The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1961-12-08
By FRANK SMALL

Montana is now entering one OF
the severest economic slumps we have
ever had to face in this cold, bleakly
snow-covered better business climate
We must now face the ravages OF
the Observation-Disclosures legislature
of last winter. The sabotage of the
Unemployment Compensation law is
about the most heartless act of the
State C.ofC.-Jo ohm Birch Society-in-
spired social wreckers.
At the end of October there were
1896 jobseekers on file with the
State Employment Service, That was
1897 more than at the end of the
same month in 1860. To that 1886
should be added upwards of 20 per
cent, representing those jobless who
are not registered with SEES. While
the number of jobseekers is UP, UCC
Chairman Edgar Reeder, Tuesday,
reported that those receiving unem-
ployment compensation totaled 1920
less than year ago. There was, as
of last week, 4,870 unemployed draw
ing compensation.
More looking for work and fewer
receiving benefits-why?
1t is difficult to explain how 1861
changes in the base period section of
the law would cut out so many peo-
pie, from this wage loss protection
which is earned by employees of Mon
hY1c
Root of the Montana Committee On
Political Education draw for you the
year in circle and explain what the
Republican-controlled 1861 Legisla-
ture did to rob qualified applicants
of their benefits.
The applicants base year starts an
extra quarter earlier. leaving time
lag in his base of Immediately past
employment of minimum of three
months and up to almost six months.
His weekly benefit is then set at one
and one-half times the high earning
quarter. This means that you can be
disqualified if you did not make in
a second quarter of your base year at
least fifty per cent of your high
quarter earnings.
This is aimed directly at craft and
other seasonal workers. For example
if a heavy equipment operator is laid
off in November his last full quarter
from July through September would |
be his fifth Cor lag) quarter and |
therefore not countable. His high |
suarter earnings would be one of |
the four three-month periods before
July L. In one other quarter of the
base year, he would have to have at
least one-half as much earnings as
his high quarter to be eligible for
the minimum duration of benefits
of 10 weeks.
Root, former longtime UCC mem
Der, labels the eligibility base in Mon
tana "the most restrictive in the ma
ton, none other is so vicious.
A sharp decline was noted in Sep
TENDER in the total benefits paid out
as the 1861 amendments to the law
began to take effect.
Although about half a million dol
lars more had been paid out through
September 1861 than in same period
of 1860, the new base regulations
will not be full in effect until April.
Most workers have been able to claim
benefits, under the old law since
their base periods extended retro :
actively for at least year before the
April 1, 1861 effective date of the
comp-denying revisions written into
the act last January and February.
From April through September
1860 in 8,479 determinations 81 per /
cent did not have enough wage cred
it's in their base to qualify for COM
pensation. In a similar period in 1861 !
those who had insufficient earnings r
rose to 21.3 per cent, in 1925 de- :
{
Root says that the percentage of
disqualification will continue to
climb-will probably reach or ex- r
coed 30 per cent.
In breakdown by weeks of bene-
Git entitlement, it is estimated IT per
cent will get 13 weeks, 20 per cent,