4 B.C. LUMBER WORKER

EDITORIAL

APPRAISAL

WHATEVER may be the results of the voting by IWA

members on acceptance-or rejection of the recommen-
dations of the Conciliation Board, it is now apparent that
a cool, commonsense approach will be taken.

The trend of discussion heard during the mass mem-
bership meetings revealed bitter disappointment because
of the inadequacy of the proposed terms of settlement. In
this the feelings of the members were shared by all the
members of the District Policy Committee.

The Union is being asked to accept much less than it
had a right to expect. On all sides, the opinion was ex-
pressed that the case made for the lumber workers by
the IWA Negotiating Committee was irrefutable, and

that more generous terms should have been approved by
the Board.

Upon voicing this dissatisfaction, the meetings turned
to consideration of the probable consequences of rejec-
tion. The freedom of discussion encouraged by the Union
was then vindicated, for all the risks of the two alterna-
tive courses of action were carefully assessed:

The predominant opinion expressed was that rejection
would, sooner or later, commit the Union to strike action,
as any idle threat on this score would not suffice. Few
considered that strike action would win improved terms
of sufficient value to warrant a bitter and costly strike.

On the other hand, the majority contended that the
incorporation of the cost-of-living bonus in the base rate
with an additional five cents was a gain that should be
clinched without putting the issue to the uncertainties
of strike action. A base rate of $1.49 established a stable
foundation for a wage structure, capable of improvement
at a later date, they claimed.

The temper of the union, as disclosed during the
debates, was to grasp the substance, instead of the
shadow. Thoughtful members pointed to the desirability
of seizing the opportunity to consolidate the position of
thé Union, conserve its resources, and return to the fight
with greater vigor in the future.

The fighting spirit necessary to win a strike cannot
be artificially created. It must be based on the deeply-
rooted belief in the minds and hearts of the union’s
members that the alternative course cannot be endured,
and that the end in sight justifies the struggle.

4-factor_under discussion was the possibility of win-
ning the approval uf~public_ opinion, always potent in a
strike settlement. This year the IWA might find it diffi-
cult to offset the popular belief so carefully cultivated
by the employers, that the proposed wages are set as

high as the industry can stand, in view of the reported
decline in prices.

Resentment over the disruption of production, might

easily face the Union with the combined opposition of the

_employers, the public and the provincial authorities.
The risks in this quarter required appraisal.

Although, as contended before the Conciliation Board,
the settlements made in other basic industries are apart
from circumstances in the lumber industry, these settle-
ments, as in mining and fishing, have influenced public
opinion in a way that cannot be ignored.

In a negative sense, it was regarded as important
that the Union had prevented an increase in the board
rates for logging camps. The employers have been
determined to increase these rates by seventy-five cents
a day, citing the increased prices of foodstuffs, as
justification. ea

The Conciliation Boatd in its report did not approve.
Any reopening of the wage question under threat of
strike would unquestionably revive the board rate issue.

Throughout negotiations and conciliation the mem-
bers of the Policy Committee conscientiously endeavored
to interpret the will of the membership. In presenting
the recommendation for acceptance of the Board’s report,
they also believed that they were serving the best inter-
ests of the lumber workers. They believed the proposed

* settlement terms to be the best obtainable, without risk-
ing their loss for uncertainties.

The members of the Union heard all the arguments
for rejection as well as the arguments for acceptance.
The decision will thus be an intelligent and democratic
expression of the will of the rank and file membership.

It was well said by the International President at the
Vancouver rally that no Union on this continent more
scrupulously follows the democratic procedures, in the
making of policy decisions.

The present discussion and voting is the clearest pos-
sible demonstration ofthis fact. When a settlement is
made, the contract terms will be those, and only those,
approved by majority vote of the IWA membership.

Those who may dislike the terms of settlement, and
they are many, may find consolation in the fact that the
IWA has emerged from this test with a strength of trade
union democracy which will eventually, if not now, win
the day. ‘ &

A statement, issued jointly by
A. R. Mosher, president, and
Donald MacDonald, secretary-
treasurer, follows:

“We have no hesitation in
strongly recommending to the
membership of all our unions that
they vote CCF in the forthcom-
ing federal election, Our orga-
nization fully recognizes the right
of eyery individual to vote as he
or she sees fit.

This right is, in fact, an essen-
tial part of the democratic sys-
tem which we erljoy and which
the free labor movement is de-
termined to preserve.

At the same time, in the light
of the position repeatedly adopt-
ed by representatives of our or-
ganizations assembled in conven-
tion, and in the face of problems
which today face workers and
Canadians in general, we feel
that the CCF is the only party
whose position fully justifies this
support. In adopting this position
we feel, also, that we have much
in common with the farm popu-
lation of our country.

$2500 Or Less _

Despite our unprecedented
prosperity in the 1951 census
showed that three out of every
four Canadian wage earners are
still making less than $2,500-a
year. While farm costs continue
to rise, farm income is dropping.

The support which the Cana-
dian Congress of Labor seeks for
thé CCF is based on that party’s
realistic approach to issues which
are vital to every citizen. It is
significant that, despite a steady
deterioration in our critical hous-
ing need, and despite repeated
warnings from its own experts,
there has-been no effective ap-
proach by the government to this
problem. Nor has there been any
indication from the other parties,
apart from the CGF, that such
an approach could be expected.
Health Services Sidetracked

Repeated delays, neglected
promises, and investigation upon
investigation, have deprived the
Canadian people of a long over-
due national health insurance
plan. In the face of inflation pay-
ments under old age pensions,

CCL MEN STATE
POLITICAL AIMS

The two senior officers of the 370,000-member Canadian
Congress of Labor announced last week that they are
recommending to their membership that they support
CCF candidates in the August federal election.

children’s allowances, and unem-
ployment insurance have, in
terms of actual buying power,
been seriously reduced and should
be at least returned to their true
value,

There is need for a more equit-
able distribution of our tax bur-
den, a problem made even more
acute by the government’s 1953
budget. In common with the CCF
The Canadian Congress of Labor
believes that Canada has given a
mere pittance toward aiding in
the economic development of less
fortunate countries and thus
making a truly effective contribu-
tion to world peace.

The position adopted by the
CCF on these, and many other
important issues, has been clearly
established in the House of Com-
mons. There seems to us to be no
doubt that the CCF is the only
party which hag consistently sup-
ported policies which are'of inter-
est to the industrial and farm
population of Canada.”

PROFITS GET
PRIORITY

TORONTO—A recent deci-
sion of the Toronto Board of
Education banned chocolate
milk from school cafeterias be-
cause it was said to have harm-
ful affects on the teeth of the
schoolchildren.

The ban has now been re-
seinded because some dairy
companies haye said that it
would cause hardships in their
industry.

Alex B. Macdonald

Barrister & Solicitor
Notary Public

751 Granville Street
VANCOUVER, B.C.

Telephone TAtlow 6641

SOLICITOR TO THE 1.W. A.

Sickness
Expense

Taxed —

OTTAWA— Nearly one-half
of the money that Canadians
spend on health care is not de-
ductible as a medical expense
for the purposes of income tax
exemptions,

The recently completed Cana-
dian Sickness Survey showed that
in 1951 Canadians spent a total
of $373,800,000' on health care, of
this amount, $163,700,000 or 43.8
percent was not deductible as
medical expense for income tax
purposes.

When the “floor” on medical
expenses (that is the amount un-
der three percent of personal in-
come which is not allowable for
income tax deductions) is also
taken into account, it is probable
that more than half the total ex-
penditures that Canadians make
for health care is not deductible
for income tax purposes,

The items which make up this
non-deductible 43.8 percent are
medicines prescribed, which the
Survey estimates to cost $46.1
million or 12.38 percent of all
health costs, medicines not pres-
cribed, $26.9 million or 7.2 per-
cent, appliances and equipment
$2.3 million or 0.6 percent and
prepayment plans $88.4 million or
23,7 percent,

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