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Bi-weekly Bulletin Published by The B.C. District Couticil, International Woodworkers of America, (CIO), Affiliated with Canadian Congress of Labor

Lees

X, No. 11

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VANCOUVER, B.C., TUESDAY, JULY 22, 1941

> (254)

WA-CIO DISTRICT CONFERENCE URGES

Blacklist, Unnecessai

_ CONCENTRATION TO GAIN AGREEMENTS

ly Low Living Standards and Poor Working Conditions

7 Union Preparing for Decisive Break-Through of Employer Front of Open Shop,
Lake Log And

Crofton Crew
Gain Ground

LAKE COWICHAN, B.C.—Meet-
ings in all sections of the Lake Log
Company and the Crofton Export
Company last week endorsed al-
most unanimously the following pro-
gram to drive forward to completion
their struggle for a union agree-
ment, seniority, leave of absence
and all employees to be members

of the IWA-CIO.
(@) A "War-Chest” be established im-

mediately, with collections made for
organizational, defence and relief funds
during the shutdown to be placed in this
special account; that all employees agree
to donate one day's pay toward the strike
fund; and that all camps and mills in
the B.C, District be circularized to take
similar action and assist us in this
struggle.

(2) The Unions Negotiating Committee
(Brothers Johnnie Johnson, Henry Lehti,
Seotty Sutherland and Nigel Morgan)
proceed with Conciliation and if this fails
to gain our demands, Arbitration be start-
ed as soon as possible. (8) ILW.A. Attor-
ney John Stanton be named as the
Union's representative on the Arbitration
Board, and our International Reresent-
utive, Nigel Morgan, present the case, in
consultation with the Pacific Coast Labor
Bureau, who will commence preparation
of the Union's brief, prepare the necessary
statistics, subpeons witnesses and pre-
pare evidence to back up the demands,

This action of the crews followed the
return to work of the 300 odd men on
July 7th, when the resolution below, re-
commended unanimously hy the Negotiat-
ing Committee, was endorsed in a secret
ballot by a 95 per cent vote in favor:

WHEREAS: IWA-CIO Local 1-80, has
not and will not countenance a deliberate
attempt on the part of any company,
through evasive stalling tactics, to deny
us our rights as union men;

AND WHEREAS: We have been guar-
anteed, in writing:

(Continued on rage Seven)

‘AUTO WORKERS RECALL
CHRYSLER TREATMENT
WINDSOR, Ont, July 17.—(CUN)—
Reviewing attacks on trade unions by
Hitler Germany, Labor Minister Mo-
‘Larty told a mecting here “that work-
ers are ordered by an autocratic body
to remain with one employer.” This
‘of his speech was particularly in-
to Chrysler workers, members

Demand Tax Repeal.

The meeting unanimously endorsed a
resolution voicing the demand of organ-
ized loggers for removal of the govern-
ment's new 10 per cent luxury tax on
transportation to and from logging
camps, declaring it “an unfair burden on
those travelling to and from their places
of employment,” and definitely outside
the luxury classification, The following
tax program recommended in the Offi-
cers’ Joint Report was endorsed by the
Conference, calling for (1) The repeal of
taxes on transporta-
tion fares to and from
employment and (2)
The immediate posi-
tion and rigid en-
forcement of 100 per
zent excess profits tax,
sales taxes and re-
moval of taxes on all
necessities. (3) Re-
moval of defence tax
on all incomes under
$2000 per year. (4)
Removal of taxes on and the closing of
all legal loopholes by which big corpora-
tions are now able to avoid taxation.

IWA Demands

Jackson’s Release.

Another resolution passed unanim-
ously by the delegates was one calling
for the immediate release of Int'l Vice-
President ©. S. Jackson of the United
Electrical Radio & Machine Workers,
imterned recently without trial for his
activities in connection with organiz-
ation of General Electric workers in
Toronto.

Pointing out-that many employers are
using the threat of internment to stem

unioni; “
ree et an na aL

umnist,” “Communist” and “Red”
used against any who seek democrati-
cally to improve their wages or working
conditions, and that the government has
just released three avowed fascist multi-
millionaire intimates and benefactors of
Mussolini (James and Leonard France-
shini and V. Masoli),—the resolution ex-
pressed “deep resentment of this un-
warranted attack on the Electrical ‘Work-

Pres, Bergren

are

ed immediate release or fair and open
for all interned anti-fascists,

rges Full Aid to USSR

Fascism.
Pointing to the great dangers facing

‘ere union.” The conference also demand- |

workers the world over unless the Soviet

PROFITS OF INDUSTRY
SURPASS PAY IN U.S.

NEW YORK, N.Y.—During 1940,
according to the American Federa-
tion of Labor, profits in the U.S. in-
creased much more than did wage
rates.

In the automobile industry, the
AFL states, profits increased by 9.9
per cent, wages by 4.5 per cent; in
the oil industry, profits increased by
10.6 per cent, wages by less than
1 per cent; in machinery, profits in-
“ereased by 68:5 per cent wages 3.8 per
cent; in iron and steel, profits rose
98.5 per cent, wages 2.8; in the air-
craft industry, profits increased 190.7
per cent, wages 4.8,

These striking figures, commenta-
tors point out, go far to explain the
unrest in labor circles, which com-
plain of the vast scale upon which
Prosperity due to the war is-exploited
by the profiteers,

Union can destroy Hitler's fascist war
machine, the delegates by ~ resolution
urged the Canadian Government to fol-
low the lead of Prime Minister Churchill
and extend full moral and economic aid
to the US.SiR, in their struggle against
fascism. The Officers’ Joint Report
warned against the betrayal of democracy
such as happened at Munich, in Spain
and China and called on the trade union
movement to take the lead and voice the
Popular demand of the common people
the world over for friendly diplomatic
and economic collaboration toward the
early and complete defeat of fascism.

Greatly Increased
Membersh

VEMDCRSHMDs .. suemversnip, reriect-
ing itself-in increased per capital, was
noted in the Officers’ Semi-Annual Re-
port. Greater concentration of organiz-
tional effort, with more carefully planned
and directed drives, was stressed in the
Organizational Program.

The Conference went on record to urge
all Locals, Sub-locals and Camp and Mill
Committees, as well as all people who
hate fascism at home and abroad to
join in a nation-wide demand for our
Government to follow a course of liberal,
labor, farm and security legislation; to
end discrimination against minority
groups and national anti-fascist organiz~
ations; to repeal reactionary, Hitler-like
decrees such as the “liberty-destroying”
Defence of Canada Regulation and the

VANCOUVER, B.C.—Delegates from all Locals and Sub-locals, as well as a num-
ber of Camp Delegates and Shop Stewards, attending the Semi-Annual Conference of
IWA-CIO District No. 1, met in Vancouver July 6th and unitedly endorsed a militant
program for stepping-up the drive to organize B.C.’s 30,000 woodworkers. Special em-
phasis was placed on thé need for using the present favorable position of the union to
force concession of union agreements with better working conditions and wage in-
creases to offset sharply mounting living costs, greatly increased tax burdens, which
have again this month further slashed the workers’ pay check.

Intimidation
Condemned

By UERG MW

TORONTO, Ont, July 17.—(CUN)—
“Gestapo-like visits of RCMP to homes
of Canadian General Blectrie workers
facing trial this week on charges of il-
legal participation: in a strike under the
Industiial~ Disputes “Investigation Act,
were condemned by the District Council,
United Electrical, Radio’ and Machine
Workers’ Union in a statement issued
following a week-end meeting.

This “gross attempt to intimidate
workers on the eve of their trial, contrary
to all the rules of British justice,” was
condemned by the Council. Union of-
ficials declared that “the attempt in this
instance to use the RCMP as an industrial
spy agency failed miserably.”

A resolution was approved strongly
protesting the action of the RCMP and
ordered sent to federal authorities, An-
other resolution demanded release of C.
S. Jackson, International Vice-President,
who was interned. The council reaffirmed
its confidence in and loyalty to Jackson
and re-elected him to office.

Reports were received at the meeting
that the same officers who had spirited
away Jackson to an internment camp
had visited the homes of men and’women
workers in the C.G.B, plant, attempting
to obtain information about how many
workers were in the union, whether they
were incited to strike and if they had

(Continued on Page Six) _

GOV’T-RUN PLANT
IS VIOLATING LAWS

HAMILTON, Ont., July 17—(CUN).
—Negotiations between a committee of
employees, SWOC officials and Con-
troller E. J. Brunning of National Steel
Car (which was recently taken over by
the government) broke down last weelx.
Brunning had previously said that he
would not recognize the union but
would meet with employees. A depu-
tation headed by C. H. Millard, Swoc
executive director, will go to Ottawa to
seek clarification of the government's
labor policy from Hon. N. L. McLarty,

“wage-pegging, union-busting” Orderin=
Council P.C. 7440, and other repressive
legislation,