4 B.C. LUMBER WORKER 2nd Issue, $ EDITORIAL INTERIOR CRISIS DEVELOPMENTS in the Interior, relating to IWA con- tract negotiations are now on the verge of open strife. Power-drunk employers have precipitated a situation in which they have challenged the Union to prove its strength on the picket line. In the Northern section, the modest improvements proposed by a Conciliation Board, and accepted by the Union in the interests of harmony, were arbitrarily re- jected by the employers. A government-supervised strike vote is now necessary to demonstrate that the lumber workers approve the fight waged by the Union. Within a few days, another official strike vote will be necessary in the Southern Interior. Here a Conciliation Board Chairman forgot the interests of the workers in his intense bias against the Union. He made no attempt to relate conditions in the South to those in the North, and ignored the findings of the Northern Board by proposing a lower wage adjustment. ‘This compelled the Union’s nominee to file a minority report, while the Policy Committee was duty-bound to recommend’ rejection. It was inconceivable that the Union should settle for le38 a the South, than it was already fighting for in the orth. By means of the two strike votes, the workers on the job will give their answer to the challenge of the employ- ers. If they vote for strike action, they will. tell the employers that they are ready to demand the better deal, which has been wrongfully kept from them. If they vote against strike action, they will inform all and sundry that they are prepared to take it on the chin again. The questions which must be answered by Interior lumber workers are simple and direct. Do they think that they got a fair deal last year? It will be remembered that they were forced to sign on the old terms in 1952. They got no increase, although such was recommended by the Conciliation Boards, and although the Coast workers secured contract improve- ments. As was pointed out during the public hearings of the Conciliation Board, the Interior workers didn’t get an increase in 1952, because the employers didn’t want them to have it, and considered the workers too weak to make their point. The result is that the Interior workers are doing the same work as at the Coast for $1.52 a day less. 2 Do they agree with the employers who claim that liv- ing requirements are lower in the Interior than at the Coast? All the evidence points to the fact that living costs are as high and at some points higher in the Interior, than at the Coast. It is the height of injustice to ask the Interior workers to accept a lower standard of living than prevails throughout the major section of the industry. Do they think that the employers can meet the terms now proposed as a basis of settlement? The official statistics, recently released by the Domin- ion Bureau of Statistics, reveals that although 1952 was a top year for the employers, their production to date this year has surpassed the 1952 record by 95.2 million board feet or 19.7%. Their shipments are likewise up by 14% over the record established in 1952. They made greater profits because they found the chance to make men work for lower wages. Unless the workers assert their rights and their inde- pendence, they will consent to spend the rest of their working lives on their knees to an arrogant group of greedy employers. ‘ It has now been made clear that if the Interior lumber workers choose to fight with their legitimate weapon— the strike—they will have the entire resources of the Union behind them. The strike fund accumulated by the District organization has been carefully conserved for just such an emergency, and will be used to spare the striking worker and his family any serious hardship, The reason for the support which will be forthcoming from the Coast is obvious. Lumber produced in the Interior at low wages.is a constant threat to the stand- ards built up by the Union at the Coast. The position taken by the Union has been entirely reasonable. That of the employers has been not only unreasonable but provocative. They have acted as they have done, because they consider that they have the whip hand oyér the workers. ; é The Union’s negotiators are proceeding with confi- dence that the workers in the Interior industry have read the handwriting on the wall, and have realized that this is the year to fight with might and main. S Tf they so act, they will find the Coast workers behind them to a man. They have better fighting ground than last year, and a case against the employers, which is cer- tain to find public support. me “Thrice armed is he, whose cause is just.” MEDIEVAL POSE THey'LL GET ONLY WHAT THEY'RE STRONG ENouGt To TAKE — AND NoT A CENT more / The Editor: I have often wondered why people become Communists and what the idea behind it all is. It is known that certain factors tend to make it all the more ap- pealing. Are we all making some sort of contribution? Within the makeup of com- munists and their fellow travel- lers there is in plain display, bit- terness, anti-social attitudes, self martyrdom, hunger, inability to cope with typical problems, sel- fishness, ete:, making the indi- vidual a willing and ready tool of the Party upon conversion. The ultimate goal of these peo- ple then becomes destruction of the cause of their bitterness by any means regardless of who is involved. Why not realize the one main fact: the IWA is here to stay and the more it is put on the defens- ive the tougher it will get and the further from amicable rela- tions. If the operators had only the foresight to grant the IWA union shop or closed shop agreements, we wouldn’t be talking about Communism at all. If the operator fires anyone for unjust cause the union must de- fend them regardless of their political background. The only solution is preferential union hir- ing, union shop or closed shop. Perhaps the operators want to see Communism flourish? The only thing is that nowa- Alex B. Macdonald Barrister & Solicitor Notary Public 751 Granville Street VANCOUVER, B.C. Telephone TAtlow 6641 SOLICITOR TO THE 1. W. A. ‘0 Your Space Boys! Readers Venkl days I hear that almost any |name for self-righteousness, broad- shouldered, active trade union officer in the plants is be- ing labeled “Communist”. Short -sightedness is another Sandy Naylor, Chairman, Timberland Sub-Local, 1-357, IWA. 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