November 1, 1943 THE B.C. LUMBER ioe | Page Seven B.C. LUMBER WORKER Published Bi-Weekly, Every Second Monday by INTERNATIONAL WOODWORKERS OF AMERICA (CIO) DISTRICT COUNCIL NO. 1 Managing Editor: B. J. MELSNESS Room 504 Holden Building — Phone PAcific 4151 — Vancouver, B.C. Make Payments to: IWA-CIO District Council No. 1 —— Why Not Before? OTHE industrial dispute which caused a fie-up of airplane spruce production in Queen Charlotte Island logging camps was settled on Saturday and the 600 loggers affected are going back to work following the signing of an agreement .between the operators and officials of the International Wood- workers of America. Recognition of the union was the cardinal point at issue all through the two. years of the dispute which came to a head two weeks ago when-the loggers went on strike. The dispute engendered much bitterness among the workers. It lowered morale and, finally, it interrupted pro- duction of a vital war material. Last June 7th, a conciliation proceeding under Judge Harper found that—“the employers should enter into an agreement with the local union of the I.W.A. for a period of one year.” The operators’ refusal to put this recommendation into practice was, to our mind, the prime cause of the dispute with its unforunate effect on production. We are confirmed in this opinion by reading the agreement which tthe operators have finally signed and which the union declares is a “victory” for the men. We know of no reason why the operators should not have signed this agreement long ago. Had they done so there would have been no dispute.” (The above is an Editorial which appeared in the News Herald on Oct. 25). bani 5,000 New Members ~ Sa one for the outstanding victory for the International Woodworkers of America, and for all organized labor in the Dominion of Canada, with the signing of a union agreement between three private employers in the Queen Charlotte Islands and the International Woodworkers of America, Local 1-71. The agreement provides a sound basis for co-operation, giving the union loggers full collective bargaining rights. It is unfortunate that after two and a half years of sincere at- tempts on the part of the organized loggers to establish their democratic rights, a strike was necessary. However, the signing of the agreement opens a new page of collective bargaining in the labor history of this Province and will undoubtedly open the flood gates for many more signed union agreements, establish- ing a sound base for an all-out war effort. Outstanding in the course of this dispute was the develop- ment of laber solidarity and public support, through which the popularity of the International Woodworkers of America hhas increased many thousand fold. It behooves every member and officer of our organization to take advantage of this increased _ popularity and stability created by the signing of this agree- _ ment, which opens the door for many thousands of woodworkers to enrol in our union. Therefore, let us all accept our responsibility to our union, to the public, and to Canada’s war effort, to assure peace and harmony in industry, to ensure increased production and to build a sound basis for improved labor relations in this basic industry by Organizing the Unorganized NOW! Our immediate slogan should be —Five Thousand New _ Members by Christmas! gf Speed the Victory c= Fifth Victory Loan drive is now well on it’s way to the finish line and so far everyone has been doing fine. It _ is apparent now however that unless some very heavy buying is done, that we are liable to fall short of our quota. This must not be allowed to happen. Labor today has many just griev- nees almost too numerous to mention and it is easy to see this ean affect the Bond drive. The Bonds are, however, completely separate issue because if we lose the war our; ievances will be multiplied a hundredfold. SPEED THE, RY—BUY THE FIFTH VICTORY,BONDS TO THE Labor Leaders Hail QCI Pact As Good Progress Outstanding labor leaders in B.C., following the Queen Charlotte Island strike, hailed the loggers’ victory as one of the greatest steps forward for labor in many years. Nigel Morgan, IWA international board member, hailed the agreement as “one of the biggest forward steps yet made in the B.C. lumbering industry toward the establishment of sound, harmonious labor relations.” GUARANTEES PEACE “This agreement,” he continued, “established through the union of the loggers’ own choice IWA local 1-71, is a guarantee of peace dur- ing the year the contract is in ef- fect. “It paves the way for genuine co-operation between management and labor for increasing produc- tion of vital Sitka spruce. HISTORY-MAKING “We are happy to see the men returning to work!” Vancouve'rs top labor leaders expressed their gratification that the loggers had won their strike, and declared the agreement the loggers have won “makes history in the B.C. woods.” “Labor never crows over any victories,” E, E. Leary; president of the Vancouver Labor Council (CCL) stated. “But I am glad it is settled. I’m sure it’s in the interests of the men and of the industry.” Mr. Leary said it was deplorable that the operators had not signed in the first place. “Its progress for labor,” declared Birt Showler, president of the Vancouver Trades and Labor Council (AFL). QCI AGREEMENT The clauses include: | fe cook-house employees to have a health card signed by a doctor. by aed companies recognize safety committee of three employees elected by the union and will pay straight time not to exceed two hours per week for actual time spent attending safety’ meetings outside working hours. The companies agree not to de- duct time for any working hours required for attending investiga- tions of accidents or meetings dur- ing working hours. SENIORITIES CLAUSE The agreement provides for recognition of the principles of seniority after 60 days’ employ- ment, competency considered. The union is recognized as the collective bargaining. agency of employees in all camps where the union is selected as the bargain- ing agency by the majority of the crew and certified by the provin- cial department of labor. It provides for collective bar- gaining as to wages and working conditions. Any question requiring adjustment will be taken up by the camp grievances committee elected by the union, by the head representatives at the camp. If it can’t be settled, then it will be referred to the union and the Management of the company in Vancouver. YEAR’S CONTRACT The company agrees to maintain the present wage scale for one year and to join with the union in any request it may submit for |the continuation of the present war ‘bonus for the period of agreement. Agreement provides for twice- monthly pay days and an itemized statement of earnings and deduc- tions; and advances on employees’ wages when due notice is given. Provides for free transportation from camp to scene of operations where customary and practical. 8-HOUR DAY Provides for eight-hour day; 48- hour week; time and a half for overtime. Prices of board are to remain as they are, but subject to nego- tiations between the two parties. Agreement provides for leave of absence and a maintenance of full rights of employees in armed services or suffering illness or injury. In event of a shut-down no new employees will be hired until for- mer employees have had an op- portunity to return to work. OBSERVE HOLIDAYS, Provides for the observation of holidays. Labor-management committees will be made up of representa- tives of the union and the com- panies to increase production of spruce for war purposes. The agreement provides for ar- bitration, with three-man board, chairman to be named by Judge Richards, for any dispute which parties are to settle through collective bargaining. The awards of agbitration board are to be binding on both sides for the duration of the agree- ment. The union agrees not to call or permit strikes or work stoppage. The employer agrees not to per- mit a lockout during the life of the agreement. The companies agree to recog- nize the right of employees to meet representatives of the union and Provision is made for the union to take up individual grievances with the management. The duration of the contract is for one year ‘from November 1, 1943, if approved by the Queen Charlotte crews. It is signed by the president and secretary of Local 171 and the managements of the companies concerned, SPEED THE VICTORY BUY WAR BONDS Hello Boys: I was reading a magazine article ately and ran across an article dealing with the wisdom of the late Justice Holme. This savant once declared that human beings can always come to an agreement if only they try long enough. To illustrate his point he cited the conversation of two Minnesota farmers who had not met in a long time: “Hello, Axel, what have you been doing? I have not seen you in ages.” “I have been in the hospitl.” “That's bad!” “No, that’s good, I married the nurse.” “That’s good!” “No, that’s bad, she’s got ten children!” “That’s bad!” “No, that’s good, she’s got a big house.” “That’s good!” “No, that’s bad, the house burned down.” “That’s bad!” “No, that’s good. She burned up with the house.” “That's good.” “Yes, you are right, that’s good.” Justice Richards must have had some of Mr. Holme’s idea of people always coming together in agree- ment,” to accept this job of trying to get the loggers and the Queen Charlotte Island operators togeth- er. Some day soon we will see Mr. Richards sitting on a loggers case which will run like this. “Well, boys, what do you want now?” “We want six hours a day.” “That's bad.” No, that’s good, because we want the same money we were getting for eight.” “That’s bad.” “No, that’s good, because we are going to help all other -industries to do likewise.” “That's bad, be- cause we have money invested ii practically every basic industry in B.C.” “That's good, because you will have to deal with ail the work- ers in B.C.” “That's bad, because we will not be able to compete on the world market.” “That’s good, because all the workers in other countries will follow our example.” “That's good.” “Yes, that’s good.” . You see, fellows, how easy it is to get six hours a day and no cut in wages, Where there is a will there is a way, says the old proverb. Take for instance the Irish soldier in California who received a letter from his wife in the East asking him for some extra money to have jher half acre of land plowed up for victory garden. He answered her letter right away and said: My dear, don’t dig up our lot because all the guns are buried there. His wife never received his letter, but a few days later a bunch of sol- diers, without any explanation, Searched her house and dug up all jher garden. This frightened little wife wrote back to her husband telling him about the incident. Why, she said, they even dug up every inch of ground we own. What shall I do now? He ‘answer- ed, “Plant the spuds!” Of course, digging a garden and organizing a camp or a mill are two differént jobs. I know of only one way to do trade union work and that is to really go to it and work. Remember the words of the old dad giving advice to his son. Son, says he: “There are two classes of people in this world. The one who gets all the credit and glory and the other ‘ho actually does the work. Join the latter, you will have far less competition.” SPEED THE VICTORY BUY WAR BONDS