B.C.

LUMBER WORKER

Page Five

BY a curious coincidence, the
numbering of Bills in the Le-
gislature last session, produced a
new “Bill 39” also aimed against
organized labor.

It proposed an amendment to
the Hours of Work Act which
would enable the Industrial Re-
Jations Board to make further
g exceptions with regard to any in-
dustry if considered advisable.

CCL unions objected. They said
that a period of increasing unem-
ployment, was the wrong time to
relax the regulations. It was a
backward step. The pressure
should be exerted in the opposite
direction to shorten the “hours of
work.

When Labor Minjster Wismer

found shat the trade unions had dis-
covered the joker in the Bill, be
hurriedly withdrew it.
He said he had been under the
impression that his officials had con-
sulted with labor. As this had not
heen done, he would provide such
an opportunity before re-introducing
the Bill next session.

Tt might be reasonable to sug-
gest that for the same reason and
in the same way he might have
ditched Bill 39 in 1947, without
anybody shedding tears.

TUC BLASTS COMMIE.
TACTICS

‘THE TUC in Britain has
racked down on local trades

councils that have been playing

footsie with the Commies.

One trades council was_sus-
pended for six months for invit-
ing a Communist speaker to ad-
dress u meeting ‘in’ defiance of
the “model rules”.

Recent TUC statements to the
British trade unions expose Com-
munist tactics, The C.P. outcry
that these introduced politics in-
to the unions was called “an im-
pudent piece of trickery”.

“The maintenance of democ-
racy in the trade unions is
neither political nor non-political
It is an issue of democracy
or dictatorship, unity or disrup-
tion, That is fundamental,” said
the National Council.

"The Communist leaders have
never regarded the trade union
movement as a means of organizing
the workers, either for the protec-
tion of those workers, or to improve
their standards of living. They re-
gard the trade unjons as being it
siruments of mass-struggle to be
used as a means of securing political
power?

British workers were warned
that Communist infiltration is
made possible by the apathy of
non-communists. They were urged
to renew activity in the trade
unions and resist dictatorship
from whatever source.

ONTARIO UNIONS TESTING
NEW LABOR CODE
ONTARIO CCL-CIO unions are

taking determined action to
establish satisfactory decisions as
precedents under the province’s
new labor act, which is modelled
on the Federal Labor Code.

‘The Ontario Federation of La-
hor decided that precedents es-
tablished in early cases will have
an important bearing on -subse-
quent cases. All CCL unions in-
volved in these precedent-estab-
lishing cases will be represented
by counsel employed by the Fed-
eration. :

The cost will be shared on a
pro rata basis so that a small
union involved in a_ precedent
will not be left in the lurch.

‘The unions are concerned to gain
@ favorable interpretation of “mem-
ed in good standing” for purposes

certification,

Another question is bow will the
de-certification clause by which an
employer may seek to cancel a

. ing ri} be applied.
ifications be
for intervention by another

‘Labor Relations

TAFT-HARTLEY BACKERS
ACTIVE
‘THE fight for repeal of the

Taft-Hartley Act and the en-
actment of the Thomas-Lesinski
Bill has now shifted to the floor
of the U.S. Congress .

Committee hearings have
ended. Opposing factions are
squaring away for.a bitter fight
in the Senate and the House.

CIO-PAC is stepping up its
campaign in support of the abo-
lition of all Taft-Hartley provis-
ions and all the “fair deal” legi-
slation. Elsewhere it is organiz-
ing to fight the “little Taft-Hart-
ley laws” in a number of States,
now made possible by a recent
ruling of the Supreme Court.

Former Representative Fred
Hartley, co-author of T-H, is
back on the job as President of
the Tool Owners’ Union;, an or-
ganization formerly refused in-
corporation in the State of New
York, as being Fascist.

A committee for the Preservation
of T-H now operating, consists
mainly of top anti-labor lobbyists.
They are rewarded with retainers
from $30,000 to $50,000 a year for
their political leg-work, from such
clients as G.M, and Inland Steel.

Another active sponsor of T-H,
paying for full page advertisements
in leading dailies, is the Small Busi-
ness Men's Association, including
in its membership such small busi-
ness men as Standard Oil and Fire-
stone Tires.

Prize piece of literature issued
by these companies is called
“Tron Curtain” describing in
glowing language on slick. paper
the marvelous benefits of T-H
for, the workers whose welfare
they are promoting so unselfishly.

LABOR DESERVES THE
CREDIT

INSTON Churchill was with-

out doubt the greatest war
leader that Britain ever had, but
after hearing his latest Ameri-
ean speech we still find it hard
to believe that he was ever the
greatest leader of social improve-
ment for the common man.

That sounds very much like
Winnie’s own opinion of the part
he played in the emancipation of
the working classes in the old
country.

Listening to his wartime fight-
ing talk was soinething never to
be forgotten, and from the latest
hearing he has lost none of his
imperalistic fire,

Proudly he detlaimed what he
stated to be his part in the social
and economic progress of the
common Joe in the U.K., but I
think he was a wee bit carried
away with himself.

Winnie is an old-line Tory to the
backbone, Undoubtedly he was on
the Lloyd George unemployment jn-
surance bandwagon way back before
World War One, but 1 think he's
forgetting to give credit to later
developments and to a body that he’s
always been a bit harsh with—
organized labor. It was the force of
the trade unions, organized in the
TUC,.and behind the Labor Party
which brought the Tory govern-
ments even the little bit into the line
which they followed.

Although he still holds a card
in the bricklayers union, it’s only
because he knows how to handle
his public relations, and not be-
eause of any intrinsic belief he
has in the organized labor moye-
ment and its objectives,

WAGE TALK FACTS
FACTS to remember when the
operators say that a fifteen-
cent-an-hour increase would hurt
business,

‘The cost of living index stood
at 159.2 in March. A year ago
it was 150.1.

.The dividend
rose to 217.5 it

Beret index
in March (Base

Loshin' Anound

BILL 39”... TLC, Raps Rods... OM WINNIE?
g\ PBL Scandal ... BOSSES’ PAG’... Murphy's Voice

period 1985-89 equals 100). A
year ago it was 194.5. Profits are
still going up.

The pay-roll index dropped
from 218.0 in December to 205.1
in January. Distribution of wages
is showing a downward trend.

Average weekly earnings for
hourly rated workers was $39.46
at January 1st, $2.01 below De-
cember ist.

Labor income for December
was $618 millions or $15 millions
less than November.

Dividends declared as payable for
this month are $25,899,471 as com-
pared to $25,751,063 for the same
month last year. In the first four
months of this year they show an
increase of 11.6 per cent over the
same period last year.

Over-all figures for the total
U.S. investment in Canada are
now available. At the end of 1947
it reached the all-time high of
$5.2 billion,

The national payroll in 1948
increased to $7,130 millions, but
the forestry pay-roll dropped by
4 pereent.

IT DID HAPPEN HERE
'HE leading article in a recent
issue of the Canadian Bar

Review is the shocking story of

a crime—the Prince Edward Is-

land Trade Union Act.

It's a_penetrating exposé by
Eugene Forsey, Research Direc-
tor, CCL, with all the arguments
for’ disallowance by the Domin-
ion Government.

It’s useful reading for anyone
who innocently believes that

Taft-Hartley persecution will] a

never come to Canada, or that
the Federal Government is using
its powers to protect labor.

The restrictions on trade unions
are so severe as to amount al-
most to total prohibition. Some
B.C. employers think it is a
model law. No wonder. Here’s
what it does:

Forbids any “closed shop con-
tract” which may include the
closed shop, the union shop, and
even maintenance of membership.

Forbids any strike action until
after arbitration in which the
Government is made a party to
every such arbitration.

Forbids provincial unions with
full-time paid officers unless they
are on leave from an employer.

Forbids national ‘or interna-
tional unions.

Forbids all unions except those
licensed by the Government.

Places even the licensed unions
at the mercy of the Government.

Now we understand why the
Canadian Congress of Labor is
so determined that this law
should be repealed in P.E.I. or
disallowed in Ottawa,

NEW LABOR
INTERNATIONAL
COMMITTEE
SEVENTEEN international

trade unions, which withdrew
from the Communist - controlled
World Federation of Trade
Unions, have now decided upon a
collective course of action.

A conference at Bournemouth,
U.K., appointed a nine-member
committee to provide for consul-
tation on matters of common in-
terest.

The consultative body was des-
eribed as a committee to avoid
the impression that a new inter-
national was being formed, and
the committee’s functions were
limited accordingly.

It is expected that the CIO will
shortly ratify the withdrawal of its
delegates from the WETU and ad-
vance proposals for world federation
on a new basis,

The AFL which had remained
aloof from the WFIU, because of
Soviet membership, is now reported
to be considering affiliation with
this new Atlantic Federation.

I wish to announce the’ oy

pening of my NEW DENTAL
OFFICE at 9 East Hastings Street, corner Carrall, hav-
ing resumed practice after an extended holiday. A
cordial invitation is extended to all old friends to come

R. Llewellyn Douglas

BIG BUSINESS PAC

RECENT criticism of CCL-PAC
comes with poor grace from
business interests consistently
opposing wage increases, as well
as price and profiteering controls.
The economic dictators are
openly in polities. They will back
either of the old line parties or
merge them for the purpose of
preserving their profits. Money
is no obstacle in using every
propaganda organ.

Henry Birks, Montreal head of
a chain of jewellery stores, and
National President of the Cham-
ber of Commerce, has been con-
ducting an almost continuous po-
litical tour organizing the busi-
ness vote,

Clients. of the publicly-owned
hydro-electric system in Ontario
were surprised to receive Board
of Trade leaflets with their light
bills, attacking public enterprise.

Presidents of banks and trust
companies publish their annual
statements, a deductible item for
income tax purposes, to warn
labor to be reasonable, to be con-
tented with what they get, and
not to interfere with their politi-
cal plans.

Breweries, distilleries, and
manufacturers are increasing
their advertising to boost “our
way of life” by which they mean
their way of profiteering, with
political protection.

The British Labor Government is
constantly under attack. Political
opponents of Labor such as the Lon-
lon Economist describe’ Britain's
economic recovery as “miraculous”.
These advertisers picture Labor's
leadership as a disaster.

A slick production “In Balance”
circulated by the Burroughs Adding
Machine Co. preaches that good big
profits are the basis of life on this
continent and should not be shared
with labor.

According to these prophets-of
high profits and low wages the
mere suggestion of independent
political action by the workers is
impious blasphemy, ‘“What’s sauce
for the goose, is sauce for the
gander.”

THE “TRUTH” IS OUT

‘HE “truth” which emanates

from the party - controlled
trade union “newspapers” would
be laughable were it not so dan-
gerous.

Take the latest issue of Harvey
Murphy’s Mine, Mill newspaper,
for instance. -

He condemns the press cover-
age as “despicable”. But for our
money, the daily press, at least
on this occasion, told the public
more of what happened than Mur-
phy did.

Will be explain why his paper
did not carry a ‘report of the open,

‘RETAIL LUMBER

public session during which the fin-
ances were questioned?

Will be explain why he did not
carry the matter of the pathetic ex-
planation to the convention of the
Bert Marcuse, Trade Uinon Research
Bureau?

Will he explain why the “missing
page’ -abith referred to the bende
ing of $31,500 in IWA funds, aired
in open session, did not reach the
pages of this paper?

Will he explain why, to tell his
membership, he did not at least carry
a rebuttal of “The Vancouver Sun”
story that a move was made to oust
him?

The “truth’ ’in party-line pa-
pers means that which is expedi-
ent, that which misinforms the
membership.

WELFARE PLAN IN
ALUMINUM
"THE Aluminum Workers of
Quebec recently decided to
forego increased wages in favor
of a social security plan and cost-
of-living bonus. ?

The Aluminum Co, of Canada
agreed to guarantee employees 50
ber cent of their earnings for 13
weeks in case of illness, bospitaliza-
tion for 31 days at $4.00 a day, and
surgical expenses up to $150.00,

UNEMPLOYMENT
INSURANCE

Regulations proposed by the
Unemployment Insurance Com-
mission restricting benefits for
workers in seasonal industries
were recently protested by offi-
cials of the B.C, Federation of
Labor and the Vancouver Labor
Council. +

Complaint originated with the
Packinghouse Workers in regard
to the fruit and vegetable work-
ers in the Okanagan Valley. Simi-
Jar measures for cannery work-
ers in the fishing industry, it was
discovered, were in the making.
Such a change in policy might ad-
versely affect workers in many
other industries, including lum-
bering, it was considered.

Following a survey of the fruit
and vegetable industry, the sea-
son for British Columbia was
fixed as from August 1 to No-
vember 30 each year. Even
though the required contributions
had been made as in other indus-
tries, it was proposed to restrict
payment of benefits to this sea-
son. To secure benefits in the off
season, these workers would be
required to build up contributions
of av least 105 days in the off-
season. f

Because of this threat to work-
ers whose employment may fluc-
tuate seasonally, the Packing-
house Workers have urged that
no change be made in the regula-
tions, and that further hearings

be held in British Columbia.

BUILDERS’ SUPPLIES

PAINTS — WALLBOARDS — ROOFINGS

STEWART & HUDSON LTD.

Branches at: ~
Victoria, Duncan, Ladysmith, Nanaimo, Port Alberni

In ‘Union’ there is Strength

In STANFIELD’S UNION SUITS there is
STRENGTH, COMFORT and SERVICE combined.

Suits: $3.50 - $4.00 and $5.00

BILL RICKSON .

“The Clothing Man”

Your Mon

's Worth or Your Money Back

VANCOUVER ISLAND