ie ondition THE BC. LUMBER WORKER 7 Semi-Annual Meet ts Aggressive Course to the semi-annual meeting of Local 1-71, held on July 3, ortunity of meeting International President O. M. Orton, who d the meeting, explaining in detail the struggle of the lumber in Washington and Oregon for wage increases and improved C through union agreement’ incipal obstacle the strikers met with was the newly estab- eral Government Labor Mediation Board, which was set up the government's proclamation of a national emergency, and in purpose is to subvert the efforts of organized labor to obtain ent Orton and the negotiating committee were called to Wash- Mc wig Rete Aalst to work, which they did. nendations of the Board, ey CIO Makes Gains. on the tremendous gains the has achieved in the United States, dent Orton told of the successful tlon of the Ford operations, “in the employees have been strug- for twenty years to obtain union ions, Another outstanding success been the elimination of wage differ “als for the coal miners, who, under _ the banner of the United Mine Workers of America, and the leadership of John < i. Lewis, have succeeded in bringing about a uniform wage throughout the entire coal mining industry, 3 a Day. _ Pointing out that-the recently granted 50 cents per day increase that some "camps in B.C, have received, actually put more money into the pockets of the due to the increased taxation on tax on travel, increased board and commissary, the delegates voted un- limously for a straight Dollar a Day in all camps where the 50 cents had not been given, ‘Strong resentment was voiced the ten per cent tax on travel places a real burden on the who have to depend on the ips for transportation to and the jobs, and a resolution was calling upon the Federal Gov- to remove this tax in the case in this category. Another in regard to travel was the conditions on the boats of Steamship Company and a was elected to interview the company and endeavor to such as refrigeration . the difficulties are, the we resist, The final victory ours.”—Dr, P. D, Chang, in TAILORS Hastings St. Vancouver, B.C, 7 A PERFECT FIT TE SATISFACTION! _ Since operations have resumed, the employers have turned down the to meet with the Mediation Board, and eventually agreement was ved at and recommendations made to the strikers which granted their ds for 714 cents increase across the board, a week's vacation with year; union shop; and a further study of the question of piece xing towards its entire elimination. The only condition under vhich Mediation Board would accede to these recommendations was he strikers should accept them and return to work, pending further President Philip Murray of the CIO advised the men to for perishable foods, and better food and accommodation for the loggers on board the boats, A thorough discussion was participated in by the delegates present, and other resolutions were unanimously endorsed, opposing the regimentation of labor by government, and government by decree as under Order-in-Council P.C, 7440; for full aid to the Soviet Union in that coun- try's fight against fascist aggression; for the immediate release from internment of Vice-President C. S. Jackson of the United Electric Radio & Machine Work- ers, and open trials for all interned workers. The meeting strongly condemned the Dominion Budget which imposes in- creased taxation on the working people, through the 15 per cent tax on $1,000, which amount, it was agreed, barely allows for a decent living standard under present day cost of living. Unanimous opposition to any form of conscription was expressed in a resolu- tion to the Prime Minister, Signed Agreements This Year. Harold Pritchett, member of Local 1- 71, and secretary of the Vancouver Labor Council, urged adoption of the organiza tional program as outlined by the offi- cers of the Local, which called for con- centration on certain specified areas within the jurisdiction of Local 1-71, with the objective of gaining signed union agreements before the end of this year. International President Orton was un- animously elected as a delegate to repre- sent Local 1-71 at the Fifth Annual LW.A. Convention to be held in Everett, Wash- ington, this coming fall. Other delegates were also elected to the I.W.A. Conven- tion, as well as delegates to attend the Convention of the Canadian Congress o: Labor to be held in September. ALL WORK GUARANTEED SERVICE JEWELERS Dealers in Diamonds Watches and Jewelry EXPERT WATCH AND JEWELRY JRRBeReewneennees, Re eenennenneaces! oy ore ‘Representing McEWEN MOTORS Vancouver, B.C Page Seven mentioned elsewhere, action is now Then there was the question of an ad- ditional speeder. That was also obtained, besides many smaller things for the men. This is a good place to mention another vital committee, the Safety First Com- mittee. This committee is also elected from the general meeting and consists of two or three men from every depart- ment. The committee meets with the foreman or the super monthly and dis- cusses safe working conditions for the men. It also condemns any unsafety on the part of the company or any members of the crew. These figures will prove the necessity of an active Safety Committee, There hasn't been a fatal accident in this 300- man crew on the rigging since 1936, Acci- dents have been few and more or less of a minor nature. This is a good re- cord from a camp this size, Safe thinking and thoughtfulness of your fellow work- ers, is also a good basis for unionism. This camp has a union library of very good books, which is run by our Library Committee, The library is kept open three nights a week. Now for a little humor, with a note of seriousness. Our worthy super stuck his head into the speeder one recent Saturday when we were about to depart for the high lights—and informed us in the most Camp Committees Function Well And Gain Concessions For Union Crew At Lake Log It is time this camp was heard from in the form of a letter, The press committee has been a little inactive, but here goes. I would like to outline the different committees here in camp and the results they have obtained. First there is a Negotiating Committee. Their duty is to negotiate with the management on the question of wages and working conditions. This camp has an employees’ agreement, but as being taken for a union agreement. A month ago the Negotiating Committee got us a fifty cents a day raise which, of course, was in addition to the one we got last Christmas, This gives us the best wage scale in B.C. There is also a Camp Committee of ten or twelve members. These members are elected from the general meeting and stand elected for three months, Their duty is to take up the men’s grievances and camp conditions, and interview the management on them. In other words, they are the “mouthpiece” of the crew. I would like to sight here some of the things this committee has obtained here this year. First, it has obtained spring- filled mattresses in this camp although the superintendent said we couldn’t have them. We went-beyond him and obtained them finally. . authoritative voice at his command, that anyone not being in the cook house in the morning hereafter before 6 a.m, would be met with their time. There wasn’t any apparent reason for this superficial upheaval, as they never had to hold the crummy and no one even missed it, He also had an over-abundance of kindlings, when he held the speeder for ten min- utes, to enable anyone who did not care for this imbecilic ultimatum, time to drag her and pack up, although he never got a man. About all he accomplished was to raise the ire of the entire crew, Then the speeder left amid mutterings and some words were not quite muttered. Our super, not satisfied as yet to what child- ish extremes he could go, promptly traipsed afound to all the bunkhouses and stopped the extravagant practice of “mugging up” in the evening, which some of the boys do, even going so far as ex- erting bodily energy ta Ccvacting a can of coffee from aman’s hand. He also warned us that any questionable looking parcels would be searched, actually ac- cusing us of being potential thieves. But it won't be long before he will have to pull his horns in. Hoping 1941 will mark a new progress in organization, and wishing our bro- thers in other camps and mills every suc- cess, —Press Committee. MINERS REQUEST MASTER CONTRACT KIRKLAND LAKE, Ont.—Request of 5,000 miners here, members of the Inter- national Mine, Mill and Smelter Work- ers’ Union CIO-CCL, for a master con- tract with operators will likely be re- ferred to a conciliation board, it was indicated this week following the arrival of a federal conciliator, LAKE LOG (Continued from Page One) 1, That all employees as of June 17 can return to work in a body. 2, That the former agreement between the workers and the company, and con- ditions of worl shall be in full force and effect until completion of arbitration. 8, That conciliation and arbitration shall proceed forthwith and can be completed within tweny-eight days. 4. That arbitration will take place on the basis of the four original demands of the crew, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: That we, the entire crews of the four camps of the Lake Logging Company, Limited, and Crofton Export Company return to work in a body Sunday, July 6, to commence work on the morning of Monday, July 7, in undefeatable solidar- ity, pledged to carry through to victory, our just and legally recognized demands for collective bargaining, through our Union, the International Woodworkers of America (CIO), © Price Rises Reach Record OTTAWA, Ont—The rise in prices of everyday, necessities has reached un- precedented levels in Canada, according to the new official index of the Dominion Bureau of Statistics released here last week, Price rises on clothing, which has been hardest hit, were up to 114.5 com- pared with the 1935-39 price level. Second highest was home furnishings, up to 111.8. Food, rent and fuel ran a close race, standing at 109.7 for food and rent, and at 109.2 for fuel. As a result, total of the above stood at 109.4; or cost of living has gained 9.4 per cent over the 1935-39 average. An end to millionaires’ profits and luxuries! . .. A decent life for labor! Meet Your Friends at MANITOBA HOTEL. 44 W. Cordova St. _ Outside Rooms — levator Servi Steam Heat — Reasonable Rates Centrally Located a PA. 0207 N, J, THOMPSON, 36"