The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1960-09-09

children of Montana from exploitation
We support the establishment of a mini
mum wage law consistent with decency and
health in these days of rising costs to protect
the wOrkmen and fair minded employers
from unfair competition
We favor enactment of law guarantee
ing all workers the right to organize and
bargain collectively and setting up machin-
cry for certifying bargaining agents for en-
ployees in establishments excluded from the
jurisdiction of the National Labor Relations
Act.
We renew our condemnation as immoral
and dishonest laws that are falsely described
as "right-to-work'' legislation Misnamed
''right-to-work' proposals attack one of the
elements of society that we hold most dear
our high standard of living.
We urge that those contractors who
deal with public corporations and institu-
tons should not be permitted to operate on
substandard labor scales in this state. To
that end we support an adequate and en-
forceab1e Public Contracts Act which will
require any contractor who is an employer
of labor and who is awarded contract paid
for by public funds to maintain employment
standards at least as high as those nego-
tiated with private industry by the processes
of collective bargaining and to furnish evil
dence of responsibility before undertaking
SUCH WOTk w luTLu0T support IlI0 pIluClplo
that public contracts should be let by bid
and that sub-contractors, if any, should be
required to meet the legal requirements and
conditions of the Public Contracts Act
We urge expenditure of federal and state
funds in Montana for useful public works
projects which would provide early employ
ment and develop and build Montana
We favor preference in the use of Mon
tana products of Montana Union Labor by
the State of Montana, its political subdivi-
sions and private industry within Montana
Unemployment Compensation
We recommend a full Pledged investiga-
ton of the Unemployment Compensation
Commission and it's administration of the
Unemployment Compensation Act, particu-
larly to determine why the commission is
allowing the fund to be depleted by payments
to applicants not in the regular labor force
and not ready, willing or able to work and
not available for employment We wish to
conserve the unemployment funds so that
increased benefits over longer period may
be paid to the qualified unemployed work
men.
The Republican Governor vetoed legis-
lation which would have protected the re-
serve fund and prevented the increase of
premium rates for all Montana employees.
The vetoed bill would have eliminated the
very defects in the account now used as
points of criticism.
The larger corporations through loop
holes in the experience rating system have
been avoiding paying their full fair share
into the fund. Now the small businessmen,
during period of high unemployment has
had to pick up the tab. Basic alteration in
financing provision should be made so that
these loophOles are closed.
We wish to conserve the unemployment
compensation fund SO that increased bene-
fits over longer period may be paid to the
qualified unemployed workmen.
In addition to improvements on the state
level and in order to prevent competitive
between states in relation to
compensation insurance, fed
eral legislation is needed to establish uni
form standards of financing, eligibility, COW
erage and benefits.