THE B.c. LUMBER WORKER Interior Negotiations Arrive At Deadlock k was reached when repre- sentatives of interior [WA locals met last week with the Almost complete deadloc operators’ committee for th industry-wide agreement covering approximately 80 per- cent of the organized woodworkers in that section of the Headed by District President Harold Pritchett, Province. the Union’s committee presen: of 25¢ per hour wage increases across the board, the institution of the 40-hour week, with time and one half for all work in excess, and the establishment of union security, including the union shop and the check-off of union dues, The employers’ representatives, under the leadership of Mr. J. H, Ruddock, Industrial Rele- tions Officer ,of the Interior Lumber Manufacturers’ Associa- tion, presented their old, time- worn 1944 proposals, which were rejected by the union. The em- ployers refused to discuss the union proposals, mainly on the basis of inability to pay the re- quested increase and insisted on arguing on such out-moded principles as range rates and probationary periods of employ- ment, ‘The union rejected all the employers’ proposals and there appeared no common ground on which the two parties could agree, ‘On the question of wages the operators stated they were not Life begins at SIXTY G. R. (GERRY) CLERKE 903 Royal Bank Bldg. @ purpose of negotiating an ted the IWA’s 1946 demands prepared to go beyond the re- cent directive of the Regional War Labor Board in connection with the East Kootenay, which granted the magnificent sum of 60c to labourers in the sawmills and 62c in the camps. Union spokesmen after the negotia- tions, stated they could not con- sider the maintenance of this type of wages and suggested that unless some action was forthcoming on the part of the operators, strike action would become inevitable in the near future. Besides the committees of the vnion and the operators, the ne- gotiations were also attended by Mr, James Thompson, Chief Con- ciliation Officer of the Depart- ment of Labor, who was re- cently commissioned to inquire into the disputes existing be- tween the woodworkers’ union and the operators in the in- terior part of the province. Negotiations have not been terminated in view of the fact that the operators have agreed to submit a written statement showing why they cannot pay the requested increase of 25¢ per hour. Union spokesmen from the in- terior reported that their local unions were prepared to take action in conjunction with the coast locals when strike action Interior Activities FROM CRANBROOK, NELSON, PRINCETON, KELOWNA, KAMLOOPS AND PRINCE GEORGE ' WEA Annual Meeting Proves Huge Success At the second annual convention of the Workers’ Edu- cational Association last week-end, Michael zanski, Safety Director of IWA Local 1-217 was elected Alberni Reports Sick And Injured PORT ALBERNI—Paying his regular weekly visit to the West Coast General Hospital last night, Jimmy Bruton, Local 1-85's sick committeeman, reports the following sick and injured woodworkers in hospital: Frank Eavich, BS&W Camp 10; George Skogheim, Alfred Vinje and Mel St. James, BS&W Camp B; De- metro Demko, BS&W Mill; Joala Singh, BS&W Great Central Mill; Nikka Singh and Jack Carter, APL Mill; Arthur Stern and Lorne Carmichael, APL Camp 1 and D, Ramdat, Hillcrest. The folowling were recently discharg- ed from hospital: Jack Trout- man, APL Mill; Albin Lehti, BS&W Camp A; Robert D. White, Alberni Plywoods; James Hamilton, BS&W Camp 10; L. Porter, Gordon McPherson, G. Quinn, Nick -Seker and J, C. Foley. ‘VARNA becomes necessary, Besides Dis- trict President Pritchett, the IWA was represented by Board Member Ernie Dalskog, Inter- national Representatives William Langmead and Mike Sekora and by Local Representives A. H. Parkin, Cranbrook; M. Freyling- er, Prince George; Geo. Walker, Kelowna; Mel Fulton, Kelowna; H. Latreille, Princeton and G. Argatoff, Nelson. The employers were represent- ed, together with Mr. Ruddock, by A. Farstadt, Cranbrook; 0. S. Harris, Canoe; C. Prince, of Oliver; H. Turner, Kamlops; S. M. Simpson, Kelowna; Mr, Mc- Mym, Midway, and G. Strutters, Vernon, WRITE FOR CATALOGUE SHOP BY MAIL For— CONVENIENCE SERVICE SAVINGS at WOODWARD'S YOUR WESTERN SHOPPING CENTRE VANCOUVER - - - B.C. Heads Shoes 21 EAST HASTINGS Vancouver, B.C. Light Cruiser Logger “HEADS" YOU WIN 1e” TOPS STANDARD «s+ also sss WORK AND DRESS BOOTS — REPAIRS Prices in accordance VANCOUVER, B.C. President of the WEA by the organization expects to in the coming year under his ‘The recent convention indiéat- ed the shape of things to come in workers’ education. Instead of educational classes for all union- ists, the WEA. will work to pro- mulgate educational work in each affiliated union, stressing the needs and aims of the particular union. The first effort of this kind took place at Nanaimo with a weekend school for IWA Aux- illary members from the island and the Lower Mainland. The main instructor was Watson Thompson and his theme was, “How Can Women Make Their Most Effective Contribution to the Labor Movement, and Society As a Whole?” Effective partici- pation in a possible strike was thoroughly discussed, an@ the film United Action was shown. Mr. Thompson is famous as an educator, editor and radio com- mentator, and a Marxist of dis- tinction. Marxist leadership was the basis of the Nanaimo School. A similar school will be conduct- ed in Vancouver for members of IWA Local 1-217 sometime in May. Doctor Ma¢Kenzie, president of University of B.C. spoke to the convention of the ‘university's role in adult education, and in- troduced Doctor Weir, minister of education. Doctor Weir ex- pressed unwillingness towards making small grants to separate bodies, and urged the WEA to seek development with and through the extension depart- ment of the U.B.C., implying that the government would favorably consider grants to the U.B.C. for this purpose. Later, the Con- vention “resolved to ask the minister to grant the sum of $10,000 through the U.B.C. to fur- LOGGERS For a Good, Reliable TAXL Phone VERNON 190 Kal Taxi (Bob Carswell) 21 Eighth St Res, Phone 515 VERNON, B.C. April 28, 1946 (Gus) Sku- acclamation. ‘Gus’ has been a tireless worker for the WEA for the:last two years and make considerable headway leadership. ther the work of the W.B.A, and that the Department of Educa- tion specifically name the use to be made of such grant.” A great deal of discussion took place about the Summer school, with much constructive eriticism of former schools, Leo Huberman, the educational direc- tor of the National Maritime Union and the author of “The Labor Spy Racket; “Man’s Worldly Goods,” and “The Truth About Unions,” has been invited to be the main instructor, and has signified willingness to ac- cept. Unless a better site can be found, the school will be held at Acadia Camp, near the UBC, commencing August 27th, with accommodation for about 400 workers. With the imminence of strike struggles, Huberman’s visit should be of tremendous im- portance to workers in BC. Harry Fugl, director of the Seattle Labor School discussed some problems common to them and the WEA and promised the utmost cooperation with the Summer school. There was a great deal of discussion on politi- cal action and it was felt that the whole question jshould be brought up by the unions in B.C. and the rest of Canada and some realistic thinking done with a lot less passion and prejudice. The WEA intends to call a con- ference of Vancouver unions to thoroughly study and discuss Political Action, It is monstrous that at a time when workers are most sorely pressed that there should be political dissension. In keeping with the above re- solution, a plan for aggressive workers’ education ia being draft- ed by the WEA for consideration with the university and the government, Lumberworkers, When In 3 CHEMAINUS Stay At GREEN LANTERN HOTEL Prop's. W. J. Drummond and J. Foley P.O. Box 171—Phones @51 AAO RT 16 EAST HASTINGS RRA AE UC RA TTL Below IWA Offices y. | F | B VANCOUVER, B.C.