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THE BSC

LUMBER WORKER

Representing the Organized Loggers and Lumberworkers of British Columbia
Published Every Second Monday By
INTERNATIONAL WOODWORKERS OF AMERICA (CIO)
DISTRICT COUNCIL NO. 1
24,000 copies printed this week
Subscription Rate: $1.00 per year

Advertising Rates on Application
Editor: B, J. MELSNESS Advertising: MATT FEE

Room 504 Holden Building—Phone PAcific 4151—Vancouver, B.C.
Authorized as Second Closs Mail, Postofice Dept., Ottawa.

e
The deadline for the coming issue is 4 p-m.
Thursday, May 9

Misrepresentation

RECENT release in the daily press headed “Union

Rejects Nine Million Dollar Pay Boost” is such a
gross misrepresentation of fact that it is absurd in the
extreme. In the first place the complete picture is not
given and the nine million dollar figure is almost three
times the actual amount that has been offered by the
employers up to th preesent time.

Let us look at what the facts are in the case. Using
the figures presented to the union by the Stuart Research
Scrvices, the employers’ representatives in ngotiations, we
find that, based on the 44-hour week the increase per
worker per week would be $5.50. On the change over
from the 48 to the 44-hour week a worker earning 80 cents
per hour (this figure is lower than the average claimed
by the employers) would lose $3.20 each week leaving a
net weekly increase of $2.30. Based on the employers’
figures of an average work year of 275 days or 46 weeks
this represents an annual increase of $105.80 which is less
than $2.00 per week on the 52 weeks of the year.

The employers say that there are about 30,000 em-
ployees in the industry which would make the actual in-
crease to the industry payroll $3,170,000.00. This is
$5,826,000.00 less than the employers claim, just a slight
dieffrence. In 1944 three companies in the industry paid
more than this last figure in excess profits tax.

We would also like to point out that in their release
the ~mployers did not make any reference to the union’s
demand for the’ 40-hour weck and Union security that
would make toward incr << employment, a higher stan-
dard of living and stability in the industry.

When To Strike

With strike action by our union possible in the im-
mediate future, the question of timing becomes important.
On several occasions during the past week, particularly
in the logging camps, the membership has expressed
anxiety lest the strike should reach fire season. Today
the IWA is organized industry-wide—sawmills and log-
ging camps all included—and when strike action becomes
necessary, no one section of the industry will be isolated,
as has been the case in ‘previous years. This year the
mills will be out at the same time as the camps, which
leaves only 20 to a maximum of 30.percent of the mem-
bership concerned in the present negotiations on which,
the fire season shut down could have any effect whatso-
ever. Furthermore, by stopping the mills and any move-
ment of lumber or logs, the employers’ source of income
is immediately cut off. The employers therefore will be
no less anxious to sign when the fire season rolls around.

On the international scene, we find that for the first
time in the history of the organized woodworkers, we are
in a position where the employers will not be able to use
the B.C. workers, throught the transfer of orders and
miovement of logs across the border to defeat the brothers
in the United States, or vice-versa. At the present time
the brothers in the United States are in the process of
conducting a strike yote, which will be completed by May
USth, District No. 1 of the IWA has been somewhat out
in front and were required to wait for the union across
the line to catch up. This has been accomplished, and
the added strength of a simultaneous strike on both sides
of the border will be decis

Viewing the national picture, we find that again Dis-
trict No. 1 of the IWA was considerably advanced com-
pared to the other large industrial unions within the CCL
and AFL. The main fight in Canada today is for wages
and the removal of P.C. 9384, This cannot be achieved by
the IWA alone, and it is necesary to bring up reserve
forces so that maximum results can be obtained. This is

being accomplished. :

By Don

Heading Out... 2"

Some controversy has now arisen as to how the Union Hiring
Hall at 206 Holden Building should be conducted. The ideas
have formulated from discussion by the boys in those camps
where Union Hiring is on their agenda in the monthly meetings.
Some of the members are of the opinion that the Hiring Hall
manager should be at every beat. There is no doubt that at
times that is necessary, but I am of the opinion that more than
95 percent of loggers do not have to wait under a sign reading
“loggers wait here for their tickets” until a master mind appears
to guide their (the loggers) lagging, erring footsteps towards the
gang plank. I can see no reason for the loggers not receiving
their transportation warrants or tickets at the same time as they
accept the work slip. Both are pieces of paper and both are
necessary to get to the point of production. Certainly any logger
can do better than the Irishman who did not know how to buy
a ticket, so he listened at the ticket office to a girl who was
going to a place named Merrie Hill. The girl said Merrie Hill,
single, and the Irishman then stepped up to the wicket and said,
Patrick Murphy, married.

But with all joking aside, because the Hiring Hall’ mhnager
is at the boat, that is not a guarantee that the worker will be
there, and as some boats don’t leave until 11:45 pom., I feel that
should a dissapointment occur, such news would be just as well
kept until the following day when the reasons for any misunder-
standing could be discussed in the Union Hiring Hall and arrange-
ments made for a correction.

The time is long past that such responsibilities as getting
aboard the bus, boat or train are not accepted by the individual
or indiyiduals concerned with the process of making a living, and
as we organize our work on a bigger scale, mere responsibilities
will have to be accepted by our membership to ensure the con-
tinued growth of Union Hiring. The solving of the present
problems of hours, wages and union security will also have a
great bearing on Union Hiring, a very important part of fuy
collective bargaining.

by

Without Apology Teredo

Pouring the other night over the midnight oil and a cheese
sandwich, in the throes of “columning,” my mind blankly sus-
ceptible to dreamy music drifting from a nearby neighbor's radio
and my feet still loudly protesting their recent massage of city
pavement (this being May ist), I fell asleep, as I am wont to
do, and I had a dream. I dreamt I: was the spirit of May Day,
standing at Georgia and Burrard and as far back as I could sce,
there was me—tlittle and big, short and tall, man and woman, my
banners waving in the breeze. I was big and I was colorful. My
head floated on Georgia and my feet tramped the pavements on
Hastings. I was dressed in my working clothes, my Slavic cos-
tumes and draped in Indian feathers and UN flags.

Somebody called to me—Say, fella, whatcha doing-? What
does that parade mean? It means, I said, while part of me (the
male part) winked at a blonde parader, that all labor is united
on this day behind its demands. Besides, as my vision momen-
tarily blurred and floated into space, cheese is scarce in this coun-
try and you've got no business wearing it on your head. ‘This, he
remarked, was highly improbable, shook my ‘hand and left.

I continued on my way, undaunted by the pouring sunshine
and the galeing breeze. And I hiked along, a little wearily (that
part of me which rode) and lo and behold I stood on the shores
of a murky and muddy sea, (If Mr. Sweeney is reading this, I
don’t mean Lost Lagoon.) This was the Sea of Noiteaer (you
spell it backwards), I was told and in it swim the fish of de-
controls, non-participation and other slimey things. 1 could
imagine I saw some cheese floating around there, too.

Gathering my forces behind me, I.rushed on to meet the on-
slaught, carefully holding that part of my anatomy which is
most offended by such encounters—my nose, Cowering before my
mighty structure the waves of the sea slowly began to recede
but still resisted. With fists high I waded in to do battle; striking
left to right. A big white face loomed before me; closer and
closer until I seemed to be smothering. X sank, down, down, dows

With a bang I hit the floor, and awoke, my souvenir Me
Day program clutched tightly in my hand and the odor of se
lingering in the room. Which all goes to prove something, th
moral of which escapes me at this time. a

Hello, Boys:

Labor all over the world and in
parts of Canada was marching
this May 1st in true labor fash-

-|ion. Early in the morn on May

ist, I hies away off to Stanley
Park to watch the marchers draw
night, Along about 2:30 p.m., up
Georgia Street came workers
down marching side by each, The
Vancouver Firemen’s Band was
giving good marching music for
the Canadian Legion and Span-
ish Vets who wero just ahead of
the good old IWA,

The other unions followed with,
their banners, telling the public
what the score is as far as organ-
ized labor is concerned. The
language groups sure added color
and dignity to the parade and
when the fishermen in their boats
at Coal Harbor blew a salute on

thelr fog horns and wheeled
their boats in line to follow the
parade to Brockton, I muttered
in my beard ‘the army nd
navy of the working class.”

Listening to the speakers on
the grounds, one got a good slant
on what labor has gained. ‘The
very fact that we were gathered
there in thousands was proof Hit-
ler was wrong. Yes, both dead
and wrong, I hope. Bill Rigby
stated that when their delegation
had approached the city fathers
for May ist to be declared a
civic holiday, Aldemran Miller,
said he didn't like May Day be-
cause it was an European affair.
Danged if Alderman Miller hadn't
ought to read up on May Day and
find out it is a 60-year-old Ameri-
can custom that organized labor
is justly proud of. Could be that
Alderman Miller is not the only
one who is opposed to labor's
May Day, but right now I figure
such people are the minority.

I notice May Day in other
parts of the world got more pub-
licity over the local. radio sta~
tions and in newspapers than we
did here at home.
an old pal, I said: “I hear that
the parade in Moscow was six
hours in review.” He said: “Well,

maybe they got a permit to hold
the parade there,”

While snooping around I over-
heard some of the May Day Com-
mittee talking about how they
organized the parade and they
were quite surprised that all the
delegates were not in the parade.
I reckon the absent ones may
have had to work or were bash-

ful. Like the little boy going to
School the first time and the

teacher said: “How old are you
Johnny.” The boy replied:
“Please, ma’am, I'm six, but mum
says I would have been two years

oar if Dad hadn’t been so bash-

Pare now for the greatest May
Day celebration in history in 1947

and let no worker fail to partici:

pate because he is bashful or for
any other reason whatsoever..

So long, boys,

In talking to ©