Ottawa County news. (Port Clinton, Ohio) 1931-1956, 1954-04-09
STEVE J. NovAk, PRES.
LOCAL. 497, ,uAW-clo

For sometime now we have been
talking about unemployment but
until now we haven't been able
to do much about it. Now we are
set to do just that.
At the Ohio CIO "job security
conference" held in Columbus
Central High School last Satur-
day, Walter Reuther touched off
the drive for improvements In
Ohio's unemployment compensa-
ton law. Over 100 workers re-
presenting CIO Local Unions from
all over the state of Ohio voted
unanimously to circulate petitions
for unemployment compensation
improvements which will be sub
mitted to the General Assembly
in 1855. If the Legislature fails to
act, we will then ask referen-
DUN vote.
Reuther in his speech said, "the
CIO is leading the fight for full
employment while we GET PIOUS
WORDS AND POISONOUS DEEDS
FROM WASHINGTON. The CLOS
drive for improved unemploy-
ment compensation Twill put in
motion political forces that will
help us TO EVEN THE SCORE
IN "a.
In Ohio, 1892 workers filed
for unemployment compensation
benefits during the week of
March 27-"a 345 per cent in
crease over the number who filed
during that week in 1858. There
are about five million unemploy-
ed in the nation today, including
totally unemployed, temporary
laid off and a large number of
others who are only working part
time.
Reuther called this unemploy-
ment entirely unnecessary" The
CIO rejects the philosophy that
depression is inevitable" "But we
must find way to use the tools
of production for THE GOOD OF
THE PEOPLE"
This unemployment compensa-
ton program calls for:
l An increase in maximum
benefits from $40 to $50 a week.
2 Raising dependency allowances
from $3.50 a week to So. The limit
of dependents for which payments
could be made would be increased
from two. to three.
3 Increasing the maximum dura-
ton of benefits from 26 to 80
weeks.
4 Eliminating indiscriminate pro-
tests by employers on payment of
claims by providing for an addi-
ticnaI award of one to three more
weeks of compensation to those
workers swronged" by unneces-
sary appeals. The CIO also would
place the burden of proving an
appeal on the appellant.
5 Changing the law 10 provide
for integrating guaranteed annual
wage plans with unemployment
compensation.
Five members of Local 497 at
tended this "job security confer
ence" last Saturday. They were:
Robert Calm, Joe Verock, Steve
Novak, Jack Herod and Larry Lu-
cas-. This proved an outstanding
conference. Brought up for
thorough discussion were subjects
vitally important to every worker.
Every member sincerely interested
in his job could have benefited
greatly by attending; so many
questions that we hear asked every
day were answered at this confer
ence. We regret that only five
Committeeman from our entire
Committee, Steward BODY and
the entire Membership found the
time and took the trouble to at
tend.
AS so often is the case, many
people are calling for action but
when the time comes to act-only
a few show up to take part.
Bread and Stock. Secretary of
the Treasury George Humphrey
says, Both major political parties
have for almost 20 years recogni-
zed the unfairness of double taxa
ton of dividends"
But we have not heard anyone
in the Administration lately COM
plain about the ISL taxes a house
wife pays everytime she buys a
loaf of bread. The Breadwinner
of the family also pays his income
tax. This certainly outdoes double
taxation, don't you agree?
AS one reporter in the press
gallery put it, after the House
passed a tax bill written by and
for the big business boys, ut sure
pays to be wealthy under a Re.
publican Administration"
N S Y r A N C e
The last two weeks we have
been quoting the answers we re-
ceived to the questions we asked