The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1951-03-01
Ohio State Federation Of Labor
Legislative Program

| Several vicious anti-labor mea
sures have been introduced in the
current session of the Legislature
Two of these bills, just as dang
erous to the Ohio labor movement
as were the French and Van Aker
bills, would destroy the functionine
of our trade unions.
They are H. B. 338 and H. B
339 introduced by Lowell Fess (R.
Greene).
H. b. 339 would make organizing
almost impossible. The bill claims
its intention to "protect the rights
of workers"-however it would
hamstring the workers only real
protection-his union. 1t opens the
door wide for suits against unions
and is designed to carry Taft-Hart-
leyism further.
H. B. 338, a companion measure,
sets up new anti-boycott curbs, in
cludes stiff penalties for picketing
so-called independent contract
ors," and encourages scab shops.
Your Legislative Agent is watch
ing these two bills which have not
been referred to committee to date.
Bad Unemployment Bill-Sen.
Robert A. Pollock (R., Canton) has
introduced a management unem-
ployment bill which would elimi-
nate major improvements won in
the last session of the legislature.
Here is a short analysis of what
S. B. 149 would do. to the present
law:
Eliminate extra allowances for
jobless fathers with young children.
(Under the present law an unem-
ployed worker gets $3.50 a child,
but for no more than two children.
The Federation is plugging for So
a child and a limit of four.)
Increases the number Of weeks
a person must work, before quail
flying for benefits, from IA weeks
to 20.
Completely disqualifies workers
who voluntarily quit or who are
fired, not laid off. This would elm
mate thousands of workers now en-
titled to unemployment compensa
ton.
Weakens the so-called Suitable
work" section. This section guides
BUG in referring workers to jobs.
The Pollock bill means that the
BUG could send a skilled trades
man to dig ditches and deprive him
Of compensation if he refuses.
The bill would also change other
important BUC procedure to make
it tougher to get compensation.
Sweatshop Bill-Under the guise
of "war emergency, George Hook
3D., Brown has introduced H. b.
295 which would relax laws pro-
tecting women and children.
The bill sets up permit system,
under which employers could work
women seven days a week and un-
limited hours. The bill would allow
permits for work necessary tol
promote and protect the publicI
health and welfare" This might
mean an opening for laundries and
other notorious sweatshops to get
around protective legislation forI
female workers.
Public Utilities Measure - A
of public hearings were
held during the week. Labor repre-
were active at these
One committee consider
alton of vital Importance to labor
was on H. b. 259, bill to provide
compulsory arbitration and prohi-
bit strikes by public utility work
ers.
The Judiciary Committee had
scheduled this bill for hearing be-
fore printed copies were available
FOR study. Labor representatives
we're successful in getting a post
until later date. This
late will be announced so that
hose who want to appear in oppo-
,iton can do so.
If these threats to our organized
abor movement are to be STAYED
If, it will require the undivided and
most militant action on the part of
he affiliated organizations. The
Federation calls upon all of the
ocal unions, their members nd
friends to Immediately contact
heir assemblymen and state sena-
.ors and make known TO them theirl
opposition to these anti-labor and
measures.
Bills Sponsored BY The State
Federation of Labor
With the exception of our Work
mems Compensation bill, all mea-
iures directly sponsored by theI
Federation have been introduced.