B.C. LUMBER WORKER 1st Issue, September MacDONALD LAUDS ICFTU MISSION CCL Seeretary-Treasurer Donald MacDonald stated that the Regional Activities Fund was “the greatest single achievement of the ICFTU” lution to the July Stockholm in presenting the CCL reso- Congress of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions. The CCL resolution which was adopted by the ICFTU Congress, called for a long-term educational-organizational program to assist unions in “The CCL regards the Regional Activities’ Program as basic to the work of the ICFTU,” Mac- Donald said. “The most striking development in the international labor movement since we met in Milan has been the generous re- sponse to the appeal for funds to | finance the organizing efforts of the ICFTU. Great Achievement This greatest single achieve- ment of the ICFTU to date is a tribute to the free ttade union movement of the world.” The Regional Program is con- erete proof that the ICFTU ‘is strengthening the free labor moyement in widespread areas, the COL Seeretary - Treasurer said. This program shows that the ICFTU is trying to improve “the deplorable living standards of millions of downtrodden and suffering workers.” Basic Principle The GCL owes much to the basic principle of the organized helping the unorganized. “We believed it is now our turn to-as- sist the millions of unorganized workers who need our help.” “We in Canada’ cannot live in peace and security unless we can assist in improving living stand- ards in many areas of the world,” MacDonald continued. “Further, we cannot maintain what we have struggled to athieve unless we assist in rais- ing wage levels and working con- ditions in the vast regions of Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East.” Combat Tyranny The Regional Program assists all workers who are fighting dic- tatorships. Whether in Europe, Latin America or Iron Curtain countries, this ICFTU fund “is of vital significance in the struggle for freedom and liberty,” he « Stated. The CCL Regional Fund reso- lution pointed to the expanding need for organizational - educa- tional assistance in many areas, which will continue after the first three-year program, due to end in July, 1954, has been completed. AILICFTU affiliates in a finan- . cial position to contribute were requested to pledge themselves to a further three-year program. National federations and interna- tional trade secretaries were also urged to make trained unionists under-developed areas. available for this important work. The Program The wide variety of interests of ‘the ICFTU affiliates, repre- senting almost 54 million mem- | bers in 75 countries, can be seen from the resolutions unanimously passed which will determine the course of policy for the next two years. Blueprints and programs for aiding economically underde- veloped countries, trade union education, the need for full em- ployment policies, protection of human rights and the struggle against colonial oppression, mi- gration, social security in de- pendent territories, the struggle against dictatorship and for peace — all these were issues which were dealt with by the 200 ICFTU delegates who attended this biennial congress. Throughout the session, the Canadian and American delega- | tions worked together on policy | positions, election of officers and broadening the Executive Board from 19 to 25 members, selected on a regional basis. The CIO delegation was headed by Presi- dent Walter Reuther and the AFL delegation by President George Meany. J. H. Oldenbroek was re-elected General Secretary of the ICFTU. TUC LOOKS TO FUTURE LONDON, Eng. (CPA) — The 1953 annual convention of the 8 million - member British Trades Union Congress has few contro- versial issues to consider when it meets in the Isle of Man, -mid- way between England and Ive- land, from September 7-11. A total of only 63 resolutions have been submitted by the 184 Congress-affiliated unions for in- clusion in the preliminary agenda. Three or four of the issues in- volved in certain resolutions, however, are considered likely to stir up considerable controversy. One of the chief contentious issues will likely be the question of appointment of union officials to the boards of publicly-owned industries — in particular, those industries which have been de- nationalized by the Conservative government and are now back in private hands. news copy September 11th. Publication date of the next issue of the B.C. LUMBER WORKER is September 17th, Deadline for ad copy is September 10th and for BCLe International Board ¥ een VorKer Representing the Organized Loggers and Mill Workers of B.C. MONTHLY ON THE FIRST THURSDAYS BY s of America (CIO-CCL) B.C. District Council No. 1 DISTRICT OFFICER: President... Joe Morris Ist, Vice-President . William N, Gray 2nd Vice-President Stuart M.. Hodgson §rd_ Vice-President w= Fred Pieber Secretary-Treasure ree H. Mitchell Address all communications to * G@EORGH H. MITCHELL, Secretary-Treasurer 45 Kingsway - Phone FAirmont 8807-8 Vancouver, B.C. Subscription Rates...... vertising Representative. WG. A as Second Class Mail, Post Office Dept., Ottawa 24,000 COPIES PRINTED IN THIS ISSUE ‘William N. Gray 1.50 per annum Spencer maximunt comfore and freedom the cape and sleeves all) one ieee and seams only un* ler-arm. Note also the more generous use of ma- terials with interlining away down at back. (Also made without iaterlia. ing.) STANDARD PANTS See the extra depth of double thickness, front and back, and_interlining down entire front. Lots of pockets, too. (Also made without interlin- ing.) THE THINGS YOU SHOULD LOOK FOR IN CANVAS RAINWEAR YOU WILL FIND IN RY-BAK’ HAT You will find that it is substantial and water re- pellent . . . a real hat +; « but. soft, pliable, and light in weight. BUY ONLY GENUINE “PIONEER BRAND” “DRY-BAK” Fram Your Local Dealer or Commissary IT IS MADE IN VANCOUVER, B.¢C., BY JONES TENT & AWNING LTD. CRUISER'S COAT Notice how it is moulded to fit with comfort and freedom. Double thick- ness over shoulders, chest,, back and sleeves. Look’'at the four roomy ‘outside pockets and pea- cil_pocket., and see the inside breast map pocket, then look at the back and see the large pack pocket with openings both sides. (This design of coat comes in featherweight olive drab water repellent poplin, too.) FALLER’S SHIRT The fallers’ and buckers’ shice is an original “Pio neer Brand” design, built to give fall fr extra" protecti needed, and with extra long skirt at back. (‘This comes in olive drab featherweight water= repellent poplin.) behind the Iron Curtain.” “The world is now confronted with an authoritative judgment of modern mass slavery, such as the free trade unions have been demanding since 1947,’’ the ICFTU said. Authoritative Facts The committee’s report is a gold mine of carefully compiled evidence and information, run- ning to more than 600 pages. It exposes systems of forced labor employed as a means to political coercion in Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Rumania and the USSR, and systems of forced labor of appreciable economic importance in Bulgaria, Czecho- slovakia, Poland, Portugal (Is- land of San Tome), the Union of South Africa, South West Africa and the USSR. The committee also raps the Knuckles of certain democratic countries for laws and practices which might lead to abuse, or even to systems of forced labor. The committee warned against further extension of forced labor as a means of political coercion. It suggested international action to protect the workers of fully self-governing countries. Self-convicted The findings were based on “an overwhelming mass of legal evi- dence, which the experts have analyzed with great caution,” the ICFTU stated. “The evidence consists of the laws and regula- [tions published by the accused governments themselves.” “This authoritative interna- tional investigation was the re- sult of persistent demand and pressure from the free trade unions. In°1947 the American Federation of Labor first pressed this question before the United Nations, with charges of forced labor in the Soviet Union. After its formation in 1949, the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions demanded that the United Nations conduct an impartial international inquiry into forced labor. The Economic and Social Council agreed with this demand and the UN-ILO Ad Hoe Committee was set up in 1951. The ICFTU submitted a large volume of evidence.” “Countries guilty of harbour- ing systems of forced labor, as well as those guilty of minor Slave Labor Exposed The report on forced labor issued recently by a com- mittee of the International Labor Organization was imme- diately praised by the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions as “an overwhelmingly indictment of mod- ern mass slavery prevailing in the USSR and its satellites abuses, must now be on their guard,” the ICFTU warned, Free labor will follow up these official charges that the tide of forced labor be turned back. Careful Enquiry The committee—a joint under- taking of the ILO and the Eco- nomic and Social Council of the United Nations—spent 20 months See for yourself—today. THE CAN. sifting evidence. In debates at the United Na- tions, the report recalled, Rus- sian and Polish delegates have defended the “Soviet system of correction as “particularly pro- gressive and humane”, since it tries to reform offenders. “In this committee’s view,” the report commented, “the Soviet penal system with its methods of corrective labor would appear to constitute a system of foreed or corrective labor employed asa means of political coercion or punishment or holding or ex- pressing political views.” wl Matt BANKING BY MAIL The safe way to save your money is to put it in a bank. You can do this best through any of the branches of the Canadian Bank of Commerce in British Columbia. Get some Banking by Mail forms before you leave town, or write for a supply to your nearest branch of the Commerce. BANKING BY MAIL is convenient, easy t: do. IAN BANK OF COMMERCE 80 Branches in British Columbia