Page Twelve B.C. LUMBER WORKER (Continued from Page 8) Traffic Safety, Too-- ‘We would further recommend. that this Convention instruct the District Executive to approach the Attorney- General with a view of having him issue instructions that where inquests have to be held, people familiar with that industry should be chosen as jurors, ‘We further recommend to this Con- vention that they instruct the District Officers to approach the Attorney- General for authority to have an offi- cial representative of the IWA attend the inquests held in the industry with full power of examining the witnesses called to the said inquest. TRAFFIC SAFETY We recommend to this 13th Annual Convention that the scope of the Dis- trict Safety Council be enlarged to consider and act on traffic safety. In closing we would like to thank all District and Local Officers for the co-operation and assistance given the District Safety Council in the past year. We would like to compliment those locals who successfully set up local Safety Councils and urge those locals who have not yet established these Councils, to do so as soon as possible, » We desire the assistance and advice with constructive criticism from all members of the IWA during the year 1950. M, A. SKUZANSKI, WM. GRAY, « JOHN T. ATKINSON, HERB BRUCH, JOE FARENHURST. BUILD WITH B.C. WOODS Widespread interest has been expressed in experimental plans for house construction with greater uses for B.C._ coast woods. IWA members planning to build their own homes, and in- terested in improved uses for proguets of their own industry, may secure valuable informa- tion free, upon application to the B.C. COAST WOODS TRADES EXTENSION BU- REAU, 837 West Hastings St., Vancouver. VICTORIA BUSINESS GUIDE Phone Garden 4012 SASH - DOORS - FRAMES and CABINETS Builders’ Hardware BUILDERS SASH AND DOOR LIMITED (A 100% Union Shop) 350 Garbally Rd. Victoria, B. C. MODERN SHOE COMPANY SHOES AND BOOTS FOR MEN 1300 Government Street (Corner Yates Street) Phone Empire 1821 ANDERSON'S MEN'S WEAR Made To Measure Suits and Topcoats Branded Work Clothing Phone 161 Lake Cowichan LAKE C@WICHAN BUSINESS GUIDE GRANT'S TAXI PHONE 52 Lake Cowichan, B.C. "Prompt, Courteous Service” THE FAMOUS DINE & 3-MILE HOUSE ON LAKE COWICHAN ROAD — ALWAYS OPEN "WE SPECIALIZE IN FRIED CHICKEN” ‘The Place To Go For Pleasant Service and a Good Time Proprietor — Carl Johason DANCE KAMLOOPS BUSINESS GUIDE ROY CUMMINGS YOUR FAMILY CLOTHING STORE “Union-Made” 318 Victoria KAMLOOPS, B.C, SALES — SERVICE INTERIOR FARM EQUIPMENT CO, Hornet Power Chain Saws Models D and DJ Phone 654 * P.O. Box 2 101 Victoria St. Kamloops, B.C. PORT ALBERNI BUSINESS GUIDE MacGREGOR’S MEN'S WEAR For Everyt! a@ Man Wears WORK, Phone 1600 MacDONALD'’S PHARMACY Prescriptions, Drug Sundries First Aid Supplies WOODWARD STORES (PORT ALBERNI) LTD. “Your Family Shopping Centre” “Closed Wednesdays All Day” Hours: 9-5.30 TRUSTEES CREDIT UNION In Every Local The IWA District Convention swung solidly behind Co-opera- itive organization in a resolu- tion which authorized a repre- sentative District Committee, to co-ordinate the work of com- mittees in the Locals promot- ing credit unions-and consumer co-operatives. Each Local Union was _re- quested to organize a Co-op Com- mittee for dissemination of in- formation about co - operatives and to start at least one credit union. G. D. Ferg, Local 1-357, well- imown co-operative enthusiast and contributor to the B. C. Lum- ber Worker, took the floor in sup- port of the resolution to urge that the organization of purchasing power should accompany labor’s organization of economic power. He pointed to the growth of co- operatives in the United Kingdom and Scandinavia, as the comple- ment to strong trade union move- ments. Labor must lead the way, he contended, in order to secure pro- tection against the short-circuit- ing of prosperity at the price tag. BRUCH FIGHTS FOR INTERIOR H. J. BRUCH—Financial Secretary, Local 1-423, IWA. North-West Opens Talks In Feb. “Packaged” health and wel- fare plan tops the IWA de- mands for presentation to the operators in five Pacific North- western States in 1950 as an outcome of the recent Regional Wage Conference. Program proposed by the IWA negotiators embraces employer paid coverage for each employee im respect of life insurance, hos- pital, medical and surgical serv- ices, and sick benefits up to $40.00 a week. Next in priority for 1950 nego- tiations is the demand for paid statutory holidays. “These demands,” stated Inter- national President Fadling, “can be granted by any type of em- ployer in the industry whether in large or small operations.” International Officers reported to the wage conference that the lumber market is firm, orders are high, and the present building permit applications point to in- creasing prosperity in the North- west lumber industry. Negotiations will open in Feb- ruary, and will affect 675 opera- tions with 50,000 workers in the Pacific Northwest. ie The four most common excuses for accidents are: I didn’t see— I didn’t know—I didn’t hear—I didn’t think. & COMMEND DISTRICT'S FINANCES, RECORDS District Trustees, J. S. Squire, Neil E. Shaw and Jacob Holst reported to the IWA District Convention that after examination of the books, records and audited financial statements of the District Office, unqualified commenda- tion was deserved by the District Officers for the excellent, manner in which the District finances had been handled. The trustees’ report to the Convention stated in part: 1-217 Smacks The ‘Commies’ Blunt condemnation of Com- munist parties as “reactionary” and “power mad”, and deter- mined to undermine the trade union movement, was expressed in the approval of a resolution originating with Local 1-217. Obviously, the resolution was intended as a warning to all [WA members against any attempt at Communist infiltration into the IWA, and endorsation of CIO-| CCL policy. Education Several other resolutions were endorsed with the object of step- ping up the tempo of IWA organ- ization. Emphasis on educational work was a popular theme. The Resol- utions on this subject urged full use of the B.C. Lumber Worker in explanati n of IWA policy and program. Speakers from the Interna- tional and District offices will be routed to all Locals at the begin- ning of negotiations to inform and impress the memb: i garding their responsi the fight. A Director of Education or the District Officers will be required to co-ordinate educational work, and give special attention to Shop Steward training. Reference was made to assistance to be gained from CCL Educational Commit- tees. Check-off Buttons Objection was expressed to the present design of check-off but- tons, as being of similar design to the one worn by WIUC rene- gades, A Committee will be struck to consider different designs, and re- port to the District Executive Board. B.C. Lumber Worker Resolutions adopted dealing with the B.C. Lumber Worker, protested any transfer of control of the publication to the Interna- tional Office, and proposed that expenses of mailing be entirely borne by the District Office when- ever possible. hip re- We would first like to remark that on checking the books and records of the District, we find that there has been an excellent job done in the keeping of the records. B.C. Lumber Worker In dealing with the B.C. Lum- ber Worker, we want to remark that for the first time in its his- tory we find that the paper is paying for itself and even show- ing an overating surplus over the period of the past three months. Therefore, we find the B.C. Lum- ber Worker is now repaying some of its debt to the general fund. In regard to the advertising for B.C. Lumber Worker, we, would like to report a tremene @ ous increase in advertising over the last nine months. The adver- tising revenue for March being approximately $254.00 as com- [pared to the revenue for the month of December, which is $1,- 464.82. District General Fund We find that this fund is being administered very capably and al- though it has not accummulated a surplus which we would like to see, we feel that the best possible job is being done to place it in a sound financial position. District Strike Fund We find, at the present time, that the District Strike Fund has $183,824.14 deposited to its credit in the bank, and in view of the fact that this amount of money is lying dormant until such time as a strike is called, and is not draw- ing interest at the present time, we would therefore make the fol- lowing recommendation: THAT this Convention in- struct the Financial Secretary to investigate the possibility of investing a large percentage of this money in Dominion Goy- ernment Bonds. Other recommendations dealt jwith costs of mailing the B.C. Lumber Worker, pro-rating of expenses among Locals, and Dis- trict By-laws respecting the du- ties and salaries of District Offi- cers. Recommendations of the trus- tees were endorsed by the Con- ‘vention, “VLL LISTEN TO LABOR” SAYS MINISTER CATES B.C. Labor Minister John Cates appreciates the need of every worker for steady em- ployment and a “satisfactory annual income.” At least, so he told the dele- gates to the Convention. The come,” he said, must be based on continuous employment rather than irregular work at high wage rates, * The Minister complimented the° IWA on the constructive ap- proach taken toward labor-man- agement problems, and on the democratic spirit of the conven- tion. (Immediately prior to the Min- isters’ introduction by the chair- man, a motion of the Convention admitted a “reporter” of the L- PP’s Pacific Tribune to the press table “to witness the work of a free democracy, which the LPP had tried to destroy.”) Contrasting average week. earnings in 1939 at $81.01 with the weekly earnings in 1949 at $49.92 in B.C, and the growth of trade union membership from 20,000 to 150,000, Mr. Cates de- clared responsible trade unions an asset in the industrial life of the province, “satisfactory annual in-; y sults woul Minister’s Role “My job is to see that all en- gaged in the industrial effort of the province get a square deal and that the best interests of the nrovince are served,” stated the head of the B.C. Labor Depart- ment, He pledged his best effort to persuade labor and management to meet on common ground, and to live and work together with- out bitterness or rancor. The Provincial Government had fulfilled two promises made at the last session of the Legisla- ture, he pointed out. An enquiry was now under way into prob- ‘lems of Workmen’s Compensa- tion under Mr. Justice Sloan. | ICA Act Trade unions were invited to participate in conferences to dis- cuss amendments to the ICA Act. CCL Union representatives would be heard by him on Jan. 11. In this opinion, more satisfactory re- _would be obtained by such meetings than by round table conferences which included em- ployers’ representatives. @ The Minister expressed his readiness to hear advice from the ranks of organized labor, and added that he would not sidestep this responsibility toward labor.