Page Four THE BC. LUMBER WOR KER LETTERS CAMP ACTIVITY By ROVING REPORTER BOOTH LOGGING CO., LOUGHBOROUGH INLET The regular monthly meeting was held January 18th when the election of committees, sub-local officers and job-stewards took place. See’y T. Lloyd reports that this camp will be 100 percent or- ganized within the next 6 weeks. Tt is very heartening to note the confidence that these broth- ers have in their local and dis- trict officers. evidenced by the fact that they unanimously voted for the 40 hour week, wage in- crease of 25¢ per hour, union security including union shop and check-off of union dues to be embodied in our 1946 agree- ments. EMERALD TIMBER CO.. KELSEY BAY, B.C. The members of this sub-local are also to be highly congratu- lated in taking the initiative in voting 100 percent for the adop- tion of the report of the Wages and Contracts committee report submitted to the 9th annual con- vention. Sub-Local meeting held January 14. PACIFIC LIME CO., BLUBBER BAY, B.C. - The regular meeting was held January 4th when a welfare committee was elected for the purpose of collecting contribu- tions towards a fund to be used exclusively to give financial aid to any brother who is ill, and cases of a similar nature. The clection of sub-local officors will take place at the meeting to be held January 14th. It was de- cided that this sub-local transfer to the Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers’ Union. and that Harvey Murphy. Int/l representative of that union should call at the camp and make the arrange- ments for the transfer on or be- fore the 16th of February. INT'L LUMBERING ASSOC. HOMFRAY CREEK, B.C. New sub-local officers and job- stewards were elected at the regular meeting held January 16. 1946. The present grievance committee was re-elected and it was decided that they contact non-union members about joining the organization. CAN. FOREST PRODUCTS LTD. CAMP “G” ENGLEWOOD The regular meeting of this sub-local opened 7:30 P.M., Jan- uary 14, The election of sub-local officers took place, with brother T. Ingertilla being re-elected as sec’y, Job-stewards and trustees JOHN STANTON Barrister - Solicitor - Notary 502 HOLDEN BLDG. 16 E. Hastings St. MAr. 5746 Ny) KNOWLTONS LIMITED Druggists We can spr -' your Medical Requirements Prompt Attertion to All — Mail Orders — NO ORDER TOO SMALL NO ORDER TOO LARGE 15 East Hastings St. Vancouver, B.C. Camp Comments “very Reader a Corresp Ladysmith Hospital Plan Held As Best Scheme Yet By JACK ATKINSON The C.L.&R. Co. Employees Hospital Association was brought into being to replace the plan exisiting threé years ago which was proving unsatisfactory to employees and Ladysmith hospital alike. "The chief reasons for the failure of the then existing plan was as follows: It only provided hospitalization in the Ladysmith General hos- pital. Members living in other communities such as Nanaimo had to come to Ladysmith hospital or pay thelr own way elsewhere. Members stricken with a sudden illness or meeting with an accident while visiting in other areas were taken to the hospital and had to pay their own bills. This was an obvious hardship on people paying for hospital protection. The entire amount deducted from the members through the payroll was remitted to the Ladysmith hospital regardless of the service rendered. This obviously was very unbusinesslike, because some months the hospital would gain and other months they would lose. ‘Therefore to rectify this situation a meeting was held and after much discussion it was decided to form an association to| provide adequate medical and hospital protection for the em- ployees of the Comox Logging and Railway Co. A committee was elected to study other plans and to draw up a set of Bylaws to govern thé new association. After much study and work this committee finally brought to a meeting of employees the Bylaws for their adoption, and so on the 26th day of November, 1942, the association became incorporated under the societies act of B.C. OWNED BY MEMBERS Thus began a scheme that is owned and controlled by the members themselves. Tho premium is $1.75 with dependents, and $1.00 for those without dependents. This money goes into the association’s funds and from this the hospital bills are paid within the limitations of our bylaws. A Board of Directors which in- cludes a President, Vice-President, Secretary-Treasurer, and two board members meets every month and passes on all bills as they are presented by the various hospitals of B.C. Naturally to begin with the benefits were at a minimum. However, as the committee saw the fund growing they recom- mended at membership meetings additional benefits from time to time as we could afford them. Chief among these was the exten- sion of hospital benefits to any hospital in B.C. Thus instead of accumulating a large fund we have simply extended our services to the members. Space will not permit me to quote the entire scope of benefits paid, it might be sufficient to say that at dif- ferent times we have been approached by various other hospital schemes, but on studying the cost and scope of benefits they did not compare favorably with our own plan, That is understand- able when you consider that it costs less than three percent of our income to operate our cwn plan. ‘At our annual meeting held on December 16th, we again amended our bylaws so that we will now pay clinical and labor- atory tests. Also we have extended our benefits to any hospital in the United States or Canada. Last year hospitals raised their rates throughout B.C. in one case the rates were raised twice, and still we did not find it necessary to raise the premiums, and we still ended the year with a surplus of $341.33, bringing our total surplus to $924.41. PLAN EXTENDED Eighteen months ago we passed a resolution to allow any business firm or industry with five or more employees to join the association, and as a result, the following groups joined us: City of Ladysmith employees; Paragon Sawmills; Gulf Islands fisher- men; Gulf Island Logging; Odeon Theatre employees; also mem- bers leaving the employ of these firms may now retain their mem- bership by paying their monthly payments three months in ad- vance. The following officers were re-elected at the annual meeting Deember 16th, President, Jack Atkinson; Secretary-Treasurer, Charles Miner; Directors, Ken Partington; and Jim Gallagher. Robert Duncan was elected to fill a vacancy created by the resigna- tion of Jack Stewart as vice-president. After three years of operation this plan has worked beyond the expectations of those who have handled it, and therefore I feel justified in making this report, and hope it will be of help to those who might be now forming a like association or trying to improve on one already in existence. If anyone wants further information about our plan I will only be too glad to help to the best of my ability. Write to Box 310, Ladysmith. ever united and constructive were also elected and Grievance held. and Safety committees formed. Fifteen new members were given the obligation. The report-of the Wages and Contracts Commit- tee of the District Convention was read and the 3 major de- ymands were unanimously adopted. Brother Paul Susko. formerly of Local 1-367, and a delegate of that local to the International Convention spoke on his trip to Eugene, Oregon. He reported that the convention was the most J. R. MORGAN LOGGING CO., HUXLEY ISLAND, Q.C.1. A special meeting was called for the purpose of taking the vote on the District Program, and we are very pleased to re- port that it was 100 percent Have you yoted on the District Program—lIf not REPORT ondent”’ Annual Festival Feb. 1st 'The.tenth annual mid-winter festival of the Scandinavian Cen. tral Committee will be held at the Hastings Auditorium, Feb: 1, 1946, in aid of Finnish children. The work of the Central ¢ x mittee has become more distinctly the work of a humanitarian — organization, which has been active in many undertakings 9 welfare work, and cultural activities among the Scandinavian people. Spokemen for the committee declare: 5 “Under a united effort we have forged ahead and we take this opportunity to thank all our supporters and wish them a hap- py and prosperous New Year. in aid of the Finnish children although we realize that our ub _ most efforts will only be a small contribution to aid the innocent victims, who will be the future citizens of a world, which has been btought to such a deplor- able state as it is in today, by greed and selfishness, v A new year has just begun with new hope and a prayer for a better future for us all but we realize that there is much work ahead of us especially in aiding the European people who have felt destruction, starvation and torture. Our efforts will not be spared Increase Aid To Hiring Hall Carrying out a recommenda- Therefore in order to make a financial success of the festival we ask your whole-hearted sup- port.” Cowichan Merchants Limited DUNCAN, BC For Your Convenience, a Full and Efficient DEPARTMENT STORE SERVICE tion adopted at the Convention of District Council No. 1, IWA Lo- cal 1-71 has decided to raise its per capita payment to the Hiring Hall from 1e per member a month, to 8c. The importance of putting the Hiring Hall on a sound financial footing. i prep- 10th ANNUAL Mid Winter Festival of the Scandinavian Centrah Committee HASTINGS AUDITORIUM February 1, 1946 Aid of the Finnish Children CONCERT AND DANCE | Admission 50c 8.00 p.m. aration for the establishment of full union hiring, was recogniz- ed by the Convention, and all lo- cals who can afford it are urged to take similar action as soon as possible. Why Not Think It Over? Might we suggest to all good union men i a sensible thing if they discussed with their fants eed tion of selecting a Union Funeral Home to serve them when the need arises. This would save time and worry, and would insure union familles being served by Union Funeral. Homes. CHAPEL HILL BROADWAY AT ALMA i Oe 0455 —AND— BURNABY FUNE 4257 EAST HASTINGS as : iy 0154 7 . Your Community Funeral Directors” “OPERATED UNDER CLOSED SHOP CONTRACT” # Hotel West Ltd. FRED E. MARCHESE, Mgr. Moderate Rates and Centrally Located PAc. 8374 — PAc. 8375 444 Carrall Street —Do so immediately.