Page 4 B.C. LUMBER WORKER The Prospect ‘THE opening days of the New Year provide many good reasons for an organization, as well as an individual, to look both backward and forward. Although 1951 is now closed territory, in retrospect it provides Jandmarks, upon which bearings may be taken to chart a»more certain course for 1952. It is an appropriate time to take inventory of IWA resources and appraise the prospects for future achievement, This exercise is most useful for IWA members as they engage in preparations for the approaching District Con- vention. When the delegates from all IWA Local Unions in British Columbia assemble in the Hotel Vancouver, Jan- uary 29, they will be fully informed of the exact gains made during the past year, and the present resources of the Union, Armed with these facts, and their knowledge of the needs of the lumber workers, they will be required to make decisions with regard to the welfare of those who must rely upon the IWA. * * # The lessons. of democracy learned by the IWA in the past few years form the most important guide to future action. The democratic control of the Union's’ affairs, restored since 1948, is the Union’s most precious asset, and the safest guarantee of future progress and vitality. . When workers organize to make their own decisions on their own behalf, with the purpose of achieving the great- est good to the greatest number, they cannot fail to add to the sum total of their common well-being. Most outstanding achievement of the past year has been the increased strength and prestige of the IWA in British Columbia. The peak of membership strength reached during 1951 was 33,000. This has been secured through the persistent effort of the Local Unions to orga- nize the unorganized, and efficiently service the interests of workers in all sections of the industry. This growth of membership strength offers direct proof that the IWA commands the confidence of the great majority of the lumber workers, and that this confidence has been deserved. ier eer In the field of contract negotiations the IWA served the membership well in 1951. The Coast contract settle- ment was unique, in that it was obtained in advance of the termination daté of the master agreement and by pro- cess of negotiation alone. Z The increase was made retroactive to the beginning of the year for an 18 months’ period, and included a cost-of- living bonus which upped wages 11 cents as from July 1. Prior to this the average increase for all sections of the industry approximated 18 cents. With great wisdom, the emphasis was placed in 1951 upon the Interior settlement. This judgment was vindi- cated, when last month the same base rate was established for the Interior as now prevails at the Coast. A menacing threat to Coast standards was thus removed. es 8 & Future policies and progress rests upon the decisions to be reached at the District Convention. Certain general trends are now apparent, and suggest the general outline of the 1952 objectives. . The demands and strategy of contract negotiations this year will be a major matter for consideration. Living costs continue to rise, even as the operators’ profits soar to un- precedented heights. Wage adjustments will undoubtedly be sought to keep pace with spiralling prices. A wide range of proposals for contract improvements are now under consideration by the Local Unions, and PROPOSALS TO CURE B.C.’s VOTING DEFECTS By Jack Scott AMONG the steps which have been, taken to change the system of voting under the Provincial Elections Act, provision should also be made to protect the voting of all those workers who, like loggers, are often prevented from casting their ballots on the official polling day. In the last Provincial Election, there were 171,120 registered voters. who did not vote. This may be attributed to four main causes: indifference to their. vot- ing rights, registration in more than one district, moved from the province, and inability to reach a polling station. Our legislation should make more adequate provision for those who want to vote, and for various reasons are unable to at- tend at the places appointed. Among these are those confined to hospital. There is no good reason why a logger undergoing hospital treatment for an injury should be denied the right to vote. Some 30,000 persons are found to be confined to hospitals each polling day. Hospital Voting Alberta makes provision for such contingencies by a clause in the Elections Act which reads: “81, The returning officer shall appoint a deputy returning officer and a poll clerk to take a poll- of the patients, then being inmates of a hospital, but of no other per- son—fix period during election for taking of poll, shall attend with a ballot box upon such pa- tients certified well enough to vote... ? This section excludes voting in a mental hospital. Organized labor has already velling under conditions which will preclude him from voting at any polling booth in the province. (c) is seriously ill or infirm, and by reason of such illness or infirmity will be precluded from attending at any polling booth to vote, or in the case of a woman, will by approaching maternity be precluded from attending at any polling booth to vote. i + 1+ may make application for a postal vote certificate and postal ballot paper.” In the 1949 election, State of Victoria, 36,000 voted by this method. As men engaged in logging were the first to fight for the absentee ballot, it would be well for them to fight now for an ex- tension of this method of voting as it is required under the con- ditions of their employment, CCL STAFF CHANGES . Two major organizational ap- pointments were announced last week by the Canadian Congress of Labor. Henry Harm, CCL Rep- resentative at Saint John, N.B., was made acting Regional Diree- tor for the Maritime Provinces, C. G. Palmer, Regional Director for Saskatchewan, has had his region extended to include Al- berta. Mr. Palmer has been a mem- ber of the CCL staff since Sep- tember, 1944, and Mr. Harm since April, 1945, The change in east- ern Canada follows tlie recent ap- pointment of Donald MacDonald, former Maritime Regional Diree- tor, to the position of National Secretary- Treasurer. Extension of Mr. Palmer’s authority follows the resignation of Tom McCloy from the position of Alberta Re- gional Director. x They Made a Billion OTTAWA (CPA)—More than a billion dollars in profits were piled up during 1950 by a total of 626 companies included in the latest Bank of Canada statistical summary of corporation profits. The central bank return showed that the 626 had made a total of $1,063.8 millions last was $844.4 millions, year in profits before taxes. The 1949 figure the increase was about 25%, More significant are the totals of profits left as “net income to stockholders” after taxes have been paid. These are substantial, and have been increasing. Here’s a summary of the “net income” figures recorded by the Bank for key industrial groups over the last few years: demanded the retention of the (Millions of Dollars) include health and welfare plans. Union security requires e : E absentee vote for fishermen and | 45 mooa pr; jeqt 8” 1 attention. Behind the declarations of the convention, the |ioggers, It would therefore seem | 5 Peed Fxeduets Companies a1 oS gas ane IWA is now prepared to place its new-found strength, with | feasible to extend the provisions | 45 Iron & Steel Coy's 14.6 205 Sit 8360 46a greater confidence of victory. of the absentee‘ voting to take |{2 Nechinery Coys yar care of the needs of such persons | 27 Chemical Goon 1250 15S NB A * * * as loggers in small isolated | 31 Retail Trade & Service Coy'’s 15.2 16.2 19.1 19.5 215 camps, persons engaged on work which keeps them away from a polling station at any time, such as hand loggers, certain seamen, railway telegraphers, and those confined to their homes by chronic illness, ~ Postal Vote Australia makes provision for these categories by means of the absentee postal vote, as follows: “An elector who,... (b) will throughout the hours of polling on polling day be tra- ANS B. C. COLLATERAL LOAN BROKERS LTD. 77 EAST HASTINGS, Cor, COLUMBIA As in the past, the IWA will conscientiously assume its share of the program outlined by the Canadian Congress of Labor unions in the province. The IWA will unquestion- ably be found in company with like-minded trade unions in exerting the maximum pressure for necessary legisla- tion. : ets Pending legislative developments are of great signifi- cance, The reports of three commissions will present the B.C. Legislature with the necessity of amending three Acts—the B. C. Hospital Insurance Act, the ICA Act, and the Workmen’s Compensation Act. The most casual con- sideration of the evidence presented by the IWA and other trade unions will make legislative changes imperative. It will be the responsibility of the trade union movement to make certain that the Legislature acts, and acts promptly, 3,7 Sa ie The TWA has not built a better organization in 1951 merely for the sake of having a good organization. The better organization of the IWA was built to continue with greater vigor, the fight to get the highest standards for the lumber workers made possible by the resources of the industry. BIG 3 TAILORS MEN'S CLOTHING and FURNISHINGS @ STORAGE SERVICE e@ Cleaning, Pressing and “Expert Repairing Phone: 332 Carrall St. | MArine 1737 + VANCOUVER On DIAMONDS, JEWELRY, SILVERWARE, FURS AND ALL VALUABLES Immediate Cash! No Red Tape! Unredeemed Diamonds for Sale PAcific 3557-8