B.C. LUMBER WORKER September 21, 1950 AT 45 KINGSWAY _ Offices of the B.C. District Council, No. 1, IWA, and the B.C. Lumber Worker, are now located at 45 Kingsway, Van- was planned to promote greater efficiency and economy meet the convenience of IWA members. HOME NAMED TO HOSPITAL BOARD George Home, secretary-treas- urer, B.C. Federation of Labor, has been named to act as CCL representative on the Provincial Hospital Advisory Board. NORTH SHORE SHINGLE MEN WIN IMPROVED WELFARE PLAN By J. C. Johnston Chief Shop Steward, North Shore Shingle Co. ’ A suitable welfare plan in which the employer pays half is something that has been sought after by the IWA in B.C. lumber industry every time the contract between companies and Union comes up for renewal. While we have made tremen-— . ICFTU TO MEET IN AMERICA THIS YEAR International Confederation of Free Trade Unions, to which the dous gains in every other respect we have not, as yet, been able to write into the contract the ever desired welfare plan. The only protection against sickness and accident that we have for the majority of our membership in the lumber in- dustry, is the Workmen’s Com- pensation and the compulsory Hospital Insurance. Still Fall Short While these coverages are good they still fall far short of giving everything a health plan should, such as protection for the worker off the job and protection for his wife and family in regards to doctor bills and a weekly benefit being paid, The workers in the lumber in- dustry can have and get this pro- tection by fighting for it collectively on the job. In the first week of August every man, and the foremen, on three shifts operating in the plant, signed their names and addresses on a petition demand- ing that the company put into effect the MSA plan, Medical Services Association, for the ser- vices of the physicians and sur- geons. In this plan the company pays half and the employees do likewise. 7-Man Committee A seven-man committee repre- senting the men in the plant was set up. They then, armed with the signed petitions, met with the company, who after two such meetings agreed to comply with the men’s wishes, At the close of the second meeting the owner of the com- pany pointed out that, bésides the amount he was going to be pay- ing yearly to the MSA he would also pay the initial registration fee required of $1.50 per em- ployee, The boss did not have to pay the $1.50 and the workers would have willingly done so. Certainly it shows how well presented and effective the stand of the workers was, Complete Plan It should be pointed out that prior to getting the MSA we were covered by the Travellers’ Insur- ance Company’s weekly indem- nity plan, which is solely paid by the employee and pays $20.00 a week to a worker when sick plus many other benefits due in the ease of accidents or death, This coupled with the MSA ag whieh pays all doctor bills the employee, plus also those for his wife and family, rounded out a complete welfare -plan for the North Shore Shingle. Cost of coverage per month _ to employee ‘Travellers ‘MSA .. The Editor welcomes articles from brothers for publication in the B.C. Lumber Worker. Wher- ever possible, they will be pub- lished in full. CIO is affiliated, will hold its first ern Hemisphere in the fall of this Histadrut, the general federa- tion of labor in Israel, has voted to leave the Communist-con- trolled World Federation of trade unions. ‘The ICFTU, which replaces the Communist dominated World Federation of ‘Trade Unions, made this decision in Brussels, Belgium, recently. The exact lo- cation in America of the regional conference has not yet been set. One vital matter discussed by the ICFTU executive board is the long range survey of the Interna- tional Labor Office to avoid world unemployment and prevent de- pressions, WORKS RESERVE “It is now widely recognized,” argue the ILO experts, “that un- employment arising from defici- ency in demand can be prevented by public policy. Incentives by governments can include promo- tion of industrial research and development of new industries and new products. “Tt is desirable to have pre- pared a carefully planned reserve of public works projects to be undertaken both by central and local governments so that they can immediately be carried into operation whenever and wherever the occasion arises.” Proposals for under-developed areas include land reclamation and industrial development, fin- anced from increased domestic Saving and from foreign capital, national schemes of manpower training during the early stages of industrial development, and the creation of new rural industries, public works and mixed farming to reduce seasonal unemploy- ment, WORLD TRADE These are the factors that the ICFTU are considering and which they will endeavor to introduce in their home territories. , So far as international action is concerned, the ILO economists emphasize the need, not only for the stabilization, but the continu- ous expansion of world trade. Needed, too, is constant consul- tation among governments, aimed at full employment in every coun- try, and for stabilization of the prices of the world’s leading primary commodities, Exchange of international ex- perience regarding methods of improving employment services, and of organizing training and vocation guidance from one coun- try to another could do much to reduce the volume of unemploy- ment, Tight Line a Few Orders My Way BARTLETT CLEANERS Cleaning, Pressing, Alterations We Specialize In Mall Orders 321 Camble Street Vancouver, B.C. €. Bartlett Phone PAcific2426, regional conference for the West- $40 at 65 On The Cards It may not be too optimis- tic to suggest that very soon those Canadians over 70 may son find themselves getting a $40 cheque each month, without means test, as their old age pension. It’s too little, and too late, of course, and it was only at labor’s combined insistence that the means test was re- moved, but it is a step in the right direction. This recommendation along with others contained in the more than 100-page report of the com- mittee will be considered by the Cabinet and referred to the forth- coming Dominion-Provincial Con- ference this autumn. In addition to the recommenda- tions of the Committee, it is ex- pected that the government will make specific proposals to the conference as to how the univer- sal pensions may be financed. The committe recommended that all pensions paid to persons of 70 and over should become the sole responsibility of the federal authority; and that new pensions with a means test should be paid to persons qualifying between the ages of 65-69. These latter should be borne equally as to cost by the provinces and the Dominion. Agreement of the provinces is needed because the present Old Age Pension Act binds th fed- eral government to give 10 years’ notice of winding up. The Liberal Government made similar proposals for the elimina- tion of the means test to the Do- minion-Provincial Conference of 1945. It re-iterated this promise during the 1949 election cam- paign. Unless one or more prov- inces object to the changes and thus provide an “out” for the fed- eral government, perhaps the “promising” stage is over on the means test. SAN FRANCISCO — TAILORS — . LOAN MONEY ON Suits, Overcoats, ete, Loggers’ Boots, Sleeping Bags, Suitcases, Radios, Watches and Rings. Expert Watch Repairing Suits and Caulk Boots For Sale, MAIL ORDER 52 West Hastings Street VANCOUVER, B.C. Beach Camp Now 100% IWA Beach Camp, Englewood, is now organized 100 percent IWA. ‘All “doubting ‘Thomases” Have finally been converted, reports Shop Steward George Grozov. Local 1-71 has extended congratulations to Bro, Grozov, for his energetic membership recruiting campaign. Unemployment — Queries Answered O) Q—When I was laid off I claimed benefit at the depend- ency rate for my younger brother who is attending col- lege. I am living at home with my mother and pay her for my board and also give her a monthly sum towards the fees for my brother’s studies. The insurance would not give me the dependency rate, but I think I am entitled to it as I do contribute to support my brother. A-—In your case, in order to| be entitled to the dependency rate, you had to prove that you maintained a self-contained dom- estic establishment and wholly or mainly supported your brother therein. This you could not do, so the dependency rate could not be paid to you. ) Q—My brother voluntarily left his employment to go into business on his own account, but as he had to make all the necessary arrangements before he was ready to open up he claimed unemployment insur- ance and was disqualified. This does not seem fair to me, as he cannot earn any money un- til he does open up. Should he have been disqualified? A—Your brother would not be disqualified for voluntarily leav- ing, but the Umpire has ruled in a number of cases submitted to him, that a claimant cannot be considered to be available for work whilst preparing to enter business on his own account. Therefore, the disqualification for non-availability was in order. ? ° Q—My father is a farmer, but he usually works some- where else during his farming off-season. If he cannot get a job this winter, can he get un- employment insurance? A—Under a regulation made by the U.LC., the farming off- season, has been fixed from Oc- tober 1, to March 31, and to qualify for benefit during the period of the off-season, a farmer claiming benefit would have to be able to fulfill all the conditions of entitlement to benefit, as well as prove that in the farming off- season for which he declares he is unemployed, he either does no ‘| work on the farm or the work he does do is so limited in extent that it would not prevent him from accepting full-time employ- ment. prove that during the two off- seasons preceding the off-season in which he made his claim for benefit at least 180 contributions in the aggregate were paid on his behalf. He would also have to If your father can fulfill the above conditions he would be en- titled to benefit during the farm- ing off-season. EXTRA WEAR IN EVERY PAIR A 100% union shop makes “Lumber King” leather work gloves. Loggers, millhands, loaders, riggers insist on TREEN union made gloves for protection and comfort. Made from finest leather. VANCOUVER, B.C. WOODWARD'S HAand-Made LOGGING BOOTS © No. 1 Chrome Leather Uppers @ Highest Grade Leather Soles © Non-Rust Eyelets - 8-inch Tops. Price Delivered .. $21.95 Caulking _... --. $1.00 Extra