September 20, 1943 " Page Three @= B.C. LUMBER WES LETTERS Sawinill News “Every Reader a Correspondent” REPORTS I CHIPS and ; SAWDUST By GREEN-CHAIN PETE To begin with this week, I will announce that your former com- mentator in this column is now serving with the RCAF and con- sequently cannot carry on with this sort of thing. Until we can find a new Pete from off one of the Green Chains, this is your editor pinch hitting for a couple of issues. Last week word was received that the employees of Allan-Mc- Dougal and Butler Shingle Com- pany have been granted holidays with pay. Nice going, boys, the next job is to get it included in a signed union agreement. Last week at Hammond Cedar, where the employees are almost all members of the IWA, a collec- tion was taken up for the Chinese War Relief; the sum’ of $66.25 ‘be- ing raised, which has been turned over to the committee. The boys from Canadian White Pine report that since a certain carrier driver left the mill, the ab- sentee problem has been practi- cally eliminated. We hope this bro- ther likes his new job and that the northern climates will not be too severe for him, It has been noticed in making comparisons of wages that the White Pine Mill scale is not quite up to standard. A complete com- parison will be published in the next issue of this paper and we will be able to see just exactly how things stack up. Last week IWA Local 1-217’s meeting absolutely crowded the au- ditorium in the Holden Building. It was the largest meeting that has been‘held for some time and directly reflects the increased en- thusiasm for legitimate trade union organization. A report from Porty Moody has it that organization in that area is progressing favorably, if not by leaps and bounds as in some other districts. You better get on the bus, Port Moody, because it doesn’t run this way very often. MODERN and OLD-TIME DANCING EVERY WED, AND SAT. All Modern Every Friday. Hastings Aulitorium 828 East Hastings MODERATE RENTAL RATES STEAM BATHS Across from Court House Open Wed. to Sat. 10 a.m, to 10 p.m. Oil and Hlectric Massage. Tel. 2264 Owner, M. Varlla Secretary of Local 1-357, and officials stated that they were not prepared to sign as long as union members ‘could not be held respon- sible in the courts for living up to the agreement. In other words, it is their opinion that a trade union should be incorporated and they went further to state that if this were a fact they would sign immediately a union agreement. The company did agreed to re- view the wage scale and asked that the committee submit a list of those categories considered to be low. The company further agreed that Percy Smith, business agent of the Local, would be rec- ognized; that they would discuss problems arising in the mill with him and that they were prepared to meet a grievance committee and a production committee elected by the union. It is expected that at the next Company Union Causes Distrust Pearson Says NEW WESTMINSTER, B.C. — Reported lack of tolerance between employers and trade union leaders, was scored by Hon. George Pear- son, provincial minister of labor, in addressing the Kwanis club, ‘Tuesday. Discussing labor conditions in the province, which he declared were never better, Mr. Pearson added that the only fly in the oint- ment is the labor-employer dis- putes brought about by a mutual distrust which should not exist. “Unless industrialists change their attitude we will be forced to pass legislation which will dominate their policies,” said Mr. Pearson in pointing out that there is evidence that some em- ployers had driven wedges be- tween employees and thir trade unions. “This had been accomplished by creation of company unions which are illegal,” he added. Mr, Pearson urged a friendly cooperative attitude the same as adopted in Britain. When in VANCOUVER Stop at COLUMBIA HOTEL LICENSED PREMISES 303 Columbia Avenue MAr. 3757 erred Mohawk Negotiations Stall On Question of Agreement On Wednesday, September 8th the IWA Negotiating Com- mittee for the Mohawk employees, conisting of Jack Lindsay, an employee in the mill; Sam Ostrikoff, an employee of Fraser Mills; Percy Smith, business agent of Local 1-357, and Bert Melsness, District Secretary, met with Mr. Brooks Pendleton and Mr. Francis Pendleton and discussed the question of a union agreement. The company meeting of the Mohawk Sub-Local the officers of the union will be instructed to apply immediately for a Board of Arbitration on the, question of a signed union con- tract. Loeal 217 Gets First Woman Business Agent Last week Doreen McCorkindale, popular ply woodworker from the MeMillan Indus- tries, ‘and re- cently elected secretary of lo-} ; cal 1-217, began| full time duties} > as secretary| ° business agent of that local. This we believe is a new depar- ture in the IWA. The position of business agent hag always been considered a man’s job. We believe we are correct in saying that Sis- ter McCorkindale is the first of her sex to take over duties of this kind within a woodworkers’ union. D. McCorkindale Doreen’s husband, Private J. Mc- Corkdinale, is serving with the Sea- forth Highlanders, Vancouver regi- ment in Italy at the present time. McKay Flannigan Negotiating Good ” NEW WESTMINSTER, B.C.—Ne- gotiations last week between IWA Local 1-357 represented by Percy Smith, Stuart Alsbury, Geo. Mitch- ell and Bert Melsness, and The McKay and Flannigan Bros. Lum- ber Co. last week, were highly successful to a point. The entire agreement was discussed with the company dissenting only on the clauses asking union shop and the checkoff. A further meeting is expected in the near future when it is hoped that the company will see their way clear to sign the agreement. The mill employs only thirty men at present. "Styles for Young Men and Men who Stay Young” 301 West Hastings St. — In Circle ‘F’ the management flatly refused constituted by the Minister of La- bor in the very near future. The certification of IWA Local 1-357 as the sole collective bar- gaining agency in this plant and the subsequent developments are the result of many months of in- tensive organizational work on be- half of the workers and their com- mittees, During the past year many gains have been recorded in this mill Arbitration Is Asked Dispute On Sept. 12 the Fraser Mills Sub Local 1-357 voted unani- mously to apply for arbitration and subsequently nominated William Burgess, Secretary of the United Fisherman’s Federal Union, as their member of the Board. In negotiations recently to sign an agreement with the Union. Mr. Burgess was chosen by a substantial majority over both Harold and Ernie Winch of the CCF. It is expected that the Board will be formallye such as wage adjustments and the institution of safety measures which have been a benefit to both labor and management. Perhaps the most oustanding contribution made by the union is the produc- tion committee which has been re- sponsible for maany changes from former practices in handling lum- ber with the result that a great saving both in lumber and man- power has been accomplished. quired for certification of the wi in that plant. the present Association through 27 Millions A Month UAW Bond Record DETROIT.—Members of the CIO United Automobile Workers are “pond-barding” the Axis at the rate of $27,000,000 every month, R. J. Thomas, presdent of the UAW, said here in an appeal to the workers to support the Third War Loan Drive. He pointed out that according to U.S. Treasury reports this is more than any other union in the coun- try is spending for bonds. LIGHT CRUISERS Always the BEST ° Ask for them In the Commissary Or Order Direct from A. W. JOHNSON & CO. 63 West Cordova St. MAr. 7612 Vancouve' Vancouver Millmen Make Big Organizational Gains Employees of two more of Vancouver's larger sawmills are moving into the ranks of the IWA. In the past few weeks the men and women at Sitka Spruce have been joining in such numbers that they will soon have the fifty-one percent re- mion as the barbaining agency The employees at Sitka Spruce are voting today to disband which they bargain at present. The results of that vote is expected to do the trick. © The other mill reported to be coming along fine is the Eburne Sawmills at Marpole. The em- ployees here have started on the road to organization and are now planning a mass rally for the en- tire crew. It appears that Van- couver, which has been lagging slightly, will goon be right up there with the rest. “As president of the UAW-CIO,” he said, “I urge every member to make a special contribution to the ‘Third War Loan Drive. Let’s keep .our place as leader in the field of organized labor.” “Stamp Out the U-Boat”... Buy War Savings Stamps! steele JONSON'S