S and
SAWDUST

GREEN-CHAIN PETE

rsal Box has faily well set-
4d down since the agreement has
signed and the wage scale
Labor-management rela-
hhave always been on a. very
d basis, and these relations are
g in regard to working
‘conditions and absenteeism, With
few exceptions the Chinese
“workers are all in the union, Ex-
tensive enlargement and subse-
‘quent improvements of this plant
will make it one of the largest
operations in Vancouver.
North Shore certification has
_ been granted by the Department
of Labor and negotiations will pro;
ceed within a few days through
the office of R. V. Stuart. Organ-
ization of this plant was accom-
plished in a short period due to
the energetic work on the part of
the shop stewards, This operation,
like many others, has a manage-
‘ment who have expressed their
desire to cooperate with the IWA.
Lion’s Gate holds the record in
the speed in which it was organ-
ized. At the time certification was
applied for, every employee in this
operation signified his willingness
to become a member of the union
and from all reports they have
done so.
B.C, Fir and Cedar the shop
stewards are to be commended
on the splendid work they are do-
ing. They are building a solid,
well organized union, building it
on the sound program and policy
of the IWA. Application for cer-
tification was sent in some time
ago but like many other opera-
tions are waiting patiently for the
_ Department of Labor to check
files.
_ Alberni Plywoods. At a well-at-
_ tended meeting in the Eric Graf
_ Memorial Hall, Sunday, October
1, members of: the IWA employed
at the Alberni Plywoods estab-
lished a sub-local, elected officers
and set up committees.
_ Wilf Pelland, popular chairman
of the former Employees Confer-
ence Committee was unanimously
elected president, Lyle Walker, a
_ Member of long standing in the
IWA, was elected vice-president.
Stovie Kielbiski, former secretary
Of the old plywood sub-local was
_Te-elected secretary. Ray Caldwell,
her member of long standing
the IWA, was elected warden
Gus Boquist, former chairman,
elected to the local union ex-
e board, Shop and social
ttees were also elected.

Sawmill News

___ “Every Reader a Correspondent”

CHINESE PAPER
APPRECIATED

One of the most favorable reac-
tions to the publishing of the
Chinese edition of the “B.C.
Lumber Worker” was a donation
Of $20.00 which came all the way
from Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan,
Brother Roy Mah,, editor of The
Chinese Lumber Worker, reported
last. week.

The sender of this money is a
friend and sympathizer, Brother
Wong Yee Foo, who regards this
Paper as the “sole Chinese organ
of labor on this continent, which is
quite an accomplishment by your
organization.”

In a letter accompanying the
money, Brother Wong states: “We
are entering upon a new era; an
era in which there is the growing
consciousness on the part of the
working class throughout the
world to improve their lot and
strive for a better life..This objec-
tive was achieved by the rapid
growth of trade unionism within
the last few score years and in
this respect it is heartening to
say that our Chinesé working class
has been able to keep up to the
pace set by their fellow white
brothers and not allowed them-
selves to be left by the wayside in
this forward march of all the
workers towards a new and pros-
perous world.”

Brother Wong concluded his let-
ter by expressing a desire to see
this paper grow and prosper for
the sake of the Chinese workers;
and stated: “I would like to con-
tribute in my small way by don-
ating to you the sum of $20.00 in
order that you may carry on the
publishing of this paper.”

This generous gesture on the
part of Brother Wong strongly
testifies to the growing unity and
solidarity between the white and
Chinese workers in this country.
Besides Brother Wong's contribu-
tion, Roy Mah also reported that
that has been quite a large amount
of fan mail since the publication
of this paper, congratulating the
excellent work done by the IWA
in publishing this paper, which
ives the mews and airs the
Chinese working class problems.

Every Member
Get a Member!

“Monéy loaned on men’s cl
Ing, sleeping is, watches,
diamonds nd jewellery, Clothes
are kept in mothproof storage
while in our care.”

*

SAN FRANCISCO TAILORS
52 West Hastings Street |

Vancouver B.C.

REPORTS

Sitka Spruce Arbitration
Decides i in Favor of WA Local

Labor Minister Mitchell announced Friday that a Clonetitie
hes Board investigating a dispute involving employees of the
Sitka Spruce Lumber Co., of Vancouver has recommended the
company sign an agreement with the International Woodwork-

ers of America (CCL).

The company. previously refused to sign a “contract in com-
"| pliance with a petition allegedly signed by 62 percent of its
employees. The board in its report said the company recognized
the- union and considered the agreement satisfactory. Under
these conditions the petition should be regarded as irrelevant.

The board was composed of three Vancouver men. A. R.
MacDougall was chairman with Allan M. Russell company
representative and William Stewart, union representative.

This favorable decision by the board is the outcome of
fine months of struggle on the part of the union, for a signed
union agreement with the Sitka Spruce Lumber Co.

The arbitration board in its re-©

port further stated “that 54 em-
ployees signed the petition,” which
is less than one-quarter of the
employees involved and not 62 per-
cent. It is reported by members
at the mill that this so called pe-

tition was circulated by three
stooges, Ralph Burgess, Bill Web-
ster and Art Smith, who have de-
voted their efforts to form the
Fink Amalgamaied- Union, using
tactics which are common to in-
dividuals of this type. Previous
to this, these same individuals
headed the company union. The
employees of Sitka Spruce not
wishing to work under the exist-
ing conditions joined the Interna-
tional Woodworkers of America. In
February, 1944, the union, on be-
half of the majority of employees
who had been in good standing
in the IWA for three months, ap-
plied for certification. This appli-
cation was granted. Negotiations
were started through Mr. R. V.
Stuart between the union and Mr.
Sutton, manager of the Sitka
Spruce Co. Mr. Sutton refused to
recognize the IWA whereupon the
union applied for conciliation. In
April, 1944, Mr. James Thomson,
a conciliation commissioner who
was appointed by Mr. Pearson,
minister of labor, to effect an ad
justment, reported that he was
unable to bring about a settle-
ment.

In May, 1944, under the provi-
sions of Section 17 of the Indus-

Westwell’s
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Tobacconist
Confectioner

SODA FOUNTAIN

Stationer

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Fountain Pens

f
M, W. COOK

Phone No, 1 Box 574
DUNCAN, B.C.

recor eeeeonece ce eecoces

trial Conciliation Arbitration Act,
the minister of labor referred the
matter to arbitration.

In June, 1944, an arbitration
board was set up under the pro-
visions of the ICA Act which was
an erroras the Province of British
Columbia was then operating un-
der the Federal Labor Code P.C.
1003. This board was dissolved and
the union was recertified under
P.C. 1003, A new arbitration board
was then established and convened
in September under the new La-
bor Code,

During all this unsetttlement the
stooges were allowed to run at will
enabling them to use intimidation
and disruptive tactics. The turn
over of manpower was 2normous,
many good men left the -plaat in
disgust to work elsewhere and
Some are now in the armed forces.

The situation has now changed.
The employees are determined to
prove to Mr. Sutton that they wish
him to sign an agreement with the

LAKE COWICHAN

NOVELTIES

NATIONAL BOARD
SUPPORTS UNION
IN YOUBOU CASE

Word has been received that the
appeal to the National War Labor
Board made by the Industrial
Timber Mills at Youbou in respect
to a ruling of the Regional Board
of nearly a year ago has been
turned down.

This is no small victory for the
union as it involves back wages
in some categories amounting to
hundredse of dollars—$700 in one
casse, $250 in another, and $100 in
a third. Several others will re-
ceive back wages from $50 to $90.

This is one of two similar cases
involving the same company. The
other is at Hammond Cedar Mills
where the company is fighting the
principal of equal pay for equal
work for women.

This case was heard over a
month ago though no decision has
been handed down as yet.

IWA. An enthusiastic employees’
meeting which was recently held,
resulted in new shop stewards be-
ing elected and with the help of
the old shop stewards, who stayed
on the job, they .are confident
of establishing friendly. labor man-
agement relations,

ee ete ett

HASTINGS
STEAM BATHS

High. 0240 764 E. HASTINGS
When in Vancouver, for your
health’s sake, gor to the

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