ay Nit B.C. LUMBER WORKER Page Sevea By BERT ADAIR Secretary Electrical Trades Union — Local No. i ELECTRICAL TRADES ASK - AND GET -IWA SUPPORT HEN we speak of 100 per cent Union organization throughout the Lumber and Saw- mill industry we dare not close our eyes to those hundreds of workers who, while being employees of a sawmill company, nevertheless earn their livelihood within the industry in the supplying of goods and services for the operation. ‘This was the keynote in the discussion held recently between representatives of the [TWA Dis- tele Council, B.C. Federation of Labor, and the Bleetrical Trades Union Local No. 1 of'the Can- Congress of Labor, con- ‘ing the bringing together of affiliates in this indus- try. to give active support for Union security. ¥ In reviewing the Vancouver, New Westminster District terri- tory, it was agreed that a con- siderable volume of -electrical work, both installation and main- tenance, is done by outside con- tractors concerned under agree- ment, 2 big job is still to be done ‘on a number of contractors who e long been in the sawmill stry and have fought every empt by this Union to bring them in line on a fair Union wage asis., Union Unity Realizing that the E.T.U. must speed up organization of all Elec- trical workers employed by’ con- ct shops within the sawmill try in order to bring about plete Union unity that must be accomplished to achieve Union security for the IWA, our Union placed the following points be- ore the IWA District Committee and have received their endorse- ment. 1, That the Electrical Trades Union Local No. 1, CCL, will be recognized to have full jurisdic- tion of all electrical work done in sawmills and logging camps, except that which is the regular work of an electrician employed by the operator of the mill and camp. In order to carry out this policy all Shop Stewards and Commit- tee men will be instructed to closely check on electricians who are brought in to do work. Should these men not be members of the ETU No. 1, Shop Stewards and Committee men shall notify Bro- ther Robert Adair at MArine 3552. 2. That, as there are a num- ber of electricians’ jobs within the IWA jurisdiction, whenever a vacancy occurs eithér in the mill or camp, if possible, the Electri- cal Trades Union be given the opportunity of supplying the man. In this way it would facili- tate the transferring of men from one CCL union to another. 8. That cooperation be estab- lished between the IWA and the Electrical Trades Union, Local No. 1, regarding the setting of the wage rate for electricians within the lumbering industry, in order that the wage rates estab- lished within the trade is not in jeopardy. Jurisdiction With the above points of juris- diction clearly understood, the development of unionism within the industry can be completed without strife, inasmuch as we will get out of Congress affilia- tion that support which we are willing to put in, This opportunity of expressing our policy to the IWA member- ship through “The Lumber Worker” is much appreciated by the membership of the ETU. Let us go along together for a suc- cessful organizing drive. ON THE AIR... VANCOUVER ¢ 600-CJOR, Thurs. Green Gold - 7:00 p.m. 1410-CKMO, Thurs. Labor Headlines - - 7:30 p.m. 1410-CKMO, Sun. CCL Radio Session - 6:45 p.m. PRINCE GEORGE 550-CKPG, Friday IWA Program - - - - 6:30 p.m. CJAV Alberni, Thurs. Voice of the IWA - - 6:15 p.m. ANOTHER PLANT CERTIFIED IWA Local 1-217, was certified for the E. L. Sauder Sash and Door Paint early in the year of 1947. On October 3, at the time of disaffiliation, it is reported that there was not a single member in that plant, in spite of the fact that the former business agents used to always report how well organized all the plants under the jurisdiction of Local 1-217 were. Lloyd Whalen, and Jack Busch, went to work on the plant, and have in a very short period of time, signed up forty out of forty-one, employed at the plant. Continued from Page Two “We Knew Pritchett’s Boys Wouldn't Chance A Ballot; That They Would Disaffiliate And Not Face The Music.’’ No one could realize during the course of the struggle that the conclusion of the fight would culminate in the disaf- filiation by those people that always preached unity and trade unionism on an interna- tional scale. However, at one time or another, it was quite evident to a handful of mem- bers of the caucus that, sooner or later, the LPP-dominated Jeadership of the B.C. District Council would be faced with the possibility of being defeated by democratic ballot and in order that they be in a position to eliminate that possibility, they would disaffiliate rather than be removed by the ballot of the membership in the District. As the years rolled by, it was evident taking into consideration ‘that the LPP-dominated <district leadership, contrary to the Inter- national constitution, would not it the finances of the B.C. t Council to be audited by accountant, that there be something wrong with ial structure within the et Council. _ Finally, in the winter of 1948, E (el eames eva .at the regular convention was found. to et and after some inves- by the ae se ake Pressure was brot to the officers of the B.C. council and a chartered disaffiliation move taking place, the members of the rank and file caucus of Local 1-217 went into action. They arranged for the largest meeting ever held in the history of Local 1-217. Over 700 members of the union attended a huge meeting in the Arcadian Hall, where Provisional Officers were set up. Lloyd Whalen as Provisional Vice-President; Bob Watters, Secretary; Tommy Mac- Kenzie, Recording Secretary, and Bary Green, First Vicé-Presi- lent. Offices were set up in the Lee Building. Supplies were pur- chased and records were com- piled. The many problems of the Local were taken care of. The Provisional Officers set out to give the Local a sound and effici- ent administration, something that the membership had not re- ceived before. A great deal of credit should be given to the fol- lowing members: Lloyd Whalen, Cyril Clarkson, M, Sekora, Robert Watters, Stu Hodgson, Jack Busch, Al Busch, Al McDougall, Mel Park, Tony Gargrave, Al Law, Geo. Freese, Stan Brown, Charlie Ross, Bill Gray, Bill Croy, Bill Stevens, Harry Bardsley, Tommy McKen- zie, Gus Skuzanski, J. Cummins, Harold Jones, Harold Haddock, Tom Bradley, Arthur Evans, Jack Lucas, Cleve Austin, Bill Blaney, and many others including some of the sister members. The membership of the rank and file caucus of Local 1-217 also took the leadership in assisting the setting up of a provisional administration of B.C, District Council, Lloyd Whalen becoming the First Vice-President and Mike Sekora, the Financial Secretary. Local 1-217 also at the time of the disaffiliation move, assisted the International Organizing De- partment by supplying a number of organizers on a temporary basis to visit and speak on behalf of the IWA to the boys in the various logging camps and saw- mills throughout B. C. In conclusion, the membership of Local 1-217 must be given the credit of having used their good common sense and saying their union from being destroyed. It is quite evident that Local 1-217 will definitely be the largest local in the whole of the International. _ Don’t Forget To Submit Your News TAILSAWYER SAM WRITES AGAIN! CHIPS FROM CHEMAINUS It is now a little over a year since this column first appeared in the B.C. LUMBER WORKER. A lot of water has flowed under the bridge since that time, including a change in the Editorial Staff of our paper. The last couple of issues has shown considerable improvement over the four-page emergency is- sues. that were published up to! the end of 1948, and so, with. more space available, and hoping | that the editor’s axe will not be too severe, I will try to give you some of the IWA news from Chemainus and district, as well as some of my personal opinions on issues confronting the working class today. As usual, the IWA put on a Christmas treat for the children, and as far as attendance was con- cerned, it broke all records. Our social comittee had gone to a lot of work and spared no effort to make the party a success. It’s too bad that the older boys and girls were not a little more ap- preciative of these efforts. In spite of the fact that thou- sands of children “in Europe are starving for just one bite of an orange, this winter saw oranges strewn from the Hall to the rail- way station. As a consequence, it is possible that as far as the IWA is concerned, there may be no Christmas treat next year. At least, an age limit will be placed on those attending. Our job stewards are busy sell- ing IWA buttons. So far, about 150 of the semi-dress and 40 of the dress buttons have been sold and it is expected that this will be doubled. From all accounts, the average IWA member will be as proud of his dress as Anthony Eden. At least six members of the Chemainus sub-local will attend the Labor School to be conducted at Nanaimo on March 5 and 6. A great deal of interest is b ing shown in the election of di: trict officers. The balloting will be completed in the next two or three weeks. Nominations for officers of Local 1-80 take place on Feb. 20, and the election of officers for our own sub-local wwill_be held in March. We expect to see a num- ber of changes in the personnel of our present executive. A ‘BEEF’ FROM THE INTERIOR YOU fellows on the Coast have plenty to beef about. There are a lot of things you are going out to get in the line of wages, hours and con- ditions, on the job, but if you realized what the Interior workers are putting up with, I am sure you would go all out to give them a hand to get a better deal. I don’t think there are very many of you that realize the dif- ficulties that the Interior mem- bership have in attending meet- ings, keeping the boys signed up as they come and go, putting up with an agreement that offers practically nothing but wages, that, are less than yours. The service received from the past District Officers is something that could also stand a little airing. The membership in the In- terior are none too pleased with the support they have had in negotiations in ‘the past, and want to get both feet on the ground so they can make a unified effort with you fellows on the coast for better agree- ments, better wages and better conditions. We hope to acquaint you with our troubles, so that you will give us a hand to improve our stand- ard of living. Instead of District No. 1 being split four ways in negotiations, let’s strive for a contract that covers all wood- workers in B.C. The organizational department has spent a considerable sum of money and organizers have put in some long hours in trying to build a union for the Interior Wood-| ti workers, however, the old saying Nothin eee like ae applies here. When you ive these fellows a hand to ee a better contract, you will also help to organize them. wu. The attendance at our sub-local meetings has not been as large as we hoped, If you wish to keep your union alive and virile, attend your meetings; unless you do at- tend, the charge of dictatorship will immediately be launched against your elected officers. If things go wrong, don’t blame the union for not doing this or for doing that. You elected the officers, if the going gets tough, give them a boost instead of a kick. Remember YOU are the union. THOUGHTS ON POLITICAL | ACTION ‘The Editor: Capital, which is the heart of our economic system, has come a long way from the in- dividual workshop owner, to the present system of financial capi- tal. Union has travelled a similar course from the workers’ guilds to industrial unionism. The incen- tive and survival of capitalism de- pends on profit, that is, the mar- gin between the cost of produc- tion and the selling price of com- modity. Capital is ever trying to in- crease the profit margin. To do this, it must reduce the cost-of- production (wages) or increase the selling price of commodity. It will take the least line of resist- ance, where the workers are not organized, it is easy-to cut wages. Otherwise it has to increase the selling price. Sometimes it does both. ‘Therefore, union does pro- tect the workers against the en- croachments of capital. With the advent of modern ma- chinery, greater production has been possible; capital would turn this into profit, were the workers not organized to protect them- selves against it by demanding a higher standard of living. What has this to do with poli- tics? Union can only protect the workers within the frame work of the law. This throws it right into the realm of politics. Ask yourself these questions. Is it wise to build a strong union to fight the. workers’ cause, and at the same time elect to Parliament the representatives .of capital to make the laws that control the union in its everyday struggle against capital’s encroachment? Furthermore, why does capital elect its representatives to Parlia- ment. The answer is obvious. Skeptical IWA members have had a sad experience with political action in the past. They are’ skeptical about a new venture. They have every cause to be. They want as- surance that political action will bring friendship and harmony to the membership. This can be done by freedom of expression and majority rule, within the frame- work of democracy. The trouble the IWA has gone through was not caused by politi- eal action, It was Communist party domination. The LPP was its political front, created not to gain power in Parliament, which they Imew was impossible. Its purpose was to crush the CCF, while, they, the Communists got control of the trade unions. The reason for this was not to estab- lish Communism in Canada. It was to use Canada in the inter- ests of Russia. The Communist hope now is that the workers’ minds. will be poisoned against any other form of political action within the IWA.. The CCF will not measure up to the ideals of everyone, but it certainly is the only legitimate workers’ party in Canada, and does not get its orders from an unfriendly foreign power. Its aims are reasonable and democra- ‘ic. “Snowbound” DODO OPD OD ADOVINIOINON ATTEND YOUR UNION BE SEEING Yt mS elowna Joe”