Pay Envelopes Must Stay Big For National Prosperity ‘NEW YORK.=+Speaking on-the reasons for labor unrest in the U.S., CIO President Philin Murray, in a nationwide radio broadcast, national pay envelope, declaring that Murray declared that “there ‘have beén four major, whopping- cuts in wages and salaries that, according to the U.S. Commerce Department, have taken twenty billion dollars out of the national pay envelope.”’. These cuts, he Said, are: @ The cut in hours of work— generally from 48 to 40 hours a week— with the elimination of overtime. The average manufac- turing worker who earned $46.35 in June, is now making only $35.60—a cut of $10.75 a week. ::.@® Unemployment. One month after V-J Day two million men and women were laid off entirely and the number is mounting daily. That means no wages or salaries at all for people who a very few short months ago were working for a living. Unless something is done, and done fast, this cut will grow even bigger. @ Downgrading. The third big eut in the nation’s pay envelope came when—as production was cut down—wage earners and sal- aried employees were downgraded from high-paying to lower-pay- ing jobs. @ The big cut in the nation’s pay envelope is a hidden one. During the war, according to the War Production Board, labor’s productivity rose about 25 per- cent over all. That is to say, | what before the war it took five men or women to make, now re- quires only four men or women.” During the war, Murray as- serted, while living costs rose ‘45 percent, it was only because _of overtime payments that many American homes were able to avoid going into debt. Many fa- milies had to take additional measures or go into debt to bridge the gap between earnings and prices, he said, adding: “Now that overtime is vanishing, now that wage-earners and salaried employees are being downgraded to lower-paying jobs, now that the army of the unemployed is growing by millions— there is simply no way left for Ameri- can families to stay out of the red.” There is no dispute about the immediate necessity for: in- creases, Murray said. “No lead- _ing industrialist has stood up and declared that wages and salaries should not be raised now. Every- body agrees that the shrinking national pay envelope must be restored.” The “shouting” he declared, arises from whether there should be inadequate or substantial increases. But, he continued, “nothing short of sub- with less than 400 workers en- gaged in spinning, and weaving mills with less than 500 workers are left in private hands, and privately-owned clothing factor- ies may employ up to 500 work- ers. Retail trade is left in pri- vate or cooperative hands, as is the ownership of private homes, apartment houses, ings [ this week blamed the shrinking of the “the. national’s pay envelope must stay big‘if there are to be jobs for all.’’ Unless this is done, Murray said, the U.S. will be “plunged back down the inexorable path of depression, misery, mass unemployment and starvation. La- bor insists that substantial increases must be made promptly if our country as a whole is to maintain the national purchasing power which will lead to economic health and security.” most part simply idle in the coffers of industry. And more, corporate profits for the next years are forecast by business sources at twice their levels in prewar years.” Citing statis-~ ties, he pointed out that “cor- porate profits before taxes rose almost four times during the war, to over 17 billion dollars in 1944. After taxes corporate profits still doubled.” ing to data supplied by two life Insurance companies, . business 1939, “with financial assets at the disposal of business totalling $66 billion at the end of July, PHILIP MURRAY Of this, Murray added, accord- profits rose by 277 percent since 1944, compared with $17.5 bil- lion at the beginning of the war. In addition, he continued, “Con- gress is substantially reducing the excess profits tax by law. This means that industry next year will be able’ to keep as profits almost $2 billion that otherwise would have been paid in taxes.” Further, next year, according to Business Week, corporate profiis are going to be more than twice as big as they were before the war. Canada Packers prise of industry in Canada. It merely pared down the unrea- sonable profits which corpora- tions like Canada Packers have been making at the expense of their employees and of farmers. It was reasonable to keep pro- fits down for the war effort. It is equally reasonable to keep them down for the peace -and put that money into productive use. Right now a strike looms in the packinghouse industry be- eause the companies refuse to give their workers union secur- ity and living wages. The fight against the workers is being led by Canada Packers which is prepared, if necessary, te deprive the people of Canada and of Europe of meats in, or- der to still further inflate ite swollen financial glands. And Mr. Ilsley’s budget is supplying the “stimulus!” — defense “industry plants, the manufacture of drugs. In the textile industry, mills office build- and hotels, except when Industries Nationalized In Czechoslovakia, Alse Banks LONDON.—President Eduard Benes of Czechoslovakia this week signed a decree nationalizing 27 industries, includ- ing commercial banks and insurance companies. Coal mines, mineral deposits, steel plants, including subsidiaries, pletely nationalized under the terms of the .decree. Most glass and chemical industries are likewise affected, including stantial increases now will re- vive the nation’s shrinking pur- chasing power.” Asserting that this is not an inflationary step and that prices “need not go6 up,” the CIO president declared that “the money to increase the nation’s pay envelope is available—not only available, but for the considered an essential part of the nationalized enterprise. In effect, hardly any enterprise with more than 590 workers is exempted from . nationalization, while none with fewer than 150 workers is affected. The decree provides for the confiscation of German and Hungarians known to have been the Bata shoe factories and are com- as well as Czechs who collabor- ated with the enemy or who were fascists..German and Hungarian anti-fascists will be compensated for nationalized properties as will others affected. Properties will be appraised on the basis of property values the day the de- eree was signed. The nationalization program provides for a board of direc- tors and a general manager for each enterprise, confirmed by the industry minister. They will receive the same amount as under private ownership. The state will receive “surplus. profits,” but will not be responsible for los- ses. The decree resulted from an agreement emong’ the Social- Democratic. Communist and Catholic Peoples’ Democracy parties and President Benes’ €Clubs and Chairmen listed VANCOUVER CENTER GINGER GOODWIN CLUB— Meets every Sunday 8 p.m. at 875 East For information telephone Glyn BA. 7031L. Hastings. Thomas, WEST END CLUB—Charles Caron: ~~ Meets every second -and’ fourth Wednes- day each month, 1332 Davie Sr. : VICTORY SQUARE—Jack) Taylor: ~_ >} Meets every Friday at 8 p-m., 339 West Pender St., in Boilermakers’--Hall. > == EAST END —John Sawitsky; ‘ Meets every second and fourth- Wednes- day, 875 East Hastings. : - GEORGIA —John Stark: Seo = Meets every first and third. Thursday of each month, Croatian Hall. J GRANDVIEW—Carolyn McFarlane: Meets every second and fourth Thursday each month. 875 Bast Hastings. VANCOUVER BAST HASTINGS EAST—Helen.-Mathieson= Meets every second and fourth Wednes- day each month, Olympia. Hall, 2303 East Hastings. NORQUAY—Effie Jones: Meets every second and fourth Wednes- | day of each month, Norquay Hall, Slocan and Kingsway- = SOUTH HILL—J. Henderson: Meets. every second and fourth Wednes- day cf each month, Horticultural Hall, 41st and Fraser VANCOUVER: BURRARD BURRARD EAST—vVal Christie: Meets every second and fourch Wednes- day of each month, 1302 East 1Zth. ‘“+¥ ings first and third Ti } Hastings, -& -jp.m. Ghai 4 YUKO WHITEHORSE—Boyd 2G} 3 YAL} tf MERRITT—Angelo Ross Ba | NEWSPAPERS MAGAZINES BOOKLETS and — : JOB PRIN’ of all fascists or supporters of fascism PAGE 10 — PACIFIC ADVOCATE Czech Socialist party. DESCRiPT F QUALITY and § | EAST END P| 2303 E> Hastings SATURDAY, NOVEN