Page Four B. c. Northwest Settlement ‘THE IWA Northwest Regional Negotiating Committee deserves praise for the outcome of negotiations re- uy concluded with operators in the Pacific Northwest An attempt on the part of the operators to cut wages was blocked, The basic rate of $1.45 an hour was main- tained, at a level 87 cents an hour higher than in Canada. Substantial concessions in the way of night-shift differ- entials, overtime and premium pay, and paid statutory holidays add up to an over-all wage increase, Wage and employment factors have been stabilized in 5 Me full of uncertainties for the American lumber in- ustry. COST of living in the United States has dropped almost 7 points since the peak reached in 1948, and is still] dropping. Lumber production in the United States is down 18 per cent from the postwar peak. A decline in construction activity will likely depress production further during the balance of the year. Many trade unions, which have already negotiated agreements this year in leading American industries, have § been content to hold the wage line at approximately the 1948 level. Unemployment has risen to the 4 million mark, a fact = which has caused American unions grave concern. Al- though trade union membership has risen to 15 million, five times greater than fifteen years ago, there are still twice as many non-union workers in industry. Non-union workers have been forced to take wage- cuts, thus increasing wage-cutting pressure on unionized shops. Where union strength has prevented wage cuts, many employers are reducing work forces by increasing speed-up. Recent strikes have failed to win worth-while wage yee increases. "THE major strategy of American unions at present is to prevent a downward movement of wages. Conditions in the States are not comparable with those in Canada, Canadian workers have a bettercase, for wage levels have remained lower, and living costs continue to rise because of monopoly price-fixing and profit-making. The IWA in British Columbia intends to raise wages to approximate the level held in the American section of the industry. One hundred per cent IWA organization on an industry-wide basis can turn the trick. Union Shop A UNION shop for lumber workers, as proposed in the 1949-50 IWA contract, is a step urgently required to stabilize bargaining procedure in the industry. ' Experience elsewhere has shown it to be the only satis- factory means by which a union, may efficiently safeguard the welfare of its members and discharge its responsibili- ties. The union shop is at the same time democratic and business-like. There can be only one bargaining agency for the work- ers in a bargaining unit. This bargaining agency is selected by majority vote of the employees. When an agreement is signed, the union shop provides for full and democratic participation in the bargaining rights by all the employees affected by the agreement. * ' The union shop ensures that every worker in the unit has a voice in decisions which affect his wages and working conditions. As he shares in the benefits, gained by the union, he should also share in the responsibilities assumed by the union on behalf of all the employees. JHIOSE who choose to stay outside the union as “free : riders” do nothing more than offer interference to the democratic application of the terms of the agreement. ‘} The employer who offers opposition to the union shop denies the enjoyment of legitimate democratic rights to his employees. ’ »: When agreement is reached, the union shop brings stability in labor-management relations. It promotes a healthier atmosphere than one of constant uncertainty and strife. : ae ‘ : Once assured of security in bargaining rights, and freed from the necessity of constantly battling to maintain a majority footing, the union membership can then devote its energies to the important problems of the industry, OF THIS .-.- NOT DOLES— DOLLA THERE'LL BE NO MORE IY WHEN You CAN HAVE ; SOMETHING UKE THIS). PAC Contest Entries are still being received in the contest announced in the last issue of The B.C. Lumber Worker for the electric steam iron donated by District. Presi- dent Alsbury. The following en- try has been selected for publi- cation in this week’s issue, First Entry ‘The Contest Editor: As a politically organized hu- man society, our laws are our rules of conduct for the welfare of the majority. We get our laws from three main sources, namely custom, adjudication and legislation. The main source of labor laws are by legislative enactments by men we elect to our legislature. Knowing this to be true, doesn’t it appeal to our intelligence that the men we elect should be men of our choice, men who will give labor an equitable share of our natural and productive wealth. Unless unionism uses its strength politically in a wise and practical way, unionism loses its most powerful weapon, a weapon many, many times more powerful than strike action. ; The CCL has built the founda- tion of this all-powerful weapon under the name of the PAC. We of the IWA have but to add our voting strength to that of the PAC in all of Canada to win all the freedom we so much desire for all. Georges J, B. LaFrance, 646 Alderson Ave., New Westminster. ee Provoked The Editor: In May 5 issue of The B.C. Lumberworker appears a lengthy statement in support of our Pro- vincial Government over the names, so synonymous of reac- tion, Hon. H. Anscomb and Hon. B. Johnson.: This statement includes one Your Space Boys! Readers Vine “Telephone, power, bus trans-| Joe’s Scabs ortation, fur and timber market- Bait Ing, sodfum-sulphate extraction, Dear Editor, insurance, all are highly success “Who are Strike-breakers and ful government ventures, provid> Scabs ing ‘cheaper and better’ services| “I see where the Communists to the people, and adding funds are strike-breaking and scabbing to the public treasury.” on the German Railway workers, “Of the 11 Crown Corporations and Uncle Joe has sent his troops 10 have shown a profit every ne towne the scabs and fire on ear. The secondary industry the Germans, a high we have closed down rep-' “I wonder what Pritchett, Dals- resents less than one per cent of kog, Harvey Murphy & Co. think the capital invested.” ‘of that! All the German worker Simply age-old axioms, “The is striking for is a decent wage, |truth shall set you free”, as op- Powell River Chokerman.” posed to “Falsehoods shall for. eae, ever entangle”, struggling for supremacy, WANTED To read such a statement as jthat quoted in a paper begging! support for a Political Action Committee, pledged to act in the best interests of the workers, is just the most provoking contra- diction one could possibly toler- ate, Persons who know the whereabouts of a good start- ing pitcher, open for engage- ment with Local 1-217, IWA, Soft-ball Team for the sea- son. Communicate the in- formation to Manager Bob Watters or Financial Secre- tary Stu Hodgson, care of IWA, 218, 175 Broadway East, FAirmont 9530. LET THE CHIPS FALL by Woody Woodpecker. BIG corporations in Canada and the US. don’t pay income Ss tax on their costs of production. Applying this prin- ciple to the earnings of the working Joe, a trade unionist — in the US. has found fascinating answers to his income tax worries! i Here is how it would work out for a logger in B. C.: Wage earners are humans who try to make a living by peddling the labors of a machine (their body) for so much an noes 3 That labor is something the logger produces and sells. The dueing is done by the very eating, sleeping, acquired knowl having families to maintain the supply, and keeping the machine of flesh and bone in efficient working order. ._ Therefore, on sound economic principles, not forgetting that the big business man doesn’t pay tax on the cost of production, Joe tax form something like this: Albert Crowder, RR1, White Rock, Royal City Sawmills. Logger could turn in an income Gross income from sale of lab Production Costs: Bi most outstanding falsehood (a gentleman’s definition of a lie!) which should be exposed. I quote: “We have but to look at the Sas- katchewan experiment to see a glaring example of government attempts to manage expropriated businesses. The Socialist admini- stration of that province already has closed down most of the original industries it seized.” Now may I quote a statement by. agers qonalas of facia ewan which a in Ma (issue of CCF News: iH PROOF of the value of the union shop is found in the fact ’ that over fifty per cent of the unionized workers on this continent are now working under union shop condi- tions, and the number is rapidly growing. Security for trade unions through union shop agree- ments has given clear demonstration of its advantages to employer and worker alike: _ p _. Arguments against the union shop are basically argu- ments against trade union organization. _ c : _. The conditions of modern industry require this practi- mn of the democratic functions of trade unions to ensure industrial stability. Depreciation and Doctors’ bills _ oo Pa for tis pady ie maintain spirits __ ‘owance for obselecence (savii 1/10th gross income) aa ee TOTAL COSTS __ TOTAL INCOME _ YEAR LOSS FOR THE (Loss partially covered b; i o debt, total balanced by depreesationy © 1% SAvings and increase REFUND DUE—All taxes collected previous years. _ It’s a happy thought, anyway. " \