In our opinion fair competition must be based on a fair and equal response to the needs of people. We, therefore, believe that minimum standards for benefits must be applied. We favor a system of tying benefits to a 50 per cent rate of earnings and adjusting the maximum periodically (at least yearly) to twothirds of a state's average weekly wage so that a majority of workers can attain an amount equal to one-half of their earnings. Under present conditions, even in our state, which has a semi-annual adjustment of the maximum on a 521⁄2 per cent rate of average wages, a very large number of our workers get benefits which are far less than half of their earnings. The maximum duration in our state (tied to number of weeks' employment in the past year) is 34 weeks yet many of our workers exhaust their benefit eligibility while still unemployed. We, therefore, favor extended federal U.C. benefits. We further favor a more realistic basis for contributions to the unemployment compensation fund. Surely the basis of $3,000 established in the late 1930's is woefully inadequate now and is one of the main causes of resistance to more adequate benefit standards. We also favor broader coverage. In our state employers of four or more employees are covered. Over the years we have tried to broaden this coverage but have been unsuccessful. There is in our opinion no valid reason why all employees should not be covered. In conclusion, we are of the opinion that since Unemployment Compensation Legislation came into being as a federal-state cooperating system, by means of federal legislation, the improvement of standards and the extension of federal contributions by further federal legislation does not destroy but rather enhances federal-state cooperation and will improve the whole Unemployment Compensation system. We urge passage of S. 1991. OKLAHOMA STATE AFL-CIO. Oklahoma City, Okla., July 21, 1966. Hon. RUSSELL LONG, Chairman Senate Finance Committee, Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. PROPOSED FEDERAL LEGISLATION: H.R. 8282 AND S. 1991 DEAR SENATOR LONG: The Labor Movement in Oklahoma is very much interested in the Unemployment Compensation Act and the proposed changes to update this piece of legislation. We are enclosing a copy of the summary of this Act, hoping that Congress will act upon these changes in the interest of the working men and women in our nation. It is highly important that benefit standards of states are enacted in Federal Legislation so that benefits will be standardized throughout the United States. We are taking the liberty of enclosing the provisions and effective dates of H.R. 8282 and S. 1991. Please read this letter and proposed legislation into the record of the Senate hearings on this Act. We are also enclosing a pamphlet entitled "Program of Progress for Oklahoma", which was adopted in Convention, January 28 & 29, 1966, which points out under increased Unemployment Insurance to raise the benefits to 66%% of the average weekly wage. Respectfully submitted. ALVA H. HOLLINGSWORTH, JACK ODOM, President. Executive Vice President. HENRY L. LIKES, Secretary-Treasurer. 65-992-66- -38 TABLE I.—Summary of proposed Federal legislation in H.R. 8282 and S. 1991 Provision Federal grants to States whose benefit costs exeed 2 percent of total State wages in covered employment. Grants to equal % of benefit cost in excess of 2 percent. Effective date For 1966 and ensuing years. Federal extended benefits (after 26 weeks of State July 1, 1966. benefits) to workers employed 2 or more of 3 prior years. Limited to 26 weeks each 3 years. Raised Federal unemployment Tax by 0.15 to 0.55. Extended coverage to—(1) employers of one or more, (2) more employers of nonprofit organizations, (3) farm workers on farms using 300 or more man-days of farm labor in a quarter. (4) agricultural processing workers, and (5) commission agents. Raise taxable wage maximum from $3,000 to— $5,600. $6,600 Benefit standards for States (1) Qualifying requirement not to exceed 20 (2) Weekly benefits at least half of average (3) Disqualifications, except for fraud, labor dispute, and crimes, not to exceed 6 weeks postponement of benefits. Do. Jan. 1, 1967. Jan. 1, 1967. Benefit years beginning onJuly 1, 1967. Do. Do. OKLAHOMA STATE AFL-CIO-PROGRAM OF PROGRESS FOR OKLAHOMA AND YOU 1. PROPOSED CHANGES IN WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION A. Raise the maximum temporary total from $40 per week to 66% of the injured worker's weekly wage. B. Extend benefits of disability duration with unlimited medical expense from 500 weeks to 750 weeks. C. Increase the $13,500 death limitation to $20,000 and add for widow and one dependent the amount of $5,000; $2,500 for second dependent; $2,500 for third dependent; four or more dependents, the total benefit would be $32,000. Extend the age limit for benefits to children to 21 years. D. Number of weeks for which compensation is payable for certain scheduled injuries. Increase coverage for hernia from 14 to 20 weeks. E. Permit worker freedom of choice of qualified physician. F. Require rehabilitation division within the Industrial Court. G. Provide full compensation for rehabilitation up to 52 weeks. H. Make employer or carrier liable for attorney's fees when employee has to obtain legal counsel to collect benefits. I. Require workmen's compensation coverage for all employees. J. Require full pay reinstatement for employees discharged for filing a compensation claim. Make employer liable to $1,000 for discrimination against employee for filing a claim. K. Repeal House Bill No. 1063, whereby a $5 per case filing fee is required by the Industrial Court for filing an industrial claim. L. Full coverage for occupational disease under workmen's compensation. M. Waiting period shall be no more than three days with retroactive benefits to first days of injury. 2. INCREASE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE A. Raise the maximum benefit from $32 per week to 66% of the employee's average weekly wage with a maximum of 66% of the State average weekly wage. B. Add additional $2 per dependent up to four dependents. C. Quality workers unemployed from labor disputes to draw benefits when production or operation is resumed. D. Earn as much as $20.00 before unemployment benefits would be effected. 3. FAIR LABOR STANDARDS ACT A. Provide for a state minimum wage of at least $1.25 per hour. B. Establish maximum hours of work week and require overtime pay for overtime work. C. Elimination of present existing exemptions under the minimum wage law. D. Repeal existing laws not compatible with Equal Opportunities Act. E. Strive to raise appropriation to State Department of Labor to implement this program. 4. IMPROVED ELECTION LAWS A. To get a bill passed for all working people to have time off to vote without loss of wages. B. To get the time off in the A.M C. A bill to require the approval of ballot title before a petition is circulated, D. A bill for registrars at large. E. All election laws uniform in all counties. 5. TAFT-HARTLEY ACT Taft-Hartley Act permits states to pass right-to-work legislation (14-B). Oklahoma State AFL-CIO is opposed to any form of action that will permit the State to enact a right-to-work law by a Statutory Act or Referendum Petition. 6. JUDICIAL SYSTEM A. Court on the Judiciary. C. Eliminating fee system in all Courts where the amount of fine or fee determines the salary of the Judge. D. We recommend all Judges being elected by a popular vote of the citizens of the State of Oklahoma. 7. A STATE LABOR RELATIONS ACT A. A state Labor Relations Act to protect all workers not covered by the National Labor Relations Act. Guaranteeing them the right to organize and the right of representation by Union of their choosing; setting up procedure similar to those in the National Labor Relations Act as administered by the NLRB. A. Close existing loopholes in Oklahoma tax structures. B. Require corporations, utilities, oil and gas companies to pay their share of taxes. C. Defeat any sales tax proposals, national, state or city. D. Urge the enactment of Legislation placing a tax on natural gas at the wellhead as this is a natural resource of Oklahoma and 90% of the gas produced in the state leaves the borders to be consumed outside of its boundaries. E. Pass Legislation permitting the State to use monies on unclaimed property after twenty years. F. All shopping centers and business districts now who are exempted from paying ad valorem taxes on forth acres or more tracts pay their fair share of taxes. 9. IMPROVE SECONDARY AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS A. Increase minimum salary for teachers. B. Provide job security for teachers through tenure law. C. Reduce size of classrooms to maximum twenty-five pupils per class. D. Provide better equipment and more facilities. E. Support a free text book program. F. Support consolidation of schools where the present facilities and curriculum are out dated. 10. HIGHER EDUCATION A. Work for the establishment of a dentistry school in Oklahoma. B. Urge the Legislature to make available more four year colleges and universities. C. Promote Legislation to make available the facilities for more two year colleges whereby low income families would have the opportunity of sending their children to college, permitting them to live at home and commute to school. Senator DOUGLAS. Mr. Chairman, I would like to remark that representatives of organized labor have tried to expedite the hearings by making their personal appearances here as few as possible, and having only two or three men speak, with the remainder filing their state ments. The CHAIRMAN. Yes. May I say that I am pleased to hear all the witnesses who ask to be heard. Most of them were State administrators and management witnesses, but I think it is fair to point out that there are a great number of people represented who have decided to settle for one witness, Mr. Meany, to speak for their organization when, in fact, they represent great numbers of people. Here is a letter from Lee W. Minton, international president of Glass Bottle Blowers Association, which I would ask to be printed in the record; another is Mr. Jerry Wurf, international president, American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees, AFLCIO, which I will ask to be printed in the record; here is another letter from the United Transport Service Employees, Mr. George P. Sabattie, president, and incidentally a copy was sent to Senator Paul Douglas and Senator Everett Dirksen of Illinois and I will ask that that be printed in the record; here is a statement by Mr. Ed S. Miller, president of the Hotel and Restaurant Employees and Bartenders International Union, which is generally in support of S. 1991 introduced by Senator McCarthy and others. I have read these letters and I would urge all members of the committee that they should do so. Here is one from the Louisville Central Labor Council signed by Mr. Herbert L. Segal; and finally here is one from the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO, and this one is signed by Mr. W. J. Bassett. (The letters referred to follow :) Hon. RUSSELL B. LONG, GLASS BOTTLE BLOWERS' ASSOCIATION Chairman, Finance Committee, Senate Office Building, Washington, D.C. DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: Members of the Glass Bottle Blowers Assn. (AFL-CIO) know from long, practical experience the need for a strong Unemployment Compensation reform bill, with federal minimum standards. While blessed with an above-average level of job stability in our industries, we have seen in a number of instances when we have had plant shutdowns in various states the glaring weakness of the hodgepodge system of jobless insurance as administered in the several states. I respectfully urge your Committee to give thoughtful and favorable consideration to the McCarthy Bill (S. 1991), which I believe you will agree would correct present inequities and pave the way for an enlightened unemployment compensation system to serve the nation in the years ahead. It is vitally important that any bill enacted by the Congress establish uniform federal standards for weekly benefits and for the duration of payment of benefits, plus a minimum of 26 weeks of extended federal jobless payments. On behalf of 70,000 members of our organization employed in 40 states, I urge the Senate Finance Committee to offer to the Senate sound, progressive legislation, along the lines of the McCarthy Bill, to assure meaningful, long-needed reform in our unemployment compensation system. Sincerely yours, LEE W. MINTON, International President. AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE, COUNTY, Hon. RUSSELL B. LONG, Chairman, Committee on Finance, MY DEAR SENATOR LONG: This letter pertains to the subject matter of the hearing currently being conducted by the Senate Finance Committee on S. 1991. On behalf of the 300,000 members of our organization located in almost 1,500 communities, I want to tell you of our position on this bill. My statement is a reflection of an endorsement of the bill made by the delegates to our recentlyconducted biennial convention which happens to have been held in Washington just two months ago. You may recall that we provided you and other members of the Congress with a copy of that resolution. We are vitally interested in this particular piece of legislation, not only because it will provide some long-needed standards, but also because of two additional reasons: the first is that it will provide, for the first time, application of the unemployment compensation laws to some persons in our jurisdiction who have heretofore been deprived of such coverage employees in non-profit institutions. I speak especially for the low-paid non-academic college employee and the horribly exploited hospital worker. These poorly paid people are least of all able to do without unemployment compensation; it will be a marvelous boon for the Congress now to certify their being covered in the future. Our additional interest goes to another aspect of the proposed legislation, that of raising the tax base. Many of our people are employed by the various unemployment compensation offices in the various states; their capacity to receive even minimum raises and they are needed-rests largely upon funds being made available for these purposes. Raising the tax base will help to alleviate their plight. We urge favorable consideration of this legislation by your Committee. I should appreciate very much this letter being made a part of the record of the Committee's hearing on this matter. Sincerely yours, JERRY WURF, International President. UNITED TRANSPORT SERVICE EMPLOYEES, Hon. RUSSELL B. LONG, Chairman, Committee on Finance, U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C. DEAR SIR: In order to protect the unemployed workers and their families throughout the United States, it is urgent and necessary to make reforms to establish minimum Federal standards in the Nation's unemployment compensation system. With the rapid changes in automation and technology, and the moving of industries from one section of the country to another, it has created many new problems for the workers and their families. |