B.C. LUMBER WORKER 4 May 3, 1951 206,000-Name Brickbat ) ii ‘Page 3 UNIONS HIT BY Pek C.OL., TOO igi Workers’ Fight Requires . ‘Sound Financial Backing By George Burt, Canadian Director, United Automobile Workers, CIO Just as every wage earner finds difficulty in making ends meet financially, so does his union. The union has a cost-of-living prob- lem like every other family. Over the last several years, union members have had some wage increases to help take the sting out of inflation. The union, however, is still providing the same services for its has been receiving since 1946. Everything the union buys{ these days costs more money. Printing costs have mounted steadily—so have the costs of} rents and office supplies. Tele- phone and telegraph bills go up even though we use them less. Transportation costs have in- creased tremendously. Just as _ higher living costs have necessi- | tated higher incomes for the em- | press where you work, so they ave necessitated higher income | for the employees of your union. The administration of both) your union and mine, and, in fact, | of all unions, have worked consis- tently to cut corners and mini-} mizé expenses. But they are up| against the simple, basic fact! that 1946 income will not meet 1951 costs. That is a practical problem that every worker will readily understand. No Santa Claus Workers have always under- stood that there is no economic Santa Claus. They know that if they want‘*a strong union, a! * union equipped to do an effective > job for them, that it would be necessary for the workers to) provide the needed financial re-| sources for such a union. To try | to maintain your union without adequate finances is like putting | a lifeguard on the beach with his | hands tied behind his back. By an overwhelming majority (easily 90%) the membership of the UAW-CIO recently voted to increase their monthly dues by $1.00 per month. They voted to do so without hesitation for, inj the light of the facts, no logical argument could be presented for not doing so. Our membership ' did not discuss this question from | the standpoint of how much they _ G. M. PROFITS faced with the responsibility of members with the same income it Wages were low, there was no overtime pay, no seniority protec- tion, no grievance procedure, none of the things that most or- ganized workers take for granted today. Yet the workers paid two hours pay in the hope of building a strong union. In due time they leame to enjoy all those things and more. In 1946, we, by democratic membership action and decision, increased our dues. Again noth- ing tangible was guaranteed. But our union, thus strengthened, was able to increase our wage | rates, improve our contracts and win social security benefits. Provide the Tools In spite of the achievements of your union and mine there is still much to be done before we reach our goal of security and abun- dance for all who work for a living. It would be nice if there was some magic formula for winning economic justice and safeguarding our rights. But we all know that the good things of life do not come easily and that if we want a union that can effec- tively fight our battles and ad- vance our interests, we must give our union the tools to get those jobs done. The union’s cost-of-living prob- lem is a fundamental, bread and butter problem for every member for weakness in the union’s re- sources is translated into weak- ness at the bargaining table. SOAR AGAIN OTTAWA (CPA) — General JOINT LABOR CO) lative Buildings, Victoria, Legislature. ITTEE, CCL, TLC, and Railway Brotherhood Unions meet on steps of Legis- and prepare to present mammoth petition on Hospital Insurance to 1 had to pay their union but from | Motors Corporation reported 1950 , the standpoint of how much they |Net earnings of $834,044,039, on would have to help their union to 2 business volume of $7,531,086,- } get the job done. (846, the greatest net profits and i Barly Dass sales ever recorded by a private i |concern. The rest of the auto- In the early days of our union, |mobile industry is expected to UAW dues were $1.00 per month. | show comparable profits. | ; In those days we were fighting! Corporation profits in 1950 two-bit company unions, In our |were 32 percent over 1949, accord- { fight against the two-bit com- | ing to the National City Bank of any unions, the auto workers|the United States. Totals were new that they could not have a | $7.9 .billion after taxes, against Strong ‘union unless their dues $6 billion in 1949, according to a | were at least $1.00 per month. In | tabulation by the bank of $2,213 | those days $1.00 represented bet- | i | USL Sara corporation reports. For those two hours they re-| Sign in a store window: “Alter- ceived no tangible benefits for | cation ‘sale — partners splitting we were just starting to build. | up.” Tony Makes A Point The man without Dayton Isnt drecsed for the job i DAYTON SHOE MANUFACTURING CO. (8. ¢) LTD. AS 2248-50 € HASTINGS sr.