B.C. LUMBER WORKER “Vicious Attack On All Workers” - Als in which they reside. We have bargained in good faith. We placed our cards on the table, and stated the needs of the workers in the industry, and the contract terms required to supply those needs adequately. We sup- plied evidence to show that these geen were just and reason- able. We estimated the resources of the industry, and stated only those demands for which the re- sources of the industry could make provision. We believe, that our demands if granted would make for greater efficiency of production, and the increaseed prosperity of the community. through the expanded purchasing power that would result. Let us examine the attitude of the operators as revealed in the statement of Mr. Billings, in or- der to determine whether the operators have shown the same frankness in bargaining. Mr. Bil- lings accuses the IWA of being unrealistic, because we have not accepted his word thatthe lum- ber industry is in a serious slump. He even goes so far as to say that we are “suspicious and un-, ' believing”, because we are unable ‘to believe his statement that the lumber industry is so close to bankruptcy that the present scale of wages cannot be maintained, , much less increased. F.LR. Predictions Worthless The onus of proof rests on Mr. Billings. All the economic facts as known contradict his gloomy predictions. His statements at this time are no whit different than his firm made in 1950. All through the course of negotia- tions in that year, he kept re- peating the same refrain—costs had swallowed all profits — the market prospects were terrible— any increased labor costs would curb employment — any advan- tages in the export market en- joyed then by the operators were negligible, etc. etc. Increases were then granted, as well as in the subsequent year. In spite of the forecast made by Mr. Billings and his associates ‘at that time, the years that fol- lowed brought the industry the greatest profits the operators have ever enjoyed. On that basis alone, Mr, Billings has not estab- lished any right to say that the IWA is improperly suspicious and unbelieving. | We know these operators through years of tough bargain- ing, and our experience with them has taught us the hard way to be suspicious and unbelieving. Why should the IWA accept the opinions expressed by Mr. Bil- lings today when they proved so worthless in 1950, and when they are so obviously directed to safe- guard the already swollen profits of the operators. Operators Plan Expansion Mr. Billings has been unable to disprove economic facts which are a matter of common knowl- edge. The huge profits made by the leading lumber corporations are a matter of public record. Up to this point nothing has actually occurred to diminish those profits in any appreciable degree, They are still large enough to make consideration of higher wages feasible. After allowance is made for fluctuations in the market of a purely seasonal character, the market prospect as disclosed in the employers’ own reports are excellent. They must be extraordinarily good for on the strength of these reports the employers have in- vested heavily in expansion to meet the increased market de- mand. All the economists, whose advice the employers accept, have predicted that the present high . level of prices and the market de- mand will be maintained. | No one admits that there are any signs of a major recession. The fact is, as we see the mat- ter, that the operators have de- termined to exploit their em- ‘ployees further because they 1 have become intoxicated with the lure of still greater profits if they can browbeat the workers into taking a wage-cut. Great concern is expressed for the welfare of the small operator. Any difficulties experienced by the small operator are not caus- ed by labor costs, They are get- ting full value for the money they spend in wages from in- creased productivity. The difficulties of the small logging operator are caused mainly because the larger mon- opolies are grabbing the avail- able good stands of timber through the licence system, and the small mill operator has suf- fered because the log ‘supply has been gobbled up by the larger operators, by artificial log prices. LADYSMITH BUSINESS GUIDE | AIRD — JEWELLER Phone 265 — LADYSMITH Watch, Jewollory and Clock Repairs, Watches, Diamonds Engagement and Wedding Rings, otc. The Ladysmith Chronicle A Union Shop ! Society and Commercial Printing at Fair Prices : Phone 23 LADYSMITH, B.C. P MacGREGOR’S -*MEN’S WEAR For Everything a Man Wears WORK, SPORT or DRESS We Can Afford to Sell the BEST for LESS! ORT ALBERNI BUSINESS GUIDE MacDONALD'S PHARMACY Prescriptions, Drug Sundries, First Aid Supplies Registered Optometrist Argyle Street Port Alberni Phone 1600 ‘WOODWARD STORES (PORT ALBERNI) LTD. "Your amily Shopping Contre” “Closed Wednesdays All Day” Hours: 9 - The Union should not be held to blame for a situation caused by aionopely interests, nor for any obsolesence in the industry due to its rapid mechanization. Mr, Billings has failed to refer to these facts, which have a dis- tinct bearing on the situation. Welfare Disregarded The Union has a perfect right to be indignant at the complete disregard shown for the welfare of the workers in the industry. Mr. Billings says that the opera; tors desire to continue steady employment, but, of course, only at the price of exorbitant profits. The lumber industry should be held to account for its responsi- bility toward the 32,000 workers involved. They have enjoyed ex- cessive profits and have not re- turned to the people of this prov- ince any fair proportion of the revenue derived from the forest wealth of the province. A glance at the Government figures will show that the total public reve- nue from our forests is estimated as approximately $11 million, but that the province’s estimated ex- penditure to maintain our forests in a state of productivity aproxi- mates $7 million, leaving for the province a net of only $4 million in revenue, Contrast this with the net pro- fits enjoyed by the operators over and above the payment of taxes and depreciation. As published, one company alone last year made a net surplus of over $15 million. Still Demanding Overtime The operators this year made not the slightest attempt to meet their responsibilities to improve the living standards of the work- ers out of the wealth which they have accumulated from their em- ployees’ labor. Instead, in the most cold-blooded manner pos- sible, they have proposed to re- duce their living standards by slashing wages. Note the incon- sistency of their proposals. Because of the increased costs of living which they have ex- perienced, they say they must raise the cost of board for the loggers seven days a week by one dollar a day, thus reducing log- gers’ wages by that amount. The loggers work five days a week, but must pay the increased cost of board seven days a week, say the operators. In addition, they abruptly brushed aside all consideration of the loggers who have been penalized because they are not paid travel time in their operations. They wish to be com- pensated for the increased cost of living which they thus admit, while disregarding the effects of rising prices on the wage dollar of the loggers, Inconsistency The operators claim that they simply cannot afford any increas- ed wage costs because of their alleged perilous financial posi- tion. Yet in the very next breath they ask for the right to work their employees a six-day week and pay overtime wages at time and one-half. These same opera- tors have been, up till now, stead- ily demanding a longer work week in order to overtake market demands. Evidently, because of this con- tinued demand for overtime con- ditions, they expect the market demand to continue. In spite of this, they expect us to believe their pessimistic predictions about the serious plight of the industry. Another feature of the nego- tiations gives-us good veason for suspicion. The first proposals of the operators were obviously de- signed to weaken and undermine existing conditions, Evidently, be- cause of this continued demand for overtime. conditions, they ex- pect us to believe their pessimis- tic predictions about the serious plight of the industry, SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS Another feature of the ne; tiations gives us good reason for suspicion. The first Ue Ror of the operators were obviously de- signed to weaken and undermine existing conditions, Evidently they wish to destroy the rights “lof the employees to claim en- forcement of existing provisions of the contract made possible through the organization of camp and plant committees. They would, if they could, cripple all effective grievance procedures, and eliminate established senior- ity rules, In many ways, and with re- “Want To Smash IWA” We have, therefore, a perfect right to suggest that the opera- tors as represented by Forest Industrial Relations Ltd., entered these negotiations with the de- termination to smash the TWA if they can get away with it, We regard their bargaining strategy as part of the plan adopted by employers generally to offer de- termined resistance to trade union advances this year. The IWA as the largest union in the province has been selected as the chief victim of this new profit- gouging attack, IWA members know that there is only one answer to a vicious attack of this nature. We will spect to matters that | ed thete denienr ts 4 gaining strength of and maneuver them sition to bludgeon ito tame been ere o working conditions, Many of the proposals o Union were not cost items. ae cate have been consi e employers genuinely ed harmonious labor-mana; relations. They were not so sidered and were met wit “No” as emphatic as for tary demands, fight back. We will give the em- _ ployers full opportunity to m us in a reasonable and fair-d ing eae Bess the Concilia. ion Officer, and if necessary, be- fore a Conciliation Searls aa Unless the operators drop this “you'll take it and like it” atti- tude, we will continue our prep arations to -fight with the fy economic strength of our Uniol It is for this reason that we haye alerted our Local Unions to pro- ceed immediately with the orga. nization of strike committees in every operation. Since the opera- tors are forcing this fight on us, & they'll find us ready to fight. FROM PAGE 1 INTERIOR PROGRAM | Elimination of the beginners’ rate. Basic rate for watchmen. Universal hourly-rated wage scale. Guaranteed daily wage for truck drivers. June 15 termination date for contract. The conference was attended by District Officers J, S. Alsbury, S. M, Hodgson, Fred Fieber, and George Mitchell, Keynote address was given by District President J. Stewart Als- bury in which he reported on progress made with Coast nego- tiations. He appealed for soli- darity in union preparations that a program of effective action might be developed on behalf of — Interior woodworkers. WilAT HAVE YOU GOT 10 A valuable watch? A ring you just couldn't re- place? Important papers? Savings Bonds? — Any small personal possession you would hate to lose? Then why risk loss? Why even worry about it when complete protection—against fire, theft and loss—cost so little? You can rent a Safety Deposit Box at the B of M for less than two cents a day. Bring your valuables to your nearest B of M branch as soon as you can. It y : always pays to play safe. Bank or MonrTREAL Canada's First Bank LOoE?