a B.C. LUMBER WORKER “Men At Work" E appearance of this issue of the official organ of ~ the IWA in British Columbia coincides with the open- ing of the Annual District Convention of the Union. The official welcome to the delegates and exchange of fra- ternal greetings have been placed on the record. The ‘assembly has now turned to the grave deliberation of Union policy in brisk business-like sessions. Underlying the words of welcome from prominent dig- nitaries can be found recognition of the high prestige in public opinion enjoyed by the IWA. The Union has exer- cised its great strength with a sense of responsibility to the public weal, and this is appreciated by all public- spirited citizens. In’ the fraternal greetings received from affiliated organizations may be found a warm respect for a Union that has faithfully adhered to trade union principles. The organized woodworkers of British Columbia have staunchly maintained their status as an integral part of the International, the CIO, and the Canadian Congress of Labor, The International IWA finds the Convention not-only representative of the largest and strongest District in the International, but also one which has given unquali- fied loyalty to the purposes of international unity. This, in turn, has strengthened the IWA in Canada. Through the International, the Woodworkers of B.C. find their place in the ranks of the CIO, and the ICFTU. Through these channels the Woodworkers in B. C. work shoulder to shoulder with their brothers in the U.S. and the democracies for the greater good of workers the world over. Affiliation with the Canadian Congress of Labor has proved beneficial to the IWA, even as it has enormously strengthened the Congress throughout Canada. Through CCL channels, the woodworkers have voiced their needs on the legislative field in the province, and at Ottawa. Election to the Legislature of three well-known IWA members, is a fact of revealing significance with regard to the growing political influence of the Union. These factors, external to the organization in B. C., are to be listed among the resources built up by the IWA, as necessary for further trail-blazing toward its objec- tives. They provide a more favorable setting for resolute action by IWA members. Resolute action is the keynote of the convention deliberations. The temper of the delegates is the realistic attitude of men who know the insistent demand of the membership for action that will bring concrete results. The demand is for action that will write a better master contract, and defeat the intensifying opposition of the employers—action that will build a stronger and more militant organization—action that will spread trade union education everywhere among the workers—action that will mean safety on the job. Effective action requires unity. Unity is made pos- sible only when men rally to a common purpose, which they regard as being greater than their own individual aims and opinions. As so aptly stated by the Interna- tional Officers, the fighting front is not inside the Union, —it is where the Union must face the employers. The history written by the IWA in this province dis- closes that this aim predominates, and that invariably the IWA forges ahead because of the loyalty to the pur- poses of the Union which is its greatest asset. Political Neglect ey may be anticipated that the IWA District Convention will this week focus public attention on grave defects in the legislative program presented to the B. C. Legisla- ture in the recent Speech from the Throne. The entire trade union movement has expressed indig- nation that no provision has yet been made for considera- tion of essential labor legislation. The prospect now is that the Government will maneuver for a suitable issue upon which to call an elec- tion, while necessary amendments to the Workmen’s Compensation Act, the ICA Act and the Hospital Insur- ance Act remain suspended in a political vacuum. The Legislature should be reminded in the most forc- ible terms that organized labor has already waited too long, for legislation proven necessary by official enquiries conducted at great expense to the province. It should further be reminded that at last session the understand- ing had been reached that the next session would give the tradé unions a hearing. The elimination of the three Acts mentioned from the agenda this session can only be regarded as a breach of faith. If persisted upon until an election is held, it will be regarded by the workers as complete indifference to their needs. Organized labor is waiting for a declaration from the present government to indicate where it stands with regard to labor’s most pressing needs, ~% Your Space Boys! PERTINENT COMPARISON The Editor: For the last year or more I have noticed an increasing de- mand from our Government and big business to hold the line on our wages, etc. This is a direct inference that our wages are re- sponsible for the high cost of existing in Canada and nothing could be further from the truth. To find the real cause of this inflation all we need do is read an article published some months ago in our Capitalist press. This article was an excerpt from a speech by Mr. W. Koerner, Vice- president of Alaska Pine & Cel- lulose Co., in which he stated that in 1938 the lumber industry in B. C. produced 2 billion board feet of lumber worth 40 million dol- lars and 1951 it produced 3% million board feet worth 285 mil- lion dollars. If we look closely at these figures we can see that. although production has only increased 75%, the value of this produc- tion has increased over 700%. When we take into considera- tion that wages in the B.C. Woodworking Industry have only increased some 300% in that same period it is quite easy to see that profits, not wages, are responsible for the high cost of APPRECIATION The Editor: At this time I would like to in- form you that, in my opinion, the Staff Seminar just concluded in Parksville, B.C. was a truly great success. I feel that Howard Conquergood is of tremendous value to us and I find him to be an individual of unlimited capa- bilities and conducts his classes in a manner that anyone can fol- low. I also feel that his’ choice of instructors at the Seminar were of a very high calibre. Truly it Ans is difficult to know which instruc- tor was the most capable or which course was the most im- portant. As a direct result of this Staff Seminar, I feel capable of carry- ing on my work in the Trade Union Movement in a far super- ior manner and trust that in the near future I shall have another opportunity of being a student under such capable instructors. I can sincerely recommend that any Trade Union staff members who have never attended one of these Seminars should certainly take advantage of their first op- portunity. In closing, may I thank those directly responsible for the hold- ing of these Seminars and point at I feel th it 2 6 -%& THE Local 25, (TLC-AFL). Local 88 (TLC-AFL), a DIAMONDS, JEWELRY, SILVERWARE, VA Readers Vhinkel these courses will do much to better the Trade Union leaders throughout the country and the world. Fraternally yours, J. W. Strong, Fin. Sec., IWA Local 1-423. TAFT WANTS (NEW BILL MIAMI, Fla.—While the AFL Executive Council met here to draft proposed changes in the Taft-Hartley Act, with Secretary of Labor Durkin sitting in, Sen. Robert A. Taft (R, O) in Wash- ington jumped the gun. Even before hearings began he intro- duced 16 changes, most of which labor leaders branded “trivial and Product of SIX UNIONS / Vancouver Printing Pressmen & Assistants lin; naa VANCOUVER PROVINCE UNION - PRODUCED BY MEN AND WOMEN WHO BELONG TO ONE OF THESE UNIONS: 1S 100% Vancouver Typographical Union, Local 226 (TLC-AFL). Union, Vancouver Photo-engravers Union, Local 54 (TLC--AFL),) Electrotypers & Stereotypers, Vancouver and Victoria, Vancouver Mailers Union, Local 70 (TLC-AFL), Vancouver Newspaper Guild, Local 207 CCL THE VANCOUVER PROVINCE PAcific 4211 EERE FURS AND ALL VALUABLES Immediate Cash? No Red Tape? Unredeemed Diamonds for Sale B. C. COLLATERAL LOAN BROKERS LTD 17 EAST HASTINGS, Cor. COLUMBIA. PA cific 3557-