- LUMBER WORKER

Page Seven

Members of the IWA not

A REMINDER

in receipt of their copies of

the B.C. LUMBER WORKER regularly, or who have
changed their addresses, are requested to communicate
with the District Secretary, 426 Main Street, Vancouver.

LI8 FIGHTS FOR 3 MEMBERS; ALSBURY
AT PT. RENFREW; MORE 1-217 SHOPS 100%

Local 1-118—Victoria

Brother Bernard Macham re-
ports:

Brothers Haw and Whittle have
signed up 11 members of R. A.
Green Lumber Co.’s crew, where
our union has been the bargain-
ing agent since October, 1946.

We never had a contract with
Green, because the Company’s in-
timidating attitude towards the
crew invariably weakened the
union’s position whenever organ-
ization was attempted.

The situation is different this
time. Three men have been fired,
and the reason given is lack of
work, The peculiar thing about
this is that these men were em-
ployed throughout the slack sea-
son. These brothers, Ken Bayles,
Oly Finney, C. E. Adams and the
union, are determined to fight
this through to the end, even if it'
means the courts.

Bro. Fred Soon reports:

A meeting under the auspices
of Local 1-118 was held on May
10 at the Sooke Lake Lumber
Co., Leechtown, Victoria, when
the 30 Chinese workers there
Raa unanimously to support the

The Chinese workers in the
Leechtown Sawmill have always
been good union members. Not
one man has gone over to the
WwIiuc.

After a long winter shut-down
the mill opened last March. For
a while the men refused to sign
any check-off papers because
they wanted a clear understand-
ing of the issues involved. They
frankly told the shop-stewards
they wanted to wait till a: Chi-
nese organizer could get out to
explain these issues.

On May 10 Bro. Roy Whittle
and I went out there and held a
meeting in their bunkhouses.
They all attended and _pledged
their support to the IWA. The
old members will pay up back
dues and new workers will be
initiated. Except for two or three
men this camp is definitely IWA,
and the chief shop-steward, Eric
Merry, is a credit to our union.

Local 1-80, IWA

District President Alsbury, ac-
companied by Bros. Ernie Boulet
and Ed Linder visited the Port
Renfrew Camp, May 6, and was
greeted by a meeting of all mem-
bers of the crew in camp.

Bro, Linder in his remarks out-
lined the progress made in Local
1-80, and the stability now ac-
quired by the IWA.

District President Alsbury,
traced the history of the IWA
and its growing importance in
‘the lumber industry. He delved
into the past to show that the
IWA had been originally organ-
ized on an international basis be-
cause of the failure of national
units to gain united action among
the workers in the industry.

The WIUC leaders, he pointed
out, had turned their backs on
the lessons of this experience in
order to serve ends outside of
trade union objectives.

The District President praised
the work accomplished on behalf
of TWA members in the area by
Head Shop Steward Dan Sailor,
Camp Seeretary; George Kraw-
ehuk, and committee-men Jim
Sutherland, Bill Johnson, Harry
Marken, and Earl McEwan.

Local 1-217, IWA

Brother Stu Hodgson reports:

This Local had the good news
from the Eburne Mills Scow Yard
that all employees had signed up
100 per cent IWA. This unit is
now certified, and the agreement
is to be signed at an early date,

Employees in the Venetian
Blind Dept. of Jones Tent and
Awning Co., held a successful,
and fully attended meeting on
May 6 to further IWA negotia-
tions for wage increases. A union
shop is now established here.

The Conciliation Board dealing
with the demands of employees
in Lama Wood Products recom-
mended an increase of 10 cents
an hour for certain employees
and 7 cents an hour for the bal-
ance. When this mill goes into
plywood production the contract
will be re-opened, and the wage
scale levelled off at the prevail-
ing rates established in the indus-
try. The forty-hour week was
agreed to in negotiations. The
plant is 100 per cent IWA.

Other plants that now report
100 per cent IWA organization
are: Simpson-Trethewey Sawmill,
Lynn-Forest, Anderson Bros.
Lumber, E. L. Sauder Co., Buf-
falo Lumber Co. and Northern
Sawmills.

This Local won one and lost
one of the two votes taken by
the Labor Relations Board to de-
cide certification for engineers
applied for by the Engineers’ In-
ternational Union (AFL). The
IWA won the vote at Evans
Products Ltd., but lost by. one
vote at the North Shore Shingle
Mill. We expect to win the next
vote at Anderson Bros. Lumber
Co., as the AFL had the certifi-
cation for the steam unit since
1942, but failed to secure any
members or do anything about it.

Local 1-217 softball team made
its debut in the Fairview, Senior
B League with a 10-7 loss to the
Electrical Workers. The Electros
collected 6-runs in-the first -in-
ning but after that the boys
gained confidence and tightened
up to hold the score down. In
their next game they tied with
the Firemen, who are reported to
be better than. average in the
league. The score 7-7. We're wait-
ing for the results of the May 16
game with the Irish Fusiliers, for
we know now we've got a good
team, that needs only some more
experience and relief pitchers.

A resolution passed at the last
general meeting expressed oppo-
sition to the publication of Coali-
tion political advertising in the
B.C, Lumber Worker. It was the
opinion of the meeting that such
advertising should be rejected
when offered by political parties
not approved by the Canadian
Congress of Labor.

Another resolution ordered that
a protest be sent to the Minister
of Justice dealing with police
atrocities against the Quebec as-
bestos workers on strike.

The Eburne Sawmills Plant
Committee recently conducted a
raffle for a radio in aid of an
injured brother, Arvad Engen.
This brother who has four chil-
dren, suffered an accident which
will cripple him for a long period.
THe proceeds of the raffle netted
the sum of $246.00 to tide Bro.
Engen over his emergency.

Local 1-357, WA

Brother Lawrence Vandale re-
ports:

In view of the circumstances
surrounding the recent fatal acci-
dent in the Thurston-Flavelle
plant, Port Moody, this Local has
proposed to the managements of
plants in the area that following
a fatal accident the plant con-
cerned should be closed down for
balance of that day. This action,
it was believed, would serve to
impress upon all concerned the
need for observance of safety
precautions, and would help re-
store morale,

The reply of the management
representatives was to the effect
that the proposal was not con-
sidered favorably as a general
rule as it might work a hardship
on other employees, but that ac-
tion would taken as the cir-
cumstances might warrant in

each case.

A vote taken by the Labor Re-
lations Board to determine rights
of certification for the engineers
in the B.C. Manufacturing Co.
plant was a tie. The Local has
protested the proposal of the
Board to take another yote, as
a majority was not obtained for
the AFL.

All-companies in this area have
been notified that the IWA will
expect observance of the Provin-
cial Elections Act providing for
time off for voting on June 15.
There is general agreement that
plants will shut down for the day
shifts at 4 p.m. Other shifts are
not affected as they have four
clear hours for voting while the
polls are open.

Negotiations at the Western
Crown Manufacturing Co. have
reached a stalemate, and the
union is now applying for concili-
ation.

Local 1-357, IWA,
New Westminster

Next ‘general meeting, Cana-
dian Legion Hall, New Westmin-
ster, May 29, 7:30 p.m. Business,
discussion of negotiations on the
new contract.

Local 1-85 IWA, Port Alberni

Bro. Jack Squires reports:

At the executive meeting on
Saturday last, the IWA set up
directors who will be in charge
of each phase of the Union acti-
vities. Each officer and member
of the Executive will be respon-
sible for the efficient working of
the various committees,

This systém “eliminates the
need for an officer being on two
or three committees, and distri-
butes the work. Bro, C. Anshelm
will be in charge of a Safety pro-
gram for the Local, Bro. R. Can-
nell will be in charge of Educa-
tion, Bro. J. Squire will look after
ity. Social Activities will be
the direct responsibility of John
Erickson. Welfare and Hospital
will come under the jurisdiction
of Charles McDermott. Bro. R.
Muir was put in charge of all
Grievance Committees to see that
they carry out their duties in the
camps and mills as outlined in
the Master. Agreement.

Further, the Chairman of the
Committees will meet monthly to
compare grievances and their set-
tlements. In this way Camp Com-
mittees can assist each other by
explaining how grievances were
settled in their particular opera-
tign..

‘At. the last regular monthly
meeting new delegates to the
Joint Labour Council were
elected, Allan Mannix, Jack Nel-
son and J. Squires. A’ good sized
Hospital Committee was picked
to ensure proper visiting of sick
and injured IWA members. A
total of twelve committee-men
were elected to cover day shift,
night shift and loggers. Another
group of six men was nominated
to ensure the entry of a float in
the May 24 parade.

Notices are being circulated by
the IWA Job Stewards in B. S.
& W. Mill calling for special
meetings of the day and night
shifts during lunch periods. These
meetings are being called jointly
by the Alberni District Com-
munity Chest and the IWA. Their
purpose is to get as many as pos-
sible to sign the pledge cards for
either monthly or cash donations
toward the new hospital.

Recently the Labour Relations
Board conducted a ballot of the
employees of the Trio Lumber
Company to see if they were in
favor of the IWA as their bar-
gaining agent. The vote was in
our favor 10-5, and it proves
once again that the IWA is go-
ing to remain the bargaining
agent of the woodworkers in B.C.
This was one of the operations
for which the WIUC had applied
for certification before making
sure of the feelings of the men
on the job.

“Labor Can Win June 15

Election”’

“Canadian union members
in every other province are
united as never before be-
hind political action in the

Federal election campaign.

“They are counting heav-
ily upon B.C. unionists to
put every possible ounce of
effort into electing a CCF
government in that province
on June 15th,” said Murray
Cotterill, National PAC-CCL
Director, upon arrival in
Vancouver for a tour of
trade union centres in B.C.

“The closé balance of popular
support between the CCF and the
Coalition, coupled with the: fact
that Liberals and Tories must
carry on one campaign in co-
operation and another in compe-
tition, makes the election of a
CCF Government a real
possibility, if labor gets out and

B.C.
works,” Cotterill explained.

“Tf that can be done just 12
days before all Canada goes to
the polls, it will be a deciding
factor in scores of other Cana-
dian federal ridings, and will gal-
vanize labor political action in
every union community of the

Dominion.”

= Cotterill

“J can’t see how any B.C,
unionist can fail to contribute
financial aid and volunteer elec-
tion day aid on June 15th,” Cot-
terill said. “When you see the
tremendous gains made by orga-
nized labor in Saskatchewan un-
der the union-sponsored labor
legislation put on the statute
books of that predominantly farm
province by the CCF government,
it is almost impossible to under-
stand how any man or woman *
who believes unions are a good
thing for the workers and the
community can fail to respond to
our PAC appeal.”

“In that province white collar
workers, retail employees, civil
servants, and scores of other
groups, which we have not yet
begun to organize elsewhere in
Canada, are now highly orga-
nized. Community income levels
have been pulled up, the position
of previously organized workers
is reinforced and improved in a
manner which could not have
been possible without such legis-
lative assistance.”

Murray Cotterill will address
two meetings next week under
the auspices of the Vancouver

Labor Council PAC, at New ~

Westminster, Canadian Legion
Hall, May 25th, with George
Mitchell, and in Vancouver, at
1021 West Hastings, TUTS Audi-
torium, May 26, with Jim Bury.

EAST END TAXI

Union Drivers

HAstings
0334

Fully Insured
24-hour Service

613 E. Hastings St.

Vancouver, B.C,

ATLAS PRINTERS

Social & Commercial Printers

28
356 Alexander Street

VANCOUVER
PAcifie 3723

RETAIL LUMBER —:—

BUILDERS’ SUPPLIES

PAINTS — WALLBOARDS — ROOFINGS

STEWART & HUDSON LTD.

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

MacGREGOR’S
MEN’S WEAR

For Everything a Man Wears
WORK, SPORT or DRESS.
We can afford to Sell the

BEST for LESS

MacDONALD’S PHARMACY
Prescriptions, Drug Sundries
First Aid Supplies
Registered Optometrist

Argyle St. Port Alberni

LOGGERS!
WORKMEN!

Dayton’s for Repair
or Rebuild by Expert
Craftsmen.

950 Commercial Drive

Send your Boots to| 5

DAYTON SHOE
| MFG. CO. (B.C.) LTD.

HA, 5177
VANCOUVER, B.C.

Aland Made

BY EXPERT CRAFTSMEN

LOGGERS
Work Boots

ASK for THEM