The Daily Alaska empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1926-1964, 1950-11-30

opinion that such a change in En-
ployment Security regulations would
impede the progress of construc-
ton"
Mr.. Berman questioned the ESQ
pa>.phlet, Study and Analysis of
the Seasonal Provisions of the Ala
ska Employment Security Law" as
1t applied to outdoor construction
work. Evidence proves there is
construction in Alaska in the
winter"
We Do Not Champion Chislers
His statement opposing any
| change in the status of the con-
struction business concluded, Mr..
Berman declared, 1--WE do not
champion or condone the cause of
the chisler."
Ward Gilmore, representing the
Building Trades and Central Labor
Council of Fairbanks, read a brief
expressing the opposition of the
labor organizations whose members
are employed by heavy construction
firms to any attempt to place con-
struction on a seasonal basis.
$4,000 a Week in Benefits
THE brief, read by Mr.. Gilmore,
called attention to the payments in
Fairbanks in the winter of 1948-4s
of over 1000 claims for benefits.
"At an average of $500 per week,
these 1000 unemployed people rep
resent a sum of $25,O0000 being
spent in the community Now if any
or all of these unemployed were
placed on a seasonal industry basis,
it would be a blow to the entire
community"
TN our opinion there is inequity
in the present administration of the
Alaska Employment Security Law
by having people doing the same
type of work. such as two bull
dozer operators" and not getting
the same compensation-the bull
dozer employed by the mining OPP
orator would not be entitled to bene-
fits while a man in the same en-
ployment employed by contractor
would receive benefits when unem.
ployed. But this inequity cannot
be corrected by placing the rest OF
the people engaged in heavy con-
struction on a seasonal basis"
Lets take the mining industry
off of the seasonal industry basis" "
Gillnore's brief concluded.
Al Anderson, executive secretary
of the Alaska Mining Industry, de-
clared that the industries already
covered as seasonal under the Sc
curity law mining and fishing =
have some of the same problems as
construction. But he called atten-
ton to the figures provided by the
ESQ that indicate that 500 percent
of Constructions 11,150 benefits in
1919 were paid outside of Alaska
while in placer mining, few OF the
1926 benefit checks issued in 1949
went out of Alaska.
"If seasonality is fair to fishing
and mining, it would be fair, too.
to construction-if the unemploy-
ment compensation fund is to be
saved from depletion" Anderson
said
Chairman Rivers asked if it would
aid the mining industry if the short
season for hydraulicking be elimi-
mated and only the months season
considered; if partial change
would aid the present situation OF
discrimination against mining en-
ployment.
To this suggestion Anderson ex-
pressed himself as vigorously OPP
posed. In conclusion he asked that
the construction industry be de-
clared seasonal.
Reconciliation of Cannery
Seasons Asked
Reconciliation OF estaplsheu
slongv and short" seasons IN can
merry employment as established by
a benefit regulation of the Unem-
ployment Compensation Commls-
sion in 1910, with present fishing
regulations as established by the
Fish and Wildlife Service were
asked by P. F. Gilmore, manager u
the Juneau office of the Alaska
Salmon Industry.
Benefit Regulation NO. w.
adopted by the ESQ recognized tfie
canned salmon industry as pelns
a seasonal industry, of varying sea-
sons to be reconciled with the varl-
Gus fishing seasons as established
by the FWS and SO set up as TWO
seasons" Mr.. Gilmore said.
In the meantime the short season,
approximately three months, as set
up in 1910, has been dropped by
the ESQ in consideration of unem-
ployment claims, and only the long
season of approximately 6 months
is used, Mr.. Gilmore testified.
Deletion of Short Season
"How then, since search of the
Session Laws of Alaska does not
disclose any change on this subject
by the legislature, was the short
season deleted from Benefit Regu-