THE BC. LUMBER WORKER

Published Every Second Monday by

INTERNATIONAL WOODWORKERS OF AMERICA (CIO)
DISTRICT COUNCIL NO. 1

Editer: JACK GREENALL Advertising: MATT FEE.
Room 504 Holden Building—Phone PAcific 4151—Vancouver, B.C.
@

The deadline for stories for the coming issue is 4 p.m.
Thursday, January 10, 1946

Power Saws °

DURING the past few years, a new problem has arisen among
‘woodworkers. We say a new problem, and yet it is one of the
oldest; only this time it appears in different guise. It has “snuck
up on us” and while warnings have been sounded, the circumstances
of all-out war production have served to deaden the sound. The
fact that many employers have paid prices over and above legal
ceilings for falling and bucking in order to ‘get men, has created
a false sense of security for those who have been buying and using
power saws on an individual ownership, piece-work basis. The
old, old problem of piece work; only this time in a particularly
dangerous form.

The shingle industry knows piece work. Sawing shingles on
this basis is bad enough; but how much warse would it be if each
shingle sawyer had to own his own machine and keep it in repair?
When the machine became old, how much time would he lose and
how many nights would he work patching it up; leading to evasions
of compensation regulations with faulty repairs and so on?

The power saw problem can become a curse to the B.C. woods if
it is not sharply controlled by the men who are now in a fair way
to becoming its slaves should they fail to act. The employers are
not going to control this situation. They have too much to gain by
allowing it to develop the way it is. Already we have seen gangs
leave town and lose hours of work repairing their machines. Already
they have come back and complained that the price was too low
for the kind of timber they were cutting. How much worse will it
be when competition becomes keen and contract prices are slashed
to the bone and when every faller is packing a power saw in his
kit-bag willing to take all kinds of chances to meet the install-
ments on his machine or the repair bill.

The power saw is here to stay, just as is the caterpillar tractor,
the logging truck ar any other piece of modern equipment. The
power saw can be an esset to the logger and not a liability. Power
saws should be owned by the company and maintained by the com-
pany. A few men may have made a killing while the war was on, but
those days are over now.

Several IWA Locals are bringing suggestions on this problem
to the Ninth Annual District Convention. Action to meet this situ-
ation is timely and the Convention will, without doubt, adopt a
program that will lay the basis for sound relations between em-
ployers in B.C. and power saw operators.

Veteran Seniority

QRGANIZED labor is particularly concerned at attempts now
being made to split the veteran away from the organized worker.
Every reference made that can be twisted to further this end is
picked up by reacionary interests and broadcasted to the nation.
Seniority in union agreements takes the main brunt of these
attacks and the effort of course is to sidetrack the basic issues and
concentrate publicity on misleading statements.

We in the IWA, as have all other Canadian Congress unions,
provided (1) for the return of the former employee to his
former job with no break in his seniority for the time he was in
the services, (2) Preference for returned men over all other ap-
plicants when new jobs are available. This program is sound and
is the only kind of a program that will provide security for the
veteran as well as to the worker who stayed to produce the ma-
terials of war. The problem of jobs for veterans is precisely, the
same ag the problem confronting displaced war workers, namely
“JOBS.”

The position of the Canadian Congress of Labor with regard
to seniority for veterans and to the question of employment in
genera] is absolutely clear. Two years ago, the Congress issued a
statemen whtich was headed, “Wanted: Two Million Jobs.” It was
pointed out that “the vitally important task which will have to be
undertaken is the placing of two million workers in. jobs that do
not now exist, or from which workers have been diverted either
into temporary war jobs or into the Armed Services,” and it: pointed
out that the task of finding jobs for this tremendous army of men
and women workers fell directly upon the government, through
control over the operation of industry. The Congress urged ‘that
immediate action be taken to survey the industrial structure of the
nation and to apply to Hencetphe production and employment the
lessons which had: been learned during the war. Having laid this
down, as the basic premise for all thinking and action dn postwar
employment, the Congress went further, and a year ago, at meet-
ings of the Executive Committee and Executive Council, the ques-
tion of veterans’ seniority was fully considered and a definite policy
outlined.

At that time also, the Congress emphasized that seniority on
what might be temporary employment gave little or no protection
to an employee, and that this could be obtained only by providing
full employment for all available workers, thus avoiding a compe-
titive struggle between veterans and displaced civilians for inade-
quate number of jobs. ;

The Congress believes that the policy outlined above with re-
gard to veterans’ seniority is fair to both veterans and civilians, and
it again urges in the strongest possible terms that the responsibility
for the provision. of employment for every able-bodied worker be laid
directly at the door of the Government. The Congress further re-
news the offer which has been made on many occasions in the past
to cooperate with veterans’ organizations and all other groups in
demanding that the Government take whatever steps are neces-
sary to operate industry in such a manner as to provide employ-
ment and adequate incomes for every Canadian worker.

World Federation For
Overthrow of Franco

PARIS (ALN)—A declaration designed to rid Spain of the
Franco dictatorship was demanded from the Big Three Foreign
Ministers meeting in Moscow by the World Federation of Trade
Unions here this week. In a message addressed to U.S. Secretary
of State James F. Byrnes, Soviet Foreign Minister V. M. Molotov
and British Foreign Secretary Ernest: Bevin, WFTU general secre-

tary Louis Saillant said:
“The WFTU, considéring the
resolution voted’ by the world
trade union congress held in
Paris last October, takes the lib-
erty of expressing to your ex-
cellencies, on behalf of its 70,-
000,000 members, its opinion fa-
voring a break of diplomatic re-
lations by democratic govern-
ments with the Franco regime.
“Franco’s participation in
Axis policy and later in the war
on Hitler’s side, together with the

‘total absence of trade union and

civil liberties in Spain, places
Franco among those responsible
for the war and for violation of
peoples’ democratic liberties, per-
petrated by fascism in Europe.

“The workers of the world
would hail with great hope and
joy a declaration by the three
foreign ministers gathered in
Moscow compelling the disap-
pearance of Franco’s government
and dictatorship.” At the Paris
world labor congress, WFTU de-
legates from all parts of the
world voted unanimously in favor
of a break in diplomatic and
economic relations with the
Franco regime.

Consider Break
With Spain

PARIS (ALN). — The U.S.
State Department is holding a
conference on the Spanish situ-
ation, it was learned here this
week, as Norman Armour, who
had planned to spend some time
here following his resignation as
American Aribassador to Spain,
cut short his visit and left by air
for Washington. The conference
is reportedly a result of the re-
cent French government request
to Britain and the U.S. for tri-
partite consultation on breaking
relations with the Franco regime.
The U.S., Britain and France have
maintained diplomotic and eco-
nomic relations with Franco, de-
spite his military aid to Hitler.
Armour will be able to report
appalling economic conditions
and widespread hostility against
Franco and his Falangist. teriror
in Spain, where unemployment
is reaching a new high and work-
ers are literally starving.
British Govt Frees 226 ..

British Govt Frees
Spanish Internees

LONDON (ALN). — The 226
Spanish Republicans who have
been held in internment camps
in Lancashire will be freed
shortly to go to France as free
men, according to a decision an-
nounced b ythe British Labor
government here this week.
Agreement ‘has been reached
yith France and 112 of the men
have already signified their de-
sire to go that country. All the
others are expected to follow
suit. The fight for the release
of the men has been led by the
International Brigade Associa-
tion and the Lancashire and
Cheshire Thardes Councils,
which enlisted the support of
unions and Labor party groups
throughout the country.

WFTU Bureau
Holds Session

PARIS (ALN).—The execu-
tive bureau of the World Fed-
eration of Trade Unions today
opened its first session since the
organization’s formation in Oc-
tober. WFTU president Sir Wal-
ter Citrine, who is also general
secretary of the British Trades
Union Congress, is chairing the
meetings. American labor is not
represented at this session as
Sidney Hillman, WFTU  vice-
president and president of the
CIO. Amalgamated Clothing
Workers, cabled that he was un-
able to come and John Brophy,
CIO director of organization, is
not expected here till after the
New Year to assume his perman-
ent post as WFTU assistant sec-
retary.

The following items will be
discussed during the two-day sit-
ting of the bureau: (1) report
on the functioning of the WFTU,
including standing orders and
draft budget; (2) reconstitution
of German labor unions, date of
departure and route of the WFTU
delegation to Germany and the
character and extent of its mis-
sion; (3) relation of the WFTU
to the United Nations Organiza-
tion, implementation of decisions
by the WFTU congress on labor
representation in international
bodies and organizations; (4) ap-
pointment of WFTU committees
of inquiry on Greece, Japan and
Iran; (5) negotiations with in-
ternational trades _ secretariats
for the creation of trade depart-
ments covering various indus-
tries within the WFTU.

Oswald Mosely
Now Publisher

LONDON (ALN). — Sir Os-
wald Mosley, leader of the Brit-
ish Union of Fascists and war-
time detainee, has announced
that he is launching a publish-
ing business. “The idea that will
be put forward in the publishing
venture are those I formulated

“| before the war, except that they

are now further developed,” Mos-
ley stated.

Meonwhile, members of Parlia-
ment have expressed extreme
dissatisfaction with the govern-
ment’s answers to questions re-
garding the recent public auction
of a granite bust of Hitler and
Nazi flags at the German Em-
bassy, and indicated that they
will pursue this matter and will
Taise additional queries regard-
ing the newly formed Hitler.
worshipping Legion of Christian
Reformers and the activities of
Mosley. -

Replying to a question
why the Hitler ae and Neel
emblems were not destroyed, the
Parliamentary Secretary to the
Hoey, of Works stated: “Tt
Was not practical to attem;
segregate for destruction Hie:
articles which might have had a

senimental appeal pee
dividual? oro) ea

Yep, I'm feeling fine (hic),
but what I would like to know
is, is Christmas really over for
1945. I knew it was coming, for
Greenall hands me a_ letter 9
few days before December 26,
containing a nice Xmas card
from a lady. It was the only card
I got and of course, Greenall
noticed it was in a woman's
handwriting and he gave me a
Jook as much as to say, “who
would ever bother writing to
you, you wolf.” Right away T
took up the challenge and said,
“Okay, I know my age and sta-
ture are all agin me but I'll have
you know I love all women, and
1 doubt if I ever got a 5 percent
return but it is a damn good in-
vestment even with less than 5
percent.”

‘The lady who sent me the card
stated she sometimes got some
pleasure out of this column of
mine and wondered what I Jook-
ed like. That was nice of her,
and as I must remain incognito
(I would probably get killed if
I didn’t) I will describe myself
as nearly as possible as follows:
“Should you see a little old man,
quite lame in the right leg, what
few hairs are left very gray and
wrinkles enough in the face to
hold a day’s rain, that will be
me, Just holler, bull, and I'll be
sure to say hello.” :

I am mighty pleased with my
fan mail even if it were only one
Christmas. card. Could be the
Xmas spirit had something to do
with it at that, but I have al-
ways felt it would be better if
the Christmas spirit lasted 364
days, leaving only one day a
year for people to do all the
mean things they are tempted to
do. All strikes, etc., would occur
and be settled om that day. Key-
stone workers at New Westmin-.
ster could take note of my brain
wave. But no matter how many
good ideas are put forward there
are always people ready to take
the joy out of living. For in-
stance, in the parade to the City
Hall here in our fair city on
December 22, some of the boys
were singing, “Hold. the Fort” —
and “Solidarity Forever,” but I~
heard an old feller singing, “Oh
dear, what can the matter be; —
Is Mayor Cornett in the lava-
tory? Oh dear, what can the —
matter be. He haint going to get
a job for me; Only wise men
could do that for me. a

And again, speaking of wise
men, according to the Bible, |
King Solomon and King David —
liked to have a few of the ie
er (ahem) sex around. It has
been reckoned that King Solo-
mon was the wisest of them
However, a chap once wrote
few lines that might give
idea of how life goes.
King David and King Sol

lived highly colorful lives,
With lots and lots of coneubit

and heaps and heaps of wiv
But when they grew into @
years, and women lost
charms,
Then Solomon wrote the
erbs and David
psalms. x

wrote —