THE B.C, LUMBER WORKER Page Three LUMBER WORKER Bi-weekly Bulletin Published by B.C. DISTRICT COUNCIL ional Woodworkers of America Managing Editor NIGEL MORGAN Room 506, Holden Bldg., Vancouver, B.C. Phone, TRinity 4464 F ‘Make Payments to: ‘LW.A., B.C. D.C.” The logging operators today are MAN- HUNGRY. An actual shortage of ex- perienced loggers exists once again, The bosses’ “blacklist” is smashed! We have, at least for a few months, left a period of bad unemployment behind—but let us not forget some of the lessons we learned. Let us not forget how the plunderous lumber barons took advantage of sparce employment to discriminate against those who lifted their voice for better conditions and higher wages. And still more important, let us realize the oppor- tunity we have today to make good the Sround we failed to cover during this recent period, and let’s see WHILE WE HAVE THE CHANCE that no spar re- mains unrigged which will help to hoist us out of the rut we are in. Unless we spend our every effort immediately, the opportunity will be lost—for when the Present war production stops, as stop it must—an infinitely worse economic dis- location glares us squarely in the face. We have the chance today of consolidat- ing our position and guaranteeing a minimum of want and suffering in the months to come. Only a strong organiza- tion, butressed with wage increases and an employees’ agreement, can give you that guarantee. The shortage of skilled men at the “slave market” today makes any crew of men collectively masters of their own destiny. ‘The time for aggres- sive action has come. Remember what an organization of 12,000 loggers did for wages and conditions in 1919.. Organization of the Lumber Workers’ Industrial Union (from which grew the IWA), and a realization by the timber beasts that “IN UNITY THERE IS STRENGTH” brought about a feat un- matched even by Paul Bunyan. Old shacks alive with bedbugs were torn down and replaced with new ones; 10, 12 and even in some cases 14 hours of slavish, back-breaking, soul-destroying labor were reduced to 8; wages were in- creased to almost double; stenching, vermin-infested blankets and double- decked bunks were thrown out and a de- mand for single beds with blankets, clean sheets and pillows presented. Improved sanitary arrangements, bath houses, drys, Wash houses and in some cases camp libraries were won through the efforts of a determined organization. To those Who pioneered this move and compelled the bosses to clean up their disease- breeding shacks, who made the govern- Ment enforce sanitary regulations and who lifted the comforts and the general intelligence; we of this day, owe a great deal. Unionization can again today solve our problems just as it did in 1919 if we'll only cease thinking and acting in terms of “I” and think and act in terms of “wR.” Organize yourselves in each depart- ment.to work and act collectively for your common good. See that your department is represented on the Camp Committee and thereby co-ordinated with workers __ in the other departments of your camp or ‘mill, Next see that your camp or mill ‘has a functioning Camp Delegate who keep in touch with your Local and thereby guarantee co-ordina- between your operation and the woodworking plants in your dis- unify demands, publicize the needs, C.1.0. ASKS TRIAL FOR UNIONISTS TORONTO, Ont—Protesting the ar- rest of trade unionists without trial under the Defense of Canada Regula- tions, Silby Barrett, chairman of the Canadian CIO and Canadian Regional Director of S.W.O.C., wrote to Hon. Ernest Lapointe, minister of justice, this week on behalf of 14 international unions. Barrett noted that a number of trade union officers had been interned as well as members of unions. Those held should be tried in court and their guilt or innocence proven, Barrett said. UNION LEADER IN ONTARIO ARRESTED A sharp protest was forwarded to the Federal Government this week on the “undemocratic and un-Canadian” manner in which President Bruce Magnuson of the Lumber and Sawmill Workers’ Union, No. 2786 (AFL’, is reported to have been interned in a Concentration Camp “some- where in Ontario.” Magnuson, one of the most prominent and trusted leaders of Canadian Wood- workers was also Secretary-Treasurer of the Port Arthur, Ont., Trades and Labor Couneil (AFL). According to reports he was interned without trial, charge of counsel on August 7th. Expressions of solidarity have been sent to the Ontario Woodworkers on behalf of the Inter- national Woodworkers of America, and pledges of full co-operation in the trying times that lay ahead, and in protecting their wage and conditions. In view of Magnuson’s staunch anti-fascist stand, his interment is viewed by many as the first move to dismember the Ontario bushworkers’ union. ‘ordinated and assisted through their reg- ularly elected delegates to the B.C. Dis- trict Council, which in turn is affiliated to and supported by the other District Councils which comprise the Interna- tional Woodworkers of America. Through this machinery our strength is guaran- teed and “the entire lumber industry is linked together for the betterment of wages and working conditions. Collectively we are infinitely stronger than as individuals. The machinery is there—all we need now to make wheels go round is the power. AND THAT POWER IS YOU AND YOU AND YOU, who have not yet joined your fellow workmen to do something positive about those conditions about which we've all been beefing for years. Union member- ship not only means better wages and conditions for you; it means increased benefits for all. Join up now — if you're already a member become a Camp Dele- gate by communicating with your Union Secretary — and if you're honored by election as a union or district official put every ounce of energy into the drive to improve our common lot while we've got the chance. “The Socialist Sixth of the World” THE DEAN OF CANTERBURY 384 Pages — Postpaid $2.30 ‘That this book has caused the Dean to be victimized by slanderous at- tackers is not surprising, for the profiteers can get little satisfac- tion from such words as these: “, In no sense is our economic system scientific. Placing a pre- mium on selfish motives . .. it tol- erates hunger amidst plenty, and smashes human lives. ... But dawn breaks over the east; and in that fresh dawn men see the promise of a new world.” .NEW AGE BOOK SHOP Room 14 — 163 West Hastings St. Vancouver, B.C. FEDERAL HOUSE OF COMMONS DEBATES er a O Interesting quotations trom Parlia- mentary debate on inclusion of loggers under “Unemployment Insurance Plan.” Wendell Farris, K,C., Boss-Logger Repre- sentative, Lets the Cat Out of the Bag. On page 200 of volume IIT of the evi- dence and proceedings Mr. Farris states, in part: % “I may also say that that logging group are @ very transient number of employ- ees. For instance, take our particular as- sociation which represents 70 per cent, as I said, of the log production in British Columbia. At the peak period last year there would be jobs for approximately 7,000 yet the placements for that 7,000 ex- » ceeded 12,000. In other words they are moving back and forth all the time. It is almost like being on a street car, they are getting on one place and off the next. “And I might say that I happen to be director of the Union Steamship Com- pany, the company which has prac- tically all the ships doing to a large ex- tent the transportation business on the west coast of British Columbia going from point to point; and we do a very large passenger business, and I have had an opportunity of watching, which I do every month, the list of passengers, and nearly that whole passenger list is made up of loggers going to and from these camps.” Black’s Employment Agency Exposed; James Sinclair, M.P., B.C. Rhodes Scholar, Mr. SINCLAIR: “I was asking the Minister of Labor to specify the various administrative difficulties in connection with including loggers. He referred me to page 259 of the minutes of proceedings and evidence of the special committee, If this is the chief reason why loggers are not included, I say they should be included. “In British Columbia the one industry that maintains an employment office is the logging industry. It runs its own agency, Black’s agency, which keeps records of all the loggers, showing where they are employed, and so on, and also keeps a blacklist of those log- gers who do show a little spirit. If this is the administrative reason for not including loggers, I think it is a very weak one. “I should like a little more information on this question of administrative diffi- culties, not only for my own benefit but for that of the people at home, the log- gers, who do not have a chance to read these reports. They would like to know from the minister what these great ad- ministrative problems are which prohibit the inclusion of loggers under this bill.” Mr, CRUICKSHANK: “I should like to correct the hon. gentleman in one par- ticular, It is not Black’s agency; it is the British Columbia loggers’ agency, under Mr, Black. “We in British Columbia have been surprised at the attitude of the hon. member for Vancouver East (Mr. Mac- Innis). After reading his remarks on Friday, one would not be astonished even to learn that he had been—very properly—transferred to that chamber which is quaintly called ‘another place’ “Some remarks have been made about lobbying. I do not know what lobbying is in the actual technical sense. I do Imow that I have not been approached or influenced by any such agency. “Naturally these people put forward the best case they can. Our loggers at home, the men who work in the woods in the most dangerous and hazardous occupation in British Columbia, are poorly organized. They are poorly or- ganized because the boss loggers in British Columbia have long been the most powerful influence in the province. The men could not afford to send ex- CAMP ONE KICKS OVER PAY RATE A lot of kicking can be heard among the fallers and buckers at Camp 1 over the rate of pay, both bushellers and’ day men. The timber here is small and all we get a thousand is 70 and %5 cents. For day work the wages are $5.40, and many of the old timers who have been here five and six years are pulling the pin and seeking jobs elsewhere. Since the raise the board has taken a turn for the worse and if it weren’t for the fresh milk we would starve to death. ‘This Iayout needs organizing, and if the boys would realize it they never had a better opportunity than right now. Experienced loggers are scarce, and the timber barons are making greater profits now than they. have, done for years, while on the other hand we are paying more for everything we have to buy, so how about going after that raise? ¥Fraternally yours, ALBERNI LOGGER. ” Johnson’s Loggers Regular $16.50 Value * $15.50 Besides Your Saving, for Every Pair Sold, the IWA Receives $1.00. 105644 West Pender Street Vancouver, B.C. Pennsylvania Hotel... UNDER NEW MANAGEMENT Carrall .& Hastings Street “The Loggers’ Hub” FIRST CLASS ACCOMMODA- TION at REASONABLE PRICES Kenneth Campbell, Evans Roy, Proprietors @ MEET YOUR FRIENDS AT THE PENN.! Join Your Friends at COURTENAY HOTEL “The Loggers’ Headquarters” G.TATER - - PROP. Courtenay, V.1. When In Vancouver Stop at COLUMBIA HOTEL Licensed Premises 303 COLUMBIA AVE. Sey. 1956 Samanessnnnnennnccnnnennninl pensive counsel down here to plead their case before this committee. They did send to the British Columbia mem- bers an excellent and very able brief stating their case. Our friend the hon. member for Nanaimo (Mr. Chambers) has quoted from that document. So far as these loggers are concerned there is no group more deserving of protec- RBS SS See eeeeeeeeeeneesy, emauncnunenecuneuunanas tion, and right now.”