2nd Issue March, 1961 io = Si atnetgedncinge P ca an sis WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER From Page 1 “Prohibitions' was designed to place the unions on the same footing as the employers under the Act in this respect. Prohibitions Listed In summarized form, the prohibi- tions now in effect are: e Employers may not discrim- inate against employees who re- fuse to make contributions to political parties or political candi- dates. e Trade unions may not dis- criminate against individual mem- bers who refuse to make contri- butions to political parties or in support of political candidates. e A trade union may not di- rectly or indirectly contribute toward a political party or poli- tical candidate from funds de- rived from membership dues. This prohibition extends beyond the check-off. It applies to funds on hand when the Bill becomes law. e If every member in the local union votes in favor of such ex- penditure, it is still unlawful un- der the amended Act. e A trade union collecting membership dues directly, with- out the check-off may not make contributions therefrom toward - a political party. Although such a union may Have no check-off privileges to lose, the expendi- e will be considered unlawful and make the union liable to other penalties imposed for violations of the Act. e Any local union or Labour Council may not use membership dues money to support an inde- pendent labour candidate without snap ee to any political party. de union may not make Sul contributions to parties or candidates in Federal elec- tions, although such matters are considered beyond provincial jurisdiction. eo Every trade union is re- quired to provide the employer with a statutory declaration that it is complying with the order and that it intends to do so. No consideration was given to the ds dala under act trade unio pay per capita tax to Lebo Councils, the B.C. Fed- eration of Labour, the Canadian Labour Congress, the AFL-CIO, and the ICFTU. In the nature of such affilia- tions, it was pointed out by John Squire MLA, the local union can give no guarantee regarding ex- penditures by national and inter- - national bodies. uestion has arisen regarding the_possibility of perjury eee, if incorrect statements are made. A mis- statement with regard to intention is not an offence under the law. A strong plea was made by John Squire MLA (Local 1-85 IWA) that he and his fellow-officers be not placed in a false position by demands which they could not honestly fulfill. Railway Outline Harsh : A harsh outline of the extent of railway layoffs and dislocation over the years 1952 to 1959 has been presented to the Senate committee on manpower and em- ‘ployment by the Railway Asso- ciation of Canada. Using the CPR and CNR sstatis- tics, the bulky report shows the rav- ages or technical change year by year and trade by trade—from a high of 179,315 in 1952 to 145,348 in 1959. That's a slash of 19 per cent. Accompanying the brief was a cal- lous-seeming warning that “employ- ment will decline more rapidly if excessive wage rates and costly work rules make labour an increasingly- expensive factor of production.” “In these circumstances,” the brief adds piously, “the railways would be forced to commit a larger proportion of their resources to capital expendi- tures or to accelerate the curtailment of non-remunerative or emergency services.” This was construed as a clear in- timidation attempt aimed at the non- operating unions whose strike dead- line has been reset for May 16. The brief was received by the committee with little questioning. It claimed technological change and fluctuating freight and passenger traf- fic as responsible for the labour dis- location and recorded these classifica- tion reduction: general, down 5.8 per cent; way and structure, down 15.2 per cent; equipment, down 34.7 per cent; and transportation, down 13.9 per cent. Socred Carver CARVING A NICHE: It may be truthfully said that Mines Min- ister Kenneth Kiernan has suc- cessfully whittled away the dying hours of the present sitting of the legislature. He’s been industriously at work with penknife, doing a little scrim- shaw work while the last remain- ing sessional business has droned on. (Peter Bruton in the Victoria Columnist) "The Poor Relations Act” VICTORIA—Title given Bill 42, the Labour Relations Amendment Act, 1961, was questioned in the Legislature, when the Clause pro- viding for the title was before the Committee of the Whole House. Consideration of the Clause pro- vided the occasion for opposition to objectionable principles incorp- orated in the Bill. More poarocnate titles were suggested because of the intention to use a labour-management, Act to further the political designs of the Social Credit Government. Proposed titles were: The Poor Relations Act, The Social Credit Governmient Security Act, and An Act to protect Social Credit. It was contended. that any refer- ence to election campaign contri- butions should be in a special Act or in the Provincial Elections Act. An Act intended for purposes of minimizing industrial conflict there- by becomes an Act to provoke strife it was said. Membership In British Unions Up Britain’s two largest trade unions became bigger than ever during the past year. Membership of the Transport and General Workers’ Union has reached 1,340,357 after an increase of 62,057 during 1960. This increase is remark- able in view of the slump in the auto- mobile industry in which it has a large membership. The Amalgamated Engineering Union has now topped the million mark with a membership of 1,054,369. Membership increased by 65,412 dur- ing 1960. In Great Britain and Ire- land the membership is 973,122; the other 81,247 members are in Australia and Rhodesia. The T.G.W.U. has often been criticized for being too big and in- efficient, but this criticism has gener- ally meant that it is involved in too many trades many of which have their own sections within the union. It includes longshoremen, bus drivers, truck drivers, some categories of auto- mobile factory workers, clerks and a whole host of other trades. This criticism of bigness is never heard in regard to the A.E.U., which has a much more homogeneous mem- bership consisting of skilled and un- skilled engineering workers, including women. “Sweetheart Agreements. Favoured In New Act By IWA Legislative Reporter VICTORIA—Conditions will be tougher for a legitimate trade union to establish rights as the certified bargaining agency of the employees under the revised provisions of the Labour Relations Act. Raiders negotiating “sweetheart” agreements will gain preferential consideration, it is claimed. The IWA is one of the unions likely to be placed at a disadvantage in its plans to organize new lumber operations. It was noted that in this connec- tion the Minister of Labour intro- duced amendments to his Bill in the Committee stage, intentions very clear. As before, a certified trade union is protected against raiding until the eleventh and twelfth month of the term of the agreement. An exception is now made with regard to an un- certified union, which may be raided at any time. , Back-door Agreements The amended Act provides the opportunity for invasion of juris- diction by the signing of a back- door agreement, with closed or union shop conditions. A formal ratification may easily be secured by the first few workers em- ployed. Certification with an agreement becomes possible be- fore the full crew is hired. This may place the union which or- dinarily would have jurisdiction at a disadvantage, and procures protection for the specified ten months. Under the Bill as first presented to the House, provision was made for the continuation in force of the agree- ment, when another union obtains certification. The Minister’s later amendment deletes this provision, with the result that an agreement in force becomes null and void. The Union securing certification will be required to re-negotiate benefits con- tained in the former agreement. The consent of all the employers concerned is now required before a union may secure the right to repre- sentation for one unit. Formerly, a poli-party certification was possible with a majority of the employers consenting. This adds especially to the difficulties of the building trades. Full Membership Required A majority of the employees in the bargaining unit must now be shown as members in good standing, where- as formerly their consent at the time of application was sufficient. The Board is now empowered to take a second representation vote, at a time later than the time of application, and when the employer may take advantage of changed circumstances. This condition was attacked by lex Macdonald (CCF-Vancouver thus making his- East) as being especially dangerous. An anti-union employer is given a longer period and special advantages © to subject the employees to intimida- tion, he said. Rae Eddie, M.L.A. (CCF-New Westminster), John Squire, M.L.A. (CCF-Alberni), and Leo Nimsick (CCF-Cranbrook) all attacked this section as questionable, and support- ed an Opposition amendment. Ignores Membership Rights They contended that the new law ignores the rights of the members themselves, and interferes with the right to select a union of their choice. Said John Squire, “The Govern- ment’s plan for peaceful industrial relations is entirely punitive, and is being enforced at a tremendous cost to the workers concerned”’. The trade union members re- minded the House that groups of employees seeking the right to organize and bargain collectively are being constantly subjected to attack by the employers. They opposed the Government amend- ments as offering special opportu- nities for such attacks to the employers. Alex Macdonald told the story of the tactics employed recently by the chartered banks, when unionization of bank employees was first proposed. - Workers Frustrated He said, “The fact is that many workers in this province desire to form themselves into trade unions to protect their interests but are cheated of this right by anti-labour employers seeking to depress wage standards. This Bill is an aid and comfort for employers opposed to unionization of the workers. George Hobbs (CCF- Revelstoke) asked protection for the unions in process of organization. He stated, “The -Local Unions and the B.C. Federation of Labour have done an excellent job in policing themselves”. Opposition members complained that the new amendments needlessly complicated the machinery of certi- fication. Said Hobbs, “This is stated in language that represents an astound- ing and long-winded rigmarole—an absolute misuse of the English lang- uage. oe ae as well be written in Gree The Minister of Labour stated that the new amendments gave effect to a procedure now in effect, but with- out the authority of the Act. (SaARZ A CE ae AN 8 uses By eas eh hy fhe aa fata | ZS —— “Or Cof OARSE. 7. J wear DAVIONS boeswt yale DAYTON SHOE MANUFACTURING CO. (B.C.) LTD. 2248 -50 EAST HASTINGS STREET, VANCOUVER, B.C. S-; THE BOOT THAT STAYS ON TOP! | Union-made.