Page Bight THE BC. LUMBER WORKER April 8, 1946 METTERS FO THE EDITO R Say What You Please oC coke OANA Good Labor Relations Can Increase Production ‘Zo the Editor: Now the negotiations are under way, the “Boss Loggers” are be- ginning to squawk about the high cost of production, and of course they insinuate high’ wages paid are responsible. Have they forgotten that during the war the IWA offered to cut down these so called high costs by more effi- cient production, simply by es- tablishing Labor Management production committees. Every logger in the woods knows what Management thought of such committees — “It's a good idea, but,” or “It’s a good idea, we'll look into it.” So died one of the best methods ever introduced into any industry to improve produc- tion and better labor manage- ment relations, A method of effi- ciency that should follow natur- ally after you agree to collective bargaining, During the war, I worked for | one company in the QCI who like most of-the rest pooh-poohed such committees, At present this com- Pany employs around one hun- dred men, I know for a fact that any wage earner in this camp eligible to join the union could tell the management how to increase production, but this company risked losing their camp by fire on two occasions inside of two weeks after a safety first committee had warned them that the bunkhouse stoves and chim- neys were unsafe. What chance for production committees when safety committees are disregard- ed? What is true in this case is true in many others, I would like to see more letters on this im- portant point—“High Cost of Pro- duction.” If the woodworkers take time to write, the boss log- gers may learn that one way to lower cost is to raise efficiency through better labor manage- ment relations, union shop, 40- hour week, and I leave until last, Fea a er OLD-TIME DANCING Hastings Auditorium Every Wed. and Sat. Alf Carlson’s Orchestra Mederate Rental Rates the demand that will hurt them the least—two dollars a day in- crease in wages for every wood- worker in the lumber industry. CARD 1972. Olson Log Crew Works For 100 Percent Camp. To the Editor: With the cooperation of Gary Phelps, Tony Cornett, Norman Wallace and other old-time union men, union activities at Olson Logging Company's camp and the Gibson Mills at\Tahsis, have come to the front. Our first organization meeting was held two weeks ago and oth- ers will be held as soon as the proper supplies are available. Approximately 75 percent of the crews are signed up. Brothers Tony Cornett and Bill Sturgeon hold the chair jointly, representing the loggers and the millworkers respectively. All com- mittees are functioning. Camp conditions are improving and will continue to do so as the building program is getting on with the coming of good weather. Married quarters are going up in Hemlock Hollow. The cookhouse is overcrowded and the food has lots of room for improvement, The mill had a daily cut of about 72,000 in the month of Feb- ruary and will rise as new ma- chinery is installed and other improvements are made. Large freighters call in here to take on cargo and the long- shore gangs are aided by men normally employed in the mill and the woods. There isn’t enough bunkhouse room to shelter a full longshore crew. By the time of our next report to the “B.C. Lumber Worker,” we hope to have the camp 100 per- cent unionized, Fraternally yours, THE PRESS COMMITTEE. When in Vancouver, for you health's sake, go to the . HASTINGS STEAM BATHS HIAst. 0240, 764 B. Hastings Vancouver, B.C. Always Open Expect Masseurs in Attendance After 11 pm. ......60¢, 75¢ 8 am. to 11 p.m., 30c, 40c, 50¢ COMFORT SHOE STORE PARIS. HARVEY, JOHNSON, THURSTON Port Alberni, 3rd Ave. Alberni, Johnson St. == Sse 2 = = == THE { BRITISH COLUMBIAN I Established 1860 A Daily Newspaper Covering The City of New Westminster 100% LARGER COVERAGE THAN ALL COMBINED OUTSIDE PUBLICATIONS I. G. MacFarlane — Publisher ee ee ee Spring Creek Reports First Camp Meeting To The Editor: Spring Creek Logging Co. held fits first meeting this year on March 17 at 7:30 p.m. The meet- ing lasted an hour and 15 min- utes. Presiding were E. New- house, Chairman; B. Marshell, Secretary. At present time, we have two skeleton crews and expecting the balance within a few days. Con- ditions at the camp are good, and roads are in good shape. Those elected at the meeting were: Job Stewards, W. Thorn- ton, W. Johnston, G. Brasolin, Aldin Stromquist; Safety Com- mittee, Joe Kelly, Fred Philips, Art Falk, and W. Marshall; Grievance Committee, Jack Bur- rard, It was moved and seconded that Job Stewards act on the Grievance “Committee until the crew is complete. Subject of coupon books for the commissary was brought up again, but so far no word has been heard from the head of- fice. Also an axe rack was de- manded for the crummie, The camp is “now 98 percent |strong. We hope to be able, in the future, to be steady custom- ers of the B.C, Lumber Worker. PRESS COMMITTEE, Spring Creek Logging Co. Continued Negotiations benefit to the woodworkers and their immediate families as well as all those dependent, directly or indirectly upon the lumbering industry in British Columbia for a livelihood. In addition, the in- creased purchasing power of the people as a whole would mean a better standards of living for the small shopkeepers, the farmers and others. Shorter hours mean more jobs, greater efficiency, higher degree of safety, more leisure (or less drudgery). Union ‘No Agreement-No Nets’ Netmen Stay On Strike Adopting as their slogan, “No agreement — no nets,” the netmen here aré going into their third week off the job, united and determined to win a signed agreement for the 1946 fishing season, before returning to work. Morale is high among these men who have set up committees in Vancouver and Steveston to deal with any questions which might arise page, and attempts by the Sal- mon Canners’ Operating Com- mittee, through newspaper ad- vertising, and press statements, to lay the onus for the present network stoppage on the Union, have been emphatically refuted. In a letter to the company, sent by the Executive of the United Fishermen and Allied Workers’ Union, claim of the operators that “sole responsibility for delay in a networkers’ agreement for this season résts entirely with the union,” was challenged, with def- inite facts outlined to prove that the company’s claim is false, “Our union,” the statement as- serted, “has never broken off ne- gotiations and we are instructed to inform you that we are pre- pared at any time to enter into negotiations with the operators, with a view to arriving at an agreement.” Events leading up to the stop- page, which bear out the union's claim, are that there has been no signed agreement between the Salmon Canners’ Operating Com- mittee and the UFAWU for net- men for the past two seasons. Both in 1944 and in 1945, ne- gotiations were extended and de- layed to the point that no agree- ment could be signed. Both these years, the men did not know def- initely when they started to work what they would be getting. They found this out only after the season was ended, and their dis- appointment at the results was intense. The union is thus de- termined that this year a satis- factory agreement will be ar- rived at. In the meantime, a relief com- mittee has been set up to deal with any cases where netmen or women are in need of financial assistance. ee security guarantees better condi tions. In short, ‘our three main demands are essential to the well being of the woodworkers in the future and we mean to win,” he concluded, IMPERIAL PRODUCTS ROBISON SERVICE STATION DUNCAN, B.C. International and Packard Dealers Phone 373 J. Robison I-W-A- N. Hedley Phone 361-R-2 Member Phone 518-Y leads Shoes 21 EAST HASTINGS Vancouver, B.C. Light Cruiser L “HEADS” YOU WIN 10” TOPS STANDARD WORK AND DRESS BOOTS — REPAIRS Prices in accordance with War Prices and Trade Board Regula~ tions. in connection with the stop- In addition to letters going out from the UFAWU to all B.C. unions informing them of the facts connected with the stop- page; all those unions organized in transport and longshoring have been informed that web, completed nets, and net gear gen- erally are unfair and should not be handled. The situation is such that no net work is being done, and net men at Lipsett’s are com- ing out in sympathy. Several netmen interviewed while they were on committee duty, were unanimous in express- ing their determination to win out in this struggle Continued Congress unless it can be proven that the employer is unable to pay ade- quate wages to his employees.”. The Congress again asked for establishment of.a National La- bor Code, in cooperation with the provinces, which would provide for Union Security with the in- clusion of the check-off of union dues. It asked further that there be provided machinery within the code to provide for speedier cer- tification of bargaining agents through the taking of a vote. On the question of hours of work the congress asked the re- duction to forty hours, per week or less. This, it maintained way the. logical outcome of the im proved technical processes, and that it was only right that the workers should share in the bene- fits of such improved methods. Lumberworkers, When In CHEMAINUS Stay At GREEN LANTERN HOTEL Prop's. W. J. Drummond and J. Foley P.O. Box 171—Phones 79-51 STYLES VALUES QUALITY Always at the Home of — UNION MADE Clothing — and Friendly Service. — Established — For Over Forty Years 45 EAST HASTINGS st. ‘Vancouver, B.C.