Official Publication International! Woodworkers of America, B.C. District Council No. 1 Vol, XIV. No. 22. VANCOUVER, B.C., OCTOBER 22, 1945 : a (855) Sign First Interior Agreements At Princeton and Kamloops Legislation Issue In Ford Strike A UAW-CIO committee from Windsor, seeking to open nego- tiations and settle the Ford strike on the basis of economic secur- ity for the workers, were once more the victims of a procedure which characterizes Labor Code PC 1003. Having left Ottawa to interview the Cabinet to speed a settlement of the strike, the com- mittee later agreed to a proposal that they meet with the Federal and Provincial ministers of Labor, together with Ford company representatives. Aware that neither Minister of Labor has the power under PC 1003 to compel either negotiations or a settle- ment, the union nevertheless accepted the ministers’ proposal for such a meeting. The company’s answer was thab so long as the picket lines continue, they will not negotiate. That this is a mere excuse for refusing to negotiate is crystal clear, and demands are being raised from all parts of the country that the governments, possessed of powers, compel the company to negotiate with the union on the basis of wage, job and union security. The Ford strike, which is now in its fourth week, has settled down to a contest between labor and the democratic people of our country on the one hand, and those anti-labor, anti-union employers like the Ford Motor Co. on the other * hand, who seek to bring back conditions of open-shop, low wages and unemployment. The strike is due in the main to lack of Provincial or Federal legislation which would compel the company to come to an agreement with the union. Labor knows that PC 1003 does not have the authority to settle this dispute, The Ford strike is the battle of all Canadian unions. It is a battle for Labor Legislation to compel the Ford monopoly (and all monopolies) to provide union security, job security and wage security, That is the issue of this strike. Ford Local 200, UAW-CIO, believes that it is in the interests of all labor in Canada, that, pending the amendment of PC 1003, a special order-in-council should be passed by either Ottawa or Queen’s Park as a means of compelling the Ford Motor Co. to grant union security and open the way to negotiate a new con- tract. If the company even then refuses to comply with such an order-in-council then the government must take over the plant and rt producing cars for Canadians. This is the nature of the de- mands that must pile up on the desks of your MP’s (in Ontario all MP's as well. Similar wires should be sent to the federal Minister of Labor as well as Ontario Labor Minister Daley, demanding that they abandon their buck-passing game and go into action at once. Yes, not only must this demand pile up on their desks but delegations in the name of every local union in the country should go to Ottawa to protest this inaction and lack of interest on the part of our governments. We have received messages of support from Percy Bengough, president of the Trades and Labor Congress, AFL, and from A. R. Mosher, President of the Canadian Congress of Labor (CCL. We now call upon local unions to quickly organize “Win the Ford Strike” committees, hold community meetings to gain further support, address union membership meetings. Remember, we have 10,000 workers with their wives and kiddies on strike. It may be heeessary to raise $1,000,000 in this national crusade to block the efforts of big industry to smash trade unionism in Canada. A victory for Ford strikers will mean a victory for labor all over Canada, We must break through the inadequacq of PC 1003. We can do it with the support of all unions in Canada. Many unions across Canada have already made finan- cial contribution to the strikers, and those unions who have not yet done so are urged to send their contribution to the Fin- ancial Secretary of Local 200, UAW-CIO at once. Many unions have established voluntary weekly contributions from their members. i ‘Ford strikers are blazing the trail for union security, job secur- ity and wage security, Your immediate support will immeasur- ably shorten the battle and assure its successful outcome. 4 Fraternally yours, ROY G. ENGLAND, President, Local 200 UAW-CIO. Day’s Pay ls Objective For Windsor Strike A conference called by the B.C. Federation of Labour, on October 14th, following instructions re- ceived from the executive com- mittee of the Canadian Congress of Labour, set up a provincial Ford-Windsor strike committee, in aid of the Ford workers now on strike against the Ford Mo- tor Company. The striking employees, in a determined effort to gain union security for themselves are lead- ing the struggle for all Canadian workers, and the conference pointed out, that the least we can do. to help these members of the United Automobile Work- ers of America, gain for them- selves and for all organized la- bour, was to donate one day’s pay in this worthy cause. The conference went on record as endorsing one day’s pay from all members of Canadian Con- gress of Labour unions, and the setting up of a strike commit- tee, which will call meetings and rally support for these automo- bile workers. The conferenke also went on record, supporting a resolution which requested the Government to intervene and to force the Ford Motor Company to concede the demands of the workers. Failing this that the Government take over the Ford plant and administrate it in the interests of the people. Official “I support the Ford [strikers for union security” but- ‘tons have been issued by the Federation, to be worn by all members donating one day's pay for this worthy cause, Work Or Not; Pay Assured LONDON (ALN) — British building workers won a fight of many years’ duration with the introduction of a guaranteed weekly wage and the abolition of spot firing in the industry this week. Under a new contract with building employers, work- ers will get 32 hours a week pay even if the weather does not permit a single day’s work. If one or two days are lost because of bad weather and the rest of the week is workable, half-time will be paid for the lost days. Workers can only be dismissed on the last day of the week and must be given a week’s notice. Include Union Shop Check-off Besides Coast Conditions First contracts for Interior Lumber have now been signed. The District office has been advised this week, that agreements have been signed between Local 1-418, Princeton, B.C., and the Taylor Lumber Company, Limited. Also Local 1-417, Kamloops, B.C., and the Kamloops Sash and Door Company. The Taylor Lumber Company signed the 1945 Master Agreement and supplement, in- cluding union shop and union maintenance of membership. The Kamloops wage scale and transportation has been included in an additional supplement. ‘The Kamloops Sash and Door Com- pany have signed the 1945 Mas- ter Agreement, with maintenance of union membership, reclassi- fication of job categories and approximately an 8c increase across the board. District Council, No. 1, hails these victories in the Interior, as an excellent step toward es- Labor Enters Civic Politics Vancouver and New Westmin- ster Trades and Labour Council AFL announced that their regu- lar meeting last Tuesday night decided to sponsor two labor candidates in this year’s Van- couver city election, to secure labor representation on the City Council, with the express purpose of removing certain present un- satisfactory incumbents. This action came on a recommenda- tion of the Council’s politica] ac- tion committee and was adopted by a majority vote of 133 dele- gates present, after a lengthy discussion. “Organized labour has been challenged by the City Council,” stated Secretary R. K. Gervin, reporting for the committee. “Some of the councillors have been reluctant to cooperate with labour.” In answer to a ques- tion of opposition from political parties, raised by several dele- gates Mr. Gervin expressed his opinion. that any party which cares to run candidates against those sponsored by organized la- bour would have quite a job on their hands in convincing people they are justified in so doing. has tablishing sound collective bar- gaining relations with the many companies in the Interior and the IWA. Late Reports Raise Toll The Safey Branch of the De- partment of Labor have advised that the following deaths have taken place in the woodworking industry since April 27, 1945, but have not 45 been listed in the Lumber Woodworkers | Worker: have been Robert Bryce killedin BC’s | (tigger) while lumber in- | coupling up cat dustry since | 2 nd logging Jan. 1, 1945 | arch, a boom slid ahead and struck him, on April 27, 1945. Martin Toews, truck driver, while driving gravel truck, hit a large stump and went off the road, April 28, 1945. Villers Cripps, loader, was in- jured by a log that fell upon the upper layers of load, strik- ing him on on head and should- ers and back, May 10, 1945. Yoshikazu Tomaru, swamper, truck ran over bank into, lake and he was drowned on May 22, 1945. Robt. Henry Jensen, bucker, was hit by part of snag which flew from falling tree and struck him on the head, causing hemmorhage of the brain. “ Frederick Roaming, faller, of Chilliwack, B.C,, limb fell and hit him on the head, causing fracture of skull (not wearing hard hat, on June 20, 1945. Joseph Gailus, second rigger, died from heatstroke while rig- ging down from a spar tree, dur- ing a forest fire. Wm. Alexander, bridge puild- er, struck by line and thrown from deck of bridge, while cross- ing bridge on the side where skyline system was being used to convey loads, August 9, 1945.