THE CHARLOTTE LABOR JOURNAL
AND DIXIE FARM NEWS
Published at Charlotte, North Carolina
H. A. Stalls, Editor and Publisher W. M. Witter, Associate Editor
Entered as second-class mail matter September II, 1981, at the
■Post Office at Charlotte, N. C., under the Act of Congress of
March 3, 1879.
Oldest Bona Fide AFL Newspaper in North Carolina, consistently
serving the American Federation of Labor and its members since it
was founded, May 12, 1931. Approved by the American Federation
of Labor in 1931.
Endorsed by Charlotte Typographical Union, Number 338, An Af
filiate of charlotte Central Labor Union and the North Carolina Fed
eration of Labor. '
News Services: American Federation of Labor, U. S. and North
Carolina Departments of Labor, and Southern Labor Press Associa
tion.
MEMBER SOUTHERN LABOR PRESS ASSOCIATION
The Labor Journal will not be responsible for the opinions of cor
respondents, but any erroneous reflection upon the character, stand
ing or reputation pf any person, firm or corporation which may ap
pear in the columns of The Labor Journal will be corrected when
called* to the attention of the publisher. Correspondence and Open
Forum opinions solicited, but The Journal reserves the right to reject
objectionable reading matter and advertising at all times. In order
to correct any misunderstanding that may have existed ir. the past
or that may exist now relative to The Labor Journal’s relationship
to the North Carolina Federationist the publisher wishes to state
that the Federationist is the official organ of the North Carolina
Federation of Labor and that The Journal is not now and has never
been the Federation’s official organ. Anyone, whether on our
staff or otherwise, who claims The Journal is.the official organ is
stating an untruth. However, The Labor Journal has solicited both
advertising and subscriptions state-wide in cities and hamlets where
no Labor paper exists since it first began doing business in 1931 and
sees no just reason why it should not continue to do so. It is our
aim to serve as many of our brother members as is humanly pos
sible, and let no one fool you by telling you that The Journal is an
illegitimate publication, so far as Labor is concerned. Our past
record, for more than 18 years, disproves this “fifth column" propa
ganda.. This newspaper has during the years endeavored to promote
a better understanding between Capital and Labor. Its efforts have
borne much fruit. Our only regret is that we have not been able
to carry on in a bigger and better way. This, the publisher pledges
you, he will strive to do henceforth.
Address All Communications to
CHARLOTTE LABOR JOURNAL
P. O. Box 1061 Charlotte, North Carolina
AFL LEGISLATIVE PROGRAM ON SOCIAL SECURITY
In the series of AFL recommendations, revision of the
old age retirement and survivors insurance program is first
on the list.’*Under the changed called for, the coverage
would be broadened to include the self-employed (farmers,
small businessmen and professional persons) agricultural
workers, domestic servants and persons employed by non
profit institutions such as hospitals, churches, foundations.
Employes of State and local governments not already cov
ered by a pension plan would be brought in by permissive
contracts between the State and the Federal Security agency.
The program calls for sharp increases in the monthly ben
efits which presently average only about $25 per month for
single retired workers. The following examples indicate the
extent of the increases of benefits asked for. A single per
son retiring in 1949 who had averaged $200 per month
wages under the present law would be eligible for $39.20
per month benefits. If he was married and nis wife were
not yet 65 he would draw the .same amount. Under the
proposed legislation a single person would be eligible for
$63.00 per month benefits and if he were married and his
wife were over 60 years of age he would be eligible for
$94.60 per month. Under the preesent law a single person
who has averaged $400 per month wages is eligible for bene
fits of $44.80 per month. Under the changes proposed by
the AFL he would be eligible for benefits at $96.50 and if he
were married and his wife 60 years of age he would be
eligible for benefits of $144.90 per month.
Similar liberalizations are contained in the recommenda
tions for widows and children of workers who die. For ex
ample, under the present law a widow and two children
of a man who has averaged $200 per month can draw $68.60
per month. Under the changes proposed they could draw
$126 per month. If his earnings had averaged $300 per
month under the present law his benefits would be $78.40
but under the proposed law he would be eligible for benefits
of $150. l«l
The proposals provide also for a national system of dis
ability insurance which would pay unemployment compensa
tion benefits up to 26 weeks for workers who are temporar
ily unemployed because of illness. For those peri; anently
disabled it would pay the same benefits as provided under
the retirement program.
The AFL plan calls for a comprehensive health program
including health insurance to meet the cost of medical care,
provisions for medical research, training of personnel and
construction of needed health facilities. It calls for a series
of guarantees, including the free choice of doctor and dentist
by the patients and freedom of hospitals and doctors to ac
cept or reject patients. It also provides for the continuance
of voluntary health service plans such as those which have
been developed by consumer co-operatives and labor unions.
There is an additional section containing the recommen
dations of financing. The AFL adheres to the principle of
the contributory system. It calls for equal contributions
based on wages up to $1,800 per year by both employers and
employes but states that it is sound public policy to provide
for a contribution by the government. The report calls for
a limitation on contributions from employes when the whole
system is under way to an amount equal to 4 per cent of
wages.
The provisions of Social Insurance legislation recommended
by the Social Security Committee of the American Federa
tion of Labor follows:
The Committee found that to meet standards for Social
Insurance legislation approved by Convention actions of the
American Federation of Labor far-reaching changes in ex
isting Social Security laws are required.
Extension of the principle of Social Insurance to meet
risks not now covered will also be necessary. It is therefore
recommended that bills be prepared and introduced as soon
as possible in the 81st Congress to meet the following four
major objectives:
1. Extension and liberalization of the existing Federal
Old-Age and Survivors’ Insurance program.
2. Extension of the protection of the national insurance
system to the risk of both temporary and permanent
disability.
3. Extension, simplification and liberalization of unem
plpyment insurance and employment service programs.
4. Development of protection against sickness through a
broad health program built around a national health
insurance system and including provision for needed
health facilities, training of personnel, and medical re
search.
The Committee recommends that the following specific
provisions be included in the legislation designed to meet the
above-stated objectives:
I. Old-Age Retirement and Survivors’ Insurance
1. The insurance coverage should be extended to include
self-employment (farmers, small businessmen and profes
sional persons), agricultural workers, domestic service, em
ployment by non-profit institutions (such as hospitals,
churches, and foundations), Federal employes not covered
under any Federal retirement plan, military services, em
ployes of State and local governments (by compact between
the State and Federal Security Agency), except those cov
ered by a pension plan.
2. Liberalization of the amount of the monthly insurance
benefits in the following manner:
a) Increase minimum monthly benefits to at least $25
($37.50 for man and wife) and the maximum to at
least $150. (Present minimum $10)
b) Liberalize the formula for computation of benefits
to one providing 50 per cent of first $75.00 of aver
age wage, and 15 per cent for additional average
wages.
c) Compute average wage for benefit purposes on in
dividual’s best five years.
d) Increase wage basis on which contributions and
benefits are computed from $3,000 per year to $4-,
800 per year.
e) Include gratuities as wages.
3. Reduction of the retirement age from 65 to 60 for
women employes, widows, wives and mothers.
4. Permit a beneficiary to earn at least $40 per month
without loss of insurance benefit.
5. Payment of lump-sum burial benefit equal to three
months insurance benefits in all cases of death of
insured worker.
6. Liberalize family benefits for widows, fatherless
children and orphans by:
a) Increasing amount of first child’s benefit from 50
per cent to 75 per cent of parent’s benefit.
b) Providing that children will be eligible for bene
fits in cases where mother dies and father is
sipk. disabled, absent, or has not been supporting I
child.
c) Remove present limitations on benefits to widow
and three children, allowing benefits for all chil
dren up to maximum of 80 per cent of parent's
previous wages or $150 per month.
II. Disability Insurance
A national system of disability insurance should provide
against th'e risk of wage loss resulting from both tempor
ary and long-time disability not covered by existing State
Workmen’s Compensation laws. This program should be
i administered in connection with the present Federal Old
| Age and Survivors’ Insurance program.
1. Temporary disability should cover periods up to
26 weeks when the covered worker is unable to per
form his usual work. Extended disability protection
should be provided for disability for six months or
longer.
2. Coverage should be the same as for Old-Age Insur
ance excepting the self-employed for short-term
(temporary) disability.
3. Benefits for short-term sickness or disability should
be comparable to those for unemployment insurance
—those for extended disability should be the same
as for retirement. Both should be based on past
earnings.
-1. Provisions for rehabilitation should be included in
the program of extended disability insurance.
111. Unemployment Insurance
1. There should be a unified national system of Unem
ployment Insurance and Employment services.
, 2. Unemployment Insurance should be liberalized by pro
viding for:
a) Benefits representing proportion of wage loss due
_to involuntary unemployment.
b) A uniform duration of benefits up to 26 weeks in
a year.
c) Broad extension of coverage to groups now exclud
ed, including persons employed in small firms and
all other employees covered by Old-Age and Sur
vivors’ Insurance.
3. All persons covered by the Unemployment Insurance
Program who are involuntarily unemployed and for whom
no suitable work is available should be eligible after one
week waiting period for benefits—suitable work to be de
fined in terms of the worker’s proven skill and earning
ability.
4. Disqualifications should be limited to four weeks.
IV. Health Insurance
A broad national health program should be based on a
I system of health insurance covering the major proportion
.of the population including employes, self-employed persons
and their dependents. This program should include provis
ion for medical research, training of personnel, and con
struction of needed health facilities. The program should
]include the following specific provisions and guarantees:
j 1. Free choice of doctor and dentist by the patient and
the right to change one’s choice, and freedom of doctors to
[accept or reject patients.
2. Insured persons eligible for benefits to be entitled to
medical and dental service from general practitioners and
specialists, home nursing care, hospital care, laboratory
service, x-rays, and other prescribed necessities.
3. Kverv qualified doctor, dentist, nurse and hospital to.
have the right to participate or not, and to accept or reject;
patients. These rights to apply to organized groups of I
practitioners, clinics, consumer co-operatives, labor union
and similar health service plans as well as to individuals.
Every hospital that participates to be guaranteed against
supervision or control.
4. Cost of the various services to be paid out of the in
surance fund with the method of payment to be decided by
the participating practitioners with guarantees that the
amount of pavntent will be fair and adequate.
5. Decentralization of administration making maximum
use of appropriate State and local health agencies and with
full participation in administrative policy by advisory coun
cils representing professional and lay people at all levels ot
administration. Medical matters to be determined only by
qualified professional persons.
V. Financing the Program
The comprehensive Social Insurance system herein rec
ommended should be built on the contributory principle.
Employes and employers should contribute equal amounts
based on a percentage of wages. It is likewise sound pol
icy to provide that a portion of the cost be met from the
general revenues of the government. The Committee rec
ommends that at this time the proportion to be borne by
the covered employes for all protection provided in the pro
gram be held to four per cent of wages up to $4,800 per
year with like amounts paid by employers. Until such time
as the health insurance program is in full operation it could
be financed by contributions of 2 3-4 per cent of such wages
by employers and employes.
Uncle Sam Says
i
A baseball player *orhh»g
ran in a tight World
provide* the thrill of a Ufe
A parent locking away a
•heaf of US. Saving* Bond* pro.
vide* security and a thrill
family in the year* to,
saving today. In ten
you’ll he repaid $4 far
pot into your Saving*
egg”, and that’* a guarantee by your
Uncle Sant. Sign ap for the Payroll
Saving* Plan where yon work, or if
in
for the
enroll
Plan at year
V. S. Tfmtmry Dtpmrtmtml
LUMBER AND SAWMILL
WORKERS QUICKEN PACE
Fordyce, Arkansas.—Two new
union* were set up in Arkansas
among lumber and sawmill work
ers in that state at Hensley and
Harrell, among the employes of
the Sturgis Lumber Company.
The new unions were chartered
by the United Brotherhood of
Carpenters and Joiners of Ameri
ca. These unions have petitioned
the National Labor Relations
Board for election and have vir
tually 100 per cent membership
among the employes.
>po*
tk/t§i§a
Subscription price $2 a year
11 Pftys To Troio Wttik
BOGGETT
LUMBER CO.
Zll B. Park At*. Ffcaa* §179
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RELIABLE MERCHANDISE ALWAYS
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Shop at Vfljcudin and Stu>*
SHOES—CLOTHING—FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY
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Letter-Press
Printing
Letter press printing in the graphic arts
means the direct application of inked type
and engravings or other type material to
paper.
It is the simplest of all graphic methods
of reproduction and at the same time the
most lasting. It was the method employed
by the medieval craftsmen who first ap
plied type to paper and it has persisted
throughout the centuries over all innova
tions, until today, when the best of crafts
manship is sought in a job, there is no al
ternative to letter press printipg, along
with high grade paper and typographic
good taste.
We suggest that if you have some print
ing in view that you want well done, you
consult us. Simply telephone 5-1776 or
else call at the office, 118 East Sixth St.,
Charlotte, N. C.
H. A. Stalls Printing Co*
PRINTERS AND PUBLISHERS
40 YEARS EXPERIENCE AT YOUR DISPOSAL
P. O. Box 1061 CHARLOTTE, N. C.