Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1953-12-26
Protection Of the Unemployed Worker

talents and abilities. If they can't
get one Immediately, they need
help for a reasonable length of
time until they can.
They do not like charity, either
public or private. Charity puts
workers at disadvantage. 1t hurts
their. pride. After all, they have
contributed to society in the past
and feel that, as members of that
society, they have some claim on
it to tide them over until they
can support themselves again. If
they have to accept financial help
instead of job, it should be based
on public recognition of their status
as working members of society,
and not take the form of charity.
Unemployment Insurance
In 1913, wnen an American work
er lost his job he was dependent
on whatever savings he had, OF
ON relatives or charity, to take
care of himself and his family I'M
til he could find another job. Some
employers paid small sums to their
workers during temporary work
stoppages, and there were a few
industries where the company and
the union set up reserve funds out
of which to pay benefits. Also,
some unions were able to help
their unemployed members finan-
cially. None of these plans, how
ever, took care of any large num-
Der of workers.
One of the most important laws
for the protection of workers who
lose their jobs was contained in
the Social Security Act passed by
the Congress in 1885. Among other
benefits this act provided protec.
ton for certain unemployed work
ers and for those past working
age.
Today, as a result of the Social
Security Act, every State, together
with Hawaii, Alaska, and the Dis
trict of Columbia, has law which
provides unemployment insurance
protection to certain workers tenn
porarily out of job through no
fault of their own. Railroad work
ers are eligible for unemployment
insurance under separate Fed
eral law.
The Social Security Act made
possible this system of unemploy-
ment insurance by fixing a payroll
tax on employers of 8 or more
workers in commerce and industry.
The law allows employers, in Stat
es with unemployment insurance
laws which meet minimum Federal
standards, tax offset of 90 per-
cent of this Federal tax. AS a re-
suit, all States now have unem-
ployment insurance systems.
The Federal Government pays
the cost of administering the State
unemployment insurance law 5.
Each State fixes it's own tax on en-
ployers 1.-TWO State also tax en-
ployees). It can use the returns
from this tax solely to pay benefits
to unemployed workers covered by
the law. The State determines
which of it's workers shall be eligi-
BILE for benefits; how much they
shall receive; for how long and I'M
der what conditions.
At present most agricultural,
domestic, and government work.
ers, and employees of nonprofit
educational, religious, and charita-
BILE organizations are not eligible
for benefits under the State laws.
However, 20 States have extended
the system to employers of fewer
than 8 workers.
In most States the weekly bene-
fit available to an eligible unem-
ployed worker amounts to rough
ly one-half Of his weekly wage.
The actual amount depends on how
long he worked in covered employ
ment and how much he earned be-
fore he lost his job. Usually, he
is not paid for his first week of
unemployment and if he quits his
job voluntarily without good cause
or is discharged because Of mis-