November 2,950 -

B.C. LUMBER WORKER

Page Five

On Friday, November 3, the
Labor Council Education Com-
mittee is commencing a series of
classes in “Chairmanship” and
“Public Speaking”. This is only
one small part of a broad educa-
tional project which was outlined
at the recent CCL convention.
The vital necessity of such a pro-
ject was pointed out in the report
of the Committee on Education,
which read in part:

Training

“The need for educational work
~ is becoming more important as
our unions develop and take their
rightful place in the affairs of
the country. We need many
more trained persons in the labor
movement who are prepared and
@c2 of giving expression to
the policies which all of us in
convention evélve. This can only
be accomplished by a sound edu-
cation program.

“Labor is in the very important
economic position where it is re-
Spected and can give direction to
the many phases of activities
that confront us. We must not

let this opportunity slip by for |

Jack of trained leadership and an
informed rank and file.

“Never before in Canada has
Tabor been given such a unique
opportunity to assist in the
shaping of the country’s policies.
We are growing in numbers and
influence each day and must
, accept our responsibility and give
that lead. The opinion of your
committee is that education is the
prime requirement to fit our
unions to fill the role that is be-
ing presented to us.”

This report outlines the value
of an educational program to the

national labor movement, but let

By FRANK DEAN ;
Chairman, Vancouver Labor Council Education Committee

success of the CCL plans for labor puueanon in B.C.
depends, in large measure, upon the degree of co-opera-
tion and support received from the IWA. As the largest
union in this province, it is the IWA which can contribute
the most toward, and receive the greatest benefit from, a
sustained and comprehensive educational program.

FRANK DEAN

us not forget that education is
equally important on the Local
Union level.

A union is only as strong as
its rank and file membership. It
follows, therefore, that a union
|which takes active part in a
broad educational program is at
the same time increasing its own
strength and effectiveness.

What has been done so far?
In this area the Labor Council
has set up an Education Com-
mittee with representation from
all affiliated Local Unions. The
work done by this committee in
the line of public speaking
classes, film projectionist courses,
weekend institutes, etc., has been
so outstanding that the Van-
couver Labor Council was the
only council singled out for spe-
cial mention by the Congress
Committee on Education in
| making its annual report to the
‘convention,

By Portl

International View

land Pete

Taft Makes More Friends

, THE BACK OF HIS HAND went from a mailer in a Columbus,
Ohio, newspaper recently to none other than Senator Taft, who had

decided to make an appearance to

“his friend” the working man,

ee | a,

FIRST OF ALL, when Taft
entered the composing room his
eyes met a copy of “The Robt.
Alphonso Taft Story”, now being
distributed by the. United Labor
League of Ohio. His face turned
red, he hurriedly greeted two
foremen and left in a rush.

WHEN HE attempted to shake
hands with the local union presi-
dent in the mailing room, the
mailer shoved his hand in his
Pocket and said, “You soil every-
thing you touch. I wouldn't
shake hands with you.”

S ree

COAST TO COAST, the PAG
drive is really goin’ some now.
Soon we'll know the result of the
year-long activity to teach union
men that their welfare begins at
the polls, not across the bargain-
ing table.

ot. war

WAGE ADUSTMENTS in the
in general appear to

re

cents across the
4 *

Maybe they'll give up now as for
the third time running, the AFL
vote is still dropping.

ers

THREE-TO-ONE in favor of
union shop in a ballot election,
yet the IWA at Potlach Forests
Inc., loses out. ‘Can you beat it!
In fact, 219 people stayed away
and even although 1,375 voted
for the union shop and only 464
against, the IWA loses and Taft-
Hartley wins. Something for
PAC, methinks.

Building Profits
Soar Again

Profits of construction com-
panies in 1948 soared to 37 per-
cent, and Lorne Ingle, of Co-
operative Press Association,
points out that this is a higher
profit than any other industry in
Canada.

They were taking 25 cents out
of every sales dollar for profit,
compared to the, retail trade’s
/5.54 percent on sales,

In April, 1946, building workers
were making $33.08 a week. In
fila ie ah Sadat nt

pu jing power
of the larger figure had, in fact,

Pesieet to $32.77, compared with
1946.

| gram whereby new courses will |

affairs.

Future Of Labor Movement
Rests On Trained Members

We feel it was also a tribute to
our activities that Jim Bury,
President of the Council, was
named chairman of the Conven-
tion Committee on Education.

Much has been done so far,
but much more remains to be
done. The prospective program
for the year 1950-51 outlined by
the Congress Committee on Edu-
cation is as follows:

Institutes

1. Institutes in cities’ where
none have been held so far.

2. Institutes in response, to a
demand for them in cities where
institutes have already been held.

8. The introduction of ad-
vanced courses for union mem-
bers who have already partici-
pated in institutes and who need
more intensive training.

4. A broadening of the pro-

be introduced in addition to the
“tool’ ‘courses already provided;
eg., labor history, Canadian
economic problems, community

5. Staff seminars on an agreed
upon regional basis so that there
may be fuller participation by
union staff members.

6..The preparation of course
outlines and study notes for use
by instructors and members at
schools and institutes.

cational methods and program on

7, Experimentation with edu- |}

a local basis in at least two,
centres, Ottawa and St. Cathar-
ines, under the direct supervision
of committee members.

8. Winter and summer schools.

9. Counselling services for
unions and councils with regard
to their educational needs:

For the implementation of such
a program, the Committee on
Education recommended:

1, The appointment of a full
time director and the necessary
staff.

2. Establishment of a (CCL)
fund on a per capita basis of two
cents per month per member for
educational « purposes, which
would permit (a) the purchase
and preparation of equipment
and materials, e.g., posters, book-
lets, films, film strips, projectors,
lete., necessary for the develop-

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ment of a broad educational pro-
gram;
work looking to the development
of educational councils, so that
local educational activities may
become
‘| ficient,, and the machinery neces-
sary for the’ follow-up after
institutes,
activities,

and (b) organizational

increasingly self - suf-

schools and similar

IWA Support

Where do we go from here?

As far as B.C. is concerned, the
answer to that question depends
on the 25,000 organized wood-
workers in this province.
Vancouver Labor Council Educa-
tion Committee is now drafting
plans for a full-scale educational
campaign.

The

We are relying on the whole-

hearted support of the IWA to
lift it out of the blueprint stage
and make it a reality. In the in-
terests of a stronger trade union
movement, on the national and
Local Union levels, we hope that
you, as an individual IWA mem-
ber, will do all within your power
to make the CCL educational
|program an unqualified success.

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