;
:

Z hour,

B.C. LUMBER WORKER

April 6, 1950

. “Loggers Must Have
_ Wage Adjustments”

They’re doing the same
work on both sides of the line.

The living costs on both sides are}

now aproximately the same.
There’s simply no logic that can
justify this differential.

a eS 8

Joe Morris Said:

yp MY experience as a worker

in the industry and a member
of the IWA, I have never known
a greater solidarity on any issue.
I have recently visited camps and
mills from Port Renfrew to Port
Alberni, and everywhere was
given proof that the sentiment of
the workers was firmly behind the
IWA demand for the 1950-51
master contract,

Quite definitely, the workers
approve the course taken by the
IWA in advancing only one de-
mand, the Union shop coupled
with the 17-cent an hour increase.
They are just as definite in their
aaa of the IWA insistence
that negotiations be conducted
speedily and concluded before
June 15.

The reasons are very plain to
anyone familiar with conditions
known to men in logging opera-
tions. Last year, negotiations
were prolonged. They were kept
in a state of uncertainty for
months. This year they want ac-
tion on their demands within a
stipulated and reasonable time.
As far as the IWA is concerned
they are going to get action, and
that suits them,

Reward Skill

Loggers are aware, even if
others are not, that conditions in
the industry have changed. Log-
ging operations today require the
more extensive use of high-pow-
ered equipment, and with that,
greater technical skil on the part
of the men.

Loggers must be highly skilled
at their trade, and are no longer
content to be treated as transient
unskilled laborers as in the bad
old days. Their conditions on the
iz and in relation to their home
life must be stabilized in a
greater degree. They are scat-
tered throughout isolated camps,
and must rely on their Union, the
IWA, to maintain some reason-
able uniformity of proper stand-
ards in living and working con-
ditions. The strength and activ-
ity of the Union is vital to their
welfare,

It is at the same time their
bargaining agency in the matter
of wages, and the medium
though which they can establish
proper relations with the em-
ployer on each operation to secure
effective adjustment of those re-
lations,

Union Shop

As they have selected the IWA
as their sole bargaining agency,
they realize that the bargaining
responsibilities of the Union
should be exercised in a complete

and democratic manner. They,

fore, demand recognition of
the Union shop as the only means
to accomplish this purpose. The
Union shop brings every logger

on the job into one Union with
equal rights and responsibilities.
Every logger will share in mak-
ing decisions that affect his wages
and working conditions. On ev-
ery operation, whether big or
small, near or distant, each log-
ger will know his rights and re-
sponsibilities, As a group they
will be able to level out the pres-
ent inequalities, and bring greater
stability to their position in the
industry.

Higher Wages

In negotiating wage rates, log-
gers are insistent that considera-
tion be given to the seasonal na-
ture of their work. They suffer
long lay-offs due to weather con-
ditions. They have fewer working
days in the year to earn a satis-
factory annual income than any
other group of workers in the
heavy industries. If married, they
must make enough to maintain
their homes at some distance
from the operation and at the
same time pay board for every
day in camp, whether they earn
a day’s pay or not. For the most
part, they must finance unusual
transportation expense to get to
and from their work, or to main-
tain contact with their homes.

Each must provide himself with
expensive caulked boots, and
special protective clothing to
work efficiently. These are equi-
valent to heavy deductions from
his pay cheque. It is only reason-
able that these factors should be
considered in fixing his wage
rates, in order that his annual
earnings establish for him a de-
cent st andard of living. The
Union shop and the 17-cent an
hour wage increase across the
board are inseparable as one de-
mand—a demand which is now
urgently necessary.”

On behalf of the Negotiating
Committee, I urge that these
matters be discussed by IWA
members in every logging
camp, that all loggers may be
thoroughly familiar with the
reasons for the IWA demand.
It is of the utmost importance
that every logger at this time,
should be in close touch with
the IWA, which is fighting to
gain fair standards of wages
and working conditions in the
most important industry of the
province.

_lwo fellows on a celebration
hit down town traffic at 60 miles
an hour.

‘This ish terrible, I can’t stand
it,” said the passenger.

“Never mind,” consoled the
driver of the car. “Jush shut
your eyes like I’m doing.”

| PRESIDENT’S COLUMN

_ Support For IWA

| WHILE in attendance of the recent meeting of the Executive
|

It was my privilege to repre-
sent, not only the B.C. District
Council, IWA, but also the Inter-
national Union by decision of the
jvecent meeting of the Interna-
tional Executive Board.

Union Shop Popular

Certainly the
trend of progress
secured by CCL
unions across Ca-
nada is toward
the general adop-
tion of Union
shop . principles,
in trade union —
agreements. It =
should also bef
noted that the

the heavy industries has proved
a great boon to the workers, and
has finally been accepted by the
majority of the employers con-
cerned as a reasonable feature of
employer-employee relations.

Wages To Move Upward

A thorough-going analysis of
the wage position of Canadian
workers, conducted by the Re-
search Department of the Con-
gress reveals the urgent neces-
sity of an upward revision of
wages generally.

The Congress gave further em-
phasis to the belief of affiliated
unions that more purchasing
power in the hands of the work-
ers will lay a broader base for
prosperity in Canada.

It was shown, (and this applies
especially to the lumber indus-
try), that while great emphasis
has been placed on our export po-
sition, the capacity of the home
market has never been properly
explored.

The growing power of monop-
olies to enhance their profits by
fixing prices at high levels to
swell their profits, leaves the
workers no recourse, but to de-
mand higher wages to meet the
urgent demands of a satisfactory
standard of living.

Meet Housing Needs

Congress has taken the position
that a well-thought-out housing
program for the thousands of
people who need homes would, in
itself, prevent the start of a de-
pression for many years to come.
In the lumber industry, we know
that the lumber production re-
quired for such a program would
ensure stability of employment,
and maintain a market for timber
products, well able to sustain our
wage demands.

KAMLOOPS BUSINESS GUIDE

ROY CUMMINGS
Your Family Clothing Store
“Union-Made”

318 Victoria Kamloops, B.C.

COMMODORE CAFE

Kamloop’s Leading Restaurant
Since 1927

Victoria St. | Kamloops, B.C.

CLEANING ©

Hastings and Clarke Drive

PERFECT CLEANERS
ONE-DAY SERVICE

REPAIRING

Cash and Carry 20% Discount

Phone HAstings 2257

@ DYEING

Vancouver, B, C.

STEWART &

RETAIL LUMBER —:— BUILDERS’ SUPPLIES
PAINTS — WALLBOARDS — ROOFINGS ;

Branches at:

HUDSON LTD.

Council of the Canadian Congress of Labor, I found ample
support for the position taken by the IWA in this year’s nego-
tiations, both in the evidence before the Council and the opinions
expressed there by affiliated unions.

. Security the Goal

Canadians everywhere need a
floor under their incomes to en-
sure a stabilized purchasing
power. The provision of full sec-
urity benefits would serve to put
a brake on the wheels of dn ap-
proaching depression.

This is one of the major rea-
sons why the Congress unions are

, pressing for welfare and pension
‘plans, and demanding the aboli-

tion of the means test, for old
age pensions.

Support Promised
In all that transpired in the

,; Congress proceedings, I found ev-
“~{ery reason to believe that affili-
Union shop where established in}

ated unions warmly and whole-
heartedly support the struggle of
the IWA in British Columbia. It
is a great satisfaction to know
that we are an integral and im-
portant part of a great national
and international labor movement
in which we find common cause
and mutual support.

$21,000 PAID IN
A &N STRIKE

Eight weary months of deter-
mined strike action on the part of
retail clerks at the Army and
Navy Department Store, New
Westminster, has required the
disbursement of over $21,000 in
strike pay, was the statement
made by Union officials at the
Vancouver Labor Council.

‘Typical of the attitude taken
by lumber workers is the report
of A. C. Plume, shop steward,
Horton Cedar Manufacturing Co.,
Victoria, stating that two collec-
tions among a small group of
workers had donated the sum of
$86.85 to the strikers in New
Westminster.

PROTECT

YOUR
EARNING .
POWER...

Wear “Grip-Fit” Gloves

Your hands bring in
your weekly pay
cheque. Guard them
from injury with “Grip-
Fit” rugged leather
work gloves. ... Made
in Vancouver by Union
workers, TREEN
gloves wear like iron
... are comfortable as
kid. Sold in better
stores throughout
Western Canada.

Extra Wear in Every Pair

Vancouver, B. C,

ens
Prd

a

MAIL ORDER DEPT.

An additional Service for Camps our Salesmen
have not been able to cover.

Write for Our
SELF MEASURING CHART ~

We have also added a line of
HABERDASHERY — SHIRTS « SOCKS = TIES = Ete.

2 Stores to Serve You In
Vancouver, B.C.

1. Hastings at Carrall & 2. Granville at Nelson
UNION-MADE GARMENTS ‘

WOODWARD’S

en, AHand-Made
LOGGING BOOTS

@ No. 1 Chrome Leather Uppers

e Non-Rust Eyolets.

\ 8-Inch Tops.

7, Price Delivered _ $21.95
Caulking

Highest Grade Leather Soles

$1.00 Extra

@