‘Ques Government, should this r and opposition recorded. February 15, 1951 From Page 1 Federation Demands pointment in the Toronto office | Chairman Joe Morris, commended ay oF the United Steelworkers. Invoeation was pronounced by Rey. Horace Burkholder, Méun- tain View United Church, and a formal welcome was tendered by His Worship Mayor Fred Hume, City of Vancouver. Ninety resolutions were pre- ” ted “to the convention by Giisizmes of the Resolutions mmittee George Mitchell, and when finally considered and con- solidated, a legislative program emerged which touched on_ all vital matters of concern to B.C. workers. Officers’ Reports Committee, Wages And Prices Resolutions approyed by the convention made the following points: Prices and Wages Re-imposition of price con- trols was demanded and the pledge given to support the joint campaign of the central labor bodies to this end. Continued rent controls were urged, if necessary by the Pro- field be abandoned by the Fed- eral Government. Recent increase in the price of milk and the constitution of the one-man Milk Board was censured. Subsidies for pro ducers were suggested. Any “wage freeze” or “no strike” policies were condemn- Consultation with organized Jabor was urged in the plan- ning of economic controls dur- ing a period of emergency, and labor representation on control boards demanded. 2 Concerted wage drive by CCL Unions was approved in order to adjust wage levels to rising prices. Imposition of an excess profits tax was demanded and the provision of subsidies to maintain lower price ceilings ‘on essential goods. = A public housing program on the part of Federal and Provin- cial Governments was demanded in order to alleviate a “national disgrace”, Fair employment practices ‘were urged to remove racial or religious discrimination and a B.C. Bill of Rights was advo- cated, Opposition was expressed to any further increase in the Hos- pital Insurance premiums. Better the retiring Executive for the past year’s efforts in building the Federation into “an effective functioning body in the interests of organized labor in B.C.” The report of the committee also praised the stand which had been taken with regard to the ICA Act and the arbitrary prac- tices of the Labor Relations Board. The financial position of the Federation was shown to have improved during the last fiscal year due to economies introduced by the Secretary-Treasurer. Abolition of the present ICA Act and replacement by a genu- ine Trade Union Act was advo- cated as the convention scored restrictive features of existing legislation. Any trade union in difficulty because of the ICA Act was promised aid and support, by the affiliated unions. Protest to the Minister of Labor was directed, on account of the “unethical” practices of the Labor Relations Board. Evidence against the Board will be com- piled for presentation to the Minister. Immediate certification upon proof that a union enjoys support of a majority of the employees affected was demanded. Replacement of the present: representative of the CCL upon the Labor Relations Board was again demanded. Issuance of overtime permits by the Board of Industrial Rela- tions, without prior consultation with trade unions, was bitterly condemned. Legislation making the five-day 40-hour work week compulsory in B.C, was approved. Use of court injunctions against lawful picketing was pro- tested, and amended legislation sought to correct this abuse. $75 Pension At 60 #ederal and Provincial Gov- ernments were asked to remove employment restrictions against ersons over forty, and thus sup- wt labor’s campaign for re- moval of such discrimination. Old age pensions of $75 at 60 with a cost-of-living bonus was proposed, but without any special ss hospital accommodation, and more adequate medical coverage were urged, Stipulated exemptions from Hospital Insurance payments were proposed. Replacement of the present 3% Retail Sales Tax by a genuine Social Security Act was advo- cated, same to be financed from the excess profits of industries in the province. Program of forest conservation as submitted by the IWA was approved for presentation to the Provincial Government. Retention of provisions in the Provincial Elections Act for the absentee ballot was demanded on behalf of loggers, fishermen and other workers likely to be absent from their homes on polling day. Organic labor unity in Canada was approved. From Page 1 Officers of Local 1-363, IWA, and the Distriet Officers took im= mediate action to bring the grievance of the men to the attention of the management in an endeavor to secure re-instate- ment of Jacob Epp, formerly em- ployed as a faller by the company. Faller Epp had made applica- tion for leave of inbepes, os he had been elected by his fellow- workers as delegate “A ae ee Conference and the = Ee in Victoria. Al- most eves ble Lag ae necessary for him to make a start on January 16, On the morning of that day h that erase eany of CAMP 5__ in his power saw. Epp pointed out that he had made proper pro- vision for the protection of the saw, and that there were a num- ber ‘of men who could carry out this duty. He requested a fellow- worker to do this for him, and again informed the bull-bucker | that he was under a definite ob- | ligation to take the only means | of transit offering to reach Vic- | toria on schedule. | Fired On his return from the conven- tion he was advised by the bull- bucker that he was fired for dis- 9). obeying an order, This order was | earried out despite his excellent reeord in camp, . His fellow crew members take the position that he suffered rank discrimination for the sole reason | that he was an active member of the Union and had given leader- ship in IWA organization in the was “skim ice” at best, The ice wasn’t camp, prices, either, ree 1951 EXECUTIVE OF THE B.C. FEDERATION OF LABOR. (Left, standing), H. Coombs, G. Emary, L. Vandale, R. Smeal, G. Smythe, M. Mihalech, P. Tirrell. President Dan Radford, J. S. Alsbury, Joe Morris. (Seated, left), H. Allison, G. Home, PROFIT GOUGING BURDENS WORKERS That profits are being ex- torted from the resources of British Columbia in a manner that places additional burdens on the workers was a state-- ment made by the retiring officers of the B.C. Federation of Labor at the opening of the 7th Annual Convention, Febru- ary 3 and 4, in Vancouver. The officers’ report stated in part: “In this grave hour of struggle for civilization and brotherhood we are privileged to meet in the 7th Convention of the B.C. Federation of Labor and discuss our problems, with the responsi- bility of deciding policy that will bring material benefits to the thousands of workers and their families whom we represent. International Outlook “Although the primary func- tion of the’ Federation is to con- cern itself with the legislative requirements of the citizens of British Columbia and to assist in the co-ordination of its affiliates so as to bring about the greatest degree of unity required for or- ganizational purposes, we must nevertheless give cognizance to the international situation in order to study the effects that it will have on our members in con- cert with the rest of organized labor in the free countries of the world. “With the vast amount of monies being expended on arma- ments in the preparation for de- fence or war and the necessary mobilization of armies, there will come about an acute shortage of consumer goods and available labor power. For their own pro- tection, we can expect from the industrialists a demand for fur- ther restrictive legislation on the trade union movement, and yet at the same time we must realize that the salvation of civilization will depend on recognition of the need for further political and economic freedom of the working classes throughout all the world. Protect Freedom “Tt will behoove those charged CONTROL CHAOS WASHINGTON (LPA)—After a week of wage-price control there was more chaos than con- trol in the national economic pic- ture. Wages were frozen fairly securely, (The only soft spot: in- creases negotiated on or before Jan. 25, the freeze date, and ef- fective after that date were okay if they went into effect by Feb. Meanwhile, the Wage Stabiliza- tion Board sweated over an-over- with the leadership of our move- ment to be vigilant and take care that in our struggle to obtain and protéct freedom on the inter- national level against an ideology foreign to our philosopy of liv- ing, we do not succumb to an ideology at home equally foreign to our ideas of freedom and brotherhood. In this regard the officers of the B.C. Federation of Labor subscribe to and fully en- dorse the Declaration of a Posi- tive Economic Philosophy as passed at the Tenth Annual Con- vention of the Canadian Congress of Labor held in Winnipeg on September 25 to 29, 1950. B.C. Fiscal Policy “At home here in British Columbia, we must give serious consideration to the fiscal policy of the B.C. government. It is becoming more evident day by day that this is a policy of en- couraging big business to settle chere and reap tremendous profits from the natural resources of our province, while returning a mini- mum amount to the citzens of this province in the way of taxes. Meanwhile the tax burden is be- ing placed directly on the workers and persons who can least afford it. ONE MAN “The Saw with th A deluxe model at no extr with © Multiport Engine © Trigger Swivel Blade © Automatic Rewind Starter 3 © Weighs only 28 lbs. less cutting attach- ments by time as one of THE saws of today” Vancouven, 9.€ POWER CHAIN SAW “A power saw that has been proved dustrial, PIONEER @ Union Label” ‘a cost. Leading the field There is no excess weight on the PIO- NEER. It goes into action trimmed to bare cutting essen- tials. Handles easil and carries sivauela the woods with remark- able ease. Supplied with bar and chain. 14" - [8" 24" ~ 30", ‘) gy Lureo all wage formula while food prices kept on mounting. Thanks to the farm-price loopholes writ- ten into the Defense Production Act, the price freeze on foods very thick over other 658 Hornby St. 79 Victoria Crescent Sinnerud Truck 191 Baker Street DISTRIBUTORS Purves E. Ritchie & Son Ltd. Vancouver B.C, Ira Becker & Son = Nanaimo, B.C. & Tractor Co. Nelson, B.C.