B.C. LUMBER WORKER HAMILTON (CPA) — Over 125 delegates and staff repre- sentatives from most Canadian Congress of Labor Unions in 11 Ontario centres tackled problems of prejudice and dis- crimination in the shop and community at the Ontario Fed- eration of Labor’s first Confer- ence on Fair Practices, held at McMaster University, Hamil- ton, April 19 and 20. While the Ontario Fair Em-| ployment Practices Act played| an important part in workshop discussions, delegates centred their attention on measures which could be taken to improve democracy and teamwork in their own local unions and neighbor- | hoods, | The conference purpose was | keynoted by George Burt, Fed- eration President and Regional Director of the UAW, when he incident of racial or discrimination in the shop weak- ens the cause of democracy both at home and abroad. Fair prac- tices, he pointed out, could no longer be merely the subject of high-sounding speeches, but was the responsibility of each and every citizen and -every union member. Unplanned Immigration Delegates agreed that un- planned immigration had given rise to hard feelings toward the new Canadian worker in many | places, where competition had developed for scarce jobs and housing. Most delegates felt that labor representation on immigra- tion committees at all levels of government would help to remove some of the economic reasons for prejudice against the new immi- grant. It was emphasized, how- ever, that integration of immi- grants into the working commun- ity was a job for the unions themselves. A Fair Practices Committee for each local union was among workshop recommendations. Such committees would police F.E.P. | legislation in their own localities | and would carry out educational programs designed to eliminate ‘racial and religious boundary lines within the union. Delegates also felt that union members should carry the idea of fair prac- tices into Home and School clubs, parent-teacher associations and other voluntary organizations whose policies influence opinion in the community. is 4 Top Dog Says: “Singsational— the Dick Haymes show Sunday 4:05 pan.” Joe Morris On Green Gold STRIKE VOTE LI NEAR POLLING Stubborn resistance of the operators to IWA demands might lead to a government-supervised strike vote in the Coast lumber industry immediately prior to June 12, poll- ing day in the provincial general election, was the fore- cast made by District 1st Vice-president Joe Morris in an told delegates that the smallest | religious | j address over the Green Gold radio program, April 24. In voicing the protest of the District Negotiating Committee | against tactics of intimidation, as | lodged with Premier Johnson, he | said in part: “It is now clear that the em- ployers intend to offer stubborn resistance to every one of the Union’s demands. Quite evident- ally, they are in a mood to cut- back contract terms rather than extend them. For some months, they have inspired ‘soothing-| syrup’ propaganda intended to make the lumber workers believe that wages are now as high as | possible, and that working condi- | tions in the industry are ideal. “Since our demands were made known publicly, they have at- tempted to use ‘panic’ tactics hoping to convince all concerned that the lumber industry is tot- tering into a slump so severe that any increase in wages would invite complete bankruptcy. Protest to Premier “We are not so easily frighten- ed by bogies. Such tactics have been tried before so often that they are easily detected. We do deplore the fact that to create an artificial slump, some of our fel- low-workers are made to suffer needlessly. So serious do we re- gard this aspect of the situation that the District Officers have lodged a protest with Premier Johnson. “We have requested an investi- gation into the widespread lay- offs of woods crews by Coast log- ging operators. We based our protest on the belief that Coast operators are deliberately using this lay-off technique as a means of creating a feeling of insecurity among the Coast loggers, during | contract negotiations. |__ “We informed the Premier that | we view these lay-offs with grave jsuspicion, as it is only a short time since the same operators urged and were refused permis- sion to extend the work week be- |yond five days in order to build | up log supplies. The woods crews |have only recently returned to the woods after a long winter shutdown. “Similar protests haye been forwarded to the Federal Depart- ment of Labor, and we have di- rected the attention of the immi- [gration authorities to the situa- | tion, | Political Complication | pat Suggest that the Premier of this province might find good reason to use his influence on the side of fair and open bargaining in the lumber industry this year. While he is campaigning for re- {election on June 12th, the IWA is campaigning for a satisfactory contract prior to June 15th. | “Our Negotiating Committee | has a mandate from the mem- bership which’ is specific—on June 15, no contract, no work. “If negotiations completely deadlock, it is reasonable to as- sume that the IWA will be con- ‘ducting a strike vote just prior to polling day. If so, the IWA will be compelled to take the strike vote under conditions which the Premier’s government refused to change, as recommend- ed by the Enquiry Board of the Legislature. Renewal of Courses for Beginners and for AID CERTIFICATES Compensation Board of B.C. Certificates. “Tt seems to me that a pend- ing strike would provide political complications that the present Government would wish to avoid. It’s a complication that the [WA also wishes to avoid. The way to avoid any such mix-up, when a general provincial election cam- paign is in progress, is to ensure that bargaining is conducted. in good faith, without any of the techniques of intimidation. Now is the time to heed the warning of the IWA that if any attempt is made to club the lumber work- | ers into submission, only the worst can happen, and it can happen at election time. | Shun False Statements | “With our knowledge of the lumber industry, we can safely predict that just as soon as a settlement is reached, the pres- sure will be on again, as it has been on for months, to work overtime and overtake the back- log of orders. There may be slight fluctuations from time to time, but the long-range market possibilities were never better. “Because of these long-range | prospects, the whole industry is | geared to provide expanding pro- | duction. We warn all our fel- low-woodworkers to accept the facts as known to the Union and | refuse to be misled by propagan- | da calculated to destroy confi- | dence in the possibility of ade- | quate wages and. working condi- | tions.” | LIVING COSTS WILL RISE MORE OTTAWA (CPA) — Here are five good reasons why Canadians can expect living costs to start soaring again despite current welcome backsliding by the cost- of-living index. 1. Defence spending will hit new highs in the last six months of this year. That means govern- ment dollars will be spent on goods and services that can’t be bought by those who are paid to make them, will go to bid up the prices of other items. 2. Even more (22% instead of 20%) of Canada’s national pro- duct will be invested this year than last. That means that more of busitless’ profits will be used to pay for factories and machines rather than goods those paid to make them can buy. Again, this spending will tend to bid up prices of remaining commodities. 8. Steel price increases in the U.S. — based on the excuse of current wage demands—are like- ly to force up the, prices. of a wide range of commodities here. 4, American government stock- piling could start again as de- fence demands are stepped up, could drive up basic’ commodity prices including of clothing costs. 5. Wholesale price drops in animal, textile and vegetable pro- ducts have not been matched in price trends of wood, metal, and chemical products which play a big part in determining over-all price trends. These prices have continued to rise. Continuing in- creases in wholesale prices of these commodity groups are con- sidered forerunners of continued retail price increases. YOUR UNION = ATTEND tt KELY DAY P. A.C. ; hf VA ae 153. ments wiese Cray Sumer B U LL eETl n “The first aid kit? . That's for these anti-union carpers who can’t keep their mouth shut while I’m shaving ’em!” The Hospital Insurance issue as it has developed in British Columbia under the Coalition Government is shown at a glance in the following PAC Bulletin recently issued by the B. C. Federation of Labor. JANUARY 1, 1949 PREMIUMS—$15.00 per year single person. $24.00 per year married and one dependent. $30.00 per year married and more than one dependent, JANUARY 1, 1950 $21.00 per year single ~person $33.00 per year married JANUARY 1, 1951 $21.00 per year single person $33.00 per year married APRIL 1, 1951 CO-INSURANCE—$2.00 to $3.50 per day for 10 days. f APRIL 16, 1951 Petition signed by over 225,000 person’ presented to the govern- ment demanding NO INCREASE IN PREMIUMS AND NO Co- INSURANCE. JULY 1, 1951 PREMIUMS—$30.00 per year single. $42.00 per year married, APRIL 24, 1952 “Vancouver Sun”: Premier Johnson—“The Hospital Insurance Program IS NOT A SOCIAL WELFARE PROGRAM. CO-INSUR- ANCE ACTS AS A DETERRENT.” APRIL 25, 1952 “Vancouver Province”: “The Premier said bluntly that he was afraid abolishing Co-Insurance would endanger the success of the hospital plan and that it might be necessary to levy new taxes or INCREASE PREMIUMS AGAIN to carry it out.” “At the same time a pledge that a Liberal Government would pay premiums for ‘low-income groups’ WAS TAKEN OUT of the party platform.” APRIL 26, 1952 “Vancouver Province”: “CCF PLANS 7-POINT PROGRAM”. “Mr, Winch said the party had many objectives . . . the planks in the immediate platform are: HOSPITAL INSURANCE—TO ROLL BACK PREMIUMS, ABOLISH CO-INSURANCE, EXEMPT LOW- INCOME GROUPS FROM PREMIUMS, PROVIDE ADEQUATE TON CHRONICS AND MORE EFFICIENT ADMINISTRA- B.C. Federation of Labor: “Hospital Insurance can be success- ful by having industry accept some responsibility.” SUPPORT P.A.C. — SUPPORT YOUR FRIENDS After placing an order for a Swiss cheese sandwich, the cus- tomer changed his mind. “Would it be possible to change it to an American cheese sandwich?” he asked. “Naturalize that Swiss,” called the counterman to the cook. LOGGERS ATTENTION! Ack for Speed-Sew at Your Commissary MENDS SOX, JEANS, BONE DRYS in 30 SECONDS Giant Size Tube Mends at Least 50 Pairs of Socks 75¢ Plus Tax Universal Enterprises Head Office: 228 Rogers Bldg. Vancouver, B.C. SAN FRANCISCO — TAILORS — LOAN MONEY ON Suits, Overcoats, ete. Loggers’ Boots, Sleeping Bags, Suitcases, Radios, Watches and Rings Expert Watch Repairing UNREDEEMED Suits and Caulk Boots For Sale MAIL ORDER 52 West Hastings Street, VANCOUVER, B.C. COMMODORE CAFE Kamloops’ Leading Restaurant Since 1927 Victoria Street Kamloops, B.C. HANEY “ESQUIRE MEN’S WEAR (Greham Mowatt) Complete Stock of Work and Dress Clothing ‘THE STORE WITH THE POPULAR BRANDS” BRITISH COLU;