4 B.C. LUMBER WORKER EDITORIAL State of the Union ANY IWA member who studies the history of the trade union movement on this continent will find ample cause for confidence and pride in the state of his Union in British Columbia. This does not mean that perfection has been reached. It does mean that the IWA has successfully veered away from the rocks on which other unions have been wrecked. Superficial observation of some of the stormy debates which occasionally spring up within the IWA, might tempt the uninitiated to believe that the IWA was about to fly apart. A more thoughtful consideration of the IWA traditions and underlying loyalty to purpose, leads to a \ much more reassuring conclusion. Just as a thunderstorm clears the air, so very often a hotly debated issue in the councils of the IWA makes for progress. When men feel intensely about causes to which they have given their loyalty, they inevitably tend to enter a conflict of opinion with emphatic and even bel- ligerent language. When the sound and fury of IWA debate subsides, it will be found that it originated because ‘thousands of lumber workers feel intensely about the purposes for which they have maintained the Union. Differences of opinion are a sign of vitality in a demo- eratic organization such as the IWA, and for that reason should not cause alarm. There would be every cause for alarm, if through indifference or apathy, men failed to speak their minds. This evidence of vitality in the IWA, is the most impressive proof of the sturdy democracy built by the ae and file members.. It is the greatest strength of the It should be noted that IWA members have learned the more important lessons of trade union discipline. Individuals and groups holding minority views have learned to subordinate their interests to the good of the whole. Majority decisions determine the strategy of action for all, when the chips are down. When faced with a common threat from the employers, there is unques- tioned loyalty to the Union. More tangible evidence of the Union’s strength and progress is found in the present efficiency of its organiza- tional structure, in the steadily growing membership and area of influence, and in the development of capable leadership from within the Local Unions. The lumber workers of B. C. have forged for their use a well-balanced and finely tempered weapon with which to do battle for their rights. These points must be held in mind as the IWA nears another crisis in negotiations: No IWA member should be led to throw away the substance for the shadow, and be deceived about the reality of strength through unity. Unity can be maintained through loyalty to majority decisions. The IWA is presenting a united front to the employers at the present time, and this unity must be maintained at all costs. It can be maintained if every IWA member grasps the essential truth that he.will find his own welfare to the extent he serves the welfare of the whole. It is no secret that the employers have their differ- ences of opinion. However, they are always smart enough to bury the hatchet and act together when they must meet the demands of labor. Labor can and should be just as smart. Nothing should be permitted to divide the ranks of the IWA dur- ing negotiations. The most important duty placed upon every IWA member at this time is to act and talk on behalf of the Union that his confidence in the Union’s fighting strength and unity will form part of a collective effort geared to its maximum strength. Ironclad Case A Well-known IWA member who attended the Union’s bargaining sessions with the operators, was heard to say, “Never has the IWA had a better case. Every point made was so well backed up with facts, that the Nego- tiating Committee had the operators hanging on the es.” ere statement well described the position established by the Union. All of the Union’s proposals were reasoned and fully supported by a well-organized array of all the pertinent facts. ay This phase of bargaining was capably handled by the Union’s Research staff, Director Ed Kenney and Asso- ciate Director Joe Miyazawa. There was no single phase of the industry’s economics on which they were not well posted and able to refute misleading statements calcu- lated to alibi the operators’ obstinacy. Ss The Union this year realized that bargaining would be “tough” and that more than mere demanding would be necessary. Painstaking research was done prior to the bargaining sessions. é OPERATORS’ DREAM WE UST HOLD THE LINE , BOYS -------TO PROTECT BOTH The Union was then in a position to say to the opera- tors, not only, “This is what we want”, but also “These are the facts which make it possible for you to give us what we want.” This preparation will give added advantage to the Union during the open hearings of a Conciliation Board. It will demonstrate to the public that the IWA is asking for the workers in the industry no more than is readily made possible by the resources of the industry. The facts placed on the bargaining table are facts that can be used by IWA members to good effect in their own communities. The member who examines these facts will find confidence in the Union’s case. He will, at the same time, realize that these facts provide him with the best possible ammunition for his share in the Union’s contract battle. One Ma The Editor: Having attended a few politi- cal meetings and read most of the advertisements for the vari- ous parties contesting the June 9th Provincial Election, I find it difficult indeed to understand why any Union man or woman could possibly vote for any other party than the CCF. Surely after all the years of struggle that labor has had in Canada and the way that the Liberal and Conservative Parties have always backed the Indus- trialists against Labor Legisla- tion that would benefit the masses of working men and women, how can they possibly swallow the vote-catching prom- ises now being made by these politicians? As for the Social Credit group, every sane-thinking person can plainly see that they are a group of Band Wagon Boys and Girls who fell off the old line Band Wagons because they saw no possible chance of being elected with the old line parties. In the opinion of this writer, if organized labor yotes as they should vote in the June election, the result will be something like this: CCF, 27; Socreds, 18; Liberal, 7; Ind. Labor, 1; Conservatives, 0. Total, 48. Big Business Every worker should realize that one of the reasons that Big Business wants to elect. an old line party government is because "s Vi ns View they know that in such a govern- ment lies the only hope for them of smashing Organized Labor. Think back, Mr. and Mrs. Work- er, to the days when it was a common sight to see, not one but several, Police Forces on the picket line trying to hold the gate open for the boss. Who made that possible? Why, the answer to that is simple — the Liberal and Con- servative governments of the past. Just take a look at their promises now, and then make up your mind, fellow workers, to vote for a change that you and I lnow is long overdue. Vote CCF. If they don’t “cut the mustard”, to use a Boss’ term, then throw them out next time, but for heaven’s sake let’s give them a try. Local 1-85, Port Alberni. IWA Card No. 124, EDUCATION IMPROVING OTTAWA (CPA) — Cana- dians as a whole were better educated in 1951 than they had ten years previously and more children were taking advantage of higher education, a bulletin on the 1951 census reveals, Of the nearly 11 million per- sons 10 years and over in all Canada in 1951, only 208,539 or 1.9 percent had no schooling. This was a drop of six percent com- pared with the figures for 1941. More than half the people with no schooling were over 55 years of age and men outnumbered women. Of the total with no schooling, 54 percent lived in rural districts but less than half of them were from farm areas. Largest Group Among the school Population, however, 52.3 percent“of the 5-24 years of age group were attend- ing school in 1951 compared with 50.5 percent in 1941. The greatest increase was registered in the 5-9 year group which rose to 909,139 from 697,681, Alex B: Macdonald Barrister & Solicitor Notary Public 751 Granville Street VANCOUVER, B,C. Telephone TAtlow 6641 perty and Auto with the Company. 573 HOMER ST Co-Operative Fire & Casualty Co. Is Here To Serve You : - Formed to meet the demand for an Insurance Service on a Non-Profit Basis, Investigate the possibilites today of insuring your Pro- Co-operative Fire & Casualty Phone or Write: PAcific 6858 VANCOUVER 3, B.C. S On DIAMONDS, JEWELRY, SILVERWARE, FURS AND ALL VALUABLES Immediate Cash! No Red Tape! Unredeemed Diamonds for Sale B. C. COLLATERAL LOAN BROKERS LTD 77 EAST HASTINGS, Cor. COLUMBIA PA cific