B.C. LUMBER WORKER

Look Forward!

NEXT important step for the IWA in this District is
the formulation of the specific contract demands to
be the main bargaining points for the 1953-54 contract.

- After preparatory work by the District Policy Com-
mittee, the responsibility will fall on the Wages and
Contract Conference, March 28-29. As this conference is
comprised of delegates from every Local Union, the re-
sponsibility is thus brought within a step of the thinking
of the general membership.

Thus it becomes important at this time, that IWA
members should carefully weigh the issues, and reach
membership decisions only after an examination of the

whole problem, and the relation of strategy to expecta-
ions.

Certain attitudes should be avoided as one would the
plague. The test of an attitude is whether or not it can
be relied upon to strengthen the Union’s effort.

The disposition to look constantly backward creates
dangerous pitfalls. It’s only too easy to criticize past
performance. It becomes easy at this time, because it
is usually the most convenient alibi. for the neglect of
straightforward thinking about the future.

Whatever may have happened in the past is now old
straw and need not be endlessly threshed. There’s only
one question of importance arising out of the past and
i Ss Ge TSS experience smarten up activities in the

‘uture ?

It’s idle to pretend that the gains made in one year
can be duplicated every succeeding year. The sensible
attitude is to view the gains made over a period of time,
and then fasten attention on future objectives, with
determination to attain the maximum possible in any one

ee It’s the long pull that counts for the most in the
end.

The most idiotic attitude of all is that often described

as “spectatoritis”. By this is meant the attitude on the

_ part of a trade union member which makes him imagine
that he is merely watching.

A contract battle is one which involves every member
of the Union, The Negotiating Committee may at times
be in the centre of the ring, where the lights are the
brightest, but it doesn’t develop the power plays.

A Negotiating Committee is at best an instrument of
the-will of the membership, and in the development of a
will to win, every weak or apathetic member is a rotten
spot, that infects the whole.

“Only he can plow a straight furrow who looks for-
ward,” said the farmer philosopher. This applies with
equal force to-a Union, which is but an aggregation of
human beings, whose unity is their strength, and whose
unity springs from their common purposes for the future.

Well Done!

ANY doubts that may have lingered in the minds of

_trade unionists about electing representative trade
unionists to the Legislature should now be dispelled.

The newly-elected contingent of trade unionists has
this present session, presented the legislative aims of
organized labor in a manner that has the genuine ring
of trade union action.

IWA men have spoken the mind of the IWA with
regard to these matters on which the IWA is concerned.
Both CCL and TLC unionists have joined hands to make
certain that labor’s interests are not overlooked.

Their performance is all the more outstanding because
the Provincial Government has been apathetic toward
labor’s demands. They are to be complimented, for
vigorous action in the first session of their parliamentary
experience.

One feature of the situation is that they are com-
pletely free to speak for organized labor. They are not
bound by party considerations in conflict with labor’s
aims. They themselves form the policy-making section
for labor laws within the party to which they belong.

Their actions in the House readily carry imagination
to the point, where it is possible to visualize what would
result if they formed part of the party in power. _

Their present program, as presented to the Legisla-
ture, if implemented, would bring immediate benefits to

e workers. .
2 The ICA Act. would be amended to protect the col-
lective bargaining rights of labor, and the interests of
the workers dependent on such bargaining.

The Workmen’s Compensation Act would be amended
to increase the benefits to injured workmen, and extend
same to fishermen and agricultural workers. Safety in
industry would be made a reality. 5

Such benefits as two weeks’ vacation with pay after
‘one year’s employment, higher minimum wages, better
hours of work, and other vital factors in working condi-
tions would be brought within the enjoyment of the
workers by law instead of costly and strenuous bar-
crs much more satisfactory it would be if the same
effort could, through the instrumentality of government
itself, bring complete and immediate realization to the

worker:

OUT TO

ee ee

_GOMEERENS:

rah

WIN

THE MAIL BAG

ARBITRATION
PLEASED

|J. Stewart Alsbury, President,,

B.C. District Council No. 1, IWA,
45 Kingsway,

Vancouver 10, B.C.

Dear Sir and Brother:

On behalf of the Local, I would
like to take this opportunity of
thanking the District Council for
conducting so. successfully our
arbitration case on Holiday Pay
with S. M. Simpson Ltd.

I would also like to point out
that, as a result of this arbitra-
tion board, holiday with pay
clause has been cleared up with
the majority of the operations in
our area. The balance of the
operations are being informed of
the decision reached as soon as
possible.

Fraternally yours,
J. W. Strong,
Financial Secretary,
IWA Local 1-423.

LADIES
IMPRESSED

The Editor:

Thank you, the B.C. District
No. 1, all locals, Ladies’ Auxil-
jaries and the weather man for a
very enjoyable and educational
visit in Vancouver.

Although I’ve always been vi-
tally interested in all matters
pertaining to the laboring classes
of the world, the 16th Annual
Convention gave me many things
to think over. I didn’t realize the
IWA had such a varied and wide
field of interests. Surely with
such truly fine men taking part
in these proceedings, much good
will result,

Differences of opinion only
make for better in the final out-
come if everyone realizes and
recognizes both sides of every
issue.

I would like to say a few words
to the wives of these delegates.
Don’t bemoan the fact you are an
“IWA Widow”. Try to learn more
of your good man’s Union busi-
ness and when convention time

- Your Space, Boys!

rolls around be there and listen.
Y’m sure you will go home with a
more tolerant view of the hours
your hubby puts in on Union
business. I have, and from now
on I'm going to be a better
Union member.

Thanks again. Sincerely,

Mrs. Jack Kelly, Salmon Arm

Mrs. H. L. Evans, Salmon Arm |

Mrs. D. Matthews, Canoe

Mrs, Pete Wright, Kamloops.

KENNEY
OFFERS
COOPERATION

Officers of B.C. District
Council, IWA:

It was with a great deal of in-
terest that I read your report
submitted to the 16th Annual B,C,
Convention in the B.C. Lumber
Worker, February 19, 1953, issue.

In particular, I wish to express
my appreciation to you for the
statement contained in your re-
port which expressed satisfaction
with my appointment as Research
Director for the International,
and for referring complimentary
remarks as to the assistance that
I have been able to give you in
Canada.

I have really done so little in
the way of helping you in Cén-|
ada that the fact that you took
space to mention anything about~
me was indeed gratifying. I hope |
as the future unfolds I shall he)
able to serve you more and more
in cooperation with Brother How-
ard Conquergood and Brother Joe
Miyazawa in problems of educa-
tion and research.

Please be assured that I will
do all possible to cooperate in any
way that I can in the furtherance
and development of the trade-
union movement in Canada and,
particularly, within the IWA~
CCL,

Very sincerely and fraternally
yours,

E. W. Kenney, Directér, {
Research and Education, |

Budget )
Hits |
Workers —

OTTAWA (CPA)—CCF Na-
tional Leader M. J. Coldwell
pointed out during his speech
on the budget how tax changes
would affect different people
and corporations. Some ex-
amples are shown below:

A married man with two chil-
dren earning $2,400 paid $19 tax
under the old rates, in 1958 he =
will pay $18—“a saving of one
dollar in 12 months.”

A married man with two chil-
dren earning $8,000 paid $130
under the old tax rates, in 1953
he will pay $126—“a reduction ~
of 33 cents a month.”

“A taxpayer in the same fam-
ily category, receiving an income
of $20,000 will benefit in 1958 to
the extent of saving $360.”

A married man with no depend-
ents receiving $9,760 from divid-
ends, pays no tax. :

If the same man earns $9,760,
he pays $1,952.

International Nickel paying tax
on their 1951 profits at the old
rate would be liable for $55,
509,145 in tax. “Under the new
basis they would pay $52,185,016
or a saving of $3,324,129,”

“On the same basis, Consoli-
dated Mining and Smelting will
make a saving of $2,408,362 and
the Aluminum Company of Can-
ada will make a saving of $1,-
620,533.”

Alex B. Macdonald

Barrister & Solicitor
Notary Public
751 Granville Street
VANCOUVER, B.C.

Telephone TAtlow 6641

SOLICITOR TO THE .W.A. |

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