B.C. LUMBER WORKER PAC Contest PRIZE GOES TO ABRAMS OF 1-357 Prize for the best letter on the subject, “What Benefits Will be gained br IWA members through CCL political action?”, has been awarded to Jimmy Abrams, Lo- cal 1-857, IWA. Judges were Wm. Mahoney, Western Director CCL, Geo. Home, Secretary, B.C. Fe- deration of Labor, and Vic Mauro, Local 1-217 IWA. The prize is a steam-electric iron donated by District President J. Stewart Als- bury. Here is the letter: The Editor, - To the ordinary rank and file member of a union, the idea of a union taking any part in politics is something he cannot under- stand. To those who take an active part in the union, however, such as ‘business agents, shop stew- ards, or men on grievance com- mittees, it is only too apparent it isn’t only the boss they have to fight, but the labor laws them- selves, ._ These have been passed at the instigation of the boss. When unions were first formed they were able to meet the boss on his own level. The stronger they were, the better chance they had of getting what they were after. Eventually the unions got too strong for the bosses who re sorted to political action, This they did by making large dona- tions to various parties, some to more than one, so that they were able to demand laws passed to their advantage, no matter what party got into power. Therefore it’s only logical and sensible that the trade unions should also take political action. While the unions hayen’t the thousands of dollars to throw into election campaigns, they have the strength in numbers, which, through the education of their ‘members, they are able to use. They did it in England, in America, and in Ontario at’ the last election, All political parties were given the opportunity of endorsing the things that would benefit labor, but only the CCF had the cour- tesy to reply to our letters, and to promise endorsation of our program, This does not mean that we are under the control of the CCF, for only as long as they fulfil their promises will we support them. ¥ With regards to the IWA. Prior to this year’s opening of negotiations our union was the only one that wanted it opened’ this year. The operators have also demanded it, but while they have received a copy of our de- mands they will not present theirs till June 16. Does this not strike you as significant? . At the quarterly Council meet- ing in March, several letters were read from various operators wanting a 44- and 48-hour week. One wanted a cut in wages. These requests were, of course, refused pending our’ annual ne. gotiations, So it’s quite obyious that, as you vote, so will go the negotia- tions. Would you like to go back to a 44-hour week this year, or a pos- sible 48-hour week next year, with less take-home pay? Tt seems somewhat foolish for @ man to pay dues into a union in order to get better pay, and workine conditions, and then go and vote into power a “government that will take th Denefits awa, Gua Tam not a member of the CCF and never have been. : I ever voted CCF Raat 1 Teave it to you to Tam going to vote for ‘The results of the meetings at which I spoke, have been very gratifying, and successful meet- ings were held in Camps A, L. and M:, Englewood, Beaver Cove, Pioneer, C. & A., Alice Lake Log, Holberg and Jeune Landing. Indicative of the respect which the International Woodworkers of America holds among the log- gers on the Coast, was the recep- tion that we received in the Gib- son Bros. Jeune Landing opera- tion. Due to lack of forces, we had been unable to visit this camp since last October 3rd, and despite the fact that on several occasions Dalskog & Co. had been in Jeune Landing, and had at- tempted to build a strong organi- zation there, we were successful in setting up one of the strongest Camp Committees in Local 1-71, and were received very favorably by the loggers in that operation. NEW OUTLOOK Looking back over the past few months, and attempting to judge our progress, I am led to believe that the International Woodworkers of America today is in a stronger organizational position to withstand, any at- tempt on the part of the employ- ers to lower wages or working conditions, than in any time in its history, This condition has not been brought about primarily as a result of numerical strength, but has been brought about by the development -of an entirely new outlook on the part’ of the rank and file members of our or- ganization toward the Inter tional Woodworkers of America. No longer is the IWA a “Prit- chett & Dalskog” union. Today, it is “Our Union”, which we fought for and saved last Octo- ber 8rd, and the one which has protected our conditions and wage standards over the past six months, ‘This has been achieved not by perpetuating a political administrative set-up, which strangled democratic expression, prior to October 3rd, but by giv- ing free expression to the wishes of the rank and file members, both in the field of camp commit- |tee administration, and in_ the formulation of policy at local meetings or delegate conventions. _Today, as we enter negotia- tions, I feel more confident in the Early in 1947 the Juneau Spruce Corporation bought out the Jun- u Lumber Company. The new mpany did not continue the coi with either the Longshore- }men, if they had one, nor the JIWA. ‘The IWA negotiated a new contract for the company's 200 employees on November 14, 1947. On October 30, 1947, a question of jurisdiction existed’ over barge loading at the Juneau Spruce Cor poration. In the Juneau Lum- ber Compa: loaded all of its lum- ber aboard shi The lumber taken to ship side by the IWA and loaded aboard ships by the Longshoremen, When the Juneau Spruce Corporation took over they bought a number of barges and tug boat: Because their yard Space limited they loaded eut, about 75M aboard the barge. se the scows were only loaded intermittently, loads were set on the scow by IWA men with the mill crane, The longshoremen claimed they ‘should have their slingmen and the spotters do the job. Jothe TWA. notified the Local Unjon M-271, IWA, that generally speaking, loading of company seows with the company lumber work belongs to the TWA. Such an operation is now being done in Everett, Washington at the Weyerhauséer mill with TWA men, The matter of jurisdiction has been questioned in that SHUT DOWN After this the mill shut down r approximately 5 months. When fe bbton aeais;anrch tke Long: [sheremen went to the company to ‘laim jurisdiction, _ The would not recox mgshoremen “and. tho dias'atpore support, Mackenzie Reports “OUR UNION” NOW BIGGER, BETTER ‘ » By TOM MacKENZIE, International Board Member Haying recently returned from a rather extensive organizational trip, in company with Brother Mike Sekora} and having covered all the major operations under the jurisdiction of Local 1-71, on Van- couver Island, I feel that it is now appropriate to review the general organizational picture, as it affects B.C. District No. 1, and more particularly the Coast, and Vancouver Island logging camps. possibility of success, than I have at any time in the past ten years, and those of us who haye been fortunate enough to have toured a large portion of the District, have sensed the tremendous surge of pride which exists in the mind of everyone of our members in the thought that he too is an im. portant part of the great organi- zation, the International Wood- workers of America. Local by Local, as we go down the list, we find today that they are very rapidly regaining or ac- tually exceeding their member- ship during pre-revolutionary days. Despite the fact that the |WIU has gained certification in ‘a number of minor operations, we can feel proud in the accomplish- ment of having at least tempo- rarily thwarted those disruptive forces who would have smashed trade union organization in the industry. Despite the fact that the WIU has been practically eliminated, we should still remember that the job has only been half accomp- lished, and that in order to pre- sent a powerful and militant front in our negotiations with the employers, we must bend every effort toward building a hundred per cent organization on the job that is efficient and fear- less in dealing with the daily problems of the workers. GENEROUS BACKING this time to the direct contribu- tion that has been made to our organizational work by the Inter- national office, and by fraternal International organizations in the |U.S., as well as the completely unselfish attitude of our Local Unions. Also individual members within these unions, in making jtheir contributions either in the way of personal or actual cash donations have moved toward the goal of a strong democratic union organization in the woodworking industry. All down the years, the history. of trade union organization in the woodworking industry in B.C. has been a good one, and we are proud of the fact that we in the TWA have, during the past six months, added a glorious chapter to that continuous struggle up- ward toward: the day when the worker shall receive the full re- ward for his labor. We were finally notified that the company was going to start up, even if they had to ship in strike breakers. The IWA was faced with this situation, The mill could have been started, the IWA decertified under the Taft-Hartley Act and a new independent union or the AFL could move in and set up a Local. In t event both the IWA and the Longshoremen would have lost. We told the Long- Shoremen the situation and they agreed that that might happen nnd they finally agreed that if We could get certain concessions from the’ company on which material the IWA men would handle they would pull the pic- ket line and we could go back to “work, ILWU DOUBLE CROSS On May 14th such a letter was obtained from the company. The following morning the Longshore- men refused to go along with the terms of the letter. Verne Al- bright, Alaskan representative of the ILWU, stated flatly that his International Union had instructed him to “maintain the picket line at all cost”. When the IWA Local member- ship heard about this, after sup- porting the Longshoremen for 88 days, they finally took the position that'they did not care what hap- pened to the Longshoremen and voted to return to work. EIGHT MONTHS IDLE They bad then been out of work nearly 8 months—they had no transportation out of Juneau, &rocery bills and rent bills to were piling up and they were in no mood to xupport any longer the Longshorees which they felt had a bum which could have heen decided hy the NLRB if Me thele, Jen had not refused Recognition should be given at Additional List : IWA CERTIFICATIONS “B. C. Lumber Worker”. LOCAL 1-363, IWA COMPANY OPERATION Bradley Creek Logging Co. Ltd . Courtenay Bloedel, Stewart & Weich Ltd. -—. Camp 1, Bloedel Bloedel, Stewart & Welch Ltd. _. Camp 5, Bloedel J, H. Baxter & Co. Ltd, Courtenay Baikie Bros. Logging Go. —.- Courtenay Beban Logging Co. Ltd. Loggin, Buckley Bay Tom Brown Logging ogging, Campbell River B.C. Pulp & Paper Go, Blk Bay Comox Logging & Railway lomox Lake Comox Logging & Railway Company Headquarters Elk River ‘Timber Co. Ltd. uinsam Blk River Timber Co. Ltd. — -- Campbellton Granite Bay Timber Co. Lid. Iron River Logging Co. Ltd. Internatione Lumbering Ass'n Ltd. — McLean Bros. Timber Co. Ltd. Olympic Lumber Co. Lt Plateau Lumber Co. Ltd. P.H. & M. Logging Co. Ltd. Super Service Garage and Sawmill . Salmon River Logging Co. Ltd. Salmon River Logging Co. Standard Logging Company T'sable River Logging Co. Li Union Logging Co. Ltd. Van West Logging Co. Lt W. & W. Logging Co. Ltd. Logging, Rock Bay Logging, Campbell River Shingle Mill, Fanny Bay Logging, Parksville Logging, Horne Lake id Sawmill, Cumberland . Logging, Royston Lorsing and Sawmill w=» Black Jack Area ‘Logein, ‘sable River geing, Hornby Island Logging, Royston Logging, Courtenay Page Three © The following completes the list of IWA-certified log- ging and sawmill operations in the Coastal area for which wage negotiations are now under way with Forest Indus- trial Relations Ltd., as published in the May 19 issue of the Johnson's Boots Hand-Made to the Highest Quality Specifications. UNRIVALED FOR © Comfort @ Wear © Safety Ask for them at your commissary and at all Leading Stores. -A. W. JOHNSON LTD. 63 W. Cordoya St. Vancouyer, B. C. S. MANNING 25 Years’ Service | HAVE BEEN ON THE PICKET LINE AROUND THE DAILY PROVINCE “Until I was forced on the picket line by the Southam Co. in June, 1946, I had worked in the composing room of The Daily Province for 25 years. “I contributed my fair share to the building of The Province, and I worked there long before the Southams of Montreal moved into Vancouver with their millions and bought the paper. There never was any trouble until the Southams took over. “Southams rewarded my lifetime of. service with 82 months on the picket line, obtained a court injunction, sued members of my union for damages in the Supreme Court and imported individuals from all over Canada to take my job. icket liné with my fellow I.T.U. “I'am still on the printers. We will be there until the Southam Co. will abandon its union-wrecking policy and sit around the conference table in good faith.” 1 ASK YOUR SUPPORT ’