9, No. 16

VANCOUVER, B.C., WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1940

C= (239)

An Editorial

_ The International Woodworkers of
America is being ¢onstantly at-
tacked by the lumber barns; accused
of fomenting discontent and dis-
loyalty because it is seeking to im-
prove working conditions, increase
wage standards and obtain written
contracts, all of which will make for
greater peace and harmony, in-
ereased efficiency. and stability.
The I.W.A. firmly believes in the
cause of freedom and democracy,
and has said so ever since its incep-
tion, which is more than some of our
present “dollar patriots” can say.
Not only have we said we believe in
democracy, but we are living up to
the democratic traditions of Canada
and the British Commonwealth by
taking our responsibilities seriously.
Everybody knows that an essen-
tial element in fascism is the de-
gradation of the lives of the people,
and most good Canadian citizens
know, too, that the winning of the
struggle for democracy involves win-
ning a prosperous and happy future
for Canadians, There are certain
elements in this country, just as
there are in France, who want to
hide ugly facts, as part of their be-
trayal of democracy. These ugly
facts in Canada are the huge profits
being made by a few firms and indi-
viduals —- not eliminated by profit
taxes—coupled with widespread un-
employment, cutting of relief, rising
costs of living and low wages. The
ugly facts that democratic citizens
must expose are that there are still
some people, masking their treach-
ery behind “patriotic” phrases, who
are cheating the people at a time
of national crisis; when many Ca-
nadians are suffering bitter depriva-
tions,
Some employers are by means of
“whispering campaigns” accusing
the I.W.A. of spreading discontent
and disharmony. Let us remind
these individuals that workers in
this country have, and will continue
to have, so long as democracy re-
mains, the LEGAL right to organize
and bargain collectively in connec-
tion with wages, hours and other
working conditions, and that the
best means of maintaining and ex-
tending democracy in a free coun-
_ try is for employers, especially those
government contracts,
which hav

brought them greatly
sed markets and business
, to do business with organ-
Jabor in a peaceful and amicable
_Free labor in a free demo-
¢ country is the finest and best
of a continued and suc-
fight against fascism and dic-
whether from without or
this great country. The
Bes ection st oo
prol of reducing
U high death and accident

se problems are no’
+ Ra ee teaieege

es As in the United States, Ford of

SIXTY-SIX B.C. MEN
KILLED IN LUMBERING

Another sharp increase in the death
toll taken by B.C, lumber this year was
registered during the last fortnight with
six more deaths reported, thus bring-

ing the list up to

within two of last
year’s all-time record
Woodworkers
have been

of 68. And still more
than three months of
killed in B.C.’s
lumber in-

operations to go.
Fatal accidents re-

dustry since

Jan. 1, 1940,

ported include: (1) O.
Hedman, head faller
at Merril, Ring and
Wilson, Rock Bay, who was killed by a
falling snag. (2) Charles Pratt, who was
killed by a falling snag while fighting a
forest fire at Midge Creek, near Nelson.
(3) Jack Spruceman, of Industrial Tim-
ber Mills, Youbou, who fell from a logging
train at the loading depot, fracturing
his skull. (4) Francis Phipps, 21-year-
old truck driver at,Chisnall’s Camp, Port
MeNeil. ‘The truck he was driving got out
of control on a grade and was wrecked:
(5) Robert Lee Spruston, who fell from a’
crane while working at the Youbou Mill,
Lake Cowichan. (6) J. Nicholas, who was
killed at Morgan’s Q.C.I. Camp 2 at
Cumshewa Inlet, when the skyline came
down, hitting him on the head.

°

IWA PARTICIPATES IN FORMING
NEW “CANADIAN CONGRESS OF
LABOR” WITH 100,000 MEMBERS

TORONTO, Ont——A national central labor body, known as the Ca-

nadian Congress of Labor, was established here when delegates from
CIO and All-Canadian Congress of Labor unions in joint’ convention
approved the merger of the two groups. The amalgamation brings to-
gether under one banner over 100,000 members, making the new congress
the second largest labor body in the Dominion.

Greeted as a major move toward total@was endorsed in principle at the first

unity of labor in the nation, the merger

Elected To Lead Canadian
Labor Congress

PRESIDENT A. R. MOSHER

SEATTLE, Wash.—Many successes

“Our record as an affiliate of the

growing and dependable labor force,”

instrument in rallying our membership

maintenance and extension of civil

sending of a record sized delegation

CIO Woodworkers’ Convention
To Meet In Aberdeen, Wash.

combined attacks of anti-labor forces bent on destroying the CIO will be re-
ported at the fourth constitutional convention of the International Wood-
workers of America opening in Aberdeen, Wash., October 7, the union’s official
call to the convention declared last week.

woodworking industry is unquestionably that of a powerful, stable, ever-
“The policy and program of our international union has been the main
a program for jobs for the unemployed, economic security for the employed,
liberties for labor and the people, and above
all, to keep the United States at peace.”
All B.C, locals of the I.W.A. are busy completing final arrangements for the

Union’s program and policies will be drafted for the next year.

and achievements won in spite of the

CIO representing every phase of the
the call said.

and attracting the unorganized around

to the important meeting, where the

Map Aggressive
Union. Campaign

WINDSOR, Ont, — After mapping a
program designed to further increase the
strength and usefulness of the United
Automobile Workers of America, CIO,
Canadian delegates to that unions fifth
convention returned home this week.

Chief action taken by the convention
of interest to Canada was the decision
to organize Ford plants and the aircraft

|LOGGING FIRM FINED

COURTENAY, Sept. 10. — The Comox
Logging and Railway Company Ltd. was
found guilty by Stipendiary Magistrate
‘T. D. Leyland here on a charge of failing
to fall snags within 200 feet of an op-
erating engine in accordance with the
Forestry Act, and was fined $25 and costs.

LOG PRICES

FIR: $13-$18-$25; Peelers, $26-$33.

HEMLOCK: $10-$12.

CEDAR: Shingle, $9; Lumber,
$19-24.

/ Nigel

session of the convention after cdnsid-
erable debate resulting from a demand
for more information concerning the
unity move,

Convention leaders predicted the new
congres, increased in strength and in
personnel as a result of the convention
decision, would permit an organizing
campaign throughout Canada “which
will, within a comparatively brief period,
make the congress the largest labor or-
ganization in the Dominion.”

Among the resolutions adopted were
those calling for a movement to seek a
general wage increase throughout in-
dustry in Canada to compensate the work-
ers for the increase in the cost of living.

Opposition was expressed to any of-
ficial lengthening of the hours of labor
“as long as there is available a sufficient
number of workers to take care of the re-
quirements of industrial production es-
sential to the nation’s war effort.”

TO ESTABLISH TIES.

The new executive was instructed to
explore the posibility of bringing about,
in cooperation with the Trades and Labor
Congress, a complete consolidation of
Canadian labor.

‘The delegates also voted to take neces-
sary measures to establish fraternal rela-
tionships with the British Trades Union
Congress and the CIO in the United
States.

Morgan, International Repre- |
sentative of the LW.A., who unsuccess-

fully opposed Chairman A. R. Mo:
in the election for president of the Con-
gress, stated on returning to Vancouver
this week: “Unification of two important
labor organizations like the C.LO. and
A.C.C.L. is an important step forward
in the struggle of Canadian workers for
higher wages, improved working condi-
tions and long-needed social legislation.
This congress can do much to ensure the /
preservation of civil liberties and the ex-

tension of democracy.

“The measuring stick by which our
progress can be judged will be the degree
to. which we succeed in organizing of the
unorganized. This can only be done if we
in this Congress demand the proper de-

-gree of liberalism in the legislative pro-

gram. This congress must make full pro-

(Continued on Page 4)

APL, fallers at Camp 1, Alberni,
laid down tools this morning when the
company refused to meet them on wage
hoist demand, similar to that granted
A.P.L’s Thompson and Clark crew.
as reported on page two. Beware of
attempts to hire scabs. Later informa-
tion may be obtained from any I.W.A.