Page Two

THE BC. LUMBER WORKER

LETTERS

|

Camp

Comments

“Every Reader a Correspondent”

Jackson Crew

Wins Move

For General Wage Boost

ACKSON’S CAMP, Wilson Creek, B.C.—Taking action aganist an op-
eration- which had set some kind of record for payment of sub-standard
wages on the B.C, Coast, the crew of this camp met in a body on May 1
and successfully put in a bid for wage increases ranging from 25 cents

to 50 cents a day.

QUEEN’S REACH CAMP
SHOWS NEED OF UNION

Queens Reach Log,
Jervis Inlet, B.C.

To the Editor:

This report has been a long time com-
ing, or going, unlike the crew up here
which comes and goes regularly.

The reason, the usual sub-standard
conditions, small wages, ($4.75 on the
chokers and so on down the line), etc.

When full, this camp employees around
70 men, there are 35 here at the present
time. 4

The food here is good, perhaps that is
one reason nothing has been done about
bettering conditions and wages. Poor
food seems to be the only thing that will
get a rise out of some workers these days.

In my opinion, more organizers are
needed in these small camps. Perhaps
that is not news, but it does present a
sad picture, after the struggle the log-
gers have gone through for the past 20
years,

The men in these small camps who
could do the job are playing dumb be-
cause they feel they cannot stand the
economic risk involved, in trying to org-
anize a camp, some also feel they would
not be in these camps if they had not
stuck their necks out in the past.

All this goes to form my opinion that
more organizers are needed now, before
it is too late, and we are in the next stage
of this depression when our wages will
be cut by more than “taxes.”

I hope you can enlighten me on this
ever present problem. I feel that any
effort will help, so please send up 20
papers to the above name and address.
They will be the first since the Navy
was in, and no doubt the boys would like
to know how many loggers have been
killed this year.

‘The following is a report on an outfit
operating about seven miles from this
camp, known as the “Malibu Trading Co.”
T, F. Hamilton is the owner. This Hamil-
ton is a self-styled American industrial-
ist—he invented the Hamilton aeroplane
propeller,

He is building cedar cabins, trading
store, cafe, etc, He operates a mill on
QR.T. property, The men work in the

Victoria Millworkers !
Local 1-118 IWA

Meeting held Second Sunday
of every month at 10:30 a.m.
Room 23 — 1116 Broad St.

Under the new scale chokermen will
receive $4.50, an increase of 50 cents;
rigging slingers were boosted from $5.00
to $5.50; signal men from $3.20 to $3.45;
and the road crew from $3.20 to $3.45
and in some cases $3.60.

Jackson, his son and the “push” were
invited to the meeting and presented
with the demands.

Though the new scale is still far below
the prevailing wage rate in most camps
on the Coast, prior to this action by the
crew the Jackson Log Camp was by far
the lowest-paying operation on the Coast.
General workking conditions and camp
accommodation were also on a par with

| wages.

The camp had been visited early this
year by organizers of Local 71 but had
been unable to contact many of the crew,
most of whom lived on small farms scat-
tered throughout the Sechelt-Gibson’s
Landing district. At the time of their
visit, the organizers were challenged by
Jackson and told they could “do noth-
ing” about his camp because, in his
words, he had the operation “Fordized,”
with every man “quite satisfied with con-
ditions.”

mill eight hours a day, and sometimes
log at night, at least as long as they can
see. They don't use caulk boots in the
woods, They work ten to twelve hours
a day, and get paid $75.00 for a 30-day
month,

This includes, with the possible excep-
tion of two or three key men, mill work-
ers, carpenters, plumbers, boat men, saw
setter, fallers, ete.

I bring this to your attention in the
hope that some law of compensation or
otherwise can do something about it. I
realize little can be done by anyone ex-
cept the men themselves, If there is any-
thing outside of action by the men, I
trust that you will do it. I understand
there is a minimum wage for carpenters
in and out of town.

One more beef concerning this camp,
Queens Reach. Our first aid man gets
$75.00 a month and board. That is also
a 30-day month job. On top of being
first aid man, he meets the boat at
3 o'clock in the morning, once a week,
works eight hours a day in the garage,
As a result, his hands are covered with
grease all day. Is it not true there is
a minimum wage set by the government
for first aid men?

I think that is all for this time, please

send the papers as Soon as possible.
Fraternally yours, Card 80-1972.

Ask for “GEORGE”

*& WEST

Cars Fully Insured .

Office and Stand - - - -

Phone
PA cific

0936

TAXI *

. . Reasonable Rates
West Hotel, 444 Carral Street

8374

DAY’S PAY FOR BOAT
FUND GETS SUPPORT

idea of a day’s pay for the
Loggers’ Navy is now taking
hold with individual contributors help-
ing to boost the fund to its present
total of $736.38. \

Not to be outdone by a high rigger
or a whistle punk, a bullcook takes
first place with a contribution of $10,
which is a great deal more than one
day’s pay for a bulleook.

Queen Charlotte area is still lead-
ing, with Kelly's Limestone Bay camp
following the Cumshewa crew to the
extent of $78.00, and Camp B-40 close
behind with a total of $67.00, First
response from Morgan’s camps
brought in $50.75 from Headquarters,
and $40.28 from Camp 2.

Brown's Camp at Pitt Lake, and
Bell & Campbell's, Minstrel Island,
got into the running this week with
substantial donations, and just to
show they are far from through with
the collection, additional cheques were
received from the men at Loose Lake
Log, Gibson Brothers and O'Malley's.

Several of the members returning
to town, whether before the collec-
tion was taken in camp, or feeling
they can spare some more, have
called into the local office, and in
many cases gave a day's pay to build

the Navy.

EXTENDS THANKS
Merville, B.C,
Editor, B.C, Lumber Worker:

I wish to show my appreciation to
all those who were so kind as to take
up a collection on my behalf, by tak-
ing this opportunity to thank them
through the B.C, Lumber Worker.
Thanking you, I am,

Yours truly,
(MRS.) JOHN SUNDIN.

Before you buy or exchange your car}
Phone A. L. SANDBERG
FAir. 6175 — BAy. 1872-L

“Support the one who supports you|
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deal.”

Representing

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65 Kingsway ‘Vancouver, B.!

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DEATHS MOUNI
IN FIFTH MON

Alfred Spoonmore, 25, reported
and believed drowned, its
ninth victim of 1941 fatal

Spoonmore was working on
at the C, B. Smith camp, Lost
miles north of Squamish on May ¢
pike pole and hat were found,
body has not been recovered.

Donald Ross Robertson, 59,
Parksville on May
6, as a result of burns
suffered while work-
ing on a locie April
16, at the Elk River
Timber Company,
Quinsam. Robertson
was burned while at-
tempting to repair a
staybolt in. the fire-
box of an engine,
UNREPORTED FATALITIES,

Belated reports have been rec
of the accidental death on Feb
18, of Mitsuo Shindon, 29-year-old
anese faller, killed at Wm Grumbach
camp, Poet’s Nook when a snag, knoc
down by a tree, swung back and s
him on the side.

Koy Young, 49, Chinese faller,
killed on March 15, at the C. W. Loggin
operation, Cameron Lake, when the to
of a sidewinder, knocked down by a
falling tree, struck him on the head, _

Herman Peters, 24-year-old Indian, —
died in Chilliwack Hospital on April
from injuries received February 1, whe
he was hit on the head by a limb while —

falling at the camp of Geo, H. Moore,
Katz , B.C.

Wood)

have b
killed in B.C
Tumber fn. —
dustry sh
Jan. 1,

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Our Pay a Buck a Day!

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