Vol. XX, No.2 <>»

Vancouver, B.C.

Dec. 20 1951 5c per copy

- Santa’s Helpers

SANTA CLAUS and his able assistants of the Women’s Auxiliary at the Christmas Party sponsored
by Local 1-357, IWA, held in the Arenex, New Westminster, December 16.

. 1. M. BILLINGS ..
PHILIP ST!

POLICIES
PROTESTED

Public mass meeting which packed Port Alberni’s Capi-
tol Theatre Sunday at the call of Local 1-85, IWA, ap-
proved a resolution which was telegraphed to the Federal
Government urging immediate cessation of all immigra-
tion into the district. Bitter denunciation was heard of

F ederation
Meets In Feb.

Official call for the 8th Annual
Convention of the B.C. Federa-

}\ tion of Labor designates Febru-

ary 2nd and 3rd, 1952, as the
dates for the assembly, and the
Moose Hall, 1129 Howe Street, as
the place of meeting.

Affiliated Local Unions are en-
titled to one delegate for the
first 100 members or less and one

| additional delegate for each ad-

“BUNKHOUSES SHOCKING,” SAYS MITCHELL
ON INTERIOR TOUR, PROMISES ACTION

Disgraceful conditions in

the Ingram Creek logging

camp bunkhouses of Boundary Sawmills Ltd. were singled
out for vigorous censure last week by District Secretary
George Mitchell as revealing the most callous disregard of

the health and comfort of loggers throughout the Interior.
The IWA District Secretary,

accompanied by Local Union of-
ficials, made a thorough inspec-
tion of the bunkhouses at the re-
quest of the men. The undertak-
ing was given that the IWA
would exert the utmost effort to
correet the deplorable unsanitary
conditions exposed.

Unwelcome Guests

First shock for the IWA offi-"
cials was the warning not to take

WHAT'S
INSIDE

Page
LOCALS .--seeeseesssnsseeneee 228,
Editorials ......... 4
TWA Pix 2 8
Safety .enneevee 6-7
President ....- 9
‘Union Business .... 12

a seat anywhere, as the bunk-
houses were infested with bed-
bugs and other pests. The con-
struction of the buildings was
such that the men’ had had no
opportunity to rid themselves of
their unwelcorhe companions.

Eight men are forced to sleep
in each room, with space of only
14 feet by 20 feet. Any ventila-
tion is non-existent, unless the
doors are left open, for the two

windows are rigidly constructed.
Main ventilation in the summer
time is through a hole in the roof,
but in the winter time this is
stuffed with a sack of hay.

Whew!

Single beds are provided, but
these are so arranged that little
room is left for drying clothes,
which must be hung around the
stove in the centre of the room.
This, added to the lack of venti-
lation, makes the atmosphere un-
endurable. -

Soon additional ventilatioh will
be provided through the floor,
predicted the District Secretary,

See DISGRACE page 2

ditional five hundred members or

ajor fraction thereof in excess
of one hundred. Two delegates
are allowed from each Labor
Council. -

The convention instructions ve-
quire that resolutions be type-
| written and double spaced, with
two copies forwarded to the Fed-
eration office, 617 Ford Building,
Vancouver, at least two weeks
before the convention.

Officers in charge of convention
arrangements are President Dan
Radford, 1st Vice-president
Stewart Alsbury, 2nd Vice-presi-
dent Hugh Ailison, 3rd _Vice-
president Joe Morris, and Seer:
tary-treasurer George Home.

conditions resulting from the recent unregulated influx of
new Canadians into the lumbering centre. <

The meeting also discussed the
unpleasant prospects seen in the
closing of small mills and camps
in the area, because of the mon-
opolistie policies of large lumber-
ing corporations in control of for-
est management licenses, The
Hon. Mr. Kenney, Minister of
Lands and Forests was requested
to attend a public meeting in the
city and explain the intentions of
his department in the matter.

The meeting was chaired by
President Walter Allen, and was
addressed by George Home, Sec-
retary of the B.C. Federation of
Labor; James Mowatt, M.L.A.;
Pitt Clayton, representing the
Progressive - Conservative Party;
and Leader of the Opposition,
Harold Winch, M.L.A.

A representative of the Immi- “
gration Department explained
that the policy of the government
was to admit to Canada only
those who may be advantageously
integrated into the economy.

It was claimed that difficulties
had arisen because of seasonal
fluctuations in employment in a
number of industries, but that all
possible efforts were being made
to control the flow of immigrants.

The newly-elected Mayors of
Alberni and Port Alberni took a

&ee PROTEST page 2

Charges arose from circum-
stances under which the employ-
er failed to enter into an agree-
ment with Local 1-423, IWA,
after certification had been secur-

IWA PROSECUTES
“UNFAIR” EMPLOYER

Prosecution for unfair labor practices was launched by
the IWA District Officers, with the consent of the Labor
Relations Board, against Acutt & Tipton Co. Ltd., in the
Vernon Police Court last week. r

met with abuse and threats.
The main grievance of the
Union is that the employer, it is

| alleged shut down and dismissed

ed. Attempts made by Interna-|his crew because of union orga-
tional Organizer Cox to interview | nization and re-hired non-union
the employer on the subject were | men upon resuming operations.

2,000 KIDDIES FROLIC AT
1-217 XMAS PARTY

All previous records for attendance and enjoyment were bro-

ken when Local 1-217, IWA, staged its Fourth Annual Christmas
Party for IWA children in the Auditorium, Sunday, December 9.
More than 2000 children were entértained and feted with toys,
candy and other goodies before they wearily but happily departed

CONTRACT SIGNED

Final scene in the protracted battle to win a satisfactory con-
tract for Interior lumber workers was attended by IWA District
Policy Committee members on Monday, when the master agreements
were formally ratified on behalf of the Interior Local Unions.

The terms were those reached in the interim settlement, as
reported earlier in this publication. The recommendation for accept-
‘ance was endorsed in a referendum ballot of the Interior IWA mem-

bers with an overwhelming majority.

Meetings held at various points in the Interior recorded com-
plete satisfaction with the strategy pursued by the Policy Com-

mittee,

with their IWA parents.

Social Committee Chairman
Harry Bardsley welcomed the
guests and declared the program
duly opened for the pleasure of
parents and offspring. He had
words of praise for all the volun-
teer workers who had contributed
to the success of the party, and
singled out W.A. members Mar-
garet Slarks, Olive Whitehouse,
and Muriel Bradley for their long
and weary hours of labor in
wrapping the Christmas presents
for the children.

Auxiliary Praised

President Lloyd Whelan was
warmly appreciative of the work
done by the committee members

and the Women’s Auxiliary. He
informed the audience of the
great value of the Auxiliary’s
hospital visiting activities to
cheer, woodworker patients and
maintain contacts with their rela
tives.

Christmas greetings to the
audience were spoken by Sister
Kay Woods, president of the
Women’s Auxiliary, who also
added a word of praise for the
spirit shown by the members of
the Union and the Auxiliary.

Master of Ceremonies was Jack
See PARTY page 2