Page i‘ B.C. LUMBER WORKER. Trouble Brewing ‘THE B. C. Minister of Labor has been warned. The trade unions have told him that if he expects the workers to obey the law respecting labor-management relations, he must give more definite assurance that the law will be administered justly. The minister informed the IWA in convention that he intends to hold the balance fairly between labor and management in the public interest. If he regards himself . as a public referee when workers clash with employers, his agents should act with strict impartiality. In the enactment of the ICA Act, the Legislature con- ferred far-reaching powers“upon the minister and his agents to supervise the procedures of collective bargaining. The Labor Relations Board is the creation of the Govern- ment. It is responsible to the Legislature through the Minister of Labor and the Cabinet. The minister is charged under the ICA Act with its administration. He can therefore be held accountable to the Legislature and the electorate for. the actions of his agents under the act. The Labor Relations Board is not autonomous. The integrity of its decisions is clearly the business of the minister, under his responsibility to the Crown. ~ The evidence submitted to the minister recently on behalf of all CCL unions in the province indicated good reason for loss on confidence in the board. This has been supported by many influential AFL unions. The leading dailies in the province have expressed their perturbation over a highly unsatisfactory development. On two major points the minister can act in such a manner as to clarify the situation. He should instruct the board that it was never the intention of the Legis- lature to deprive workers of the democratic right to select a bargaining agency of their own choice. The Cabinet should appoint as chairman of the board, at an early date, a man with sound experience in labor- management relations, and of the calibre to command public confidence and respect. This appointment should not be regarded as a plum for some political favorite. This does not imply that the ICA Act in its present form is satisfactory to the trade unions. It does suggest that while the ICA Act is on the statute books, at least a modicum of justice should be exercised in its enforcement. Let the minister and his colleagues in the Cabinet take heed. Trade unionists are not just grumbling. They are angry, bitterly angry, that rights secured through long years of struggle are being whittled down by a bureaucracy. The Loggers Vote NE important point has been overlooked in the current discussion on the merits of the single transferable vote. It spells the end of absentee balloting in provincial elections. Experts on this system of voting state that the count at the close of the polls cannot be commenced until all the ballots are in hand. The delay which would be caused by the collection of absentee ballots from all ridings in the province would present almost insurmountable difficulties. Hence it is to be eliminated. Loggers, as well as fishermen, should not forget that organized labor has fought to retain absentee voting for those employed at remote points. It was their experience previously that through many devices they were virtually disenfranchised. In large measure, they are now disenfranchised under the Dominion Elections Act, in which no provision is made for absentee voting, outside the riding. This question requires their immediate attention, that their citizenship rights may be adequately safeguarded. BCLunsenkiWVorcen Representing she Orgentzed Loggers end Mill Werkers of B.C. PUBLISHED TWICE MONTHLY BY INTERNATIONAL WOODWORKERS OF AMERICA (CIO-CCL) B.C. DISTRICT COUNCIL No. 1. ED DISTRICT OFFICERS: POM teenies Stewart Alsbury Int. Viee-Fresiden Tom Bradley 2nd Vice-President + Brd_ Vice-President. Secretary~Treanures George H, Mitchell - international Bonrd Member... Tom G. MacKenzie Address all communications to GEORGE H, MITCHELL, Seeretary-Treasurer 45 Kingsway - Phone FAirmont 8807-8 Vancouver, B.C, Subscription Rates..........81,00 per annum Advertising Representative. G. A, Spencer & Authorized ay Second Clasn Mail, Post Office Dept. Ottawa 26,000 COPIES PRINTED IN THIS 1ssUn MILI The proof of this was found in the record-breaking assembly of furniture work- ers in the Hast- ings Auditorium, October 25, spon- sored by Local 1-217, IWA. They were awaiting the results of a \ last minute con- |ference with the | employers. “" _ If a reasonable settlement had been denied them, they were fully prepared to fight it out on the picket line. They had served notice of the intentions publicly. Their strike committees and picket lines were fully or- ganized. This unmistakable demonstration of their purpose resulted in important concessions on the part of the employers, which when announced by us the the gathering accepted with un- animity. It was evident that the shop stewards and Local Union officials had done their work well in building confidence in IWA policies. To them goes a full measure of praise. Again we have been shown, that when the chips are down in a dispute, the winning card for the workers is the militant spirit and efficiency of their job organi- zation, ‘The furniture workers won with this card. It is a pleasure to note that the shop committees in the furni- ture plants immediately forged ahead with their task of policing the contract. The value of the new contract provisions will be fully realized only as the shop stewards and plant committees give evidence of their alertness to protect the rights and privileges of the 0 workers under the contract. Self-restraint is feeling your oats By J. Stewart Alsbury 'ANCY PAID OFF Two features of the events which led to the settlement re- cently gained for the furniture workers on the eve of a strike may be regarded with pride by IWA members — the militant determination of the workers themselves, and the readiness of our Union to support their picket lines if necessary. Talking about her husband, who had been expelled from his union, his wife said: “They dismembered him.” ‘ +e * Telling about the new bathing suit he bought for his wife, fri husband said: “You should have seen her beam when she put it on.” without sowing them, monEY YOUR PLEDG ZS So don’t lose your pay-cheque. Soon as you get it mail it to us for safekeeping. If you wish to cash all or any of it, we will do this by mail, too. “Banking-by- Mail” with us protects money until the time when need it. clip THis COUPON... Send me all information about pi ing my pay against loss, and “Banking by Mail”. Name.. Address 7 BANK-TORO SENO To—> Incorporated 1855 Vancouver Branch, Dept. B.3, V. 17 branches fo serve you in British HC LOANED ON SUITS AND OVERC OR 25 SE SHOE TAILORS & PAW TEL MA. 58 H 3. CoLumeia St ES CAREFULLY SToRED For ty