changes in the Law
10 accomplish the goals outlined
) ~ the AE'l. chief. In addition
5 he urged liberalization OF the eli
: gibilits requirements under the pre-
! sent law - that new workers com
! ing under the system are not pena-
l1ed undulS bs paying contribu-
siuns ior a number OF years only
} 10 iaiI 10 qualify for any bene-
; Ills because OF insufficient service.
: MIR. Cruikshank also called for
the incorporation ratio the social
insurance program OF a disability
insurance scheme to protect wage
learners from risking wage losses
because az physical disability. He
urged adoption Of a Federal pro-
pram 10 cover such risks not taken
lrare 81 bv state workmen's com
pensation laws. and at the same
Time to provide a rehabilitation pro-
'leram ior disabled workers.
Included among the top officers
TO AE'I. afiiliates who testified be-
lore the committee were. James a.
Brownlow. secretary : treasurer OF
the Al'l.s Metal Trades Depart
ment \ l.. Spradling. president OF
the Amalgamated Association OF
Street. Electric Railway and Motor
Coach Employees; Larry Taylor,
! vice pre,iden, Of the lnternationa
Typographical Union; William RI
: Cooper. secretary treasurer OF the
e Building Service Employees Union
Lester Washburn. president OF tbs
United automobile Workers, and
r. f. Mitchell. president OF the
) National Farm Labor Union