4 i : 4 : in B.C. LUMBER WORKER Page Five 1-357 On The Air - IWA members who tune in to the CKNW radio program sponsored by Local 1-357, IWA, New Westminster, are always assured of refreshingly frank comment on IWA topics. The following are excerpts from the July 1 program, with Financial Secretary Lawrence Vandale at the microphone: The majority of the mills in this area are down for the annual vacation, Fraser Mills, Pacific Veneer, Timberland, Thurston- Flavelle at Port Moody — and most of the smaller mills. Most of the IWA members have gone on their holidays in a happier frame of mind—the negotiations are over. The flood has just about run its course and not many of the boys lost too much time due to the high water—so— the IWA is on holiday. At a time like this, one can afford to be pleased with everyone and every- thing—even the boss. It’s a great feeling to lie in bed and look at the clock—and then roll over and forget about the time—yes—and even forget about the wages, because some of the IWA are entitled to a two- week vacation with pay, some to| one week with pay and, of course, there are some that are not en- titled to any, but usually they find employment around the plant until the mill starts up again. Annual Vacations Tt isn’t so very long ago that holidays with pay became law— only four years ago—the Annual Holidays Act came into effect. Prior to that time, if a person wished to take a holiday, he or she would do so and, besides the time off, unless, of course, they belonged to a Union that pro- vided for holidays with pay in the contract, and if a union had that clause in their contract, you may be assured that the qualify- ing period- was very rigid. In 1946, the TWA contract had a vacations with pay section which called for 300 days of ac- tual work. If you take 300 days and add 52 Sundays, plus the statutory holidays, which total nine, you can see how rigid this clause was. This totals 361 days. So a person could not miss many days before they were disquali- fied. After the Annual Holidays Act came into effect, the contract was revised to include this pro- vision, and of course, the Act covers most of the wage-earners in B.C, There are some exemp- tions, of cotirse. Bitter Pill The balloting on the Policy Committee's recommendation of acceptance is completed and the tabulation is being made—and I might say again, that the vote will not be too strong for accept- ance, as most of the members had their heart set on Union shop, and it is a bitter pill to swallow to have to shelve the demand for Union shop for another year. The Union shop is the rightful reward of the IWA and it is a very peculiar situation, when the Union shop is being awarded to other unions by means of the conciliation procedure, that the I- WA is denied this very same con- cession. No one has offered any concrete reasons why the IWA should not have the Union shop, If this clause in the contract would work cost of the holiday, there’ would a hardship in the industry, or also be a loss of wages for the would cause dissention amongst ional View WHAT WOULD you think of a so-called health and welfare plan under which the worker would be protected only as long as he was employed by the firm. A snare and a delusion! BR ee THAT, believe it or not, is the |[WA men, where the Union nom- basis of the phony Weyerhaeuser |inates the insurance carrier. plan, which was turned down flat} THE PLAN could be used by our IWA comrades in the Pa-' against the worker as a weapon, cifie Northwest, and whose 10,- and the life insurance can be 000 striking members are still! terminated by the company 30 solid round the operations on days after a worker leaves em- strike’ since May 15. |ployment. His insurance protec- es ele jtion is contingent on still being VERY IMPORTANT it is that; Working there. This is not to be our Canadian colltagues know the | Compared with the IWA plan in fact and don’t be fooled by com-| any way, shape or form. pany releases that the Union shop | oe # issue | is the “main peamblins | BOSSES’ STOOGES in the block”. | meantime, are busy trying to sell ithe workers down the river, but getting nowhere, for at Klamath Falls, the men there unanimously suported the Negotiating Com- mittee’s stand. ee “RED” FADLING has made it clear that the Union is willing to! have a third party arbitrate the Union shop issues, but, as is to be expected, Weyerhaeuser’s man | Bias. 6 et have nuttin’ to do with| TNSEEOMIRY “areas. company ai} eee stooges have even gone to other employers and demanded they |Stop hiring Weyerhaeuser strik- ers and fire those they have hired. | “Weyerhaeuser” and “democracy” |just don’t go together. But the Union battle lines are strong and firm, | Hi wi le | REAL security is wanted, paid holidays and Union shop, and | those conditions they will yet , have. Make no mistake about it. See ey TWO MORE Commie ! unions have been ushered out of the CIO by overwhelming executive board yotes. They are the American Communications Association (not to be confused with the big, dem- ocratic Pevasueleet ie? eee of America) by a ) an and Leather Workers (which had || already was _unani, GETTING BACK to the phony welfare plan. Listen. The com- pany would give full control; a complete opposite to the IWA plan negotiated for 35,000 other the members, one might give these reasons a little thought, but when the principle of Union shop has not been found wanting, it would seem that the thinking of some people should be elev- ated to the same level as those who deal with Union shop con- tinuously. The other sections of the pro- posed settlement for the contract for the coming year deal with 12%c and a straightening out of the hours of work clause. Most of you remember the Pa- cific Veneer dispute, when the employees walked off the job in protest over the working of the sixth shift and also in connection with the 37% hour week. This has also been ironed out—and it is my opinion that this is long overdue, as this proposed change has been in effect in other ply- wood operations for a long time. The Prospect the negotiations this year were conducted on a very business-like basis. Of course, the usual ball; hoo that generally accompani contract bargaining was in evi- dence as usual, but when it is all over, both parties sit back and relax, until next year, and then go at it hammer and tongs again. Now, the problem is to carry out the intent of the contract in good faith and to do this requires the co-operation of both signatories to the contract. Sometimes this isn’t too hard, as some operators respect a signed contract, but some do not. However, life wouldn’t be very interesting if there wasn’t anything to get ex- cited about. Hospital Insurance When laws are passed by Par- liament in Victoria, laws that af- fect labor, laws that affect the general public, a selling cam- paign is put on to kid the public and labor that it is in their best interests. Let’s take a look at the “Union Shop Only Shelved” says Secretary Vandale. | B.C. Hospital Insurance Scheme and that is just exactly what it is, a scheme. The latest wrinkle goes like this: Every individual must pay six months in advance, that isn’t too bad, BUT, let’s say that you pay up to the end of June, then the government tells you that your next six months must be paid before the end of May. Now, if your hospital premium is not paid until June 15, you are dis- qualified for 15 days in July, even if you pay the premium while you have an unexpired period, In other words, even if you pay your advance premium’ before your June 30 premium expires, you are disqualified, What a system, I doubt that even Moustache Joe could have thought one up as good as that, But, I suppose that’s democracy, or is it? T’ve seen ads in the paper praising the B.C, Hospital Scheme, you also read about a system of compulsory payment by the payroll plan, and they tell you that everyone must contri- jbute to make the plan workable, compulsory joining, that is the same principle that the Union shop advocates. Are trade: unions so wrong when they only ask for what the government has already in effect? Army & Navy Strike We still have the Army & Navy strike with us, the girls are |still on the picket line, and the management is still holding out on settlement. The Eddy Match Co. in Mission has a picket line aroynd the plant, the IWA is on strike there. The Westminster Boiler and Tank was on strike, but is now settled. Strikes may come and go, but the Army & Navy hang on for- ever, at least that is. what the management has said; “That they will break the union”. In dealing with this situation, one might think: “What does the city think about having a picket line on he front street”. It would seem to me that this is a black eye for the City of New Westminster. Oh, I know that the Council have made an attempt to arrange a meeting between the union and the management, but to date nothing has transpired. What do the Board of Trade think about the strike? . They could work up quite a good bit of advertising for the tourist trade, such as: “Come to New Westminster and’see a real strike in action, right on the main street”, or “Any union who is thinking of strike action, Bring your strike to New Westminster, we still have lots of streets left to accommodate you”, and here’s one for the employers: “Boost your city, lock your employees out and put others to work in their place, this will increase the population of the city”, It is my opinion that it is about time that the City of New West- minster and the Board of Trade got busy and did something con- crete about this situation. The union have met the management of the Army & Navy Store more than half way in a serious at- tempt to settle the strike, but still, no dice. Well, Mr. Army & Navy, as long as there is no set- tlement, the girls will be on the picket line, : LOGGERS! IF YOU ARE IN A JAM we LOAN MONEY ON SUITS AND OVERCOATS Redeemable Any Time Within 12 Months HORSE SHOE Toilors & Pawnbrokers 325 COLUMBIA ST. VANCOUVER, B.C. (Across from the Broadway Hotel) Telephone MArine 5823 THIS MILLWORKERS FOOT WAS SAVED. from the CIO. — pon HEAD’S (THE FIRST OF TWO VITAL ADVERTISEMENTS) W. J. HEAD BOOT FACTORY LIMITED 21 EAST HASTINGS STREET SAFETY BOOT p The Living Proof @ SERIOUS INJURY TO FOOT PREVENTED BY HEAD’S SAFETY BOOT During the early part of June, a mill worker working in the slasher pit of a big mill accidentally slipped, and his foot became wedged betwe This result side of 1g torn open. Hows ever, the steal toe cap deflected the main impact, and the wearer suffered only a minor contusion and a bruised wound. No bones were broken and no timo was lost. Examination showed clearly that if the worker had been wearing ry work boots, the accident would have resulted in the loss of part of the foot by amputation. YOUR TURN MAY BE NEXT! LET HEAD’S SAVE YOUR FEET VANCOUVER, B. C.