@ THE B.C. LUMBER worn ® ; Page Three Last week saw the passage of _ Bill 50 by the provincial govern- ment of B.C. This bill marks an- other gain for the IWA in this prov- ince. This order sets out certain ‘regulations governing the payment of time-and-one-half rate for over- _ time for men working in the saw- mills of B.C. In a news release given to one of the Vancouver-pa- pers, an official of the Manufac- ase turers’ Association commended the _ government on the passage of this ‘bill. He intimated that for some time past the Manufacturers’ Asso- ciation had endeavored with all the forces at their command to in- ‘sure the passage of this bill. Now, I am all in favor of giving credit where credit is due, but in this case, I cannot endorse the statement made by this member of the Manu- facturers’ Association. While it may be true that this Association has made representations to the Regional War Labor Board for per- mission to pay time-and-a-half for overtime, I do not believe that the representations have been made in a sincere manner. I have had the doubtful honor to be a member of a delegation to see the Regional War Labor Board on a matter of increases in wages once before. On this particular occasion, the com- pany representative, in presenting the case to the Regional War Labor Board ,took such a negative stand that the board was left no alterna- tive but to turn down this appeal for an increase. This has been par- ticularly noticeable in. any brief which is presented to the Regional War Labor Board by the Manufac- turers for increases in wages. For quite a number of years now, the IWA has agitated for time-and- a-half overtime for, men working in induStry . In the past, we have been bitterly opposed on this question by the logging operators. Early in this year it was decided by the IWA District Council No. 1 that a brief _ should be drawn up on the question of time-alf-a-half for overtime and See CHIPS-SAWDUST—Page 4 of Chemainus Bakery L. E. DRAKE Proprietor LETTERS Sawmill News REPORTS “Every Reader a Correspondent” Rate and One-Half for All Time Over Eight Hours Per Day or Forty= Eight Per Week In a precedent-shattering order that will bring fatter pay envelopes and higher living standards to thousands of BC millworkers, Adam Bell, deputy minister of labor, this week an- nounced a decision to grant premium overtime pay to all em- ployees of -the sawmill industry. The order went into effect July 5th. The Board of Industrial Relations’ action followed an applica- tion made to the Regional War Labor Board last March 10 by the International Woodworkers. of America, and which was subsequently referred to the Industrial Relations Board under the Maximum Hours, Minimum Wage regulations of the prov- ince. The order prescribes the payment of time and one-half of the regular rate for all sawmill workers after eight hours in any one day or 48 hours in any one week. Only exceptions will be in the cases of persons holding managerial positions, cook and bunkhouses employees, watchmen, caretakers and stock- keepers. Nor will itapply to those engaged in preparatory work, such as operating millwrights, stationary engineers, pumpmen, turbine operators, firemen and oilers. for these categories, overtime rates will commence after nine hours’ work per day or illworkers Win Overtime Pay IWA Demands Improved Sanitary Conditions Sanitary conditions in the bunkhouses of Alberta Lumber Company Lid. are “deplorable” and rentals charged employees are “out of line,” William Bennett, Secretary of IWA Local 217 declared this week after an inspection. He said the local pro- posed to bring the matter to the attention of the Rental Con- trol Board. Fifteen East Indians, all members of the Union, live in the company’s bunkhouses, he said, and his visit fol- fifty hours per week. The IWA maintained that all classifications should be covered and exceptions will be taken up later by the IWA in the course of negotiations with each com- pany. Labor Minister Pearson has announced authorization for exten- sion of the premium pay principle to logging camps, plywood plants, shingle mills and box factories and the IWA has been invited to make further representations. “The Board of Industrial Rela- tions normally prevailing in other industries in the province. Per- mits for overtime work in sawmills, necessary under BC labor laws, have carried no stipulation as to time and one-half pay, though such a principle has long been recog- nized in‘the lumber industry of ‘Washington and Oregon. That it marks a big contribution, both by the IWA and the provin- cial department of labor, to the raising of morale and increasing of production so necessary to an Some 300 Sikh Visitors Come To Paldi Gathering DUNCAN, B.C.—About 300 Sikhs from Vancouver and Victoria came here for the annual three-day cele- brations of the Sikh temple at Pal- di. Feasting was enjoyed and en- tertainments were held. Various traditionai games of the Sikhs were played, and the west- ern influence was demonstrated by the playing of soccer and softball matches. Victoria tied with Van- couver 1-1 at soccer, and Duncan beat Victoria 4-2 at softball. Vic- toria also met Vancouver in a softball game. lowed their complaints about conditions there. “There is justification for their protests,” Bennett asserted. “I took the sanitary inspector down to look over the premises afd he agreed with me. I don’t see how any com- pany can expect its men to con- tribute their utmost to the war ef- fort if they are obliged to work under conditions such as these.” Bennett stated the company had charged a rental of $10 a month per man in the larger building up to the beginning of the year. It was then lowered to $5 a month for four of the men, while the re- mainder continued to pay as for- merly, Sam Yee early allied victory, is conceded generally by labor men throughout the province. tions, particularly its chairman, Adam Bell, and Minister of Labor George S. Pearson, are to be highly commended for the steps taken to make the overtime principle a law,” Nigel Morgan, IWA Interna- tional Board Member stated. “It is only reasonable to assume that where employees have to work longer than the normal week, the employer should share the sacri- fices equally. The employees’ time and energy might otherwise be spent with his family or in leisure activities, and in return the em- ployer should pay a penalty in the form of overtime rates.” The labor department ruling is one of the most significant vic- tories for the IWA in many years. Lumbering has long been an in- dustry where the employer has stubbornly refused to grant condi- & Dwyer's Confectionery . GROCERIES CHINA and STATIONERY Phone 88 Mayple Street CHEMAINUS B.C. Clement's Drug Store Arab betel aut Medicines - Toiletries — Gifts PRESCRIPTIONS Phone 123 CHEMAINUS, B.C. General Merchant Phone 28 Cor. Oake & Esplanade CHEMAINUS Bac: Telephones: 79 and 51 Green Lantern Hotel The Stopping Place in Chemainus for Motorists and Commercial Travellers ¥F. & M. CRUCIL, Props. Soda Fountain Service and Confectionery — LIGHT LUNCHEON P.O. Box 107 CHEMAINUS, B.C. MILLWORK SHOWCASES * STAIRWAYS FRAMES S. & R. Andrews Built-in Fixtures Phone 12 P.O. Box 184 CHEMAINUS, B.C.