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LUMBER WORKER

April 3, 1952

Fishermen’s Union

IWA support for the extension of Workmen’s Compen-

sation to all fishermen was

expressed by District Secre-

tary-Treasurer George Mitchell’ when he addressed the
recent Annual Convention of the United Fishermen and
Allied Workers in Vancouver. He stressed the similarity
of aims held by the two Unions.

He said in part:

“Although I cannot claim to
have knowledge of the problem
of the fishing industry, I do know
the worth of the Union which

for the workers in the

ig industry. We respect and
admire the manner in which your
Union has organized the fisher-
men and shore-workers on an in-
dustry-wide basis. We congratu-
late your members and officers on
the achievements of the UFAWU.
We sincerely hope for your con-
tinued success in the endeavor to
better the circumstances of those
who harvest the wealth of the

sea,
Flotilla Praised

“Your Union richly deserves
congratulations upon the spirit
shown in the organization of the
“Compensation Flotilla” which
recently and so impressively sail-
ed into Victoria. I know that you
pranenne an officialdom, that is
seldom impressed by a labor dem-
onstration.

“By turning the spotlight of
publicity on a neglected issue,
your Union rendered a service to
all the workers of the province, I
only wish that you could have
sailed out of Victoria with the
catch you went after. Fishing in
the muddied political waters at
Victoria at present is far from
satisfactory.

In the IWA, we regard the pio-
neer work done by the fishermen
in building their cooperatives, as
being of outstanding importance,
I know this is outside the juris-
diction of the Union, but it is,

| nevertheless, a result of the co-
operative spirit which prevails
among fishermen.

“Beyond a doubt, fishermen
haye demonstrated that by the
cooperative management of their
own affairs, the workers can suc-
cessfully challenge the powerful
monopolies which seek to profit
at our expense. We are watching
this development with close in-
terest, and to some extent fol-
lowing your example by building
credit unions as the basis for fur-
ther cooperative endeavor.

Common Aims

“In the lumber industry, we
earn our daily bread in somewhat
different fashion than in the fish-
ing industry, but these differences
should not conceal the fact that
we have common problems and
common objectives. Both our
unions are organized on an indus-
try-wide basis. For this reason
we are both confronted by power-
ful monopoly interests opposed to
the aims of organized labor. Both
our Unions are deeply concerned
with regard to our continued ac-
cess to the natural wealth of the
province. We are therefore de-
termined upon the adoption of
sound principles of conservation.

“We find ourselves on common
ground with respect to our imme-
diate legislative aims. We have
the same grievances against those
in economic and political author-
ity, who would shelve considera-
tion of our needs in deference to
big business interests.

“In the IWA, we are interested

in_safety in the woods and the
mills. In the UFAWU, you are
interested in safety at sea. We
share the view that the lives of
the workers are not expendable,
and that public authority should
safeguard lives in every way pos-
sible. Around these issues we
should strive for the maximum
unity of action. When labor
speaks with one voice on these
matters we can hope to win the
day for labor.

Fisheries Treaty

“As proof of our sincerity in
this regard, I point to the fact
that the Greater Vancouver and
Lower Mainland Labor Council,
of which I have-the honor to be
President, has given unqualified
support to the views of your
Union in the matter of the Japan-
ese Fisheries Treaty.

- Community Interests

“We share a common interest
in the general welfare of the
community. We all know that the
interests of those represented by
our respective unions are served
as we advance the general levels
of well-being and security. In
this regard, we may agree on cer-
tain broad objectives in this prov-
ince. They are: *

“(1) That the fullest possible
use be made of the resources of
production, both human and ma-
terial, to ensure a stable economy
and rising standards of living.

“(2) that in the use of these
resources the provision of goods
and services to meet the needs of
all our people in food, clothing,
housing, education, and medical
care, should be the prime con-
sideration.

“(8) that we protect the indi-
vidual as far as possible against
the risks of interruption or reduc-
tion of his earning power.

“If we are not diverted from
these objectives by issues of less-
er consequences, the united fish-
ermen, and the lumber workers
as united in the IWA, can to-

gether pioneer a new day for the
workers of British Columbia.”

A BATTLE TO WIN

By J. STEWART ALSBURY
IWA District President

Ovr Union has again launched its annual. offensive for better

contract terms. The issues have now been clearly stated by
the Negotiating Committee, to the members of which the bargain-
ing strategy has. been entrusted. At this stage we should take
inventory of some important assets held by the IWA.

One such asset
is the democracy
of the IWA. This
was clearly evi-
dent at the re-
cent Wages and
Contract Confer-
ence, as well as
at the preceding
District _Conven-
tion. The de-
mands, which
have been stated, originated no-
where else than with the work-
ers on the job. Their views pre-
dominated at the conference, and
wrote the policy for the Union.

Democracy at Work

By reason of the democratic
procedure followed, the demands
are based on the actual needs ex-
perienced by the rank and file. It
was the rank and file members
who instructed the delegates to
the District Convention. They
had the further opportunity of
discussing the broad outlines of
contract demands in the interval
before the wages and Contract
Conference. Their representatives
then had plainly stated instruc-
tions regarding the will of the
majority of the membership.

This procedure deprives the
employers of any opportunity to
claim that the demands were ar-
tificially whipped-up by the
Union’s officials. Critics within
the Union must now admit that

| the will of the majority prevailed

without hindrance.

Power Drive
If we fully appreciate this
democratic action, we readily see

that it places behind our contract
demands a power drive that will
be hard to beat. The enthusiasm
with which the demands have
been stated in the first place
should now be directed to winning
the demands. :
Those who insistently and ac-
tively worked to commit the
Union to an aggressive program
in this respect, may now be ex-
pected to be equally energetic in
organizing the full strength of
the Union for the pending con-
tract battle. :

Winning Factors

Contract terms are not won by
ambitious language or rousing
phrases at union meetings. They
are won by solid organization on

the demands the unmistakable
determination of all the workers
on the job. It is only through job
organization that this spirit is
roused to the pitch that will con-
vince the employers of our will
to win our objectives.

The conclusions reached in the
conference room must now be-
come the most common topic of
| conversation on the job. It must
be so directed as to unify our
energies. It must be closely re-
lated to. the central effort, and
, Should therefore be well-informed
through close contact with the
Local Unions.

The battle goes to those who
get there ‘‘fustest with the
; mostest”.

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OF THE MANY VALUES

MEN’S LIGHT WEIGHT

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G.W.G. “HIGH RIGGER”
BLUE DENIM PANTS

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* @ Made from II-ounce sturdy denim Ea
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9

Main Floor, Vancouver

the job. They are won when th:
workers concerned join to mai