| Page Eight BiG. LUMBER WORKER Geo. Mitchell Reports THE UNION’S BUSINESS TP this column, I have the chance to talk about District Office business of general interest to IWA members in B.C. No frills, just facts. Action speaks louder than words. We're busy, too busy for fancy phrases. We're busy putting our af- fairs on a busi- ness-like basis. IWA __ members are going to get ‘ full value for the money they spend on district ad- ministration. We're busy preparing for ‘the coming negotiations. This year the operators are going to hear the stubborn ‘facts. No more of the 1948 play-acting, We're busy organizing. We're putting all we’ve got into the campaign to organize the camps one hundred per cent for the IWA. What’s more we're or- ganizing and certifying them, notwithstanding the WIUC un- derground sabtotage. ‘I must warn all Locals and Sub-locals to be on their guard to enforce the terms of our agreement in the matter of hours of work. Some operators are making spasmodic attempts to stretch the forty-hour week to a 42-hour or even a 48-hour week. There’s too much over-time. The ground is being prepared to « weaken our negotiations. ,_ All this haste to get orders out in some quarters is suspicious. Any violation of the agreement should be reported to the proper union officers and it will be dealt with under the grievance proce- dure. . We're doing all in our power to correct any cause for com- plaint in the mailing of this pub- lication. We ask you to be pati- ent until we iron all the bugs out of our mailing system. We print and mail over 27,000 mane and no fooling. We're building an individual mailing ALSBURY CHALLENGES BOSS POLICY 24,000 IWA Men Ready To Fight and Win “Tough” Wages’ Battle With Operators “Operators who have made great wealth out of the forest resources of British Columbia have a definite responsibility to ensure the highest possible standard of living for all the workers in the industry.” This challenge was made by District President J. Stewart Alsbury, when speaking recently as guest on the Canadian Congress of Labor The District President was supported in his remarks by the Financial Secretary of Local 1- 917 TWA, Stu Hodgson, who con- tended that the average wages in the mills were far below accept- able living standards. WAGE FIGHT Discussing the wage position of lumber workers with the Con- gress representatives, the IWA representatives declared that if the operators “got tough, the IWA would get tough too”. They affirmed that the entire member- ship of 24,000 was determinedly behind the demands formulated at the recent Wages and Contract Conference. Quoting figures from official reports, it was affirmed by them that the industry was well able to provide for the fifteen-cent wage inerease, the welfare plan, and establish more satisfactory hours and working conditions. (From Column 1) list, with an addressograph plate for each member where possible. We've been building this from the ground up, because the IWA is here to stay. Already we have 12}000 plates, while the balance is mailed in bundles. We started with incomplete and inaccurate lists, as you know. We're trying to correct the cause of every complaint, because we want every member of the IWA to get and read his own paper. And one final word. Get your name on that provincial voters’ list now. Your right to vote, is a right you cannot afford to toss away through carelessness. DRESS UP , Ger Spring Crean and Stetson HATS $6 and $8.50 Slacks from $5.95 Postage Prepaid on Mail Orders Representing the Organized Logg ‘ers and Mill Workers of B.C. ‘ Published Twice Monthly by the INTERNATIONAL WOODWORKERS OF AMERICA (CIO-CCL) B.C. DISTRICT COUNCIL, No. 1 President... DISTRICT OFFICERS: ae |, Stewart President = J. Stewart Alsbury ‘Tom Bradley‘ 2nd Vice-President__.__.-_________-Joe Morris 3rd Vice-President. ‘Treasurer. Internat Board ber. Robert Watters George H. Mitchell ‘Tom G. MacKenzie TRUSTEE: , James McEwan : J. 8. Squire Address all communications to GEORGE H. MITCHELL, Secreta: Suite 7, 426 Main Street Phone Neil E. Shaw -Treasurer ‘Acifie 4151 Radio Session. Union security was claimed to be an essential factor for industrial peace in the lumbéring industry. Emphasis was laid on the fact that the working season for log- gers was of short duration, often only 200 days in the year. For this reason higher daily rates were necessary to provide the annual income required by way of compensation. Labor Body Backs Strikers The Vancouver Labor Council acted in support of |four strikes in Vancouver, | Winnipeg and Vancouver Island at the April 12 meet- ing. Financial aid was either voted or promised, as re- quired. A report from Hugh Allison, General Representative of the C.B. of R.E. on the strike of the truck drivers employed by the Island Freight Service,; resulted in a motion of support and a do- nation of $50.00. The Council likewise backed the strike of the Jewellery Work- ers’ Union at the firm of George H, Hewitt, Vancouver, and warn- ed all unions to respect the picket line. This firm, the Council was reminded, manufactures badges required by. trade unions. An appeal for help from the Bakery Workers’ Union, Winni-| peg, now on strike for three} SUMMARY OF IWA LEGAL ACTIONS; FIVE CASES AHEAD Heré is a summary, as at press time, of IWA legal actions now before the courts. 2 1. Pritchett and three others scheduled to appear April 25, before Supreme Court on applications by IWA for their arrest until the $130,000 strike fund is paid over. 2. Dalskog, now in Oakalla Jail on a writ for refusing to obey a Supreme Court otder, still has to appear to be sen- tenced for his cintempt of court: pa: : 3. Main district action set for April 25. This is the orig- in al IWA application by the provisional officers for a court accounting; of all funds and records, as at the breakaway move, - 4, Owen Brown and Fred Wilson due to appear at the spring court assizes on charges of theft of $5000 and fraudulent conversion of $12,000 of IWA money belonging to Local 1-80,1WA. . 5..Four men, Brown, Wilson, Sigrid Carlson and- Olaf Olson, committed for trial on charges of looting IWA Local 1-80 office, Duncan. - WOODWARD'S ' Hand-Made LOGGING. BOOTS © No. 1 Chrome Leather Uppe: © Highest Grade Leather Soles@y” », @ Non-Rust Eyelets, 8-inch Tops. é Price Delivered . $21.95 Ny, MAIL ORDER DEPARTMENT weeks with 700 members, met with support to the extent of $25.00. Direct support of the CSU strike was conditional as stated in the following resolution, adopted by the Council: “We condemn the action of the Federal Government for not accepting their res- ponsibility in carrying out the proper functions of the Department of Labor in this dispute. “We condemn the action of the shipping companies for not dealing with the cer- tified bargaining agency of | the employees. “We recommend that this Council stand prepared to give support to the Vancou- ver-New Westminster Trades and Labor Council in proper action by that Council. in protecting the interests of their affiliates.” Announcement was made that the May Day Rally, in obsery- ance of the workers’ day, would be held in the Hastings’ Audi- torium on Sunday, May 1 at 8 pm. Prominent’ speakers are | scheduled to address the public mass meeting, to which all trade unionists and friends are invited. ON THE AIR... VANCOUVER 600-CJOR, Thurs. Green Gold ~ ~~ - ~ 7:00 p.m. 1410-CKMO, Thurs. Labour Headlines ~ - 7:30 p.m. 1410-CKMO, Sun. CCL Radio Session = 6:45 p.m. PRINCE GEORGE 550-CKPG, Friday WA Program - - - - 6:30 p.m. CJAV Alberni, Thurs. Volce of the IWA «= 6:15 p.m, w © THE CANA- DIAN BANK OF s COMMERCE offers a special mail-order banking service to British Columbia lumber workers. You are invited to use this service to deposit your per- sonal SAVINGS, purchase MONEY ORDERS, make FOREIGN REMIT- TANCES. It is prompt, efficient and available to everyone. You have only to write any of our 68 branches in British Columbia and by return mail you will receive a special form which will explain just how easy it is to BANK BY MAIL, y THE CANADIAN BANK — OF COMMERCE