‘Four THE BC LUMBER WORKER March 19, 1941 FRASER MILLS NEEDS UNIONIZING TO IMPROVE WAGES, CONDITIONS FRASER MILLS, B.C.—Recently a complete shift at the veneer plant was laid off because of lack of shipping facilities and also to allow the company to install new equipment for the speed-up of production. The old peeler at the plant turned thirty revolutions a minute, and they have pored the form for a new peeler which is reported to ‘be capable of doing eighty revolutions per minute. To handle the increased output the tables have been lengthened, and a new automatic clipper has been installed. The main result of this reorganization of the veneer plant has shown itself in the lay-off of a complete shift, and it will be found when the plant is in full swing again that a fewer number of men will be turning out more than the previ- ous crew, thus increasing the profits and the number of unemployed workers. Another bone of contention at this same mill is the mythical “blower sys- tem,” which the company has been prom- ising both the workers in the veneer plant and also at the planer mill for some time past. It is another indication of how much Mr. Mackin values our health and welfare. The matter was taken up last fall with the Workmen's Compensation Board by the IWA but to date there has been nothing done. Another appeal last ‘week brought the promise the Safety In- spector would inspect the mill on March 17. There is also the question of the lack of sanitary conditions in the mill, and we would like to ask Mr, Mackin how much longer our health is to be jeopardized by the lack of washrooms and flush toilets, Below are a few of the comparative rates of pay between the Crosset- Western Lumber Co, of Oregon, with which the IWA has a union agreement, and the Western Canada Lumber Co, of Fraser Mills: Crosset-Western Lumber Co. Electrician $1.02% per hour Millwright .92 per hour Boom Men . 72% per hour Sawmill Labor and .70 per hour Canada Western Lumber Co. Electrician $ .68 per hour Millwright 65 per hour Boom Men ... .60 and .55 per hour Sawmill Labor ......’ 38% to .50 per hour These are merely a few of the classi- fications and the general difference in all rates is twenty cents an hour or more higher where the IWA agreement exists. It is quite apparent, as the above scale shows, that increased wages and better working conditions can only be obtained by organizing into a democratic trade union for bargaining collectively. It is only by organizing that we will put to an BRALORNE MINERS VOTE FOR C.I.0. Another blow at “company-unionism“ ‘was driven home last week when the Bra- lorne hardrock miners of Bridge River ousted the Company-supported, so-calle& “co-operative committee.” At a vote taken Friday, March 7, the employees of Bralorne Mines Ltd. voted for the C.L.O. International Union of Mine, Mill & Smelter Workers Local 271 _as their bargaining agency. Official fig- ‘ures were: in favor of union, 256; against, ; one spoiled ballot, _ This vote was taken to establish a new _ collective bargaining agency. _ Int. Representative MePeake reports a t increase in membership and looks to improved wages and working tions as a result of the establish- of a genuine union, FOODS ARE GOOD FOR YOU . +, and you'll ke them at “ONLY” FISH ARE ALWAYS FRESH! UNION HOUSE end the dictatorial methods of Mr. Mackin and the intimidation and dis- crimination. By organizing we will pave the way for a higher standard of living for the workers and remove the constant fear which these little dictators keep hanging over our heads, the fear of no job security. Mill Gossip The Mohawk Lumber Company has closed down for two weeks, during which alterations will be made to the mill. The edger has been taken out and they are going to renew all the timber, put in a new roller and shafts, and rebuild the carriage. The biggest percentage of the men will be employed in remodelling the mill and only a small lay-off is antici- pated. z According to latest reports, Sitka Spruce is putting on a full shift and is expected to re-open the other mill, which has been shut down for some time. | Pre-Fabricated Buildings Ltd. has been completely shut down for three months. It is now re-opening and in the past two weeks re-hired about 12 of their former employees to work on elevator annex orders for grain storage on the prairies. Recently the Government instigated a housing program which will utilize pre- fabricated buildings and this Company will undoubtedly come in for a large share of the orders, as it is the only plant of its type in Canada. North Shore Creosote has received con- siderable contracts recently from the Federal Government, and all indications are that operations will be going wide open in a short time. After laying off al- most their complete crew, they have started to re-hire, and so far have taken back about 20 of the old crew. However, Manager Herrman has quite consistently neglected to live up to the terms of the agreement with the union in the past, and unless we keep our drive up in this plant, the gains of the past will be lost. Attend the next meeting of the Union, in the’ K. of P. Hall, North Vancouver, Thursday, March 20th, 8 p.m. Victoria Millworkers Want IWA To Better Standards | LUMBER MARKET Lack of bottoms has created quite a “pottle-neck” in B.C. lumber production during the past month. Curtailed opera- tions in a number of mills has created a surplus stock of logs. The export busi- ness is dull and the promise for improve ment in this direction is reported from well-posted sources to be slim. Log pro- duction has been heavy, with unusually good logging weather in February stimu- lating production. Shingle demand re- mains steady, with plywood mills still well occupied. B.C. LOG PRICES, MARCH Ist Fir—$13-$18-§25; Peelers—§26-§33. Hemlock—$10-$12. Cedar—Shingle, $10. Lumber, $19-$25. Yellow Fir—Camp run peelers $17-§21. LUMBER PRICES, MARCH Ist, SEATTLE, WASHINGTON 1x4 B&B V & G Flooring. 1x4 C V G Flooring . ix4 B&B S G Flooring . x4 C'S G Flooring . Ix DSG 1x6 B&B S G Flooring . 1x6 CS G Flooring ... 1x6 DS G Flooring . x4 B&B Ceiling .. 5gx4 © Fir Ceiling .. %x4 D Fir Ceiling 1x4 B&B Fir Ceiling ix4 C Fir Ceiling . 1x4 D Fir Ceiling . 1x6 B&M Drop Siding (105) + 42.00 1x6 B&B Drop Siding (all other)... 41.00 1x6 D Fir Drop Siding ............. 32.00 No. 1 Common Fir Boards - $46.00 ~ 40.00 + 36.00 - 34.00 » 31.00 - 42.00 + 40.00 » 32.00 - 35.00 . 32.00 . 23.00 + 37.00 + 32.00 + 26.00 Oe ae -$29.00 HicciS - 29.00 Blecr1Oh 2 <= . 27.00 thors Aen - 30.00 (Shiplap same as boards) No, 1 Common Small Timbers and Planic + $25.00 + 22.50 24.50 3x8 and 6x6 to 30 ft. 12x12 8-20 ft. 12x12 20 ft. and up .. No. 1 Dimension 2x4 12 and 14 2x4 16 . 2x4 18. Mr. Mackin Repudiated Editor, B.C. Lumber Worker: It was a great pleasure on my part to read your recent pamphlet, which did show to us in round figures what pro- fits Fraser Mills made in the past year. Mr, Mackin’s letter to his employees, of whom I am one, of February 13th, was shown up as a mis-statement of facts, and I notice that to date the company hasn’t tried to show us that these fig- ures were not true, They did substantiate your statement that the company made 70 times their profit. Let us have more of these pamphlets showing up this company’s profits, etc. “One of the Boys.” Meet Your Friends at MANITOBA | HOTEL 44 W. Cordova St. Outside Rooms — Elevator Service Steam Heat — Reasonable Rates Centrally Located SEy. 8580 N, J. THOMPSON, Mgr. Editor, B.C. Lumber Workekr: For the past three months we have been watching your organizer distribut- ing papers and wondering who would come out on top. It was a very one-sided affair until the management of Fraser Mills put out his article, dated February 18th, re War Savings Certificates, Most of us working here at Fraser Mills, who have been forced into buying these certificates, resent very much the attitude taken by Mr. Mackin, as. we did buy them under compulsion. The company now claims voluntary 100 per cent results in their War Savings drive, but I know this to be a falsehood. They did succeed in most cases,: with intimi- dation, but there are a few who just won't be forced into buying anything. Sincerely yours, A Circle “F” Worker. “The greater the difficulties are, the stronger we resist, The final victory must be ours. “China Today.” HANEY TAILORS 62 East Hastings St. Phone SEy. 9417 - Vancouver, B.C, WE GUARANTEE A PERFECT FIT AND COMPLETE SATISFACTION! a VICTORIA—If ever a union was needed, it sure is needed here. The work- ing conditions in the mills are rotten. Day by day one can see more and more speed-up taking place, men being hurt in greater numbers than ever, and discrim- ination is a common occurrence. Here in Cameron’s Mill five men were hurt last week. Two were serious acci- dents and the blame ‘can only be placed on speeding up. Sanitary conditions are disgusting. Three flush toilets for over 250 men. The stench is terrible in there as it is far from being clean. There is need for blowers to eliminate the dust, a lunch room and many other things supplied in union plants, but we cannot do anything about it because we would be canned as soon as we raised the question individually. We were told at the Company banquet we would receive a $4.00 per month bonus if we would sign to have it in War Sav- ing Certificates and if we refused to sign, then there would be no bonus for us. A bonus we never sée. A bonus for which we are taxed but from which we receive no benefit. The wages are as low as the law will permit, 40c per hour in many instances, with very little more being paid to the great majority. “How much longer are we to tolerate such conditions,” many are thinking and some are even saying. Men, we will have to tolerate such rotten conditions until such time as we do something about’ it as a body. Individually we can be beaten and be compelled to accept them, but once we decide to come together we will be in a position to better our conditions. I might say that from conversations with mill workers in the Cooperage, Lemon & Gonason’s and others that the same con- ditions exist there. Let’s get together and join the LW.A. and put a stop to such conditions, Organ- ized we shall be respected and treated as human beings—unorganized we shall continue to be beaten and robbed of our labor. A MILLWORKER. 2x6 12 and 14 2x6 16 .. 2x6 18-20 27.00 2xB 12 26.50 2x8 14 26.50 2x8 16 2x8 18 and 20 . 2x12 16-20 ... SHINGLE PRICES (Direct to the Trade) 1-16” 5/2 . -$2.85-$3.00 2-16” 5/2 . - 1.85- 1.90 3-16" 5/2 . ++. 135- 145 1-24" 4/2 . -$4.00-$4.10 224" 4/2 . + 2,80- 2.40 8-24" 4/2 .. . 1.55- 1.60 PERFECTIONS 118” 5/2% $3.00-$3.10 2-18" 5/2% .... + . 2.05- 2.20 3-18” 5/24 . 1.50- 1.60 When In Vancouver Stop at COLUMBIA HOTEL Licensed Premises 303 COLUMBIA AVE. Sey. 1956 geneneenesnncnaneesecnnnns. BINGO & DANCIN at the Ih Community Halll 1320 East Hastings St. BINGO 8:30 DANCING 9 to 2) Music by HELGE ANDERSON EVERY SATURDAY ADMISSION 25 CENTS , ‘ s ‘ ‘ ‘ 6 s g s g 6 g s é 4 s s 4 6 4 Janracneneunneneenacaae Swe