5 Cents

Vancouver, B.C., Saturday, July 10, 1943”

lish Guerrillas

In Burma

vaided 200 miles behind the enemy's lines in Burma,
off counter-attacks; made way for the landing of rescue
and are enroute back to Assam in India. Such is the
story of these British commandos who wrecked supply
uppled the enemy and flew back via transport. :

tion Policy For
ihermen Protested

ae west coast pilchard fleet and the east coast salmon
ine fleet prepare to leave for the fishing grounds, many
wmplaints are being heard in regard to governmental

Honing policies.

or Miners -
Pay Raise

VA, Ont, — Interim pay
iging from 59-to 80 cents
vere this week granted
ind miners in the Aj-
WmMinoUus coal areas of Ed-

nd Carbon in a judgment
the National War Labor

ard had been asked by
line Workers District 18
© a request for a raise
ay and for overtime rates
a and British Columbia.
d granted an interim rate
day and decided to ap-
eferee tO investigate the
further adjustments.

in the Edmonton areas
1ously received a basic

: of $441 and $420 re-

—_© Although double rations have

been allowed for coffee, tea and
sugar have been granted, fisher-
men protest the fact that no addi-
tional meat rations have been al-
lowed.

The union has on many occa-
Sions taken the matter up with the
fevernment without success. Com-
plete ignorance of the number of
hours of work involved and the
conditions under which fishermen
work, say members of the Fisher
men’s Union, is indicated by the
Rationing Board’s refusal to con-
sider union proposals for increased
meat allowances.

Vessels which carry a crew of
eight men are expected to get
along on 16 pounds of meat a
week, on a seven-day working

week and excessively long hours.

During the coming week it is
expected that further representa-
tions both by operators and the
union will be made to effect a
more equitable food allowance for
fishing vessels.

Nation’s Metal
*Y 's Pledge
"No Strikes’

Wartime Policy

Stated By Union

By CHARLES McCLURE

SUDBURY, Ont.—The miners and smeltermen of Canada
met here last week-end at a two-day conference of the Inter-
national Union of Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers to draw up
a wartime program, and, in the words of international repre-
sentative Bob Carlin, “to work out a plan that will bring the
Maximum amount of happiness to the greatest number of

people.”

Present at the national confer-
ence were representatives of the
miners, smelter jwofkers and re-
finers of the world’s largest produc-
ers of nickel, lead and zinc, of such
vital minerals as tungsten, cop-
per, arsenie and platinum, of gold
and other metals. On the produc-
tion of these, Munitions and Sup-
ply Minister C. D. Howe, recently
told the House of Commons, de-
pends our whole war effort and
postwar ‘industrial development.

The union representatives met
to tackle the problems of the in-
dustry, to work out a plan of action
that would win justicé for the work-
ers they represent and benefit the
United Nations. Great stress was
put on the need for a comprehen-

Sive policy that would lead to bet-
ter working conditions and living
standards in base-metals and thus
contribute to a great increase in
output of the products essential
for the defeat of the Axis.

The part that Canada’s non-fer-
rous metal workers play in the war
was brought home by internation-
al representative Harvey Murphy.

“Every bullet that pierces a fas-
cist heart,” he said, “has in it the

metal that we bring from the
earth. That is the role that we
play.”

The conference heard reports of
delegates from many mines and
smelters in British Columbia, in-

cluding the great Consolidated
Mining and Smelting and the Gran-
by Consolidated; from the Emer-
ald Tungsten mine: from all sec-
tions of the great Sudbury nickel
and copper camp; Noranda copper;
Port Colborne nickel refinery of
International Nickel: the gold
camps of Northern Ontario and
Quebec, including Geraldon, as well
as British Columbia’s gold camps.

The reports fixed attention on
peor working conditions, man-
power problems, complicated and
irritating bonus systems and in-
adequate wages that don’t meet
rising living costs, as. well as on
vexing transportation costs, hous-
ing difficulties and the problem of
silicosis. :

The delegates cheered the first
IUMMSW union agreement in
Canada, signed with the Granby
Consolidated at Gopper Mountain,
BC. They heard a report of the
negotiations initiated at Interna-
tional Nickel’s Port Colborne re-
finery.

They told of the shutting down
of funaces at INCO’S Coniston
smelter, of copper converters
idle at Noranda, of gold mine
operators doing development
work for two or three years’
future needs, of diamond drill-
ing and even sinking of shafts

See WARTIME—Page 2

Back Wages
Awarded To

Orientals

As a result of representa-
tions before the Regional War
Labor Board by the Interna-
tional ,Woodworkers of Am-
erica, Youbou sub-local 1-80,
over 100 Chinese and East In-
dian workers employed by Indus-
trial Timber Mills at Youbou will
receive checks for back pay. Tang-
ing up to $125 through failure of
the company to pay equal wages
for equal work to Orientals.

The case arose out of an order
last Octaber by the Regional Board
that Chinese and East Indian
workers should receive the same
Pay as white workers. The orient-
als were receiving as low as 5D
cents, while the going rate was
65 cents basic.

The order was ignored by the
company and recently the [TWA
made further representations, with
the result that R. Morrison, chair-
Iman of the Regional War Labor
Board, instructed the company to
begin paying the full rate retroac-
tive to October 1, 1942. when the
Scale was established.

Will Arbitrate
Members of Vancouver Fire-
men’s Union are unanimously in
favor of-arbitrating the dispute be-
tween the City Council and its
employees oyer the latter’s de.
mand for a closed shop agreement,
according to union officials.

The votes were tabulated last
Saturday, and returns will be sub-
mitted to a meeting of Civic Em-
ployees’ Federation late this week,
when the result of the™vote by all

| branches of the civic seryice will

be announced.

Three Play Centers

First results of the steady campaign carried on by trade
unions and progressive women’s organizations for nursery
schools to accommodate children of working mothers was
realized this week with the setting up of three children’s play

centers in Vancouver,
Members of the BC MHouse-

wives League expressed their ap-

proval of the establishment of the

centers, but pointed out that this
was “only the beginning” of what
would be done with the financial
help of trade unions and other
groups. Already local unions are
offering their support, and the
Boilermakers’ Union has sent in its
first contribution of $200.

“The further expansion of the
schools, which at present are open
from nine until four, depends on
two things: the funds available
and the demand for nursery
schools,” said Jean Bird, House-

wives League delegate to the com-

mittee in charge. “If the response
justifies opening schools earlier
and closing later to accommodate
mothers working in war industry,
we will extend the service. At
present we are placing the idea be-
fore unions and organizations to
enlist their support. Mothers inter-
ested in the centers are invited to
get in touch with the one nearest
to them.’

The three centers, where children
play games and eat an excellent
lunch, are situated at Gordon
House, Alexander Neighborhood

House and United Church Com-
munity. Hall on Jackson Street.
Special children’s furniture has |
been installed, sand pits have been

pened

built and toys and games have
been donated. Quadified super-
visors are in constant attendance.

Plans for the play schools began
Some time ago after urgent appeals
for government assistance for work-
ing mothers had been made by
unions and women’s groups in
Vancouver. A government investi-
gator was sent to Vancouver to
make a survey of the need for nur-
sery schools, and one the results of
her work the present play schools
Were set up. Organizational work
is being done by a committee of
Women from Vancouver organiza-
tions, and registrations for the
schools are being carried on daily.

Trade union leaders have pledged
their support. With a severe man-
power shortage threatening war in-
dustry, they point out, the expan-
Sion of the scheme into a broad
service for all working women is
a prime necessity.

fe Sr