Page 4 B.C. LUMBER WORKER -Landmarks A STONE’S THROW from the Legislative Buildings in Victoria the 14th Annual B.C. District Convention of the IWA meets this week to launch a program of action for the betterment of living and working standards among the lumber workers in the province. The Capital acts as host to the largest trade union in the province, represent- ing the workers in the major basic industry, only a few weeks prior to the 1951 session of the Legislature. This timing should have beneficial results. Those who direct the affairs of the Province, may, if they so choose, gain the opportunity to appraise the importance of the IWA in the industrial life of British Columbia, They will learn wherein lies the strength of the IWA. As the IWA will be under, microscopic attention by astute political observers for the next few days, it would be interesting for IWA members to see their Union as others see it. What, for instance, are those features about the Union that would most impress an unprejudiced observer ? DEMOCRACY IN ACTION. Any onlooker cannot fail to be impressed by the determination of IWA members to adhere to the democratic procedures. No official bureaucracy directs the decisions of any IWA convention. Delegates are openly and freely elected by the members of the Local Unions and are charged with the responsibility of expressing the will of those they represent. Debate is not restricted, and the will of the majority prevails. Officers nominated at the convention are re- quired to submit to ‘election by referendum ballot of the rank and file members. Every possible safeguard is pro- vided to ensure that control of the Union’s affairs is the exclusive perogative of the members, and that responsi- bility is delegated only under the conditions stipulated by the members. It is this deeply rooted tradition of democracy in the IWA that accounts for the Union’s stern repudiation of LPP-Communist intrigue. __,, GROWTH in organized strength. “Those who have intimate knowledge of the inside history of the IWA dur- ing the latter part of 1948, can only marvel at the amazing recovery from the extremely damaging plot of the LPP- Communists. The Union was then deprived of its funds, records, equipment and experienced leadership, and pousends of workers were victimized by misleading propa- ganda. The damage was repaired in 1949. In 1950 the Union hit its stride, and by dint of carefully planned organiza- tional activity expanded membership strength beyond all previous records. A reinvigorated Union found it possible to wage a militant struggle for better contract demands. The gains made in turn served to inspire greater confidence in the Union. Since June, more than 8,000 lumber workers have joined the ranks of the IWA. The more orderly procedure of the maintenance of membership clause, inserted in the 1950 contract has enabled the Union to hold the ground won. : A trade union with membership rapidly approaching the 30,000 mark, is a trade union that must be reckoned with in this province. EFFICIENCY. The administration of the IWA is now important business that requires the full-time services of experienced and qualified personnel. No one claims perfection for the IWA, but it can be safely claimed that the affairs of the IWA are as efficiently administered as any business enterprise of comparable size. The men who serve the IWA are recruited from the industry, and their record is proof that not all the brains in industry are to be found in the front office, _The Local Unions have all stabilized their financial positions. They have plans well advanced to procure their own quarters to house their activities, or have already done so. They have lived within their means, and at the same time serviced the interests of the members, : _ Most important of all, every Local Union can report a job well done in organizing the operations in their re- spective jurisdictions, and in policing the contract to ~ secure proper settlement of grievances arising on the job. NEW OBJECTIVES. The IWA cannot be accused of snug complacency. The experience of the last two years has awakened confidence in the possibilities of organized strength, and stirred new ambitions. It is now safe to predict that the IWA will register another gain in improved contract terms before many months pass. : Before another year rolls around, the IWA will show a membership strength of over 30,000, and will have well nigh reached the organizatidnal potential. The IWA has been granted a place of leadership in the trade union movement of this province, and will play its part in demanding of employers and governments alike, more satisfactory provisions for social security, and less restrictive labor codes. The 1951 District Convention is a milestone beyond which the IWA will advance far before the end of another convention year. e MEN AT WORK ip rp ‘POST’ OUT ON LIMB OTTAWA. (CPA) — The “Financial Post” of November 25 says editorially that price “con- trol is no cure for inflation. It calmly remarks that the Ameri- can public, which, according to Gallup, is 63 percent in favor of price and wage control, is all wrong. The Post undoubtedly thinks that Canadians ‘are even more misguided, since 75 percent of them want price control! The “Post”, however, knows best, and proves it by quoting Mr. Russell Leffingwell, former chairman of J. P. Morgan and Co. Inc., of the United States, and Canada’s K. W. Taylor, assistant deputy minister of finance. Mr. Leffingwell, of Morgan’s, is of the opinion that controls were all right during wartime, but now they would increase con- sumer buying and would discour- age production. Our own Mr. Taylor says that the free move- ment of prices is the best and most reliable guide to producers as to under-supply and over- supply. Unions Distrusted The Post’s first argument against price and wage control is that many trade unions cannot be trusted to toe a wage line, and yet it quotes Mr. Leffingwell who says that business won’t produce adequately with a price line! If the Post has a low opinion of unions, its admission of the atti- tude of business need hardly be commented upon. Neither of these arguments can cancel out the fact that price control was a success before, and could be again. As for Mr. Taylor’s free move- ment of prices, there doesn’t seem, to be free movement in any direc- tion but up and present high prices do not generally reflect under-supply. What is needed, Mr. Taylor thinks—and the Post agrees — is “wise taxation and spending policies and a variety of other means that go to the root causes of inflation and deflation.” Mr. Taylor probably thinks that an example of “wise taxation” is a tax on soda pop and sweets, but not on excess profits, And the “variety of other means” taken so far to curb inflation Next Issue Date of publication for the next issue of the B.C. LUM- BER WORKER is February 1. Deadline for ad copy is Janu- ary 25, and for news, January 27, British steel production in 1950 beat the target set by the goy- ernment, Year’s figure was 16,293,000 tons, The target was 15,750,000 to 16,000,000 tons. The industry is scheduled to be nationalized in February. ES AY, we Es / fb) fe Name. ARDS Ss os vox ti webiey teeeee THE SENO To-> have proved a dismal failure, CLIP THIS COUPON... Send me all information about protect: ing my pay against loss, and “Banking by Mail”. BANK“TORONTO Vancouver Branch, Dept. B. 3, Vancouver, B.C. | 17 branches to serve you in British Columbia. | Wren you GO To TOWN... 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 your money until the time when you need it. Incorporated 1855 money LOANED ON SUITS AND OVERCO HORSE SHOE TAILORS & PAV TE 325 CoLuMBIA ST YOUR PLEDGES CAREFULLY STORED FOR MA, 5823