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Shocking conditions in Interior logging camps, exposed
in recent weeks by IWA organizers, were under bitter at-
tack by IWA District officials this week. Plans were laid

eo: wage a full-scale campaign to clean up filthy, unsani-

'tary, and over-crowded bunkhouses, and wipe out a vicious
contracting “slave” system of employment.
Evidence compiled by the IWA representatives in the current

organizational drive, revealed: “
Not more than 10 logging camps in the Interior comply with

the provincial health laws, A
Sanitary facilities are almost totally Jacking, or are of the most

primitive type,
Bunkhouses are infested with lice and hed-bugs, and cookhouses

with cockroaches, si . :
Rarely are blankets provided for the men, or if provided are

never washed for them.

Food is of the poorest quality, badly prepared, and with little |

variety. . z
Oyer-crowding is common, with double-deck bunks in some in-

stances.
Political protection interferes with attempts to enforce health

laws.

cheap logs to the controlling sawmill owners. x
The principal lumber operators are making exorbitant profits on

heap logs produced by “sweat-shop” labor and refuse to rectify | /

Workers are the victims of vicious exploitation, virtually “a state :
of peonage” by contractors who operate “gyppo” outfits to supply | ©

‘onditions,

“Conditions are much worse;

than those which we cleaned out
of the lumber industry at the
Coast over 30 years ago,” was
the statement of a veteran IWA
member, speaking for the Interior
Local Unions.

“They ave endured by the men
only because they cannot readily
eseape, without moying from the
<ommunities in which they have
their roots,” he added.

Confirmation of these incredi-
ble conditions is now in the pos-
session of International Board
Member Tom MacKenzie, who is
directing the organizational drive
in support of Interior negotia-
tions. Reports are furnished by
all IWA field men to show the
disregard of human welfare on
the majority of the logging op-
erations.

Filthy Camps -

‘The majority of the camps are
indeseribably filthy, without any
effort on the part of the employ-
ers to keep them clean. All ef-
forts towards cleanliness must be
made by the men when they re-
turn from work,

It is impossible for the men to
escape lice and bed-bugs, and
vookhouses are alive with cock-
roaches. The mattresses provided

are old, dirty and falling apart.!

See SCANDAL page 3

1-217 Picnic
On August 27

All set and rarin’ to go for
their annual picnic are mem-
bers, wives and children of Lo-
cal 1-217 IWA.

The fun begins at 10 a.m., Aug.
27, in Confederation Park, Bur-
naby, where the fullest possible
program of sports and frolics has
been arranged.

Registration sheets have gone
out to each plant in the Local, and
all those going to the picnic
should sign up at once, stating
how many in their party, and
ages of the kids.

For the youngsters, there will
be ice cream and milk; for the
grown-ups, tea and coffee, all
supplied by the Local and served
by their good ladies.

And it’s easy to get to the
park, Extra busses will be
standing at Boundary and Hast-
ings, to take the picnickers out
there.

There will be races for all ages,
and prizes for the winners.

One of the highspots will be
a challenge match by Local 1-217

softball team. The glove is here-
with thrown down.
So let’s all pray for sunshine.

AFL Ditched Again By :
1-217 At Sweeney’s

Certification of Local 1-217, TWA, in the mill section of
Sweeney’s Cooperage Ltd., Vancouver, was put to the test of a

second and surprise vote by the

Labor Relations Board, Aug. 2.

Result was a more emphatic decision for the IWA in the
vote which registered 35 for the IWA as against 30 for the AFL

contending union.

* Certification has now been gran’

Announcement of the second
vote came as a surprise to offi-
cials of Local 1-217, IWA, who
were awaiting certification au-
thorized by a previous majority
vote, On the afternoon of Aug. 1,
they were advised that the second
vote would be held on the follow-
ing day.

Planned Surprise
This unusually short notice,
evidéntly planned as a surprise
move, was supplemented by the

WHAT’S
INSIDE

Safety ............
Navy Log
COPE mcrrnrsnrnen IL

further surprising procedure,
which allowed the sealed ballot
box to be transported by auto to
the homes of absentees. Pretext
for these unprecedented moves
was that some employees had
failed to vote on the previous oc-
casion.

Evidently the employees sensed
the reasons behind the manoeu-
vre, and extended increased sup-
port to the IWA.

Officials of Local 1-217, TWA,
expressed satisfaction that the
second ballot and certification
ended the attempts made by the
employer and the AFL Lumber
and Sawmill Workers Union to
upset an IWA certification prop-
erly established by majority vote.

Hot Contest

In recent weeks the two plants
of Sweeney Cooperage Ltd. have
been the scene of a hotly con~
tested claim for jurisdictional
rights. Previously the cooperage
section had been unorganized, and
certification had been held in the
mill or assembly section by the
AFL Union.

‘See SWEENEY page 3

S$ FLOUT HEALTH LAWS, USE VICIOUS CONTRACT SYSTEM :

Interior Scandal Exposed

2
‘Ottis! Peblicaton

EC. UNBE

SJ lonrialianal Wood sata tD el nailedes meets aN

Vol. XIX, No. 70 >»

August 17, 1950 5c per copy Vancouver, B.C.

cation.

Big Smiles At Sweeney’s

“WERE IN THE IWA NOW FOR SURE”,
of Sweeney Cooperage Lid., as they meet with Local 1-217, IWA, President Lloyd Whalen, Ist Vice-
President Wm. Gray and Financial Secretary S..M. Hodgson to discuss details of a hard won certifi-

y the members of the plant committee in the mill section

Conciliation proceedings in
the dispute between the IWA
and the Southern Interior lum-
ber operators will open in Kam-
loops Aug. 18, under Concilia-
tion Officer A. C. A. Baker.

This will be followed immedi-
ately by similar proceedings in
the dispute with the Northern
Interior operators, with Mr. |
Baker acting in the same cap-
acity.

The IWA Interior Negotiating Com-

mittee, headed by International Board
Member Tom MacKenzie, is pressing
for continuous sessions until decisive
results are secured.

BAKER NAMED INTERIOR CONCILIATOR

IWA spokemen complain that the
lumber operators are seizing on every
pretext to delay conciliation and pre-
vent any decision regarding a settle-

See INTERIOR page 3

Although the representatives of the
lumber operators previously protested
to the Labor Relations Board that the
IWA was showing precipitate haste in
bargaining, the ‘shoe is now on the
other foot.

IWA OFFICES TO MOVE IN SEPT.

Consolidation of office space will be accomplished by the B.C.
District Council, IWA, International Regional Office and Local 1-217,
IWA, when all three bodies will establish their offices on the to:
floor at 47 Kingsway, Vancouver, early in September. .

The move has been decided upon for reasons of economy and con-
venience to the IWA membership. The premises to be occupied are
close to the junction of. Kingsway and Main.

Illustrated is the Cruiser’s
Stag of epire virgin wool

in mackinaw or kersey.
Mackinaw plaids are
either red and black;
green and black, or blue
and black,

or favorite dealer.

needs

REGISTERED

FOR WORK CLOTHING
OF
UNSTINTED MATERIALS
DESIGN and
WORKMANSHIP

Notice the four large pockets in front, and the large

pack pocket in back, which opens at both sides... a

feature of both mackinaw and kersey garments.
These are two of the many designs of “Pioneer
Brand” clothing obtainable from your commissary

Made in Vancouver, B.C., by Jones Tent & Awning
Ltd., they are designed through careful study of the
and desires of B.C. workmen.