B.C. LUMBER WORKER Page Five JOE MORRIS TOM BRADLEY GEO COLLIS P. BERKOSHA JOE MIYAZAWA Drive ee M, SEKORA Answer To “Truck L WE MUST RETAIN RIGHT TO STRIKE --- Alsbury mployers often talk glibly of E “finding a positive and equitable method of eliminating not only strikes but threatened strikes”, pontifically pointing out that a strike does nobdy any good. All very well, but none of their suggestions for such a happy day meet with militant Union approval iL. Such a happy-ever-after proposal was voiced in the Truck Logger, July, 1950, and the IW A, the body chiefly affected, was asked to ex, views. Printed below is the answer Stewart Alshury. y RESPONSE to the request appearing in the July issue of The Truck Logger, I must ex- press flat disagreement with the suggestion advanced as a means t o eliminate strikes. The pith of the proposal is that industrial disputes be referred to the courts, and that the decision of the courts be made binding on both parties to the dispute. Organized labor would thus be deprived of the right to strike. Under existing conditions, the use of the courts, a branch of govern- ment, for this purpose would pro- yoke an industrial and political upheaval of far greater propor- tions than any strike, Costly Procedure The very practical considera- tion arises immediately, that ref- erence to the courts is a costly and prolonged procedure, under which wealthy corporations would have undue advantage over trade unions. As a matter of fact, if all the consequences are weighed, it will | readily be seen that employers would as fiercely resent the out- come of any such procedure as do the trade unions, A new set of laws and a spec-| .ial tribunal would be yequired. “The courts in the interpretation of the law with reference to dis- putes over wages and hours of work, would in effect fix the standard of living for the bulk of the population. given by B.C. District President J. for comment on the editorial! ‘press its views on the magazine's i Parliament would be under still greater pressure to regulate all factors, which affect the purchas- jing value of wage income. Ac- jtion by the courts, resulting in |the regulation of wage levels, {would of necessity lead to par- jallel action to regulate prices. | objection to price control. Impracticable The objections which appear from both the employers’ and the employees’ point of view thus render the suggestion impractic- able. It is important to remember that the enforcement of law in |the final analysis rests on popu- lar consent. : It is unwise to propose the elimination of strikes until prior consideration has been given to the elimination of the causes of strikes, Trade unions do not consider strike action, until all other alternatives for the redress of grievances fail. The workers clearly realize the sacrifices demanded of them during a strike. They assume these sacrifices only when they are faced with the ugly alter- native of submitting to some grave injustice. The history of labor-manage- | ment relations shows that only in rare instances have employers |voluntarily offered to raise the living standards of their employ- |ees. ‘The origin of strike action is |found in this traditional attitude lof employers. International View By Portland Pete AT LONG LAST the two big men of U.S, Labor, the CIO and the APL are beginning to get down to real co-operation on common ground for the good of the trade unionist, and the country. NOT BEFORE TIME, in my opinion, is the appearance Of the four-point program of getting to- gether. Labor Unity begins to mean something when the CIO and AFL can present a united front on political. action, inter- national affairs, legislation and anti-Communism, which is what is happening now, * PAVING THE WAY for big- ger things in future, too, is indi- cated, such as action on Union jurisdictional problems and eventually, unity of the CIO and the AFL, * % ae. whl ABA SCENES os _ operation been going on for some time, but the formal an- 48 after Washington aces, indicates solid | HELPING HAND to the move was, of course, difficulties under the Taft-Hartley Act, the delays in the Fair Deal problem, and the blatant need for electing more representatives supporting trade unions in the forthcoming elec~ tions. * * THE “VIGILANTES” are rid- ing again in Nevada, I see from the CIO News. But they are not dillacs and Buicks, they're after union men, *. eS ok THEY are employers’ councils and so-called citizens, committee, pledged to run “racketeers, whether they be gamblers or union, out of the state’. Funny thing is that the leaders of the organizations, in every case, are business men whose firms are being picketed for one reason or another, in legitimate union ac- ogger ” Conflict of Interest | Discussion of the question |should start with the frank rec- | ognition of the conflict of interest which exists, in order that ways s to achieve reasonable [compromise from time to time | may be found, | Management must answer to | the investors, and is under pres- sure to provide a profitable re- | torn on the investment. This ex- jerts a downward pressure on | wages, as a cost of production. | Trade unions must express the |legitimate demand ‘of the work- ‘ers represented for a progressive betterment of living standards as imade possible by expanding pro- ‘ductive capacity. Employers as well as trade Free Bargaining The full possibilities of free bargaining have not yet been fully realized. It is possible for the employer to drop any anta- ‘gonism toward trade unions, and “instead allow the recognized ‘union of his employees its right- ful status and the full opportun- ity to discharge its responsibili- ties toward the success of the in- dustry on which its members’ livelihood depends. : The approach toward negotia- tions over an agreement deter- mines the outcome. If the em- ployer enters negotiations with !the determination to concede no {more than he is compelled to, the reaction of the union, quite na- turally, is to fight for all it can get, with all means at its dis- | posal. ‘ If on the other hand the em- ployer, in the day-to-day rela- tions as well as during nego- tiations, shows a disposition to treat his employees as human “TRUCK LOGGER” VIEWPOINT Here is a summary of the Truck Logger viewpoint, to be read in conjunction with Presi- dent Alsbury’s reply: Even threatened strikes caused untold staggering loss through spreading fear and unemploy- ment. Three facts generally accepted are (a) employees don’t want strikes, but consider them their only sure means of successful jbargaining (b) employers don’t want them—they are too céstly, - and (c) a solution to every strike of any magnitude has always been found, Truck Logger’s solution is that as civil and criminal disputes are settled in courts and “found to Industrialists have already yoiced | after rustlers as they ride in Ca- || beings who are entitled to the highest standards of living made possible by the resources of the industry, the organized workers will more readily agree to define their responsibilities toward the industry. be fair, certain and reasonably expeditious”. Such final decisions, made by lawfully appointed au- thorities are acceptable, so why not a similar settlement of labor | disputes? lunions have a responsibility to- | ward the community. It is in the ultimate interest of the employ-| ers, as well as the workers, that | |a distribution of wage income be | | accomplished, which will stimul-/ |ate an expanding demand on pro- | duction.- | Industrial strife will disappear, | Genuine collective bargaining only when provocation of strife Read President Alsbury’s an- is the best known process to reach{ is abandoned. g swer: |a compromise. Bargaining can be so conducted, in a frank and open manner, that all factors are | viewed in balance. ia - This bargaining is the bargain- | ing of free men, when it is |frankly understood that the right! of the employers to deny work- ers access to the tools of produc- tion is no greater than the right of the worker to withhold nis la-| bor if the terms of employment: are unsatisfactory. EAD’S SAFETY BOOT The Living Preof @ LOGGERS! IF You ARE IN A JAM we LOAN MONEY * ON SUITS AND OVERCOATS Redeemable Any Time Within 12 Months HORSE SHOE Tailors & Pawnbrokers 325 COLUMBIA ST. VANCOUVER, B.C. (Across from the Broadway Hotel) Telephone MArine 5823 SERIOUS INJURY TO FOOT CAUSED BY NOT WEARING HEAD'S SAFETY BOOT THIS LOGGER'S FOOT WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED During May, a faller’s axe glanced off a tree stump and, in its descent, sliced clean through the toecap of the boot illustrat. ing instantly four of the toes. The injury was suf- ficiently serious to cause grave shock and loss of time. Examination showed that a steol-toed safety boot of the type designed and manufac- tured by Head's Boot Factory would have deflacted the axe and left the logger's foot completely unharmed. YOUR TURN MAY BE NEXT! LET HEAD'’S SAVE YOUR FEET W. J. HEAD BOOT FACTORY LIMITED 21 EAST HASTINGS STREET VANCOUVER, B. C.