nt December 6, 1951 B. Cc. LUMBER WORKER Page 9 ‘By 5 Storrt Abba No Cheap Labor A’ recent meetings of the IWA District Executive Board and the Greater Vancouver and Lower Mainland Labor Council, our Union was compelled to sound the alarm with regard to present immigration policies. It had become evident that new arrivals were being dumped into the lumber industry without regard to their welfare or of those with prior rights to employ- ent, . Tyade unions have proved to be a leading factor in the development of British Democracy, and are today the chief bulwark of that democracy, was the theme of District 1st Vice-president Joe Morris in addressing the Rotary Club of Duncan recently. His speech was arranged that he might answer a critic of trade unionism that had previ- ously addressed the Club. It does not follow that the [WA is oposed to all immigration. We recognize that Canada needs ad- ditional popula- tion, and that with increased population, and planning, our ec- onomy can attain a greater pros- perity. We also recognize that Canada, with its greatvacant spaces cannot forever resist the population pressure from other sections of the globe. Our quarrel is with the pres- ent planlessness of immigration. Without adequate planning, we cannot successfully absorb the ew arrivals into citizenship. ‘ithout adequate planning, im- migration can more easily dis- rupt than make for progress or prosperity. Grave Suspicions , The signs are appearing which indicate that immigration this, year has been directed for pur- poses other than increased pro- duction, If immigrants are used to displace skilled and available labor, the purpose can be only one of breaking down the estab- lished standards of wages and working conditions, If immigrants are placed on hazardous work, without instruc- tion in the language of the coun- try, this reveals that employers are concerned only with the crea- tion of a floating surplus of la- bor, to enforce submissiveness, No Exploitation If the immigrants themselves are found working for sub-stand- ard wages, or are diverted from the trades in which they were promised employment, immigra- tuon is bound to present a sinis- ter aspect to the workers already on the ground. If they are at the same time herded into crowded and unsatisfactory living quar- ters, and forced to work for their keep, the only conclusion is that they are to become the pawns in a deliberate exploitation of all Canadian workers. The Unemployment Insurance Commission, working in close cooperation with the Department of Immigration, can prevent any trouble. Immigration should be permitted only when definite pro- vision has been made for their employment, without the dis- placement of workers already in the area. Every safeguard should be provided for them and for those already in employment or await- ing employment, that standards are not lowered for either group. Immigration can prove to be healthy for Canada if it is con- ducted to get healthy results. If it is misdirected for the-exploita- tion of cheap labor, our country will “sow the wind and reap the whirlwind”. One punch-drunk fighter to another: “Boy, did I have him worried in the third round! He thought he’d killed me!” RIPLEY'S LTD. 54 West Cordova Vancouver 4, B.C. MEN’S WORK & DRESS CLOTHES 4 * Get Your Pin-Up Calendar for 1952 Champion of All Lightweight LIGHT CRUISER Caulked Boots © Featuring High Carbon Steel Oil >) Tempered Boot Caulks FOR SURE GRIP for Mill Another Favorite... HEAD’S famous “SAFETY TOE BOOTS” Workers W. J. HEAD BOOT 21 East Hastings St. (PA, 4844) “HEADS YOU WIN” FACTORY LIMITED Vancouver, B.C, BIG 3 Cleaning, Pressing 332 Carrall St. MEN'S CLOTHING and FURNISHINGS @ STORAGE SERVICE © Phone: MArine 1737 TAILORS and Expert Repairing VANCOUVER The speaker outlined the con- ditions in Britain during the In- dustrial Revolution in which trade unionism had been born. The primary purpose had been, he declared, the betterment of the workers’ conditions. By mutual self-help and fraternal bonds they overcame the worst forms of poverty and servitude. He made the point that the whole community is indebted to the trade union movement for the establishment of living standards below which no man is expected to fall. Trade unionism has estab- lished the yardstick for present- day living standards, and has created a social conscience with regard to human welfare, he said. The prosperity of the com- munity has been thus served, was his contention. Collective Bargaining One of the most important steps brought about by Trade Union organization was the establishment of the principle of collective bargaining, which en- sures that a worker can meet the employer on a more equal foot- ing, by bargaining through his union instead of as an individual. A contract, when signed, -puts both parties under obligation to observe its conditions during its duration, this stabilizes the rela- tions between labor and manage- ment for that period and this is to the benefit of all the commun- ity. Union Security Laws should assure the work- ers the unrestricted right to choose his method of asso: ion. “Union Security” is a principle in effect in a great majority of industrial operations, it is a democratic principle which main- tains that when a majority of members have selected a Union to do their bargaining for them, then they should be all required to maintain their membership in that Union so that the Union can effectively bargain for all of them. Workers have also a deep in- terest in Social Security, in bet- ter housing, protection for old age, unemployment, and will find some way of influencing or select- ing government that will pay as much attention to the interests of organized workers as organized employers. Morris Extols Labor Democracy @ The Trade Union Movement believes in democracy and will sacrifice, as we have done in the past, to maintain it. Union made, of finest leather . . . wear like iron, comfortable as kid. VANCOUVER, B.C. the trip. MAKE Y OUR (RES ESRiVsACHIEO! NIS@SEPATRID. INTERNATIONAL © ‘TRANSCONTINENTAL Trans-Canada Air Lines provides the quickest, most convenient way to join the folks for Christmas. Whether home is 200 or 2000 miles away, you'll enjoy every minute of There’s no rush, no crowds, no stand-up travelling. Get out of the TRANS - CANA, TRANS-ATLANTIC woods and season. Phone TAtlow the comfortable way—via TCA. TCA’s services are particularly helpful to lumbermen who only get a short time ouf for the holiday Make your reservations early through any travel agent or the nearest TCA Office. home for Christmas— 1211.