September 20, 1943 They Lead The Way “Back Them Up” On re B.C. LUMBER WORKER @ September 27 > “GIVE ONE DAY’S PAY” ‘Two years ago the Queen Charlotte loggers, members of the I.W.A. Local 1-71, at that time almost 100 percent organized, sought an agreement covering wages, hours and working conditions with their employers the Kelly Logging Company, the J. R. Morgan Logging Company and the Pacific Mills Lid. Throughout the two year period, which has followed, up until the present in spite of provocation, the saws and axes of the Queen Charlotte Island loggers have continued to bring down one of the most vital war materials produced in British Columbia, Sitka. Spruce, which is the main material used in the con- struction of the world’s fastest fighter bomber, the Mosquito which is now daily raining destruction on the strongholds of Fascism within “Fortress Europe.” There is probably nothing more disheartening to workers in this type of industry than the fact that even during wartime they ‘are denied the right to fully participate, through their trade union in assisting management and government in obtaining maximum production of much needed war materials. What are the Queen Charlotte Island loggers asking? A signed union agreement with their employers setting forth hours of labor, stipulations regard- ing the working conditions and rates of pay. They are asking further that the employers and the government recognize and discuss with them, through their Production Committees, questions which can vitally affect the welfare of our entire nation. ‘ : Tn place of co-operation, through the signing of a union agreement, the operators have offered practically nothing. Through the efforts of the Union, This log is... Resolution A REREAS: the Queen Charlotte Island logging operators have turned down the award of a Federal Government arbitration board, re- commending that they recognize and sign a contract with Local 1-71, International Woodworkers of America; and, WHEREAS: this is a contradiction of the spirit and content of Federal and Provincial laws governing labor relationships; and, WHEREAS: 42 other major logging and lumber operators, in B.C., , have publicly endorsed the position taken by the logging operators on ‘ the Q.C.I. who have failed to bargain in good faith; and, WHERAS: this attitude, adopted by the lumber and logging operators can be defined only as a means, whereby a handful of unscrupulous employers are endeavoring to nullify a principle established by law. A vonspiracy to retard the natural process of social progress. THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: that we, members of the Inter- national Woodworkers of America demand that the Federal Government enforce the arbitration award in the Q.C.1; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED; that we condemn the reactionary, arbitrary and meddlesome attitude and position taken by the 42 lumber and logging operators and determine that we shall establish collective bargaining relationships with our employers, and, such bargaining shall be culminated in a signed union contract with our chosen bargaining agency, The International Woodworkers of America. --.on its way! wages have been increased and conditions have been improved. This fact has increased the deter- mination of the-men to place these gains within a signed contract. About two months ago the fed- éral government conciliation board, under the chairmanship of Judge Harper, handed down a majority award in favor of a signed union agreement between the union and the operators. The operators have consistently, from that time re- fused to accept that award. The government has not seen fit to comply with a request for a legal strike vote in the Islands. A peace- ful settlement now appears unlike- ly. A résolution, appearing else- where on this page, has been passed in every local and sub-local in district one of the International Woodworkers of America. The re- cent trade union has not been heed- ed by the minority, represented by the operators or the government. Therefore more direct action ap- pears to be necessary. On a recommendation from IWA Local 1-80 in Duncan, the District Council Number One of the IWA has set aside Sept. 27 and named it “Queen Charlotte Island Sup- port Day.” On that day loggers and millworkers are being asked to voluntarily give that day's pay to support the Queen Charlotte loggers in the active struggle which it appears they will soon be en- gaged The Queen Charlotte operators have established a precedent of no signed union agreements in the industry. That precedent must be shattered if B.C. Woodworkers are to establish themselves in their tain these funds will be necessary. Therefore, the District Council is appealing to all woodworkers in British Columbia to support the Queen Charlotte Island Support Day. By so doing we can. show the operators and the government that we mean business. If we can win it is necessary that we present a united front and that front must have the backing of every wood- worker in the province. One day's pay is only a small percentage of the economic gains made through the efforts of the IWA in the past few years. The Queen Charlotte Island loggers are an integral part of our organization and our victory theré will mean a victory through- out the entire province, not only for woodworkers but also for or- ganized labor in general. Do not let this appeal go unheeded! To Help “Blast Berlin” annual convention of the Interna- tional Union unanimously passed a similar resolution. Throughout the width and breadth‘ of our dominion trade unions of all affiliations are giving similar support. In the same manner as the boys of the RAF and RCAF flying over Europe are spear heading the at- tack on Fascism’s stronghold, so the Queen Charlotte Island loggers lead the attack on reactionary forces which would deny at home the very principles for whch their brothers, in the armed forces, are fighting and dying on foreign bat- tle fields. ‘ it is apparent that the minds of the operators and certain govern- ment officials are not broad enough to understand the full meaning of democracy. The will of the majority of the B.C. Wood- workers, expressed through their rightful place within the frame- work of Canadian society. The trade union movement is the cornerstone of any democracy and by throwing our all into the battle now, supporting the Queen Char- lotte Island loggers, we will also be supporting the boys who fly Mosquito bombers over Europe, so that when they return: they will be able to see that their fight was not in vain. No doubt some people will howl to high heaven that the IWA is really making a grab when it sug- gests that this amount of money be collected. What are the facts! Within the last few years the IWA has forced wages from a mere pit- tance to a fairly substantial level within a major part of our industry. Tf these gains are to be consoli- dated, and it appears that it is Greetings From Gibson’‘s W. F. Gibson and Sons, Construction Camp, New Massett, Q.C.I. To the Editor: Just a line for the paper to let you know how things are. I have been up here for about three and one-half months now. When I first came I was the only Union man here Today we have eighteen members out of about twenty-two men and we are not going to stop till we are on hundred per cent Union. We have two gas donkeys oper- ating and one set of fallers. The food and bunkhouse is pretty good. Our motto is “Organize the Unorganized.” Wishing the Union a big increase in membership this year, I remain, Fraternally yours, going to take a struggle, to ob- Delegate No. 172.