The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1950-11-24

cident compensations, to insure their
members tools; and one, the Slider
ographers, a diminuative union with
one hundred members, provides un-
employment insurance. In addition to
these programs, the locals in many
nations unions have their own bene
fit policies, some of which are more
elaborate than those of the national u
The following is more detailed
discussion of the benefits which or
ganized labor has acquired for its
members.
Organized labor has fought for
better housing; to lessen the work
day, "to improve the standards of
life, to regulate child labor, and to
reduce industrial accidents"
During the depression it was neces-
sary to make many new benefits that
under other conditions would prob
ably never have been made. One of
these benefits was the Unemployment
Act. Wisconsin, at first, was the only
state which passed it before 1884,
but by 1887, all of the forty-eight
states, Alaska, Hawaii and the Dist
riot of Columbia has at least some
kind of unemployment compensa-
tons.
Another important contribution
was the old age pension. More prog
ress was made in passing this bill
than was made in the unemployment
insurance bill which was passed just
before this one. By 1884 about 20
states had some type of old age pen
sion, but it was not until 1885 that
this act became nationwide.
These two acts, the Unemployment
Insurance and Old Age Pensions, came
under the Social Security Act, which
also had appropriation for needy
promotion for the health
of mothers, appropriations for medi-
cal, surgical and corrective services
for crippled children, for homeless
and neglected children, for the vo-
ational rebuilding of the physically
aid for the needy blind, and
for adequate public health services"
Old age security is another of the
contributions to democracy by or
ganized labor, and through it retired
workmen have some form of pension
provided for them. This pension was
first given to railroad workers and
after the railroads successfully tried
it., the Federal Government realized
it's Importance and connected it with
The Social Security Act.
The Wagner-Steagall Housing Act
If 1887 established a housing au
;hority to clear the slums and to
make it possible for workers to live |
and yet not pay outrageous |
prices for these places.
In addition to these benefits,
here are those which affect walk
,ut, strike, and shut down victims.
But a union may refuse to pay an
I'D age pension if the worker re-
uses to stop strike or if they do
lot obey a strike order issued by the
lnion. AS rule, though, the union
ries to give all the benefits pos
Idle TO all their workers.
In addition to the eight-hour day
nd higher wages, unions have also
worked steadily, and of course are
till fighting, for more improvement
oward better conditions to work
nder. Things are constantly being
and acted upon to have con-
itions of labor, both in large and
mall industries, bettered for reasons
f health-to eliminate as much man
al work as possible and to increase
he number of machines used. A ma
hine may remove job but still
is needed to run and operate
he machine.
The largest contribution to democ
acy of organized labor through the
mons, has undoubtedly been the
aising of the standards of living for
lboring people; which raised it in {
I'm for the entire nation. !
BY enabling the multitudes to ac
uire homes, automobiles, furniture, {
etc.-the unions have in t
irectly established trade, jobs and I
ealth for the entire nation.-JANET I
PELLMAN, Anaconda Central High f
chool.