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THE B.C.

LUMBER WORKER

February 28, 1942

Industry Council

Would Settle

Production Problems In Q.Cl.

By HAROLD J. PRITCHETT,
President IWA, B.C. District Council and Secretary Vancouver Labor Council

Loggers in the Queen Charlote Islands have successfully organized
themselves into a trade union embodying high principles and sound
morale, employers admitting that their employees are 85 per cent or-

ized, with a record of no major strikes in industry since 1936,

‘As far back as July, 1941, the organized
loggers in the Queen Charlotte Islands
instructed their representatives to enter
into negotiations in the regular Cana-
dian way with their employers, but with
the exception of one conference, the re-
sults of which were entirely negative,
with Tom Kelley of Kelley Log. Co., and
later a joint conference of four major
logging operators of the QOI arranged
by the federal labor representative, F.
E. Harrison, nothing further has been
accomplished, At the latter conference
all conferees present expressed their pro-
found opposition to the Axis and their
desire for quick victory for the Allies.

Union representatives proposed {oint
partnership consisting of management,
labor and government with the purpose
of improving the production of spruce
logs, so vital to the construction of fight-
ing planes, and that a collective bargain-
ing agreement be entered into as a means
to establish co-operation and mutual
understanding. P

The conference terminated with the
understanding that employers would give
consideration to the aforementioned pro-
posals and reply within ten days. To
this date the organized loggers of the
QCT have not received the courtesy of a
formal reply with the exception of a
ES

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THE LOGGERS’
RADIO CARS

circular letter addressed to employees,
ignoring the existence of a constituted
legal union through which an overwhelm-
ing majority of the members desire to
bargain.

Loggers in the Queen Charlotte Islands
because of isolated nature of the camps,
have for years, with the exception of
one camp, enjoyed partial union recogni-
tion to the extent that their representa-
tives were permitted free access to the
camps, grievances and safety committee
recognition, check-off of dues and other
advantages.

All of these elementary conditions
established through organization of the

loggers are now threatened. Camps
are operating under police guard and
notices posted denying union represen-
tatives entrance onto company prop-
erty, for which the Timber Control
Board denies any responsibility.

This leaves the union with no alterna-
tive, if the situation remains as it is,
but to apply to the federal government
for arbitration under the Industrial Dis-
putes Investigation Act, which is a long-
drawn out procedure and costly to both
parties involved and to the government,
which may foster bitterness rather than
improve relationships in this emergency.

The union's proposals are as simple
as they are sincere. The Industrial Con-
ference we advocate would represent the
working brains of government, indus-
try and labor, which would stimulate
production and maintain industrial peace.
Let us see how the logging industry
council would break such log-jams with
national welfare as its chief interest.
It would take the following steps to en-
sure maximum wood production:

(2) It would adjust labor supply to camp
facilities and requirements.

(2)It would direct training of new skilled
workers to meet rapidly developing
shortages.

(8) It would act as a court of last resort
in labor disputes within the wood-
working industry.

Behind such council would be com-
mittees in every camp composed of fore-
men and camp delegates — the men who
actually carry out the orders—who would
pool their knowledge and ingenuity.

I venture to predict that this pooling
of brains would produce a startling in-
crease of production so urgently required
by our national war effort. The camp
committees down at the grass roots

ALWAYS AT YOUR SERVICE

TAXI

FRIEND

PAc. 6151

would also work to settle labor disputes.
I am confident that the system would
virtually eliminate strikes and all work
stoppages.

Think for a moment how it would
function. Here is a logging camp pro-
ducing airplane spruce. A dispute arises
over working conditions. The argument
is such that under the old setup it might
lead to a strike or a lockout, instead,
under the council plan, work goes on
while settlement is attempted. First the
woods boss and the union camp delegate,
men who work together every day, get
together and try to iron out the trouble
on the spot. Both sides know that the
court of last resort is their own industry
council,

Finally, the dispute reaches the coun-
cil. They present both sides to the coun-
cil members. The council renders its
decision, which is final. The dispute
is settled and not an hour of working
time has been lost,

National unity depends on mutual
respect and co-operation between labor
and management, Mutual respect de-
pends upon orderly collective bargain-
ing; that aspect cannot exist if labor
is unorganized. The individual worker
cannot bargain for himself in mass
production industry; not only his wages
and hours but his dignity as 2 human
being depend on organization. The
goal is to have organized labor help
set up efficient production procedures
and administrative policies to do our
utmost in assisting Canada and our
allies in the destruction of fascism
from the face of the earth.

Organize your union for production to
defend democracy against fascism.

Axe the Axis!
K.O. Tokio !
Buy a Victory Bond !

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Vancouver, B.C.

1937 Creelman

“The greater the difficulties are, the
stronger we resist, The final victory
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“China Today.”

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