“sist that every increase in pro- “proportionate reduction hours, It is an undisputed fact that a healthy and satisfied employee is a more efficient worker. No em- ployee suffering from chronic ill-health due to cumulative fa- tigue can put his best efforts into the job. Furthermore, the work- er who is continually fatigued or in ill health is much more suscep- tible to acidents. Moreover, work- ers in industry must have the right to enjoy some of the arh- enities of social life. They must have suficient leisure to be able to follow cultural and education-| al pursuits if they so wish. They| must be granted sufficient free time to enable them to partici- pate in, and help develop. com- munity life. No man who works excessive hours, or who is a slave to his job, can live a normal decent life. Yet there are thousands of work- ers in the woodworking industry in B.C, who after working their normal 48 hours a week, (or more, in many instances) and spending from two to as high as four hours a day in travelling to and from the job find themselves restricted during six days a week to nothing more, than the essen- tial functions of eating and sleeping. Sunday is spent in a usually futile effort to store up sufficient euergy for the coming work week. A worker is a far greater asset to his employer when working conditions permit adequate leisure hours and a rate of pay that will permit a reason- able sense of security. Obviously, if labour were to in- ductivity should be met with a there would be no economic pro- gress. It is equally obvious that if hours remain the same re- gardless of productivity, there can be little cultural and social progress. The workers now feel that the time has come when in- dustry can give them more lei- sure time for recreation and self- development. Thus with every likelihood of increased hourly pro- duction and decreased overhead the B.C. Lumber and Woodwork- ing Industry should find itself in an excellent position to increase employment under the most fav- ourable economic conditions. The need for more employment, and a greater total output, which would be facilitated by shorter hours, is obvious since demand for products and by-products of B.C. Forest Industries is far in ex-, cess of supply. Moreover, Lum- ber exports which account for the major portion of B.C. Forest products, will continue to increase. The post-war period will un- doubtedly witness rapid techno- logical advances in Canadian In- dustrial technique not the least of which will be the Lumber and Woodworking industry. Workers haye gained notoriously little in the form of shorter hours or high- er wages due to technological advance. Yet essentially, it is they who have, through their labor provided the necessary cap- ital to expediate such advance, Accordingly the IWA urges that immediate steps be taken by all those concerned so that, in the words of the San Francisco Charter, the workers of Canada may, in the world of peace they fought to make, enjoy “Higher standards of living, Full employ- ment, and conditions of economic and social progress and develop- CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE Legislation weekly limit of 48 hours to forty hours, to all workers. 3. MINIMUM WAGES. The of age as beneficiaries. (1) That sub-section 4 of section 50 be re- pealed and the following substi- tuted: Provincial Government should) y,; asi ss Fe fi set an example in establishing] ¢,,. en a basic minimum wage in B.C. of sixty cents (60c) per hour and make a substantial repre- sentation to the Federal Gov- ernment through the Inter-Pro- vincial Conference for sixty cents (60c) per hour national minimum wage rate. 4. VACATIONS WITH PAY. That legislation be enacted mak- ing it compulsory to grant to employees a vacation with pay of not less than two weeks’ duration for every working year of an em- ployee’s employment. 5. WORKMEN’S COMPEN- SATION. (a) Increase in com- pensation payment from 66 2-3 per cent to 100 per cent of earn- ings with a minimum payment of $20 per week. (b) That the worker’s contribution be entire- ly removed. (c) The waiting period to be eliminated and com- pensation paid from the date of injury on a semi-monthly basis. (d) Hernia to be included among occupational diseases and full coverage of all disabilities aris- ing from aggravation by the oc- cupation, of a previously existing condition. (e) Compulsory blan- ket coverage for all occupations regardless of nature of industry. (£) The Government to enact and enforce legislation whereby doc- tors will forward a report with- in three days after taking the case, and semi-monthly reports thereafter; the final report to be’ forwarded within seven days after conclusion of the case. (g) That chiropractic and naturopa- thie treatment be available to the workers without a recom- mendation from a medical doc- tor. (h) Increase compensation allowance for dependent children to $20 per month. (i) In cases of partial recovery, injured work- ers be guaranteed full compen- sation payments until satisfac- tory employment is found by the Compensation Board. (j) That the Act be so amended that when revisions take place in the work- ers wage status, or by change in the Act itself, that revision be made of the actual case involved to eliminate unnecessary hard- ship on the worker. (k) Where an industrial fatality occurs and the deceased leaves a widow, such widow shall be paid a mini- mum of $80 per month, and in- clude all children up to 18 years prescribed time shall not bar the right to compensation. Where in the opinion of the board an injustice has been done and the claim is a just one, such claim to be allowed.” Me (m) That the Workmen’s Compensation Board appoint an inspector to cover Vancouver Island and that a notice be sent to all Councils, both Trades and Labor (AFL) and Canadian Congress of Labor Councils, when a meeting of the voard is to be held in their area. (n) No employee shall be discharged from the service of the employer, with whom he was engaged at the time of injury while he is on compensation, except in the ease of permanent injury. (0) Fishermen to be included under the Workmen’s Compensation Act. 6. HEALTH INSURANCE. It is recommended that the Pro- vincial Government, through the Inter - Provincial Conference, urge the Federal Government to enact a National Health Insur- ance Act administered by the Province. 7. OLD AGE PENSIONS. We urge this Government to do everything within its power to have the Old Age Pensions Act amended in the manner proposed by organized labor, guarantee- ing a minimum pension of $50 per month at 60 years of age, without the destitution test. 8. SAFETY. We, recommend one consolidated department with adequate safety personnel and necessary funds to bring im- mediate returns in accident pre- vention. 9. TRUCK ACT. Section 10 of the Truck Act nullifies the protection afforded under this Act, to workmen employed three miles outside any incorporated city, municipality or village. We ask the Government to make this act enforceable throughout the Province. 10. TRADESMAN’S QUALIFI- CATION ACT. We urge this Government to enact legislation whereby workers in . certain trades will be certified according to their ability. Labor should have equal representation with employers in examining boards set up under this Act. By E. DALSKOG, International Member, IWA-CIO A UNITED TRADE UNION delegation representing CCL, AFL and Independent Unions combined their efforts last week in placing before the Government of British Columbia, labor's demands for legislative proposals that will benefit the working people. These demands will not be achieved just by asking for them, WHAT IS THE NEXT STEP? ways: but will only be accomplished by pressure on the Legislature and the Government to enact such laws and put our proposals into effect. The first step has been taken. Elsewhere in this issue of the Lumber Worker is an outline of labor’s proposals to the Government. We urge you to study them carefully and then take action in one or all of the following (1) If there is a Political Action Committee in your camp or mill, see that it is revitalized and made active. (2) If there is no Political Action Committee set one up im- mediately to get busy in the operation as well as in the community (if possible form a United Political Action (Committee with repre sentation from other community groups) to put pressure on the Legislative Members and the Government. (8) Organize delegations to interview the Members of the Legislature for your riding. (4) Write individual letters in addition to such interviews and especially if you are not able to see your MLA. (5) Resolutions and petitions should be sent to the Cabinet demanding that the Government put labor’s proposals into effect during the next session. (6) KEEP THIS OFFICE INFORMED OF ANY ACTIONS TAKEN IN YOUR CAMP, MILL OR COMMUNITY. il. RAILWAY ACT. This Act Shipbuilding to be amended to require all busses and street cars operated in this Province to be manned by a motorman and conductor in the case of street cars and a driver and conductor in the case of busses, We also ask immedi- ate action on: 1, That the pres- ent system of allowing female help under the age of 18 to be hired as apprentices in the mer- cantile field, be discontinued ‘and that legislation be enacted where- by all workers shall be covered by a system in line with the Brit- ish Columbia apprenticeship Act. 2. Revision of the Election Act to provide for a new voters list to be compiled for each provin- cial election. In addition, the Act should be amended to pro- vide that employers grant two hours time off with pay on elec- tion day. That the age limit of all citizens eligible to vote be lowered to the age of 18 years, and all eligible citizens be grant- ed the full franchise. 3. Enforcement of the regula- tions governing the lifting of excessive weights by female em- ployees. 4, The rejection of all appli- cations for overtime permits so long as unemployment. exists. 5. The Government to conduct an active campaign for the pro- motion and establishment of, in this province. Also, wherever expenditures of public monies are contemplated, preference be given to British Columbia contractors under union contract to their employees. 6. We urge the Provincial Gov- |ernment to actively participate in the establishment and moin- tenance of a steel industry for British ‘Columbia. Immediate action on the part of the Government in the con- solidation of all privately owned electric power companies, to be brought under Government own- ership. 7. Establishment of a provin- cial housing project. 8. The Government to enact legislation requiring that.all milk for sale be pasteurized. 9. Increased grants to school districts. 10. A fixed limit be placed on the number of ‘children that_ may be assigned to any one teaching class, this limit’ be 30 pupils in the case of ordinary classes’ and 25 in the case. of primary ‘and special classes. : 10. The Municipal Act be mended to remove yestrictions prohibiting. the xight of school board employees to hold office on a municipal council, and civic employment to hold school. board office, AIR FORCE VETERANS PLAN HEADQUARTERS FOR ASSOCIATION The Air Force Association is asking for assistance from IWA members in putting over their prian for headquarters as shown in the sketch below. Tickets are being distributed for a monster drawing, formed The Association was ment.” among the men and women who have been released from the Air Force. Its purpose is to give them a united voice on anything effecting the welfare of Air Force Veterans. In order to carry out its under- takings the Air Force Associa- tion has launched a campaign to raise funds for a building to house its many activities. It. is their ambition to have a club building with adequate facilities for recreation and entertainment that will keep their members in touch with each other and. keep alive the friendships and the camaraderie of Air Force Life. The Association feels that it can best return ‘the help that it is receiving from labor by building up a strong and friend- ly organization of veterans that can assert a useful and con- structive influence for good in, the community. J. WATSON RCHITECT. BEG W. HASTINGS VANCOUVER