THE BG LUMBER WORKHR

December 18, 1941

AND THE LAW
By

ATTORNEY
JOHN STANTON

Some of the most drastic legislation
‘ever seen in Canada has recently been
put on the books by order--in-council at
Ottawa. This legislation is intended to
prices and to “stabilize” wages
throughout the country. According to its
author, Premier King, the new laws have
“never been tried on this continent, or
perhaps anywhere, with the consent of
a free people.”

The new order-in-council, from one
point of view, is far more drastic than
even the Defence of Canada Regulations,
since it affects the country’s entire econ-
omic life, No Canadian citizen will re-
main unaffected; and labor, of alll sections
in the community, will be most deeply
concerned to understand the full import
of these orders. Indeed, it can be said
without exaggeration that the whole
major purpose of the trade union move-
mint in Canada has been called in ques-
tion. For if wages are to be fixed and
prices stabilized in accordance with the
apparent intention of the government,
collective bargaining will become nothing
but a memory, And without the right to
bargain collectively, the trades union
movement loses its fundamental purpose.

Before considering the new orders in
detail, it is interesting to note two things;
the manner in which the new regulations
became law, and the fact that they do
not represent a sudden change in gov-
ernment policy.

Premier King, in introducing his legis-
Tation in a radio address on October 20,
intimated that it was being enacted “with
the consent of a free people.” It is diffi-
eult to understand how,with Parliament
due to assemble on November 2, and
without any kind of public discussion of
the measures, anyone can say that this
legislation has the “consent” of the
people, On the contrary, It must be clear
that no consent of any sort was obtained.
The cabinet, of course, knew of the pro-
Posed measures, and passed them, They
then became law. But beyond that there
Was no chance for the Canadian people
to mull over the idea of price and wage
fixing; nor was there the slightest chance
for anyone to advance adverse criticism
of the proposed new laws. Once again,
the country was confronted with a “fait
accompli.” Even parliament, which was
to mect within less than three weeks

after the new orders were published, was
not consulted.

This method of government by order-
in-council is by now well known as the
chosen method of the present Liberal
administration, It has been adopted more
and more since the beginning of the war.
Consequently, when the new orders fixing
prices and wages were introduced by the
same method, there was no occasion for
surprise at the means employed.

Nor can it be said that the new orders
represent a serious departure from form-
er government policy. As long ago as
June, 1940, when P.C. 2685 was passed,
the seeds of wage-pegging could be
found. By December, 1940, with the pass-
age of the notorious P.C, 7440, wage-
Pegging at the 1926-29 level became a
part of Government policy, But now the
process has been carried to its logical

WHEREAS, (1) The very question as'
to whether our nation shall survive or
not, at present depends completely upon
whether our national defense program
shall be successfully prosecuted;

(2) The essence of our national defense
program is one of production—the need
of producing the necessary quantity of
materials—airplanes, tanks, ships and
guns—within the shortest period of time
to aid those nations struggling against
the fascist aggressors;

(3) To accomplish this goal it is essen-
tial that our existing plant facilities be
utilized to the full with adequate pro-
vision for any increase in productive
facilities that may be necessary, tigether
with a maximum utilization of the avail-
able labor supply of the nation, At the
same time it is essential that wherever
possible reduction of civilian goods for
our needs be maintained as fully as poss-
ible to the extent that this does not
weaken our defense effort;

EQUAL SACRIFICE

(4) The effecuation of our national
defense program will involve severe sac-
rifices on the part of the American
people, However, it is essential that no
segment or group within our nation be
unduly burdened . In addition, jthe en-
emies of democracy must not be permit-
ted, under the guise of national defense,
to destroy the basic liberties and insti-
tutions of America which assure the
whole-hearted participation of the Amer-
ican people in the struggle to destroy
Hitlerism;

(5) The national effort.that will be
involved in accomplishing this end
demands the full participation of all
the people of the nation. Labor is
fully equipped to make its contribu-
tion, not only in labor power but in
brains, and to accept its share of tho
burdens in any joint enterprise for
the fulfillment of our national policy.
uch labor participation has not been

limit with complete fixing both of wages
and of prices.

In succeeding columns the details of
the two new orders will be examined,
and an effort made to evaluate them in
the light of the present labor situation
in Canada.
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Anticipating such a national emergency as has now arisen with the
war in the Pacific, the CIO at its recent convention in Detroit unanimously
passed a resolution offering full cooperation of all its affiliates to the gov-
ernment for the purpose of defense of the nation in such an emergency
and offering proposals for the nation’s safety.

Full text of this important and significant resolution is given below:

afforded to date in the national de-
fense program.

(6) The national defense agencies
which have been established form a mass
of overlapping organizations unable to
accomplish the task, and to this etent,
are sapping the strength of the American
people who seek to effectuate a real na-
tional defense program. Appropriations
for the program far exceed actual con-
tracts awarded or production accom-
plished. The deadly grip which corporate
dollar-a-year men have established over
the OPM and other defense agencies,
through their “business as usual” con-
cept and absence of planning, have cur-
tailed production of necessary war mat-
erials and caused unemployment through
priorities, thereby leaving idle machinery
and idle men with a corresponding failure
in production and a destruction of Am-
erican morale; now, therefore, be it

ESOLVED, (1) he CIO has offered, as
its contribution to the full and complete
prosecution of the national defense pro-
gram of unlimited production of those
materials needed to implement our for-
eign policy and crush Hitlerism, the
Murray Industry Council Plan. The CIO,
in convention assembled, hereby again
expresses its forthright support of the
Murray Plan as one attuned to the needs
of our present national situation;
VOICE FOR LABOR

(2) This plan will unleash the energies
and resources of all our people, through
full participation of labor in the national
defense program and thereby assure the
achievement of our national goal;

(3) ‘This plan will guarantee the pro-
duction of armaments in needed quanti-
ties and on time by attaining the highest
Possible production efficiency of Ameri-
can industry through the full and com-
plete cooperation of industry, organized
labor, and government. Through indus-
try councils which would establish reg-
ional and plant committees, the resources
and brains of all would be dedicated to
our single task of maximum production;

(4) This plan will preserve the basic
democratic rights of the American
people; namely, the freedom of speech,
assembly, and worship, and the free right
to organize into labor uninos for collec-
tive bargaining and other mutual pro-

lities. .

58 West Cordova St.

CIO Plan For National Defense

IWA Election
Results Given

SEATTLE, WASH—The results of the
IWA-CIO International Referendum Bal-
lot for the election of Officers and amend-
ment of the Constitution were announced
this week by the International Tabulating
Committee,

While the exact figures are not yet
available, it was conceded that an almost
entirely new slate of officers had been
elected and all constitutional amend-
ments on the ballot had carried.

Lowery of Jewel,, Oregon; vice presi-

‘The new officers are: president, Worth
dents, James Fadling of Aberdeen, Wash.,
and Carl Winn of Olympia; secretary-
treasurer, Edwin Bennidict of Forks,
Wash.; trustee, W. W. Snook of Orting,
Nigel Morgan of Victoria Local 1-118 was
re-elected International Executive Board
Member for District No. 1. 5

Most important of the constitutfonal
changes adopted by the membership was
the increase in dues to $1.50 per month,
to provide an increase in International
per capita from 25c to 50c.

tection. :

(5) The guiding principles of the Mur-
ray Plan will establish a program which
will assure complete aid to those nations
and peoples who are struggling to defeat
Hitlerism and thereby fulfill our nation-
al policy of protecting the security of the
American people,

(6) The CIO does not wish it to be
understood that it will refrain from par-
ticipation in the national defense pro-
gram unless its own Industry Council
Plan is adopted. To the contrary, the
CIO as an American institution with loy-
al Americans as its members, will do all
in its power to participate in the national
defense program in order to rid the world
of Hitler and Hitlerism. At all times, we
shall attempt to point out what we may
consider to be shortcomings of the pro-
gram or its adminstrative machinery
from the point of view of ever pressing
for a stronger and more effective national
defense effort to achieve the defeat of
Nazi Germany.

(D The CIO affiliates and their mem-
bers should initiate a program of calling
upon their Congressman, state or local
Representatives, and all groups in their
communities to request the President of
the United tates to establish the Murray

Industrial Council program.
(Adopted in 4th Constitutional Conven-
tion.)

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