Page Four ——— B.C. LUMBER WORKER =« Housing Scandal ‘E Canadian Congress of Labor in demanding that the costs of house construction be investigated, has put a finger on the chief cause of the present scandalous hous- ing shortage. The price placed on home ownership by the real estate and construction profiteers is beyond the reach of the great majority of Canadian workers. ~ The Federal Government was well aware that any such investigation would reveal conditions that would compel action, so no investigation will be held. More public agitation will be necessary to secure for Canadian workers the measures of public housing which have proved beneficial in other democratic countries. In Great Britain, the Scandinavian’ countries, and New Zealand, measures to reduce the cost of housing have proved successful. In Canada, such measures should prove even more suc- cessful, because of the abundance of building materials. The planned utilization of land and material for the purpose of home building would prove a great boon to thousands of families and would keep our mills humming with activity for many years. Since the profit-makers now admit failure in building homes for those who need them the most, the time has come for action through public agencies. No Scrap Heap EXT to the tragedy of death in the woods, is the trag- edy of men in the prime of life, who, through accidents, are partially disabled, and thus prevented from returning to the one occupation they know. The compensation paid does not provide a livelihood. They still have the energy and the capability to do useful work, except on the old job where only physically fit men can survive. Their specialized skills are not wanted in other branches of industry. Too often they drift into a life of hopeless despair, making shift with casual and under-paid jobs. The IWA is pressing for a more satisfactory solution of their problems before the Royal Commission investigat- ing Workmen’s Compensation at the present time. Neglect has proved more costly to the community than would a genuine program of rehabilitation. Men thrown on the scrap heap, rot. Industry should no longer escape responsibility for its casualties. Men who have served industry well, should be allowed every opportunity to regain their self-respect, at useful and congenial work. More adequate provision is required for re-training and sheltered employment, with adequate allowances during the rehabilitation period. 3 Re-training should lead to definite employment oppor- tunities. There are jobs that partially disabled men can do as well as the able bodied, if they are ear-marked for the handicapped. The conditions of employment must safeguard them against any special exploitation .of their handicaps. The Royal Commission enquiry provides the opportun- ity for a thorough examination of this problem, and a more earnest endeavor to work out a satisfactory solution. Saskatchewan Does It g Just one month ago Saskat- chewan put in operation an edu- cational class for civilian handi-| capped persons. The class has been created by the department of social service, and is held in Regina College. The students are given individ- ual instruction in public and high school subjects for the purpose of equipping them to obtain employ- ment. There is a waiting list for the class, and as. students acquire enough education to enable them to accept positions, they will be replaced by others. This is just the beginning of a much needed service. Crown Strikers Say ‘Thanks’ Editor: a _ I would appreciate your pass- ing along, through the “B.C. Lumber Worker” the thanks of the members of the Western Crown Manufacturing Co., Sub- Local (1-357, IWA), to the Brothers and’ Sisters’ of Local 1-357, IWA, for their donations to our strike fund, and to the officers of District’ Council No. 1, and Local 1-357, for their work on our behalf on the ne- gotiating committee. Yours very truly, Qiirs.) Olga Fix, Secretary. Union Signet Rings “Success to the WA Safety Campaign FLAGG & COMPANY Enamelled Buttons and Pins, Medals, Crests and Badges For All Organizations “Consult Us For Your Personal or Group Needs” 701-16 East Hastings Street Vancouver, B.C. The Curtain Rises Sita = “No Contract --- No Work!” The Editor: I wonder how many of the boys | noticed the headlines in the Sun and Lumber Worker this last week? They were, to say the least, very interesting in regards the} outcome of our recent negotia- tions. Sunday, Oct. 26. B.C. Lumber Booms .. . Shipped Sept., 1948, 186,000,000. Sept. 49, 210,818,000. Lumber up $3.00, Shingles up 20 cents. WE GOT... ? Sunday, Oct 27, P.L.IB. settle for 8 cents and pension program. AND WE GOT... ? B.C. Lum- ber Worker, Bosses bow to strike threat. Doesn’t that take you back to the Dalskog days? While a lot has been said re- garding the settlement, and in all fairness, there are points to be considered, the fact still remains that we were caught in the bight of season and local conditions. This must not happen again. Our contract ends June 15. Let’s make this our slogan, “No contract — no work” Effective midnight, June 15. Let’s start educating our members to this ef- fect. In every Lumber Worker from now on, print in large let- ters, “No Contract—No Work”. Let our members have the chance to prepare themselves and deter- mine to carry out our program to the end — Union Shop and Wages. Two main demands «and settle for nothing else. So let’s all get the lead out and start our campaign for our spring offensive. Two months is ample time to go through all phases of negotiations and have our strike results before June 15. Is it mere coincidence that our Spokesmen’s Committee were only on part time instead of full time as of former years? Yours for more poker players and less postoffice players. , Jimmy Abrams, 1-357. Apathy Wins ; No Elections The Editor: So lumber workers like the Lib- eral Government we have at Ot- tawa! They must do, since the following facts emerged f; New Westminster byccleciien, ae poll 38, where a friend of %- Your Space Boys! |chine by staying away from the Readers Vink! Of these, 21 failed to vote. Ten of their wives also failed to vote. The fact that 49 other wage workers, truck drivers, ete. also gave the polling booth a go-by, doesn’t alter the facts. ON THE AIR... VANCOUVER 600-CJOR, Thurs. Green Gold - - - - - 7:00 p.m. PRINCE GEORGE 550-CKPG, Friday IWA Program ~ = ~ - 6:30 p.m. CJAV Alberni, Thurs. Volce of the WA - - 6:15 p.m. The IWA Convention called for PAC, and it didn’t mean Put Another Cog in the Liberal ma- ballot box. _And the boss has to allow you time off to vote, too. Disgusted. LET THE CHIPS FALL by Woody, Woodpecker yN a little-known dictionary of cynical perversions, we have discovered definitions for ordinary terms which apparently have been accepted in the code of LPP-Com- munist-WIUC critics of this publication. For instance: te APOLOGIZE—To lay the foundation for a repetition of thé offence. Are ae a eee wee professes virtues that he , and secures i fe ahethe eae e advantage of seeming to WIUC-ORATOR—One with his hand in your pocket, his tongue in your ear, and faith j - : norance. in your patience and ig- ELOQUENCE—The white. QUOTATION—The act of twisti other into reversed means Sristing the wots a POLITENESS—The most acceptable hypocrisy. 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