Page 12 B.C. LUMBER WORKER March 15, 1951 Geo, Mitchell Reports The ON’S BUSINESS Don’t Beg For Crumbs "THE circumstances which compelled all B.C. trade union bodies to combine this week in a joint labor lobby, and endeavor to impress the Legislature with the urgent need for better labor legislation should provoke earnest consideration of more effective methods of political action by trade unions. Previously, the trade unions had all made their submissions to the Provincial Cabinet. Every major request was promptly shelved. Labor’s smpzansren interests were ex- cluded from the - legislative pro- gram announced for the session. Even a hearing before the Stand- ing Committee of the Legislature as accorded other organized sec - tions of the community, was de- nied. ‘The trade unions had no alternative but to carry their appeal directly to the individual members of the Legislature. The outeome of this action is highly problematical. Coalition members are not easily persuaded to challenge the position taken by the Government, as it might act against their political careers, The trade unions can at least claim that they have made a con- scientious effort to advance the welfare of the workers repre- sented. This opens up the question— who represents labor inthe Legislature? Our Coalition Gov- ernment may be said to take an attitude similar to that assumed by the Drew Government several years ago in Ontario. When approached by a delega- tion from the Ontario Federation of Labor, Premier Drew ques- tioned the right of the delegation to speak for the workers. He said, that if they truly repre- sented labor, they would be occupying the seats of govern- ment. He stated that he more correctly represented labor, and that he knew what was best for labor, more so than the elected delegates from the trade unions. He had a point there. If o ganized labor acted as a body to achieve their own political ends, they could place their own rep- resentatives in office, under terms that would make them respon- sible to the workers and not the employers. As Murray Cotterill stated during a recent visit to Van- couver, “If the IWA_ members alone determined unanimously to take political action at the polls, they could change the political history of this province.” It is often overlooked that the organization of a lobby, such as now under way, is political action. We must now stop and consider if it is the kind of politi- eal action that gains for us the desired results in terms of labor legislation. If each year we go cap in hand to an employers’ government, to beg for crumbs from our masters? table, we ought to know from our experience in negotiations just what to expect. Since the workers comprise the bulk of the population and are now well organized, surely it is high time that we devised ways and means of making our poten- tial political strength a real fac- tor in shaping legislation of such vital importance to our welfare. BIG BUSINESS TO ESCAPE BCER BOOST The fact that the big indus- trialist will escape in the B.C. Electric's current application for increased rates was strongly scored when Van- couyer Labor Souncil (CCL) decided to protest the com- pany’s moye. The Council executive was em- powered to take whatever action thought necessary to protect the interests of the public. The BCE have applied for an interim increase in power rates which will amount to $1.20 monthly to the ordinary house- holder’s bill. “Only the homeowner is being asked to pay this,” said Delegate Hall, Retail Wholesale, “not those who can well afford to—the big industrialist.” At one of the busiest Council meetings in recent weeks, Presi- dent George Mitchell gave a re- port on the price control protest meeting and said he was very dis- appointed in the response of labor at the meeting. MORE BOOSTS “If we are to call mass meet- ings on important issues like price control,” he declared, “we must give our support by attend- ing.” He reported, too, that Dr. Leonard Marsh, UBC, had fore- cast at the meeting that there would be even greater increases in the price of commodities in the near future. Angus MacInnis, CCF MP for Vancouver East, the Council was told, was the only one of four Vancouver members of Parlia- ment canvassed by telegram who said he supported the request for price controls. A request from the “Labor Peace Committee” that the Coun- cil take part in a Peace Confer- ence on March 17 and 18 was “filed for information.” In Sacramento, Galif., came the clinching proof ‘that Rosie the Riveter and her World War II swing shift pals are back at work. City recreation officials an- nounced they were ready to re- organize the “weird-hour” dances starting after midnight to catch the swing and graveyard shifts. WORKER is April 5. new copy March 31. Publication date of the next Issue of the B.C. LUMBER Deadline for ad copy is March 29, and for union organizations in B. province. Under the joint auspices of the Vancouver and District Trades and Labor Council (AFL), the “| Victoria Trades and Labor Coun- cil (AFL), the Greater Van- couver and Lower Mainland Labor Council (CCL), the Vic- toria Labor Council (CCL), Island Labor Council (GGL), and the standard Railway Brotherhoods, the lobby has been established as the most influential in the history of the B.C. trade union move- ment; 150,000 trade unionists are represented. In this combined action the B.C. trade union bodies have fol- lowed the pattern already estab- lished by the senior national and international organizations. At the Canadian and American capi- tals, the trade unions are at present represented by united labor legislative committees. The politicians face a determined and united front formed by labor’s ranks, Major Questions Three major problems will be emphasized by the Victoria lobby as they haunt the corridors of the Legislative Buildings in Vic- toria this week, i.e., a less restric- tive ICA Act, improved Work- men’s Compensation benefits for injured workmen and widows, and Gillies Raps Centralization Of Industry In the event of war, 30 per- cent of Canada’s steel industry, located in Montreal area, could be “knocked out overnight,” argues Claire Gillies, MP, mem- ber of the UMWA. He made the point in the House of Commons when he pleaded for decentralization of industry, to stop the drift away from Nova Scotia and other maritime prov- inces. Gillies called for an_equaliza- tion of industry and said that no fewer than 102 industries had been “siphoned off” to central Canada from his own province since Confederation. He said the trend towards cen- tralization in Ontario and Quebec had not changed in the past 20 years. One of the few places that benefitted from 1945 to 1949 was B.C., where the percentage of industry jumped from seven to 10, but this, he said, was due to the population increase. UNEMPLOYED “Steelworkers of Nova Scotia,” he said, “are walking the streets when they could and should be fitted into the defense program and _ specifically into the badly needed expansion of the steel in- dustry.” Figures were also given in the House of Commons for defense contracts so far awarded, includ- ing: B.G., $83,500,000; Ontario, $214,400,000; Quebec, $154,000,- 000; Nova Scotia, $23,000,000. President .................. sesso a joe-President ..........-. President jones urer jonal Board 3i BCLovses#Worxen Repeetenting the Orgesized Loggers and Mill Werkers of B.C. PUBLISHED TWICE MONTHLY BY INTERNATIONAL, WOODWORKERS OF AMERICA (CIO-CCL) B.C DISTRICT COUNCIL No. 1. DISTRICT OFFICERS: . Vice-President ..-c--ccccccrccsereceeeene Address all com GEORGE H. MITCHELL, Secretary-Treasurer 45 Kingsway - Phone FAirmont $807-8 Vancouver, B.C. Subscription Rates...........$1.00 per annum Advertising Representative............@. A. Spencer Authorized as Second Class Mail, Post Office Dept., Ottawa 26,000 COPIES PRINTED IN THIS ISSUE SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS REGRAPHIC PHOTO-ENGRAVERS ARTISTS no increase in Hospital Insurance premiums. IWA Present Active in the lobby are IWA officials. District President J. S. Alsbury, District 2nd Vice-Presi- dent Joe Morris, Financial Secre- tary Roy Whittle, and Organizer Ed Haw, Local 1-118, IWA, and Lawrence Vandale, Local 1-357, IWA, are included in the line-up. In a statement for the B.C. Lumber Worker, District Pres dent J. S. Alsbury declared: “The outstanding feature of this labor lobby is that for the first time the principal B.C. labor bodies have combined on a legis- lative program and are acting in unison. Both AFL and CCL or- ganizations had previously made submissions to the Cabinet, but without any assurance that labor legislation would be dealt with at this session. No action was taken by the Provincial Government which would enable organized labor to be heard before the Legislature’s Standing Commit- B.C. Labor United To Demand Fair Legislation ‘Twenty-five trade unionists, representing the major trade descended on the Legislature in Victoria this week to interview every M.L.A. and cabinet minis- ter urging the necessity of improved labor legislation in the tee on Labor. ICA Act “B. C. trade unions which have all expressed their protest over the restrictive provisions of the ICA Act, will now make their protest in unison. “The procedures of collective bargaining and certification must be freed from unreasonable curbs. Compensation Changes “In the matter of Workmen’ Compensation, new income levels make it necessary to remove the $2,500 limit on the earnings upon which compensation is calculated. Increased living costs make it a matter of justice that totally in- jured workmen should receive a higher rate of compensation. The present tragic plight of the widows, now compelled to main- tain their homes on $50 a month pension must be rectified without delay. “Although the Sloan Commis- sion is continuing its enquiry into these matters, the urgency is so great that the Government should anticipate an obviously necessary recommendation. “The joint lobby will register the most emphatic protest pos- sible against the high-handed ii crease of Hospital Tnsurancglil premiums and authority to lev: charges against patients under the scheme.” MArine 7235 SPECIAL WEEKLY RATES 1221 GRANVILLE STREET VANCOUVER, B.C. Under New Management. See for yourself—today. Money Orders! 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