Page 6-Wednesday, May 17, 1978-The Michigan Daily
Labor law revision faces fight
WASHINGTON (AP) - Republican opponents of "In reviewing the record of the past decade, I fail to
labor law revision launched their long-promised see substantial evidence of any major ailment affec- violating labor laws repeatedly.
filibuster yesterday against the bill that organized ting the labor movement or the collective bargaining SUPPORTERS claim the changes are necessary to
labor and the Carter administration want so badly. process." protect workers against unscrupulous employers. Op-
"This bill is designed to end delay and bring an end to The lengthy debate which follows is expected to fall ponents charge that the changes are nothing more than
the growing number of violations of employee rights," along lines laid down by Williams and Baker. a power grab by big labor.
said Sen. Harrison Williams (D-N.J.), the measure's THE BILL would make it easier for unions to A stronger version of the same measure passed the
principal Democratic sponsor. organize and would streamline the government's ap- House of Representatives last year. Since the House
paratus for handling of allegations of violations of
'This bill is designed to labor frais. 'As a former ad-
Backers of the measure, armed with the strong sup-
end delay and bring an end port of the Carter administration, say they are ministration official said,
prepared to wait forever to pass it.
to the rowing num ber of But supporters concede it is likely to be at least two "If it ain 't broke, don 't fix
weeks before the filibuster can be broken. And even
violations o e m ployee then, opponents have piomised to call up hundreds of it-" -Sen. Howard Baker
amendments to block a final vote.
rights.' THE BILL sets deadlines for union representation (R- Tenn.)
elections and calls for one and one-half times back pay
-Sen. Harrison Williams for workers fired illegally during union organizing passed its version of the bill, the proposal has been at
drives. the center of a multimillion dollar lobbying campaign
It requires businessmen to pay workers (or wages on both sides. The lobbying effort by the bill's opponen-
* * lost during illegal bargaining delays on first contracts ts came under attack almost immediately as debate
SENATE MINORITY Leader Howard Baker of Ten- and gives union organizers access to workers on com- began.
nessee countered with the opposing view: "Asa former pany time and in the company workplace if the boss "I have witnessed many a campaign waged against
administration official said, 'If it ain't broke, don't fix has done the same thing. labor unions and their leaders, but I do not remember a
it.' It also would permit the government to bar a com- more irresponsible one than this," Sen. Jacob Javits
pany from federal contract work if it is found guilty of (R-N.Y.) said in a prepared speech.
NOSHOWsIFN-Social Security funds
Aon.-Tues.-Thurs.-Fri.7-9
111M11111 wlSt.-Sun.-Wed. 1-3-5-7-9ill s u tl 2 3
WASHINGTON (AP) - The outlook
is rosy for the Social Security
retirement and disability trust funds
until the ealy 21st century, when the
children of the post-World War II baby
boom start collecting old-age benefits
the system's trustees told Congress
yesterday.
The controversial higher payroll
taxes that lawmakers approved last
December have put the system back on
an even keel until at least 2010, and the
trust funds won't run out until nearly
2030, the trustees said in their annual
report.
THE HOSPITAL insurance trust
fund, which pays hospital bills under
Medicare, is expected to go broke by
1990. That is a slight improvement on
previous projections that it would be
wiped out by 1988. The trustees recom-
mended that its long-range financing be
strengthened.
But they urged Congress to go slow on
any attempt to hold back the payroll in-
crease, which they said have "restored
the financial soundness" of the
retirement and disability funds for the
rest of this century "and into the early
years of the next one."
Several members of Congress have
proposed lowering the payroll, tax in-
crease uring general tax revenues to
pay for the hospital insurance, the so-
called Part A of Medicare.
THE GOVERNMENT already taps
general tax revenues to pay the bulk of
the cost of the optional Part B of
Medicare. Most retirees and disabled
workers also pay a monthly premium
for this insurance, which covers some
doctor's bills and outpatient hospital
costs.
The Carter administration's
promised, but as yet unrevealed, plan
for national health insurance also is ex-
pected to require a rethinking of how to
pay for hospital insurance.
The trustees, Treasury Secretary
Michael Blumenthal, Labor Secretary
Ray Marshall and Health, Education
and Welfare Secretary Joseph Califano,
noted that an advisory council was ap-
pointed recently to study the long-range
financial status of Social Security.
"The board recommends that no ac-
tion be taken to change the financing
arrangements of the Social Security
system at this time," said the trustees.
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