12

B.C. LUMBER WORKER

June 7, 1951

Geo. Mitchell Reports

& The UNION’S BUSINESS

‘Bribes’ Won’t Fool Interior

OTHE lumber operators in the Interior of the province recognize

that the IWA is in deadly earnest about its intentions to
wipe out the Interior wage differential this year. The proof of,
this is that they are resorting to every trick in the book to
circumvent the IWA and mislead the Iumber workers with a
pretended benevolence.

One influential employer has
advised his employees that they
will henceforth enjoy a cost-of-

a: living bonus of
12% cents an
hour. This has
been added to
their pay cheques
during the pro-
gress of negotia-
tions, quite ob-
viously to under-
mine their, sup-
port of the full

should not, however, allow this
sudden and rather suspicious
charity to weaken their determi-
nation to secure the full range
of the IWA demands.

The base rate for the Interior
should be fixed this year at
$1.29% without any ifs, buts,
ands, or bonus uncertainties,

All Interior lumber workers
know that the 40-hour week is a
must, with time and one-half for
all production work on Saturdays
and Sundays.

Should the Interior workers
allow themselves to be blinded to
the other advantages to be ob-
tained on their behalf if they
coxginue to fight to get equality
with the coast workers this year.

‘The 12% cent bonus is nothing
more or less than a bribe, in-
tended as a smoke screen for the
real intention of the Interior em-
ployers to maintain lower wage
levels in the Interior at all costs,
and keep the workers at their
mercy. I rely on the good judg-
‘ment of the workers té see
through this obvious deception.

Coast workers should take
heed, for this strategy of the In-
terior employers indicates more
clearly than before the grim fight
that must be waged by the whole
District this year to get justice
for the Interior workers.

Supplementary brief of the
IWA was presented before
Chief Justice Sloan, Commis-
sioner appointed to enquire
into the administration of the
Workmen’s Compensation Act,
on May 17, by William Gray,
Secretary, District Safety
Council.

Stress was laid on the conclu-
sions reached by the Union fol-
lowing the trial of Ole Belsheim,
rigging slinger, for violations of
the accident prevention regula-
tions and resulting fines. It was
urged that the supplying of

&écL POLICY

WIPE OUT LOW WAGES

Wage policy committee established by the Canadian

May 6.

In_a circular letter addressed
to his employees this employer
adroitly glosses over the fact
that he has not increased the

The Northern Interior contract
has the provision of two weeks
vacation with pay after . five
years. Why should this be de-
nied workers in the Southern
Interior? With this should go
the proyisions for 244% vacation
pay or the 5% after five vears.

Congress of Labour at a representative meeting in To-
ronto, May 17, recommended to all affiliated unions that
they take all legitimate means to seek substantial wage
increases. Emphasis is to be laid on the wiping out of low
wage areas, it was stated.

-In a statement addressed to af- |
fiiliated unions, Pat Conroy | wage earners to pay more money

basic rate. If in his opinion, at
any time the bonus is not war-
ranted, by living costs, it can be
removed, leaving the base rate at
$1.10, instead of the $1.29%4 de-
manded by the IWA.

I have no doubt but that the

Why should the Interior
workers forego a union security
provision in their contract simi-
lar to that now obtained for the
coast workers? Union security
would enable them to deal more
satisfactorily with the numerous
employees concerned can put the | and vexing job problems which
increased pay to good use to|are not now dealt with satisfac-
meet higher living costs. They | torily.

The Syubol of All That ce Best
‘« CUSTOM TAILORING
aud

EXCLUSIVE

MEN’S WEAR

DELIVERY IN 30 DAYS

IF NECESSARY

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Bicherter.c black

416 COLUMBIA ST. NEW WESTMINSTER

Publication date of the next Issue of the B.C. LUMBER
WORKER is June 21. Deadline for ad copy is June 14 and for
news copy June 15,

warned:

“As you are aware, the Con-
gress, in conjunction with other
national trade union centres in
Canada, has petitioned the Fed-

mediately price controls at the
proper price levels as substitutes

Despite the joint representations
by virtually the entire labor
movement of Canada and the
more recent representations by
individual labor centres, includ-
ing our own, the Government has
refused point-blank to introduce
a policy that would result in a
larger pay envelope for the orga-
nized workers throughout the
country.

Price Control Refused

“The position of our Congress
has always been that it would be
preferable to secure a substantial
reduction in prices to assist the
housewives of the nation in secur-
ing more merchandise for their
dollars when they go to the store
to buy necessary supplies. Not
only is there no sign that the
Government intends to take ac-
tion to roll back prices, but at
the moment there is the assur-
ance that.the present increases
in prices will continue. The Con-
gress and its-unions have no op-
tion but to go after substantial
wage increases as soon as this is
possible.

The Congress is aware: that
each union has its own peculiar
conditions with respect to its
wage contract, including the ex-
piry date thereof. However, we

should be taken advantage of by
our affiliated and chartered un-
ions to raise the question of sub-
stantial wage increases with the
employers who are parties to
their wage contracts.

It may be expected that em-
ployers will raise the question of
the inviolability and the sanctity
of the contract, but it is a fact
that many of these employers
are continuing to raise the prices
of commodities during the life of
the contract, and which are
bought by the workers of Canada
who produce them. In this way
employers are compelling the

= igi

BC Lunsent/WVorner

Representing the Organized Loggers and Mill Workers of B.C.
PUBLISHED TWICE MONTHLY BY
INTERNATIONAL WOODWORKERS OF AMERICA (CIO-CCL) Pa
vart Alsbury
Joe Morris

&

President
ist Vice-Pi
2nd Vice-Presiden'
rd Vice-President
Seeretary-Treasurer eorge H. Mitchell
International Board Member ‘om G. MacKenzie

Address all communications to
GEORGE H. MITCHELL, Secretary-Treasurer
46 Kingsway - Phone FAirmont $807-8
‘Vancouver, B.C.

Subscription Rates............§1.50 per annum

Advertising Representative.........G. A. Spencer
Authorized as Second Class Mall, Post Office Dept., Ottawa
26,000 COPIES PRINTED IN THIS ISSUE

B.C DISTRICT COUNCIL No. 1.

DISTRICT OFFICERS:
J. St

Mi. Hodgson
Fred Fieber

NON-UNION pops
STATIO

3. SSE 153 1951_Caet Sram,

eral Government to institute im- |

for the present inflationary con- |
dition throughout our country. |

believe that every opportunity |

for the commodities they require
| while on the whole, wages remain
static.”

SLOAN HEARS IWA’s
SECOND SUBMISSION

safety hats should be the respon-
sibility of management. The
same principle was urged for all
necessary protective equipment.

Further evidence in support of
| Previous recommendations re-
garding the rehabilitation of di:
abled workman was also_plac
before the Commissioner. Emph:
sis was laid on the need for an
advocate in compensation cases.
A list of adjustments secured
through the advocacy of the IWA
was submitted in evidence. |

Examination and cross-exami-
nation of the IWA spokesman
occupied five hours, as the Com-
mission and company counsel
sought further explanation of the
IWA position.

Crow’s Nest
100% IWA

Former stronghold of the
WIUG, Crows Nest Lumber Co.
Natal, has now been organiz
100% IWA by Local 1-405,
was reported at the recent meet-
ing of the District Executive
| Board,

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