April 6, 1950 aBie Cc. LUMBER WORKER Page Five DISTRICT CAN WIN 1950 DEMAND GREEN GOLD BROADCASTS BY MORRIS, MIYAZAWA GIVE FACTS Most popular labor program on the air, Green Gold, spon- sored by the B.C. District Council, IWA, (Thursdays, CJOR, 7:00 p.m.), will be utilized during the period of negotiations to inform IWA members of progress and arguments in the Union’s bargaining. Summarized below, are the two most recent broadcasts, made on behalf of the District Negotiating Committee, by Joe Miya- zawa, International Regional Office Representative, and District Vice-President Joe Morris, Local 1-80, IWA. Joe Miyazawa Said: E District Negotiating Committee is adhering strictly to the instructions of the IWA members. The demand for the Union shop and the 17-cent an hour wage increase originated with the members. The instruction given by the membership was that other bargaining points were to be subordinated, and that the full resources of the Union should be concentrated on the major issue. This demand, which couples two points together, was regarded as one issue, because of the re- solve that they should not be sep- avated. The membership indicated very clearly that neither one should be sacrificed for the other. The Union shop and the 17- cent wage increase are comple- mentary and interlocked. A further instruction regarding bargaining strategy was that all negotiations must be completed prior to June 15, and that if be- fore that time the contract is not signed to include satisfactory terms, strike action will be rec- ommended, to the workers in the lumber industry. Solidarity The Committee points out, quite erly, that although they met their responsibility to , the entire re: ility for successful negotiations does not rest with them. The IWA members who formu- responsibility to “pass the ammu- nition”, The real force which makes bargaining effective must, they say, be given by complete membership, organization and trade union solidarity on the is- sue. The members of the Committee are confident, that by working together in the conscientious per- formance of the necessary trade union duties at this time, the IW- A membership can win their de- mand, “IWA members are especially {urged at this time to attend their Local Union and job meetings. They are asked to volunteer as- j sistance in the work to be done. They should keep abreast of the Union’s program. Most impor- tant of all, they should promote and participate in discussions on the job relating to the IWA de- mand. All their fellow-worker: should be informed by them of the IWA fight on their behalf, and their active support secured.” Evidence must reinforce opin- lated the demand now have the|ion. The membership is in posses- ect To Sail ‘saa ALL HANDS ON DECK, as the Loggers’ Navy makes ready for the first cruise of the season. Skipper ©. Mattila (left) with Fred Feiber, Financial Secretary, Local 1-71, IWA, and Frank Howard, President-Organizer, get everything shipshape before departure. On DIAMONDS, JEWELRY, SILVERWARE, FURS AND ALL VALUABLES Ne Red Tape! Unredeemed Diamends fer Sale Loh Immediate Cash! 977 EAST BASTINGS, Cer, COLUMBIA dents, Joe Morris, Local 1-80,1W. darity among lumber workers in demand, ‘ GOLD PROGRAM presents two Vancouver Island Presi- , Duncan, and: Walter F. Allen, Local 1-85, IWA, Port Alberni, introduced by Joe Miyazawa, Inter- national Regional Office Representative, who report complete soli- support of IWA 1950-51 contract sion of the evidence and is in the best possible position to use the evidence in support of their de- mand. The evidence is the deter- inati and solidarity of the ion in pressing its claim. This irit of determination to get our ji ights, should be in evidence in all Union activities. This evi- dence will be found by the Union and the operators only in the I- WA organization on the job. If we mean what we say about |getting the Union shop, we can rganize each job until it is in jeffect a Union shop—100 percent | IWA, and then keep it that way. If we mean what we say about the need for increased wages, we can produce the evidence by mak- ing known in our communities the actual needs of the lumber wo: ers for better living standari We can meet the operato propaganda by stating the facts about the annual earnings of the ge lumber worker. We have a sound appeal to public senti- ment, when we explain how im- portant wage-spending is. The Evidence The Research Department of the IWA International Office has furnished us with a wealth of ma- terial to show that our wages have lagged far behind i costs of living. These statistics show that the market demand for lumber, both o as and in the United States, is high and is likely to remain constant for some time. The general demand for wood products is increasing and not decreasing, and British Colum- bia as one of the main sources of supply, cannot be denied the world market. All such statistics are of value, and will be used as may be neces- sary during negotiations. But nothing is more convineing than the evidence based on the prac- tical experience of the men who fell the trees and process the wood products. The Operators Say The operators’ representatives are direeting their appeal at pres- ent to the public, as interested spectators. They point to the importance of the lumber indu: try in the economy of the prov- ince. They suggest that the wage demand of the lumber workers will imperil the prosperity of the industry and cripple its bid for better market opportunitie This line of reasoning simply does not make sense in face of, the facts. these facts. The Facts The last increase conceded to the lumber workers was in 1948. Since that time lumber prices vhave been upped repeatedly. By no stretch of the imagination can jit be said that last year’s in- l creases for instance, were due to increased labor costs. Another indisputable fact that the profits of the ope have remained at consistently high levels since the war years. The shareholders of the lumber cor- porations are advised that profits will remain high. In the financial world, investment in lumbering operations is rated as among the soundest and most profitable. The B.C. lumber operators are profiting unduly by reason of the low wage position of the B.C. lumber worker The American market is absorbing a large share of the B.C. lumber exports. B.C. lumber is selling on the American market in competition May I state some of with lumber produced in the States at wage rates cents an hour above the B. In ad- dition, B.C. lumber hipped to the Atlantic seaboard in bottoms at lower shipping costs made p: sible by lower wages than are paid to American seamen. American. shippers must American bottoms, and are this further disadvantage, transportation costs. The dollar situation also gives the Canadian exporter a further advantage. The net result of this situation is a rising demand in the United States to place an em- bargo on Canadian lumber in or- der to protect employment in that count?’ On this point alone, if the Ca- nadian operator is genuine terested in removing all use at in to the American export trade, he should take steps to bring the Canadian rate of wages more closely in line with the American rates. Unjust Differential There is no good reason for the disparity in wages between American and Canadian lumber workers. We are familiar with the operations of a logging com- pany close to the International Boundary. One week the crews will be working on the American side and receiving a base rate of $1.45 an hour. The next week they may be working on the Ca- nadian side and paid only $1.08 an See GREEN GOLD page 10 Alex B. Macdonald Barrister & Solicitor Notary Public 751 Granville Street VANCOUVER, B.C. Telephone TAtlow 5128 SOLICITOR) TO) THE |W. A. eats YOU EARN MONEY THE fans Don't lose your pay cheque. Deposit it by mail this easy way, and then you'll haye money to use when you come into town. Besides being safe, what you save will increase with bank interest. SAVE IT THIS way! Ug GR eaeaarea CLIP THIS COUPON Send me all information about protecting my pay axainstloss.and "Banking by Mail”. Name. Address... Send to THE BANK OF TORONTO Vancouver Branch, Dept. B. 3, Vancouver B. C. 1y branches to serve you ‘in British Columbix. FLY! 9¢ May Cost Lese Than You Thine CHARTER FLIGHT SERVICE LTD. VANCOUVER AIRPORT e@ PHONE RICHMOND 1449 © ONE, THREE, AND SIX-PASSENGER PLANES Phone or Write For Information. a B. C. COLLATERAL LOAN BROKERS LTD. PAcific 355: LOGGERS! iF You ARE IN A JAM LOAN MONEY ON SUITS AND OVERCOATS Redeemable Any Time Within 12 Months HORSE SHOE Tailors & Pawnbrokers 325 COLUMBIA ST. VANCOUVER, (Across from the Broadway Hotel) « 5823