4 3 B.C. LUMBER WORKER June 4, EDITORIAL EXPOSED ‘WA negotiators might well marvel at the brazen repetition this year by the Coast lumber operators of predictions emphasized during last year’s negotiations, and which events have since proven gtossly. inaccurate. . Last year, the operators’ representatives staked, their business * feputations on statements which in effect claimed that the bottom was dropping out of the export market. The IWA, on the other hand, produced evidence, which indi- cated that the market trends were showing signs of marked improve- ment, * As it now transpires, the IWA possessed the most reliable crystal ball, for on almost every count, the IWA has been proven right. The industry finally paid a modest wage increase, after a bitter struggle, and. profits still remained high, despite a 45-day work stoppage and the increased labor costs, It has now been shown in recent financial statements that profits are again on the upward swing. The decline in exports to the United Kingdom market was foreseen by all, as adjustment became necessary to the change from U.K. government bulk buying. What proved vastly more important, was the prediction made by the IWA that exports to the United States would more than offset any drop in U.K. exports. The prediction of the IWA has been vindicated by the records of shipments actually made since they operstors mournfully predicted a complete collapse of the market. A point that the operators did not then admit, and which has since‘been disclosed by the IWA, is the B. C. operators have enjoyed a wide margin of profit advantage over their chief competitors in the United States. In this province-they pay much less for stump- age, and are able to charter cheaper bottoms than the American producers for water-bourne freight. The basic wage rate for lumber workers in'the United States is $2.10, whereas the base rate here is $1.35, a further advantage to the B. C. operators in the U.S. market. The discrepancy which exists between the claims made: by the operators, when on the stand in 1952, and the developments which followed should convince the Conciliation Board that such claims repeated this year are made only to express a reluctance to, pay, fair wages now possible. The same claims, in almost identical Janguage are advanced by the operators this year, with even flimsier evidence in support. Their predictions of calamity are even more clearly seen as a dis- guise for their unreasoning “hold the line” wage policy. Evidently, they hope that. arguments which deceived the public on former occasions will again turn the trick. It is more likely this year, that the well documented case of the IWA will show that they have over-played this note, and that moth-eaten arguments are _ no longer given credence by thoughtful observers. Certainly they cannot hope to deceive the lumber workers them- selves, who have learned the hard way how the operators play the same old record in their attempt to drown out the cry of men for common justice. This year, the IWA ‘has caught up with the operators’ preten- _ sions at infallibility, and calls for a day of reckoning. ‘ ... BUT VOTE A timely warning was sounded by International Seccetary-Treasurer Carl Winn at the recent Interior Wages and Contract Confer- ence, when he stated that the results of the voting in the provincial election would influence the outcome of current [WA negotiations, He correctly predicted that the election of a pro-employer government would stiffen the resistance of the employers to any wage demands from the woodworkers. The election of a fair government, pledged to uphold the rights of the workers, would influence negotiations favorably. He pointed to the duty of all trade unionists to exercise their franchise, and vote in accordance with their desires for a better standard of living. The right to vote is a right for which organized Jaber has waged a costly battle during the past century. It is a right which may easily be lost, if it is treated with indifference. . Eyery election places upon the individual voter the responsi- bility to make a choice as between political parties and their policies, The results of the election register the majority decision in that segard. The failure to vote is a decision against democracy, for it gives consent to the machinations of bureaucracy. ‘ This election has placed before the voters many of the issues which directly affect the standards of industrial workers, If any Jarge number of industrial workers, through apathy, remain at home without casting their votes, it will then be said that they are content with existing legislation, Every missing trade union yote, will be counted as a vote against improved labor legislation. ... Or Should We Try Treating Him Like A Human Being HOUSE NEGLECTS LABOR’S NEEDS By CLIFFORD A. SCOTTON OTTAWA (CPA)—When it is remembered that Canada’s labor force makes up one-third of the total population, the seventh session of the 21st Parliament did not advance the legislative interest of labor very greatly. Despite the requests of the representatives of organized labor, in the various briefs presented to the government, scant attention was paid to their needs and wishes. The two major items of legis- lation which were passed were the Fair Employment Practices Act and an amendment to the Unemployment Insurance Act. The FEP Bill was hailed by most M.P.s as a good step to end discrimination’ on grounds of race, national origin, color or re- ligion, but Alistair Stewart (CCF Winnipeg North) said that the penalties, for infringement, of $100 for an individual and $500 for a union or a corporation, were inadequate, The Bill should “have teeth put into it”, said Mr. Stewart. Unemployment Insurance The inadequacy of the amend- ment to the Uniemployment In- surance Act, which provides for the continuation of benefits if an unemployed person falls sick, was quickly demonstrated to the government when the amendment was introduced. Opposition members pointed out that the amendment could bring about a situation whereby two workers living side by side could fall sick, and while one drew benefit because he fell sick while drawing unemployment in- surance the other, who became unemployed as a result of sick- ness, would not be eligible for benefit. Check-off Stanley Knowles finally had some success with the Voluntary Revocable Check-off Bill which he has introduced on numerous occasions over the last few years. The Commons Industrial Rela- tions Committee recommended that it be given thorough study for possible inclusion in the In- dustrial Disputes Act. Ellen Fairclough (PC Hamil- ton West) got nowhere with her “fqual Pay” Bill, which was “talked out” by government sup- porters, but the role of women in industry received some recogni- tion in the proposal to establish a Woman’s Division of the De- ANS partment of Labor. Speaking on the estimates of the Labor Department, which were discussed on the last day of the session, Clarie Gillis and Stanley Knowles made a strong plea for an increase in unemploy- ment benefits because of the heavily over-funded Unemploy- ment Fund (presently approxi- mated $850 million). Labor Neglected They also called for. a national retirement allowance based on employee - employer - govern- ment contributions and an annual minimum guaranteed wage in in- dustry. The progressive labor legisla- tion enacted in the last session of Parliament was negligible con- sidering the large body of labor in Canada, One CCF member said during the session that in- stead of the government taking the lead in introducing progres- sive legislation it waited until public opinion forced the issues * to be considered. “Labor must constantly assert its opinions if its voice is to be heard. 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