e ~ Boeing Worke Commissioner In Dispute With production of vital PBY fl. company-enforced lockout of 8,000 Boein; last-minute developments were rx 756: Hopes of getting 8,000 aircraft workers back to work at the four Boeing plants brightened today as company and union officials opened an informal conference at No. 3 plant this after- noon, Although neither side was prepared to issue a statement, it is understood that the terms on which the employees might be ‘able to return to their jobs were discused. Today some officials of Aero- nautical Mechanics Lodge 756, rep- resenting the workers, intimated they would ask employers to return to work if the government would give assurances that a commission- er would be appointed. They would also ask for assurances that the commissioner would announce a decision “within a reasonable time.” Locked-out workers of the four Vancouver plants of Boeing Air- craft, including the giant manufac- turing unit at Sea Island, are sharply critical of a company-gov- ernment policy which has deliber- ateyl closed all operations rather than grant ten-minute rest periods which had previously been shown to be production boosters, Plants were closed Wednesday morning by company officials when employese called a rest period as a means of protesting Ottawa’s refusal to appoint an investigating —@ rs commission to go into the matter. When the lockout was called, union officials lodged a sharp protest, and a majority of workers attempt- ed to continue their work at benches and on the assembly line until the power was cut off. Union spokesmen were also at a loss to explain Thursday night's refusal by the company to allow the employees to put in a full shift Friday and turn over their entire wages to the Victory Loan Drive. “We made that offer in all sin- cerity, and the company’s refusal constitutes nothing more than a sabotage of the Victory Loan cam- paign, which all employees are sup- porting,” they declare. Tom Parkin, union executive board member from Plant One ridiculed government claims that by instituting ten-minute rest peri- ods the company would lose over 2,000 man-hours of work. Ask For lying boats halted for the third day by a government and ig Aircraft employees in Vancouver, the following ‘eported by officials of Aeronautical Mechanics Union, Lodge THE B.C. LUMBER Wee May 2, 1048 “Opinion by labor experts of both the U.S. and Canadian governments have proven conclusively that rest periods stimulate production. They are in effect in many plants in North America with excellent re- sults, and there is no reason why such a setup can’t be applied here, particularly in view of the fact that elimination of production bot- tlenecks is one of the biggest prob- lems facing both management and labor at the Boeing plants.” Meantime other Vancouver unions entered the dispute when shop stewards of several shipyard unions met Thursday and endorsed resolutions placing full blame for the dispute with Labor Minister Humphrey Mitchell and Munitions Minister Howe, and demanding an immediate‘ reopening of the plants. Similar protests were wired Ot- tawa by the Dock and Shipyard Workers Union and the Boiler- makers Union. North Washington Dist. Convention Successfull PORT ANGELES.—Loggers and sawmill workers of Northern Washington mobilized to meet the critical need for lumber production at a two-day convention here last weekend. Fifty-four delegates representing 16 local unions of Northern ‘Washington district council, CIO, International Woodworkers of America demonstrated complete unity behind the war effort. ' After thoroughly discussing obstacles to greater production of lumber — which is now rated the No. 1 critical war material — delegates. unanimously Commission’s Amended Stabilization Order. URGES 48-HOUR WEEK. Delegates renewed their appeal to the government to demand that lumber operators fulfill their re- sponsibilities by utilizing all opera- tions and materials and by permit- ting crews a 48-hour work week. Lack of a program of planning and full utilization of labor and forest resources were blamed by woodworkers for the log shortage. As early as last October, Karly Larsen, president of the district council, warned thdt refusal of lumber operators to work 48 hours and refusal to cut accessible stands of Douglas Fir were threatening the war program, BACK NEW ORDER. Amendments to the Stabilization Order, which was first issued in September, 1942, tightens and fur- ther limits conditions under which workers may transfer within the industry as well as arranges to re- turn workers to the industry who “have shifted to other defense work, Labor - management manpower committees in each operation are authorized to carry out the order. ‘The IWA resolution says, in part: “If these methods fail labor can expect the government to take more drastic steps to solve the pro- duction of lumber, which wil) not be to the liking of either manage- ment or labor, nor will it achieve the results of the program now proposed.” Passagé of the Pepper-Kilgore- Tolan bill was urged and coordin- ation of governmentéagencies af- fecting the industry. INCENTIVE WAGES. Incentive wages, an end to dis- crimination against Negroes, who Provide a great reservoir of man- Power, enforcement of price ceil- ings and extension to all products and a flexible rationing program were other steps urged to increase production. In calling for full scale invasion of Europe, delegates adopted the following resolutions to strengthen- en the world-wide offensive against fascism: 1. Declare war on Mannerheim's Finland and Franco's Spain, 2. Hailed refusal to haul oll to . COMFORT and SERVICE At Moderate Prices accepted the War Manpower Franco to feed the Axis war ma- chine against our armies. 3. Urged Truman investigation to probe delays in shipping. 4, Urged removal of Ambassador Standley for disruptive activity. 5. Urged extension of Atlantic Charter principles to India. 6.Supported President Roose- velt’s War program and urged ap- plication of Casablanca slogan to domestic enemies. 7%. Called for labor unity within U.S. and international trade union unity. 8, Condemned Rickenbacker. Carrying out their campaign against Hitler ideology on the home front, delegates overwhelmingly condemned red-baiting as an in- strument of the Axis slave mas- ters, Fishermen Allowed Extra Food Rations The first victory in the campaign for a more equitable ra- tioning system, launched by trade unions and housewives groups shortly after plans for a two-pound per person per week meat quota was announced, was registered this week with the announcement that vessels in the halibut fishing fleet would be permitted to obtain food supplies by using equisition form RB 21. Use ‘of this form has hitherto ben confined to the armed forces, Department of Munitions and Sup- ply for naval, military and air serv- ices, Canadian Red Cross for ex- Ports only, and ships not operating on fixed quotas. Halibut boats will now fall in the last category and will be able by the use of this form to obtain the food supplies needed by fishermen to provide sufficient nourishment and prepare for emergencies. Demands for a higher meat ra- tion are also being submitted by —EE———— EE SHOE REPAIRING While-U-Wait We Sell Men’s Fine Shoes Walk-Rite Shoe Repairs 43 - 6th St., 1 Block up‘from P.O, Iumbermen, where the heavy work in the camps has led to the prac- tice, in most areas, of serving meat at all three meals. Workers in shipbuilding, mining and other heavy indusrties are also issuing protests, PALACE CAFE @ 47% West Cordova Street @ 938 Granville Street A Satisfied Customer is Our Best Advertisement 100% UNION HOUSE Hastings Steam Baths 764 EAST HASTINGS ST. Government Registered Masseurs in Attendance J. WEPSALA, Prop. Also Agent for ... Norwegian and Swedish American Steamship Lines New Westminster, B.O. 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