— AAS. Official Publication of the International Woodworkers of America, B.C. District Council No. 1. VANCOUVER, B.C., MONDAY, MAY 13, 1946 Price 5 Cents (370) SLOAN APPOINTED BY ‘OTTAWA, WILL MAKE INQUIRY INTO DISPUTE International Pledges All Possible Support Speaking to a capacity audience at the Pender Audi- torium last week, International Officers pledged full sup- port of the International behind the IWA’s B.C. negotia- tions. Drawing attention to the par- allel between British Columbia and the American woodworking industry, Vice-president Karly Larsen said: “There is one thing significant in our negotiations. The employers’ committee have constantly refused to acknowl- edge that they had anything to do with the operators in the KARLEY LARSEN United States or that they were meeting with them or ever dis- cussed proposals submitted to you or in any way met and formulated their program with thelr employers in the United States.” Vice-president Larsen showed how in previous struggles, the operators, who are international, had used the border as a divid- ing line, and worked the one side against the other to defeat both. This had now been over- come, and Brother Larsen. con- tinued: “The IWA International Officers pledge their full sup- port and cooperation to see that the demands District Number 1 have made to the employers are going to receive a fair answer, an we assume that the workers here will act accordingly and that the workers in the United States are preparing themselves. We are in hopes that the struggle here and the struggle on the other side of the line, can be so coordinated, that we will act as one solid group.” Second Vice-president Bill Bot- kin reiterated the position of the International Officers and touched on the fairness of the demands of the IWA, both here CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 South Interior Operators Still Stall Negotiations Negotiations regarding the Southern Interior and the “locals of the IWA concerned, have failed to make further awe since the Ist meeting which was held April 17. operators have announced they are meeting this Mon- day in Nelson where they will discuss proposals for settle- ment of the dispute. The District Negotiating Com- mittee is waiting for word from the operators’ representatives as to what proposition they are prepared to make to bring about a settlement on the union's three point demands of 25¢ per hour, the 40-hour week and union security. At the original statement proving their inability to pay; however, this has not been received to date by the Negotiating Committee. I the meantime, the deadline Set for the coast area also ap- plies to the southern interior and the local unions are prepar- ing for strike action on the 15th. At the time of writing, it is not known whether or not the Commission of Chief Jus- tice Sloan extends to cover the interior part of the province, al- though it is assumed that his ruling regarding the coast will have a very direct bearing on any settlement which is reached. ‘| sentatives, Full Co-operation Assured By Union The first step on the part of the government to find a solution to the dispute between the IWA and the lumber operators in B.C., was made last Saturday with the an- nouncement of the appointment of Chief Justice Sloan as a commissioner to investigate. The appointment arose out of the operators’ continued refusal to concede to the union’s proposal of arbitration on the question of union secur- ity and a continuatiot of nego- tiations on wages and hours. The Union's proposal, ‘which received a flat “No” from the operators, said: “If you will agree, after con- sulting with your principals, fo submit the ‘question of union shop and check-off to arbitration, we, will,