Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1950-12-29
Regional
Views
By Richard T. Cosser
international Vice President
UAW~CIO


were fighting to build our organization. The venom
and the hate that Paul Block leveled at me per
sonaIly and our Union generally, was far beyond
anything experienced in the past
Nor can i forget the unprecedented "united
'front.' of TOIedos industrialists venting their fury
against movement. 1t is really amazing now to
look back and realize that these same
spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to defeat the
program of Union. And must remember that
when 4 sepak of hundreds of thousands of dollars"
do not take into consideration the lmitless space
that Paul Blocks Blade and Times devoted to this
attack against us.
THAT 1 WAS so bitterly denounced so vicious
ly attacked by the industrialsts and their unofficial
mouthpieces surprise to me- wasn't
surprised when Paul Block admitted that he was
financing the So called BOIman lawsuits against
These people have always been opposed to US. so
why should we expect them to be on our side when
we fighting for such basic gains old age
pension for people? must admit, though that
the depths to which they sunk in their viciousness
against me personally came somewhat as surprise
to me and to many people even outside our labor
movement.
But again say it was well worth ii. Think of
it! When started our fight for old age security
and medical and disqualification programs for our
people, we had no pension programs to speak OF.
In every instance our people had to buy their own
medical and disqualification insurance.
What a difference today! In our own Union
have today upwards of 81, ,OO0 workers working un-
der pension system. On top of that all of these
workers have made great gains towards getting
disqualification and medical coverage. And the out
look is that very shortly the relatively few remain
ing workers who not yet covered by these pro-
grams will also receive the same benefits. All this
ON top of the wage increases and other benefits
amounting to millions of dollars that we have been
able to gain for our people.
PERSONALLY ! FEEL sorry for those of our
people - fortunately they few in number -
who, because they don't understand the real pur-
pose of the attacks against U.S. join hands with our
fsSlHf
believe that they are only fighting me personally
and not our Union But they wrong. Block and
the employers didn't start fight against me be-
cause they don't like the way part my hair. They
attacked and will continue to attack me be-
cause they think they can wreck our Union through
The truth is that these people hate Union
and not me. They would attack anyone else in my
position just as viciously they attack me-
What do you think Paul Blocks Blade and
Times would say if suddenly out against
pensions and if would quit fighting for wage in
creases and other benefits for people? You're
Right! Overnight would become the greatest labor
leader Toledo ever had - that is in the eyes of
Block Jr. True enough the workers. the members
of our Union would denounce me as traitor and
properly so, but you bet your bottom dollar
that Block would still praise me to the skies. And
so wouId the employers
WELL FOLKS, that / won't do. My job is to
the interests of membership and that
shall continue to do to the best of my ability. If
Paul Block doesn't like that or if the employers
don't like ii and they get set to raise additional
hundreds of thousands of dollars to fight Union
under the guise of fighting me, well, to hell with
em. Our fight will continue and will win. If
stick together nothing can defeat u.s.
But let anyone divide our ranks and our enemies
will win.
This is the lesson I wanted to bring home to you
as we start out with 1851 Learn it well for other
wise 1851 may well prove TO be very bitter year
in lives.
God bless you and very Happy New Year to
all of you.
Q.-Should claim for disability compensation
ever be filed by veteran with dishonorable dis
charge?
A veteran always has the privilege of filing
a claim In this case, to show entitlement he would
have to prove he insane at the time he commit
ted the act for which he was discharged dishonor-
ably.
OIL in the Army for only two months,
when was discharged for service connected dsa-