B.C. LUMBER WORKER : : Page Elevei SOUTHERN WOMEN DELEGATES LOOK TO C10 FOR FREEDOM One of the most outstanding figures at the recent IWA International Convention held here, was Sister Rosella Sessoms from Portsmouth, Virginia. i Seated on the Convention floor she had that look at once intent and restrained that made it clear why this was her fourth time as delegate to IWA International conven- STRUCK STORE LIKE MORGUE SICK LIST Vancouver General Hospital Sisters Margaret Slarks and Kay Wood visited the following patients in the Vancouver Gen- eral Hospital distributing cigar- ettes and copies of the B.C. Lum- ber Worker. H, Halverson, Lumby — With a broken back. He has been in hospital for some time, but is now improving nicely. Johnson, Jervis Inlet—Head In- jury, is improving. 3 W. Kickbust, Island Industries— He is very cheerful, although suffering from a broken hip and pelvis, C. Bonneville, Eburne Sawmills— Ruptured appendix, doing fine. W. Clow, Keeley Lumber Co. — Fractured ribs and vertebrae. Coming along fine. Jim Chow, Cook at Alaska Pine— Burned hand, quite cheerful. The picket line of Retail, Wholesale, CIO, at the Army and Navy Department Store in New Westminster is still being held as militantly as ever, and mainly by the women strikers. Their continuous poster parade telling the story of the firm’s re- fusal to pay the fair wages rec- ommended by a Conciliation Board, has won the admiration and support of the shopping pub- lic. The store is like a morgue, so silent, that the footfall of the rare customer echoes through empty space. A starry-eyed woman bargain- hunter who crashed the picket line was asked by a sympathetic bystander, “Do you know what you are doing? Why don’t you support the picket line of these girls?” tions. On several occasions she has been the only woman delegate. E In her own room in the Hotel Vancouver she was friendly with that graciousness which sets some women apart. % Back home she is employed with the Prudence Veneer and Basket plant, the employees be. ing divided 50-50 between men and women. There were only three women delegates in a Convention of over 400. This, Miss Sessoms hopes will right itself as women become more union conscious, and men, having seen the need for equal pay for equal work, see also the need for greater equality in choice of delegates. Not that she wants women to be chosen as delegates merely because they are women, but because good wo- men, she believes are as conscien- = Delegates Rosella Sessoms (left) and Lily Mae Bryant discuss prob- lems of the Deep South at the IWA International Convention. Miss Sessoms is employed on the International organizing staff in Vir- ; ; Rie hm ‘nia, —Photo by Parodi and Bohl. Curly Hope, Shushuster Bay —|, To which she replied, “Oh, is! tious and alert as are men dele-| Sim2. s _|that what it is?” and turned : Broken ankle, doing well. Ex- ae a gates. was interrupted by President pects a cast this week. W. Roberts, Gibson’s Landing — Back in hospital again, but is improving nicely and hopes to go home soon. Very cheerful. O. Storr,.Camp 5, Bloedels—Leg injury. Doing well. M. Gordichuch, Furry Creek — Left leg amputated, but is keeping his spirits up and is progressing nicely. P. Fell, Eburne— Serious burns to legs, but now improving, Barry, Mitchell Island — Frac- tured hips, Will be in for a while yet. % CONVENTION TRANSFERS CLARIFIED back, opened her purse, handed one of the girls on the picket line a dime. She then went on into the store, while the shocked pickettes called for first- aid. “Could it be,” said one, “that there are people who know so lit- tle about trade unions?” Good Luck, Girls! Good luck to the girls on the picket line. They're spearhead- ing the fight on behalf of all the women and girls working in re- tail establishments at starvation wages. The trade unions, both CCL and AFL, recognize the signifi- cance of the fight, and are back- ing the strike, morally and finan- cially. “Starve Them!” During discussions sponsored by the Labor Relations Board to mediate the dispute, the company lawyer asserted, “the Vancouver Hospitality Speaking of her visit here Miss Sessoms expressed appreciation of the friendliness and courtesy she had received in the hotel, in stores and in buses. This was her first visit to Canada, and she wished Vancouver people to know how sincerely she felt about the treatment accorded her. We, too, were happy to hear this for not always have we white Canadians been generous or kind to people with a different color of skin to our own. Another woman delegate from the deep South was Sister Lily May Bryant of Cuthbert, Georgia. Her work is in plywood and vei eer. She also enjoyed her visit to Vancouver, and joined Miss Sessoms in appreciation of the courtesies extended. her while in Vancouver. Her warm smiling Andy Smith (Local 1-857), who said it was done to keep peace among the women members. Among visitors to the Conven- tion was Mrs. J. E. Fadling. Whispering together at the back of the Convention hall, she con- fided to us that she takes a very great interest in her husband's work, but remains discreetly in the background. Apparently she does not think much of wives who have opinions on IWA matters and air them indiscriminately. A wise and very delightful person. 1-85 LADIES HOLD SOCIAL The Women’s Auxiliary, Local 1-85, Port Alberni, held a most successful social ‘evening _ last week when they and their hus- bands and friends foregathered to play cards and partake of re- freshments. There was a fine turnout and the Auxiliary is to be compli- mented on their handling of the affair. 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