10 B.C. LUMBER WORKER Local 1-357 IWA Leads Fight Against Prejudice Race prejudice as evident in South Africa was con- trasted with the position taken by the Canadian trade union movement in the regular New Westminster radio program of Local 1-357, IWA, on April 11. In the broadeast it was stated in part: “With the recent troubles in South Africa and the subsequent investigation on the part of The Vancouver Sun, discrimination is once more in the limelight. We have followed, with a shocked feeling: of disbelief, the columns of Jack Scott, whom the editors of The Sun recently sent to Johannesburg to report on the situation there, We are thankful that here, in British Columbia, we are fortu- nate enough to escape the hor- rors of this problem, at least in the extreme degree to which they have been carried in South Africa. Labor Foremost The fact that we have been so fortunate is, because certain or- ganizations have made it their business to ferret out discrimi- nation. and to fight against it wherever and whenever they find it. Foremost amongst the fight- ers for equal rights for all men are the labor unions of B.C, The International Woodworkers of America are proud to take their place as leaders in this battle. It is not enough that we do not discriminate in taking mem- bers into our Union. We must go a great deal further than that. We must carry our anti-discrimi- nation feeling outside our unions. This is exactly what the IWA members are attempting to do. Vancouver Incident Recently, at the B.C. Federa- tion of Labor’s Convention, the woodworkers’ delegation voiced their approval of a resolution de- manding a further investigation into the alleged beating of a ne- gro “by Vancouver City Police. Certainly we would want such an investigation into any case involving any such inhuman treatment of a citizen; but be- cause the man involved was a negro, the horrors of the crime are two-fold. We cannot brag about our free- dom while it is being denied another human because of his color or race, or religious beliefs. This has been the reasoning behind our hue and cry for Fair Employment Practice Laws, We have carried this thinking from the top level of our organization right down to the member on the job. Our investigation commit- tees are constantly on the alert for policies on the part of their employers which would deny any- one employment for any of the aforementioned reasons. Our Po- litical Action Committees take the question up with the Legisla- tive bodies of the Province, The Vancouver Labor Council, to- gether with the Trades and La- bor Council, is fighting the prob- lem through their Joint Labor Committee to combat Racial Dis- crimination and the Canadian Congress of Labor is taking up the question on a world-wide seale, through the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions. Why, you ask, is this the prob- lem of laborites in. British Co- lumbia? Firstly, because the sup- pression of natives in South Af- riea causes an underselling of their labors, which in turn affects the world trade market. * Secondly, because, if we do not fight against it at all times, we may well have the same problem here someday, and thirdly, and certainly most important, is the’ on which I mentioned earlier, i ‘cannot have freedom while it is denied to others. owe hope that Jack Scott, through his writings, will open the eyes of a great many people who have chosen to ignore the}, problem of racial discrimination rather than take their place alongside of those who would fight against it. Let’s remember, it is a problem which no one can afford to ignore. Grain Workers’ Strike The program continued with a discussion of the IWA contract demands now before the: lumber operators and pointed to the ex- perience of the Grain Workers’ Union in the following terms: “Much publicity has been given to the current strike of the Grain Workers who are striking against the elevator companies of New Westminster and Vancouver. Here again, we find that the due course of the law has failed and by that I mean, that we have been told so often that legal machin- ery would take care of any dis- putes in collective bargaining. This negotiation has absorbed all of the so-called machinery and now we find that the Federal Government is making an earnest attempt to resolve a settlement. The fact that the law has failed proves our contention as we have stated all these years, and that is that the machinery that has been set up is an irritant rather than a solution to labor-manage- ment problems. “Hold the Line” It is our opinion that the labor laws, as they are constituted at the present time, will prove an aid and comfort to employers negotiating agreements at the present time and in future, This is being borne out in the present Grain Workers’ dispute where the employers are evading legiti- mate bargaining and are being protected by the law in an at- tempt to ‘hold the line’—in con- formity with the policy laid down by the Manufacturers’ Associa- tion. IWA members and other trade union members who will be fac- ing negotiations this year should expect the same procedure in their own negotiations. Last year an attempt was made to institute this ‘hold the line’ policy and as you know, the attempt was not too successful, “Dear Brother Weisbach: During the course of a meet- ing of our International Ex- ecutive Board late last month, I brought to their attention your communication of Janu- ary 28, 1953, with emphasis placed upon the necessity for contributions to PAC - CCL, were it to influence the Provin- cial and Dominion elections which are to be held in Canada this summer, Not only did Brother William Gray, the International Execu- tive Board Member from Brit- ish Columbia, support me in all of the ‘statements I made on the absolute necessity for a contribution, he also in lucid and concise terms informed our $1,700 FOR PAC International Executive Board of the IWA has donated the sum of $1700 to CCL-PAC, it was announced this week in Portland, Oregon. The views of the Union were set forth in a communication addressed to Henry Weisbach, National CCL-PAC Director by International Secretary- Treasurer Carl Winn, in the following terms. International Executive Board of the prospective fate of Ca- nadian workers unless more liberal, by the use of the word liberal I mean progressive, candidates and measures are introduced to the Canadian Legislative Halls. As a result of our efforts the International Executive Board voted a contribution of $1,700 to PAC-CCL, and the check for that amount is enclosed. With best personal wishes, I remain ~ Fraternally yours, CARL WINN, International Secretary-Treasurer. The speaker outlined the con- tract demand made by the Union | for a $20.00 daily rate for fallers and buckers, and then proceeded to say: “As everyone knows, the major- ity of the fallers and buckers now work on contract rates, and their income depends mainly on their ability to fall and buck a large enough scale of logs under the prices negotiated quarter by quar- ter. Those of us who are familiar with the conditions under which they work recognize the necessity now of setting standards for their work which will stabilize their income. One way of setting such a stan- dard is to ensure that those work- ing on a daily rate, get an ade- quate and commensurate wage. Unrest Obvious In this connection I should offer comment with respect to the re- cent tactics of many of the lead- ing lumber corporations in set- ting the contract rates for fallers and buckers. In a number of in- stances, reported to the Union, Product of SIX UNIONS / Union Fights Cut In Fallers’ Rates - Complaint that fallers and buckers in the lumber in- dustry have been subjected to a cut in contract rates was made by District 8rd Vice-President Fred Fieber on the Green Gold radio program recently. ww THE VANCOUVER PROVINCE IS 100% UNION - PRODUCED BY MEN AND WOMEN WHO BELONG TO ONE OF Vancouver Local 25, (TLC-AFL). Local 88 (TLC-AFL), Vancouver Mailers Union, THESE UNIONS: Vancouver Typographical Union, Local 226 (TLC-AFL). Printing Pressmon & Assistants Union, Vancouver Photo-engravers Union, Local 54 (TLC--AFL).) Electrotypers & Stereotypers, Vancouver and Victoria,. Vancouver Newspaper Guild, Local 207 CCL THE VANCOUVER PROVINCE a PAcifie 4211 a Lecel 70 (TLC-AFL). POPUP Ett hd the companies have insisted upon cutting the rates for fallers and buckers as established over a pe- riod of years. The cut in the rates, which seems to be general, amounts to as much as thirty cents per thou- sand. In a Vancouver Island Camp the crew protested the ent rate so strongly that the major- ity of them wandered off the job and decided to take advantage of excellent fishing weather, It required considerable effort on the part of the officers of Lo- cal 1-80, IWA, to secure restora- tion of the old rate and persuade them to resume their cutting op- erations. Reference to Sloan 96. PEE 53 @ “Tf you get fired for drinking, you'll give the Union a bum name, Viotz, — yours!” —_—— ous threat to the earnings of fall- ers and buckers and took prompt action. Representations were were made to Forest- Industrial Relations and finally to Chief Justice Sloan, The Chief Justice had stipu- lated, when he secured acceptance of his settlement formula last summer, that conditions establish- ing the rates then in force by agreement or custom should be maintained. We felt that under the terms of his statement, we had the right to appeal to him against steps which by indirect means lowered agreed-upon wage stan- dards in the industry. The ques- tion is not closed yet and will be fully reported upon to the Union. I may assure my friends engaged jn falling and bucking that the IWA is giving the closest atten- tion to the matter with the deter-- mination that no injustice shall be done to them.” Mark Twain once said, “It took me ten years to discover that I had no talent for writing.” “Why didn’t you give up?” a friend asked. “T couldn’t,” the author replied. “By that time I was too famous.” * * * “What are you looking for, Johnny?” “Oh, nothing.” “You'l find it in the box where The Union recognized the seri- the candy was.” QUALITY need not he costly