| ; ; ] Official Publication of the International Woodworkers ef America, B.C. District Council No. L. VANCOUVER, BX., FEBRUARY 11, 1946 SS (868) : aun chN ON Da: gee. James E. (Red) Fadling, International President, IWA-CIO, and William (Bill) Botkin, Second Vice-President. These pic- tures were not available last i International Referendum were issue when the results of the announced, Lifting Price HitsdLiving S Controls _ tandards Protests against the recent action of the King Govern- ment in lifting price controls without taking parallel action to assure the public of increased income to meet the conse- quent rise in living costs are quarters. Labor groups, vete are voicing their indignation. Harold Pritchett, TWA B.C. District President stated: “What is needed is immediate govern- ment action to re-impose price Three Killed Toll Now 5 Five men have been killed this year as a result of accidents in the woodworking industry. Harry Williamson, aged 30, was fatally in- jured on Janu- 5 a ary 26th ‘when he was hit by | Woodworkers a falling snag] have been while working | killed in BC’s at the Topaze | lumber in- Timber Com-| dustry since Gare opecetibn | Jat. 1, 1086 He leaves a wife and one child at Port Alberni, where he work- before going to Texada Is- d his mother resides at Ge being expressed from many rans and even business men ceilings, and to take steps to es- tablish a national minimum wage of 60 cents per hour, with implementation of labour’s jusb demands of 25cents an hour in- crease across the board to meet the rising living costs. Coupled with this, the early enactment of the 40 hour week, made possible by new machine methods of pro- duction and to create jobs for the returning veteran and unem- ployed war worker.” Maurice Rush, Labor Progres- sive Party Organizer, declared: “Amendments to the Wartime Wage Control Order, dealing with wage adjustments is unfair to labor because it will create a situation where wages will lag far behind advancing prices. Under the new set-up, it will be impossible for wage increases to keep pace with the rapid rise in prices. The machinery of the War Labor Board has served mainly as an obstructive device and in most cases, the average time required to secure a de~ cision has been a year, in many eases longer. Therefore, while appeals for wage increases are stalled, prices will rise.” In a statement issued on Feb- ruary ao BS Jackson, Canadian 4 ited Bleetrical Radio & Machine Workers CIO said: “Today, with the lifting of price controls, the Canadian public gets another dose of the King Government’s policy. of ational Wage Demand CIO Unions Join Forces#For Z 95 Cents Per Hour Increase A national drive for a 25c increase in wages, in line with the demands raised by the IWA is now being planned by all CIO unions in Canada. Returning from the East last week, where he had attended a meeting of CIO heads in Canada, Harvey Murphy, Int- ernational Representative of the Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers Union, reported “the main problem facing Canadian labor toda y is to gain wage increases in line with the rise in the cost-of-living. The Toronto meeting which was attended by C. H. Millard, National Director of Steel, Bob Carlin, and Harvey Murphy, In- ternational Board Member and International Representative re- spectively of the LU.M.MS., Prize For Best _ Housing Poster The Labor Arts Guild an- nounces a Poster Competition on Housing, with a $50 cash prize contributed by the Vancouver Housing Association to be award- ed for the best design combining propaganda, composition and skill. Judges will be A. P. Allison, President, Citizen’s Rehabilita- tion Council, and J. E. H. Lovick, advertising firm of Stewart- Lovick Ltd. The purpose of this com- petition is to stimulate the artists’ special contribution to-| ward combatting the national housing problem, and to rally their support in sharing the re- sponsibility of all citizens in united action for adequate hous- ing measures. Copy of rules and regulations, suggested slogans and official entry forms are available at the John Gross studies, 641 Gran- ville street. where all entries must be received not later than 5 o'clock. Monday. February 18. George Harris, Secretary of the United Electrical, Radio and Ma- chine Workers, and George Burt, Regional Director of the Auto- mobile Workers of America, discussed a report submitted by the U.A.W.A. which proved that a 10 percent raise in wages at the present time, would noti com- pensate workers for the addi- tional cost-of-living since the war. It is agreed the nothing less than 25 cents per hour increase could adequately provide a de- cent standard of living for Can- adian workers. The National Director of the United Packing- house Workers, Fred Dowling, and the National Director of United Rubber Workers, Joe Mc- Kenzie, while not participating in the Toronto Conference, ap- proved by telephone the plans adopted. The Toronto Conference mark- ed only the beginning of the National Campaign and it is in- tended to present the National Council of the C.C.L., which meets this week the complete! proposals, with a strong recom- mendation that the National Drive should include all C.C.L. Unions. The IWA was not represented at the Toronto Conference al- though the demands proposed are directly in line with the IWA Convention demands for 1946 agreements. The District Coun- cil Executive Board of the TWA met on Monday, February 4th and twhole heartedly endorsed - the proposed CIO Campaign. Harold Pritchett, District Presi- dent and National CCL Council Member was instructed to at- tend the CCL meeting, where de- tails of the plan are expected to be worked out. The proposals in- clude a mass labor lobby in Ot- tawa when the house meets this spring. PULP WORKERS Further evidence that the de- mands for substantial wage in- creases is taking on a national character came from Ocean Falls last week when a letter from the International Brotherhood of Papermakers, Local 360, was re- ceived by the IWA outlining their demands are similar to those of the IWA. The papermakers Union, an affiliate of the AF of L, is asking for full copperation with the IWA in presenting a united effort on this important isue. IWA UNANIMOUS The IWA Locals in British Co- lumbia have been unanimous so far in adopting the 1946 nego- tiations proposals. Ten Locals out of fourteen, have been heard from, and all of these have adopted the program. , The campaign for a $100,000.00 “Fighting Fund” is now under way, and the strike ballots have been sent out. These are to be returned to the District Office not later than March 10th. Veterans, Labor, LPP And) Business Demand Government Act On Housing Recognition of Federal re- sponsibility in providing funds and a plan for low cost housing jn Canada was emphasized a week ago when the Lower Main- land executive council of ‘the Canadian Legion met in Van- couver. Demand for the launch- ing of a billion dollar program ‘to provide government subsi- dized low rental homes, with a national target of 250,000 homes}. over a period of five years, 50,- 000 homes for servicemen in 1946, and 30,000 homes for British Columbia over a five- year period, was embodied in a resolution’ adopted by this meet- ing. The council is a consultative body embracing the branch ex- ecutives of Greater Vancouver and the Fraser Valley. The de- mand of the veterans for a realistic housing program to meet the nation’s housing needs added another strong voice to the growing public campaign for homes which is meeting wide response among tite people of Canada, LP.P. e Labor-Progressive Party recognizes the housing problem as a major issue and their cam- paign calls for the expenditure of “One Billion Dollars for Homes.” Minerva Cooper, chair- man of the LPP housing com- mittee, in a report detailing the work accomplished to date, stated: “Arrangements are now completed for three community housing conferences and a hous- ing forum; three more radio programs are scheduled; final plans are laid for a tour of In- terior points by LPP provincial leader Nigel Morgan; and house-to-house canvassing for signatures to the housing peti- tion has already realized thous- ands of names.” IWA The IWA has a keen interest in the advancement of a housing program ‘as was expressed in resolutions adopted in conven- tion last January. “Lumber is a requirement in house’ building and expansion of this industry is dependent on constructive planning from the woods to the finished home,” declared Jack Greenall, District Secretary of the IWA. 5