SOCIAL INSURANCE
“The bill is not perfect but it carries with it a little social justice”

The social insurance bill is still pending before Parliament. -
This project, which has caused waves of ink to flow, met with strong resistance. Certain proletarian groups, the bourgeois mutuality and the Minister of Labor — Mr. Peyronnet — have lacked enthusiasm with regard to this law which will, despite everything, bring advantages to the world of work. On the other hand, many socialists, cooperators, socialists and workers' mutualists have, from the outset, accepted the principle of social insurance. Our friend Robert Perdon, president of the Fédération Mutualiste du Travail, was kind enough to give us his opinion on this social reform.
Robert Perdon has been involved in labor action for many years. Trade unionist, socialist, cooperator, nothing that interests the proletariat leaves it indifferent. Social insurance attracted his attention and he campaigned fiercely, within the mutual insurance company, in favor of the principle of this law. Robert Perdon believes that, despite its imperfections, the social insurance law will provide real services to the working class.

Agreement on principle
Mutuality has long been resistant to the social insurance project, we say in Perdon. His opposition appears to be waning.
— There is no longer any opposition from the mutuality. First of all, she shouted: haro on the project! Then, she changed her mind. It now accepts the principle of the law which gives it, moreover, priority in the management of the funds, "The Mutualist Federation of Labor has brought, through its vigorous action, the entire French mutuality to accept the principle of insurance social. »
— Isn't the priority given to mutuality in fund management dangerous?
— Not at all, replies my interlocutor. This priority does not modify the project guidelines in any way. The law remains what it was with its advantages in favor of the proletariat.

The duty of the working class.
In order to get bourgeois mutualists to accept the draft law on social insurance, the Parliamentary Commission granted management priority to mutuality. The law must be amended one day on this point.
— It is obviously, declares Perdon, the working class which must have the direction and control of social insurance. Let her organize herself for this on her own ground and she will quickly achieve the goal she desires.

Corporate funds
It's a black spot. The bill leaves the door open to corporate coffers. We know that certain industrialists or traders have special social security funds.
— These funds will not comply with the new regulations. We can let the existing ones operate, but we must prevent the creation of new funds if we want to avoid serious dangers.

Work to be accomplished
Robert Perdon does not hide the imperfections of the project pending before Parliament. This is not the dream ideal.
— The law on social insurance, which Parliament must vote on, is not perfect. It must be profoundly modified. This is the work of tomorrow. For now the project must be accepted. The working class must oppose the multiple amendments that certain bourgeois representatives, opponents of the law, dream of. Any counter-project must be ruled out. And tomorrow, when the principle is enshrined, the proletariat must take vigorous action to improve the law. Direct management by the world of work, increase in wage rates to benefit from the law on insurance, these must be the demands of the proletariat.
By acting in this way, workers will not have defeated a law which carries with it a bit of social justice.
These are the statements of Robert Perdon. We deliver them for the meditations of the readers of Le Populaire.

Léon Osmin