Page Four

B.C. LUMBER WORKER

IWA CASE FOR UNION SHOP, 17 CE

‘THE declared intentions of the IWA with re-

gard to the 1950-51 master contract are un-
mistakably clear.

The Union will fight to get the basic re-
quirements for the security and welfare of the
lumber workers, These are summed up in one
sentence—the Union-shop and a 17-cent an
hour wage increase. No more is asked. No less
will be acceptable. It expresses clarity of pur-
pose.

The mandate of the IWA membership on
bargaining strategy permits of no evasion.
Bargaining must be expedited—no horse-trad-
ing on fringe issues. The position of the opera-
tors on the major issue must be declared, with-
out needless delay.

Ample time has been allowed for observance
of the conditions imposed by the ICA Act. No
blame can be attached to the Union for non-ob-
servance. The onus rests squarely upon the
operators and the Labor Relations Board for
prompt compliance with the legal requirements.

rs Cites 4

‘THE deadline fixed by the IWA, June 15, is a

reasonable proposal, inasmuch as on previ-
ous occasions the. Union has been subjected to
interminable delays, designed to weaken its
bargaining position.

The demand presented by the IWA is rea-
sonable. It can be accepted by the operators, if
they accept any responsibility for the welfare
of their employees, and are prepared to recog-

The acceptance of the Union shop will not
cost the operators any loss of profit. If opposed
by them, such opposition will be actuated by
a concealed desire to boot the Union out of the
industry.

The operators know, as do the Union’s mem-
bers, that the Union shop is democratic. The
Union shop advances collective bargaining to
the point where all employees share in decisions
affecting their wages and working conditions.
It enables the Union to meet adequately the re-
sponsibilities assumed in bargaining for all the
employees.

The Union shop does not require the opera-
tors to sacrifice their democratic rights. The
Union proposes that they should hire whom
they please and exercise the right to fire for

just cause.
Ce oe eS

A BASIC daily wage of $10.00 has been long

overdue in the lumber industry. It is justi-
fied by reason of rising living costs, especially
on essential items in the family budgets. It
is justified by the increased productivity in the
industry.

The argument employed by the operators
during last year’s negotiations has collapsed,
because their profits have been sustained at a
high level. The prospects of continued high
profits are based on sound calculations. Domes-
tie and export market prospects will improve,
if the Canadian rate of wages is brought into
closer approximation to the American rate for

nize the status gained by the Union.

lumber workers.

‘THE demand made by IWA members

upon each one a great responsibility. '
can now be no retreat, or surrender. They
prepare for the sacrifice and struggle, on w
trade union progress has forged ahead du
the years.

Each individual member’s responsibility

can be clearly understood. Nothing but con
plete indifference to his most urgent needs wil]
prevent any member from meeting this
sponsibility.
Each member is required to recognize the
imperative need of Union solidarity. “One for
all, and all for one,” is as good a motto now as
it was a hundred years ago, when trade union-
ists risked life and liberty for the right to or-
ganize.

Each member for his own protection as well
as the Union’s must act as a propagandist
among his fellow-workers on the job. He must
tell the non-members that “free-riders” menace
the Union’s chances to win the fight on their
behalf.

Each member must inform himself by con-
sultation with his Local Union officials and take
all necessary action in preparation for strike
action, on his own operation. The Union is not
bluffing. Preparedness to strike will force thd
show-down that the IWA members want. Also
preparedness to strike, will win a strike, if it
becomes inevitable.

Remember, “Ye are many, they are few”.
If called on to surrender by the operators, lum-
ber workers can give the same answer as given
by an American General to the Nazis, “Nuts!”,

THE MAIL BAG

Your Space, Boys!

Forbes Pays Up, ‘Or Else...”

The Editor:

I hope the boys in the camps
and the mills have been reading
their daily papers and seeing
where two of our wonderful “la-
bor unity” men, staunch support-
ers of the Pritchett-Dalskog mob
have been raising themselves to
the upper income brackets.

And how did they do it? They
accepted $11,000 ($7,000 to
George Grafton and $4,000 to
Hjalmar Bergren) straight from
the funds of Local 1-80, and
spent it all in paying their debts
and having a good time.

And so Jack Forbes, that fine
upstanding, union man, has to
turn up with $11,000 in cash to
the sheriff in Vancouver by Mar.
28, or possibly go to jail for con-
tempt of court.

‘The $11,000 is gone, or if it has
not, we'll never know where it is.

But it’s cash well spent if the
rank and filers who were so nast-
ily twisted out of their dues
money by the renegade LPP-ers,
realize that this is the price they
pay for letting political grafters
get their hands on the Union
leadership,

Shop Steward,

freight Train
The Editor:

I see by the Vancouver papers
that we are “rebels”,

George Grafton and Hyalmar
Bergren made a statement in
Court before Chief Justice Farris
that they had squandered $11,000
between them on “a good time”
and paying off personal debts.

I wonder, as a logger, if they
ever stop to think that the money
belonged to their fellow workers
who trusted them while in office.
I don’t see how either of them
has enough nerve to stay in B.C.
and look a logger in the face
again.

If I were in their shoes I would
eatch the first freight train out
of Vancouver and keep going.
Certainly never again Will they
be trusted by the Labor Move-
ment.

I have heard a lot of “rebel”
stories since they broke from the
IWA, and as Chief Justice Farris
says,.this one stinks!

“Faller”.

The Editor:

I have noticed various criti-
cisms with regard to the first
aid service which evide ntly
needs a general overhaul.

The conditions in some of
the camps in the Interior are
deplorable. In a good many
of them there is not a suitable
yehicle in which to convey an
injured worker to proper me-
dical or hospital care.

Vi
LAW Ee

WITH A FEW
\, ADJUSTMENTS

Many employers seem to think | >

that an injured person can be
transported in any manner, giv-
ing no thought to careful han-
dling or the time element,

In many camps there is a lack
of proper first aid equipment at
the base of operation, due to
negligence on the part of the
employer. Usually the first aid
man has been handicapped in
getting these supplies by the
attitude of the employer, the
bookkeeper or the timekeeper.

Then there is the employer
who gets panicky when he finds
that he has to increase his first
aid setup, but if the accident
sate goes up, or he receives ex-
tra assessment from the Work-
men’s Compensation Board he
blames everyone but himself,

Low Rating

The first aid attendant seems

to be considered an unnecessary
evil. In some camps he is looked
on as a moron, and expected by
the boss to perform any kind
of menial duties, including bull-
cook chores,
._ Though he is one of the most
important persons in a camp,
the first aid attendant’s position
is one of the most abused.

At times, of course, he has
himself to blame. He does not
take a stand. Also there are
those who get their industrial
tickets because it seemed a good
“racket”, But these men who
are a disgrace to an otherwise
noble profession, are in the min-
ority.

The calibre of a first aid at-
tendant should be of the high-
est, to win the respect of em-
ployer and employee alike.

A first aid attendant myself,
I hope we get a shot in the arm
as a result of the Sloan Com-
mission report. Let us help
things forward by being safety

TJime for a New Oue

CTORIA
OckK) MAKERS

| "7 THE BOYS \y
DON'T WANTIT:

conscious, and by being firm in
our demands for better first aid
services,

Support Program

As a delegate to the conven-
tion at Nanaimo, I was glad to
see Safety and First Aid
stressed _so much. By good,
sound First Aid Service, a
sound Safety Program, and Ed-
ucational Films we ean do much
to reduce the accident rate
which is still too high in the
lumber industry,

We have two worthy Broth-
ers in the B.C. District Safety
Council, M. Skuzanski and B.
Gray, so let us support them
100 percent,

In conclusion let me say,
“Think in terms of Safety, act,
in terms of Safety wherever
you are, and talk Safety, It
will pay dividends on and off
the job.”

Vernon E. Bittle,
Kamloops Local
1-417, IWA,

YEARS OLD