Page Two B.C. LUMBER WORKER > AROUND THE LOCALS 1-217 Certified in 75 Plants, Still Has Time For Softball; Honors Alsbury, Mitchell: 1-80 Hears Burtz: Joe Morris Rece LOCAL 1-217 Brother Stu Hedgson reports: ‘The spring organization drive planned and conducted by 1-217 continues to expand the strength and the influence of the IWA in the Vancouver area. ‘ Seventy-five plants are now certified by this Local, with the seventy-sixth in view. Forty new members were signed up in M.I.L. last week, adding to the total membership in the Local of 4700. C.W.P. Meetings Three hundred employees of Canadian White Pine attended a noon meeting recently, and’ were addressed by Local President Lloyd Whalen, and District Presi- dent Stewart Alsbury. Bro. Carl Mertz, Plant Committee Chair- man presided. Colin Wood Head Shop Steward and departmental shop stewards planned arrange- ments well. President Whalen traced the background of the struggle to or- ganize the lumber workers in B.C. and exposed the attempt to sabo- tage this struggle by the LPP anion wreckers, District President Alsbury cor- xoborated President Whalen’s re- marks by producing his member- ship card secured at stages of early organization in B.C. He then outlined the aims of the IWA in present negotiations, stressing the importance of the fifteen cent wage boost, the wel- fare plan, and union security. ‘Another meeting was held the same evening for the afternoon shift, and was addressed by Pres- ident Whalen and Secretary Stu Hodgson. Eburne Men Collect The return of all employees of the Eburne Mills Scow Yard to lan IWA agreement, after a year’s failure with the Boilermakers, brought them substantial reward. They now get the IWA scale, made retroactive to July 15, 1948. Some of them collect as much as $200. Employees of the . Venetian Blind Dept. of Jones Tent and Awning, who have now estab- lished an IWA union shop, are in the midst of negotiations for a fifteen cent an hour wage in- crease. The reply of the company to their demand is expected at an early date. The rate for edgermen at Uni- versal Box has been upped to $1.42, bringing their pay to the same rate as paid in Alaska Pine. Claim Won , Proof of the value of the atten- tion given by the Local to com- pensation claims in doubt, was re- cently demonstrated in the case of a young woman employed at |Home Fuel. The employer claimed that the injury had not been in- curred on the job. IWA shop stewards dug up the evidence, and reconsideration of the Com- pensation Board’s decision was demanded by the Local’s officials. The young lady now has her com- pensation cheque for the period of her disablement. Members of Local 1-217 are bragging about their soft-ball team now on a winning streak, in the Fairview League. The team trimmed the Firemen, who were at the top of the League, and took the Irish Fusiliers, win- ning both games 7-4, Tn_a_ hard-fought battle with the I.B.W.E., they were all even at the end of eleven innings. The team plays its home games every Monday evening at Douglas Park. IWA sport fans are reminded that they have the opportunity to attend and back their team, with as- surance of plenty of fun. LOCAL 1-357 A pleasant ceremony was staged by jthe membership of Local 1-357 at the regular gen- eral meeting, May 29 when the Past President J. Stewart Als- bury and Past Financial Secre- tary George Mitchell were pre- sented each with a handsome in- itialled brief case in token of their years of service as officers of the Local. President Andy Smith in mak- ing the presentation, stated that much as the membership of the Local regretted losing their serv- ices, it’was recognized that their fidelity to the IWA had -raised them to a wider sphere of activ- ity in the organization. District President Alsbury in reply expressed his warm appre- ciation of the gift, and paid trib- ute to the loyalty of the members in 1-357 to which he attributed the success of the Local. District Secretary Mitchell pre- dicted that the policies formu- lated by the membership would make the New Westminster Local one of the strongest in the Inter- national Union. Byron I. Johnson, Premier of B.C. BEST GOVERNMENT B.C. EVER HAD In war and peace—for eight years British Columbia has prospered in the hands of-a Coalition of the Liberal and Conservative parties. Your Coalition government embodies the best policies of both parties and their representatives. It has been the best government in British Columbia's entire historv! Greater British Columbia development than ever before has been achieved—social services, public works, education, public power, municipal help and other programmes of an outstanding nature are in effect. Your Coalition government stands on its record of achievement and promise. lt offers itself for re-election so that it may continue its sound administration of British Columbia's affairs. Here are the Principal Features of the Coalition record: + HOSPITALIZATION—Worry and anxiety of hospital bills has been banished in British Columbia. Hospitals SOCIAL SERVICES—British Columbia is the most \ progressive province in social Hon. Herbert Anscomb, x Minister of Finance. welfare—old age % At the’samé meeting a organized in aid of the Hospit Visiting Committee netted a stantial sum for this work, ‘The Fraser Mills Sub-Local, negotiation with the m and the B.C.E.R., have now ranged that the buses land workers at the plant daily, stead of a terminal almost a mile away from the plant trance. The ‘AFL International Engi- neers’? Union failed on tl fourth attempt to win the en neers of the B. C. Manufacturing Co. away from [WA certification, Western Crown Manufac' Co. employees have now secur the appointment of a conciliation officer in connection with their wage dispute. LOCAL 1-80 Brother Ed Linder reports: Bro. Virgil Burtz, director of research of the Internatio fWocdwrorker of pete anied by Ernest Boulet, organ’ Es and Edwin Linder, financial secretary for Local 1-80, IWA, addressed meetings at Camp 3 and Camp 6 Youbou on May 18 and May 19 respectively. They were given a hearty welcome. Bro, Burtz has had years of perience in research work for IWA and also as a negotiator and spoke authoritatively from the extensive research data at his disposal, and from his years of experience. Bros. Boulet and Linder also gave a resume of roganizing be- ing done within Local 1-80 and it was pointed out that more dues had been received for the month of April, 1949, than had been re- ceived at the Local office in Sep- tember of 1948, the month before the break. % Bro. George Smythe who is president of the Sub-Local at Camp 6 ably chaired the meeting. A number of men wearing WIUC buttons attended this meeting and listened attentively to the speak- ers. At the close of the address by Bro, Burtz, some questions were asked by WIUG supporters, but mainly concerned with some un- substantiated rumors that they had heard. These were, however, quickly and effectively answered by Virgil Burtz and the ques- tioner was unable to: give the source of his information. Morris Out of Hospital Friends of our local president, Joe Morris will be glad to leara that he is now out of the hospital and rapidly getting onto his the in- ‘a pensions are the highest in Canada. British Columbia was the first to,augment federal old age pensions. TRADE & INDUSTRY—British Columbia is Canada's third largest industrial province! Your Coalition, govern- ment set up the British Columbia research council— brough the Columbia Cellulose Company here— interested the Aluminum Company Canada in surveys totalling $2,000,000,00 and a contemplated $300,000,000.00 expansion programme in British Columbia. Your Coalition government has an in- dustrial and trade representative in London—a Regional Development division of the Department of Trade and Industry. FLOOD CONTROL—Under the Fraser Valley Dyking Board the emergency programme is now 85 per cent complete. $6,000,000,00 has already been provided by the Provincial and Federal governments. MUNICIPAL FINANCIAL AID — Your Coalition government has greatly increased its contribution to ublic services—maintains all hospitals and contri- Bates one-third of new building costs—has the best school system in Canada and pays half the cost of new buildings and equipment—contributes more than any province to the teachers’ superannuation fund. have been adequately financed—there is no further need for public assistance. ROADS—A thirty ‘million dollar’ highway building program is underway—350 miles of main highway tril’ be paved this. year—the. magnificent Hope- Princeton highway will be open by Labor Day—the Pine Pass Highway, will open up, the Peace River district of B.C.—thus bringing another section of the province into land communication with the coast. EDUCATION—British Columbia now has the most advanced educational policy in Canada—its school teachers receive the highest average salaries. Vast improvements to school buildings and equipment have been made—half the cost of new schools is paid for by the government—school books are provided free up to the Gth grade and rental for nominal emounts up to grade 12. PUBLIC POWER—flectric power from Government plants js supplied in 20 districts from Duncan, V.I., to Dawson Creek, Peace River. Power development at Campbell River nét only serves the people of that district but has assured the establishment of new industries such as pulp and paper plants at Alberni, Nanaimo and elsewhere. stride again, after an operation for appendicitis. Reverting to his high school French, Morris re- gretted “hors de combat” for even a few days. WIUC Rebuffed Even though it was a well known fact that the IWA was certified as the bargaining au- thority for the employees of Na- naimo Sawmills, this did not pre- vent those self-proclaimed be- lievers in labor unity, the Wooies, from attempting to certify it However, in a vote conducted by the Labor Relations Board, the employees of this operation voted by an overwhelming majority to stay with the IWA. More Certifications _ Joe Morris and Tony Poje have signed up the employees for the Acacia Lumber Co., and the Stan- dard Logging Co. into the TWA. The Labor Relations Board has now certified Local 1-80, IWA, as the bargaining authority for these two operations. Bradley at Meade’s Creek Tom Bradley, [WA organizer, accompanied by Ernie Boulet, or- ganizer and Ed, Linder, financial secretary for Local 1-80, ad- dressed_a meeting at Creek. Ed. Linder and Ernie Bou- let gave a review of the organiz- ing work accomplished since last fall, and of the continuing gave a history of the Interna- — THESE ARE JUST A FEW OF THE PROGRESSIVE MEASURES TAKEN BY YOUR COALITION GOVERNMENT FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PEOPLE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA. TO CONTINUE THIS PROGRESS AND RECEIVE THESE INDUSTRIAL, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL BENEFITS, RETURN TO OFFICE THE EFFICIENT, BUSINESS-LIKE ADMINISTRATION OF THE COALITION GOVERNMENT. ELECTION DAY—WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15 RETURN THE ‘COALITION GOVERNMENT. Published by the British Columbia Coalition Organization, 5 in ‘IWA_ membership. tional Woodworkers of America.