Toledo Union Journal

Friday, March 23, 1945
Regional Views
By Richard Gosser
Director Region 2B, UAW-CIO
JOBS
There is one thing in which everyone in this country is interested-jobs.
When we talk about jobs some of us get confused. We think that a job is something that a man has who works in a factory, or a salesman, or some other type of work where a person works hard all day long. This should not confuse us, because the president of the largest banks, even though they may have their names on their doors in gold letters are actually holding down a job.
What about the people who are in business, do they have jobs? Sure they do, and being in business, especially for the small business man, is usually one of the hardest jobs of all.
So let's agree that everybody from the president of the United States down to Joe who sweeps the floor in the factory has a common interest-their jobs.
EVERYBODY WORKS
Today when everybody is working, some in good, some in fair and others in poor paying jobs, we have a great war going on. Even the soldiers have jobs, in fact, the hardest jobs of all. What about tomorrow when the war is over and 11,000,000 soldiers lay down their guns and return to their homes? Will there still be jobs for all?
It's funny that wartime breeds millions of jobs for destruction and bloodshed and death, while peacetime was the breeding place of depression, hunger, disease, want and death.
Peacetime runs for behind war in productivity, a fact which none can deny on the basis of what has occurred in the past and what is now taking place in the world. Can those who suffer death because of depression reflect the same glory and gather medals and honors for perishing in the economic battle of life? have never seen it.
When we see what goes on today in world and recall what occurred before this war began, we wonder if the people will ever again be satisfied to stand quiet and subdued while the ones who control our wealth go on their way content and indifferent to our lot in life.
There can be but one answer to the problems of the future and it is not a new answer or original. That answer is, jobs for all who are able to work and at wages which will permit them to purchase the things they need in order to live as the resources and wealth of this country will permit.
We must have 60 million jobs when this war ends for the workers of America. Regardless whether these jobs be business, banking. factory work or what not, the people of this country must be given the opportunity to work at gainful employment and given the opportunity to "live life more abundantly."