The "Misery" Programs
W. Mcm
Jun 1, 1954
Citations
0
Citations
Journal
Social Service Review
Full text
Semantic Scholar
Key Takeaway Key Takeaway: Organizational labor participation in welfare activities has expanded, and the AF of L Community Relations Committee now plays a crucial role in evaluating national welfare programs and recommending participation by unions.
Abstract
Through national committees known, respectively, as "United Nations Relief of AF of L" and "National CIO War Relief Committee," both of the large labor organizations played important roles in helping to raise the huge sums required to meet war-created welfare needs during World War II. Since the end of the war, labor participation in welfare activities not only has continued but has steadily expanded. As a result organized labor now shares actively in the direction of the major welfare programs at the national level and also, in most communities, at the local level. In both labor organizations participation in welfare activities is stimulated and guided by national committees now named, respectively, "AF of L Community Relations Committee" and "CIO National Community Services Committee." A recent issue of the AFL News-Reporter announces an expansion of function of the AF of L Community Relations Committee. The committee is now charged with studying "all appeals and requests from all nation-wide voluntary health, welfare and recreational associations" and is requested to make recommendations to "the American Federation of Labor and its national and international unions, state federations of labor and central labor unions," as to participation in the support of such appeals. In addition, the committee will review the administration of voluntary agencies with which it has continuing relationships. This means, in effect, that the AF of L will undertake at the national level with respect to national agencies an indorsement function similar to those that have long been administered at the local level by chambers of commerce, better business bureaus, and similar local organizations. There is not the slightest doubt of the need for national machinery for indorsement of national programs and nation-wide financial