aie es... Machinists Demand Automation Benefits MACHINISTS’ UNION voted to seek these concessions from employers if jobs are threatened by automation: training for new jobs at company expense with no loss of earnings, no pay reduction for downgraded workers, early retirement at “adequate” pensions, advance notice and consultation on company moves toward automation, the right to transfer without expense to other plants of the firm, distribution to employees of gains from greater productivity under automation. Bey THE WORLD IS FULL OF BRIGHT THE WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER ~~ O'Neal Urges Re LABOUR 9thAnnual Conve 20 OURSELVES WE WISH FOR ae i son fo ALL ag 4 Of Welfare Projects A few remarks made by Secretary Pat O’Neal at the Annual Convention of the B.C. Federation of Labour touched off a raging public controversy which resulted in a television debate between O’Neal and the Chairman of the Community Chest. WE WISH WE’D BEEN BRIGHT ENOUGH TO HAVE HAD MORE THAN ONE. TO MAKE THE BEST BOOTS IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD (AND STARTING RIGHT IN B.C.). BUT THEN, WE‘VE MANAGED TO DO ALL RIGHT WITH OURS. IT WORKS EVERY TIME! PIERRE PARIS riastings Stree & SONS The Federation’s Secretary definitely stated that “at no time did I suggest, nor did any officer of the Federation suggest that anyone should refuse to donate to the United Appeal or to any other legiti- mate charitable campaign. “Our position is quite clear. It is time that we reviewed and re-evaluated the methods by which we provide for these important services.” -In a public statement, Pat O’Neal said in part: “In the first place, we must face the fact that over $250,- 000 of Community Chest money is wasted. I refer to the present situation with re- spect to the Children’s Aid Society in Vancouver which is a disgrace to the dedicated efforts of thousands of volun- teer supporters of the United Appeal. Approximately $250,000 in Community Chest funds goes annually to the Children’s Aid Societies to supplement funds provided by the Pro- vincial Government in order to provide services which elsewhere in the Province are provided completely by Pro- vincial Government funds through Provincial child wel- fare officers. In other words, the citizens of Vancouver are voluntarily providing over a quarter of a million dollars to relieve the Provincial Gov- ernment of this responsibility. Not only that, but the un- necessary diversion of this money prevents all of the worthwhile agencies from carrying out the kind of pioneering work on which their reputations were esta- blished. SOCIAL WELFARE COMMITTEE Secondly, while all of the efforts being put forth on be- half of the United Appeal campaign, the Legislative Committee on Social Welfare has not met for the last five years. This disgraceful situa- tion must be remedied im- mediately the House sits. The Community Chest unfortu- nately has failed to put pres- sure on the Provincial Gov- ernment and, in fact, has not submitted a Brief on Social Welfare in 5 years. We must have action. We call on the Legislative Committee on So- cial Welfare to draft a blue print for social welfare in B.C. without any further delay. OVERLAPPING SERVICES A further point is that we have many individual health agencies concerned with epi- lepsy, heart disease, arthritis, cancer and many other ail- ments. All of these are func- tioning separately. This situa- tion is as ridiculous as if we had separate hospitals for in- ternal treatment and for broken bones and head in- juries. Obviously just as we have General Hospitals attending to all medical problems so we need to have these various agencies unified under a com- prehensive organization. We require centres providing generic service. Any one who is not aware of this fact should just consult leading so- ‘cial workers in this Province. The present patchwork oper- ation is only serving to delay the day when we will provide comprehensive medical ser- vices and adequately financed social services to all of the people of the Province. It is time we demanded a shake-up of the present in- adequate system and ensure that the working people of this Province, through their tax dollar, pay a fair share to- wards social services and re- ceive fair value for their money. We are not getting fair value now. Only our in- dustrialists and our giant corporations are _ benefiting from the present system un- der which they write off as tax deductions more than 50c out of every dollar they do- nate to fund raising cam- paigns. ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS Finally, I would like to elaborate .on the question of administrative costs. We do not guestion the figures given by the Community Chest showing that the administra- tive cost of the United Ap- peal Campaign is only 4% cents on the dollar. In fact, the point which is overlooked is that with the multiplicity of agencies covered by the United Appeal there are the additional administrative costs of each of these agencies added on top of the admini- strative cost of the Commun- ity Chest. The result is that unneces- sary administrative expendi- tures are piled on top of the other. It is also worth noting that the Chief Magistrate of the City of Vancouver, Mayor _ Rathie, is paid some $5,000 per year less than some offi- cials of the Community Chest, (Mayor Rathie’s salary is $12,000 per year).”