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Bi-weekly Bulletin Published by The B.C. District Council, International Woodworkers of America, Affiliated to Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO)

VOL, XII. No. 2.

VANCOUVER, B.C., MONDAY, JANUARY 24, 1944

Broadway <B> Printers Lia.

(310)

Mill Layoffs
Clarified By
Negotiations

The dispute between Inter-
national Woodworkers of Am-
erica and Industrial Timber
Mills of Youbou, over the dis-
charge of seventeen carpenters
and millwrights without notice,
has been adjusted, Nigel Mor-
gan, International Board mem-
her of the IWA, announced this

week on his return from Vancou-
ver Island. Morgan stated the man-
agement has given assurances that
they had no intentions of trying in
any way to violate their agreement
with Local 1-80, and were prepared
to live up to its provisions in full:

On the intervention of Selective
Service officials, the Company gave
the crew the required seven days
notice, announcing that as the
former night shift gang had been
absorbed in the day shift last fall,
and a number of construction pro-
jects including the new theatre
building and pony-rig shed were
now prectically completed, the
Company would be unable to con-
tinue to employ 22 millwrights and
carpenters. However they were
willing, the management said. to
trp and place the laid-off men in|
other jobs.

The Company emphatically de-
nied in the presence of a
Service Enforcement Oflicer any
intentions of nsing the Jayofl to
obtain a reclassification of the
carpenters to employ them at a
Jower wage, or to get some new
contract to have them work Sun-
days without overtime pay, as had
been threatened by Superintend-
ent Whitaker,

Willingness to mvet the Union’s
Grievance Cominittee to discuss
any problems of seniorily in the
layoils, pr to discuss ways and
means of absorbing the laid-off
men in other jobs was expressed
by the management, and arrange-
ments were made for a meeting
next Thursday night at 7.30 p.m.
at the Company's Youbou oftice.

“Sub Loral officers are relieved
by the assurances of the Company,
and I have no doubt any difficul-
ties that may still eaist can be
amicably adjusted at next Thurs-
day's meeting,” Morgan said,

Ladies Elect _
Aux. Officers

At the Annual Convention of the
B.C. District Council of IW.A.
Federated Auxiliaries held in
Ladysmith last Sunday, Sister
Brown was unanimously re-elected
President, Other officers elected
were: Sister Mathews Ist Vice-
Pres., Sister Cowie 2nd Vice-Pres.,
Sec-Treas., Sister Blanche Wag-
gett and Trustee, Sister Mitchell.
A full report of the convention
will be carried in the next issue
of the Lumberworker.

goal for the coming year.

The meeting was officially open-'
ed by His Worship Mayor George
H. Savage, who congratulated the
loggers and millworkers of the
district for the generous contribu-
tion they had made to the Fifth
Victory Loan and other phases of
the war effort. Mayor Savage,
himself an old-time unionist, trac-
ed briefly the history of the trade
union inovement and declared
great progress has been made.
Concluding his opening remarks
he wished the Local every success
snd urged. the membership--stand.
behind and support their elected
officers. Additional speakers at
the meeting included, Interna-
tional Board Member Nigel Mor-
gan, District Vice-Presidents Hial-
mar Bergren and Ernie Dalskog,
Sam Guthrie, MLA, Dr. Thomas,
CCF Candidate in the forthcom-
ing Federal Election and several
representatives of the Ladies Aus-
ilary at Cowichan Lake, Lady-
smith, Duncan, Jordon River, Che-
mainus and Youbou. The urgent
need for labor political unity was
the keynote of the addresses.

Among a number of important
resolutions adopted by the meet-
ing was one roundly condemning
the new Wartime Wage Control
Order (1943) and demanaing it ne
rescinded by the Government.

Nominations were: For presi-
dent, Owen Brown, re-elected by
acclamation; for vice-presidents,
three to be elected, William Suth-

Trainmen

Meet Jan. 30

The Trainmen’s Conference to
deal with wage and overtime prob-
lems, postponed on January 9th,
will be held in the Miner's Mall at
Nanaimo on Sunday, January 30,
commencing at 10 a.m. District of-
ficers will be on hand to assist in
lining up a realistic program, and
President Pritchett and Secretary
Melsness will be in charge of the
informal conference, Representa-
tion will be on a basis of two dele-
gates from each “train” camp, and
it is hoped a one hundred percent
turnout will be present.

Meeting in the Knights of Pythias Hall in its Local Head-
quarters city, Duncan, Local 1-80 last week unanimously en-
dorsed the progressive and constructive program drafted by
the recent District Convention. The meeting of this Local,
which is the largest in District One and second largest in the
entire International Union, reiterated the desire and firm de-
termination of the membership for a speedy and complete vic-
tory over fascism, and for a fuller and happier life that only a
people’s peace can guarantee. To fight with all the energy of
its united membership until fascism and all it stands for has
been destroyed, and a world in which peace, security and free-
dom are assured to all people was the solemn pledge of Local
1-80. A comprehensive and constructive program of economic
and legislative demands was endorsed by the meeting as the

erland, Fred Wilson, John Parkin-
son, Jack Atkinson and I. J. Gib-
son; for financial secretary, He-
man Valley and Wilk Killeen; for
recording secretary, Fred Wilson
acclamation; for conductor, Dick
Kuster, acclamation; for warden,
Blondy Sedgewick, George Hauk
and Ernest Pickard; for trustees,
John Ulinder, Thomas Dewar,
Ralph Godfrey and Archie Green-
wall.

Delegates to. the Island Labour
Council, appointed at the meeting,
were: Messrs. Archie Greenwall,
George Parlee, Jack Parkinson,
Fred McMaster, William Suther-
jand, Henry Wargo and Fred
Wilson.

Delegates to the District Coun-
ejl: Owen Brown, Jack Atkinson,
John Parkinson, Dick Kuster,
George Grafton, T. Traft and A.
Virotsko, Fraternal delegates to
Local 1-85: Heman Valley and W.
Langmeade.

Appointment of a balloting com-
mittee to count the yotes in the
contest for officers was left to
Lake Cowichan sub-local.

Balloting on the officers will be
completed 10 days from the day
of nomination. In some cascs there
will be no contest.

Harry Anderson

Is Reinstated

DUNCAN, B.C. — Unanimous
condemnation of the action of
Superintendent MacDonald of
Crofton in discriminating against
Harry Anderson was voiced by the
annual meeting of Local 1-80 here
last week, when it was decided to
fight the case and back Brother
Anderson to the limit. Anderson
was not taken back to work after
Xmas, although men over whom
he had seniority were working,
which was the second difficulty he
had experienced since he appeared
as a witness forthe Union in the
Arbitration case last spring.

Failing to get any satisfaction
from Superintendent MacDonald,
International Board Member Mor-
gan referred the matter to Mr.
H. W. Hunter, manager of the

Annual Meeting of Loeal 1-80
Urges Organize, Unite, Vote

Labor Takes Action Against
Gov’t Wage Control Order

Across Canada this week every major Trade Union and
every Labor Council of AFL, CCL and other independent
Unions have taken strong action in protesting the Government’s
new labor and wage Code. The Code, which is the most vicious
attack on labor which has emanated from the Federal House
during the entire period of the war is being roundly con-
demned by every recognized leader of labor and in many cases
by members of the present administration together with large
numbers of other M.P.’s throughout the country.

The last meeting of the Vancouver Labor Council saw a
large number of delegates present take the floor in bitter op-
position to the Code expressing the opinion that it was compar-
able to legislation governing labor in Germany under Fascism.

Similar sentiments were expressed at the last meeting of the

Vancouver Trades and Labor
Council where five members of
Parliament attended, on invitation,
and made statements condemning
the order.

G, G. McGeer, although slightly
mixed up in his isms, stated: “I
am opposed to the order because
I believe it violates the fundamen-
fal beliefs of Liberalism? I can-
not believe there is a crisis im-
pending that justifies an attitude
that is provocative and antagoniz-
ing to labor.” Other M.P.’s ex-
pressed the following views:

Angus MacInnis: “I’m in agree-
ment with the council. In time of
war leeway must be allowed. The
government must have the power
to act quickly.

“But labor is totally disregarded
before orders are formulated.
There is no consultation with labor.

Labor wants to be a partner in the
war and should be consulted.”

Howard Green: “I think the or-
der is unfair and unwise. I will
do all I can to get the situation
straightened out. We have to put
up with many embarrassing things
during war. I don’t see how we can

make post-war plans under such an
order.”

George Cruickshank: “I promise
to see to the best of my ability
that labor gets a square deal. I
don’t care whose toes I tread on;
but I am not familiar with al! sec-
tions of the order. I represent a
farming community, but I will do
the best I can.”

James Sinclair: “As a member of
a labor riding, I supported one
strike in Vancouver because I felt
it was right, I think every order-
in-council should be able to justify
itself. I believe labor shoud have

Lake Logging Company in Van-
couver who stated the matter was
out of line with the company’s
policy and that Brother Anderson
would be returned to work im-
mediately.

a share in the National War Labor
Board; and I don't believe in three
as a quorum. I dislike the prohi-
bition of strikes.”

At the present time the two la-
bor councils in Vancouver have
been exchanging views on the sub-
ject with the apparent object in
view of united action on the ques-
tion of a real mass campaign
against the new order.

The IWA District Council No. 1
is urging upon all labor the neces-
sity of immediately adopting
strong resolutions of protest and
forwarding them to the Federal
Minister of Labor, Humphrey Mit-
chell, the Right Honorable Mac-

Kenzie King and to all federal
M.P.’s in British Columbia.

Campbell River
Seeks Additional
Medical Care

CAMPBELL RIVER, Jan. 22. —
Urgent need of additional medical
facilities for this area was stressed
at a meeting of the International
Woodworkers of America, ‘com-
prising employees of the Bloedel
Stewart and Welch operations.

The Workmen's Compensation
Board and Labor Minister George
S. Pearson will be asked to im-
press upon the B.C, College of
Physicians and Surgeons the ne-
cessity of having another doctor
at this point to cope with rising
industrial necessities, where there
are over a thousand loggers em-
ployed and the only doctor ayail-
able is over eighty years of age
and consequently unable to answer
calls under bad weather , condi-
tions. The matter has already been
taken up by International Boara
Member Nigel Morgan, and fur-
ther action will be considered if
a solution cannot be soon found
to the problem. z