ee rr Second Issue, October FROM PAGE 1 LEGAL and lumber is neither being pro-* cessed nor moved. Our picket lines are well organized and on the alert. Every strategic point is patrolled, night and day, and this includes a watch on logs in the rivers, ‘ I am proud to report that everywhere throughout the dis- trict our picket lines are holding firmly, without the slightest sign of weakness. The morale of the Workers on the picket lines is high. | They are performing the exacting work of picket duty un- der unfavorable weather condi- tions with a fighting spirit that is worthy of our highest praise. They are not fooling them- Selves that this battle will be won easily. In a very realistic way they are digging in for a hard, tough battle. They know as well as we do, that unless they win fair contract terms this year, they'll continue to take it on the chin for many years to come. Union Smashing Tactics During five weeks of strike action, the intentions of the -employers have been made clear. They hope to drive the IWA out of the Interior of the province completely. We have reason to believe that if they succeed in smash- ing the IWA organization in the district they will establish the base rate now found in some unorganized sections throughout the Alberta lumber industry of 80c an hour. We can place no other interp- retation on the present attitude of the employers, which has not only provoked their employees to determined strike action, but has aroused public indignation. They are determined to force wage levels down to the 1950 stand- ard, whatever may the conse- quences to the workers in the industry. Their anti-labor attitude is be- BATTLE consider any contract improve- ments, even those which involve no expenditure. They act as though they intend nothing else but to take revenge on employees who dared to organize to get their rights. I have been through a number of strikes, but never have I met employers who have adopted a more vindictive atti- tude. Operators Reject Mediation An effort was made recently by the Prince George Board of Trade to call a conference be- tween the Union and the opera- tors in an effort to reach a settle- ment, The IWA agreed to such a conference. This mediation plan collapsed, when the opera- tors’ representative advised the any such conference. In a release to the Local press, the Chairman of the committee appointed by the Board of Trade expressed disappointment that a peace plan which offered some hope of settlement has been re- jected by the employers. He said and I quote, ‘Our sole aim is to bring the two parties together so that talks can commence, for without meetings between the two, no settlement will ever be reached.’ Employers Divided Not all the employers, bar- gaining through the Northern Interior Lumbermen’s Associa- tion, favor the tactics that are now being employed against the Union. Eight operators haye now signed IWA agree- ments. Several operators with- in the Association have already indicated that they would be prepared to grant improved contract terms, but for the fact that they fear reprisals from those who dominate the Asso- trayed by an insistent refusal to ciation.’> FROM PAGE 1 SOUTH INTERIOR The District President pointed out in his pre-strike statement that the employers would make no commitments whatever to in- troduce any type of improvement in the contract. This forced the Union into the position, he stat- ed, where no other choice could be made in order to meet the responsibilities placed upon the Union by the workers. Employers Forced Fight He continued: “We are not willfully plotting any public inconvenience. Never at any time does a Union wel- come strike action or seek a fight, simply for the sake of having.a fight. Strike action in the Inter- jor involves heavy sacrifices by the men and their families, and for the Union itself. We sincerely regret that the cessation of lumber production in the Interior will have a disrup- tive effect on business activities. On the other hand, we must point to the fact that the Union has exerted every effort to avoid any such calamity, and has patiently followed the procedures of bar- gaining and conciliation to secure a peaceful settlement. Three Years’ Dictatorship For three years the employers employment or refuse to work under unsatisfactory conditions. It is not in the interests of the community that a group of em- ployers should exercise economic dictatorship solely on the claim that their profit-making coincides with the general welfare of the community. The Community Interest It is not in the interests of Interior communities that the em- ployers should continue to insist upon a lower standard of wages than is now recognized elsewhere in the lumber industry. By forcing Interior lumber workers to produce lumber at wages $1.52 a day less than at the Coast, they are actually throwing provincial production out of balance. By greedily de- manding, at the expense of their employees, a larger slice of the pie than is now taken by other owners in the industry they are retarding rather than helping the prosperity of the province. The basic requirement for our general prosperity is the purchasing power of the community derived from the distribution of wage income.” Board of Trade officials that the | ” operators would not take part in|.’ approve. - IWA TRADE UNION LABEL is affixed by International President A. F. Hartung on furniture Ppro- duced under union shop conditions negotiated by Local 1-217 in the plant of Restmore Manufacturing Co. Ltd. as International Secretary Carl Winn and Manager W. R. Watson and convention delegates Ladysmith Supports New Levy A motion was passed by the Ladysmth Sub-Local of Local 1-80, IWA, at their regular meeting, October 16, support- ing the District Executive Board’s recommendation of 2 one dollar monthly assessment to supplement the strike fund in aid of Interior members. During this meeting and also at one held October 9th, at Niti- nat Camp, Youbou, Financial Sec- retary Ed Linder related the cir- cumstances leading to the strike in the Interior, along with the explanation that -a referendum vote will be held, before action on the assessment is taken. Jock Colwell, Business Agent of the Local, reported on the ad- dress given by Walter Reuther, to the 17th Constitutional Con- vention of the IWA, in the Hotel Vancouver, October 15. Guest speaker of the evening was Mr. Morg Frater, Unemploy- ment Insurance Commission Offi- cer. He confined his: remarks to matters relating to the UIC in a manner which was both interest- ing and comprehensive to his audience. The number and var- iety of questions directed to Mr. Frater by the members clearly indicated their appreciation of his subject, = NOTICE Will John Duncan Mec- Laughlin, formerly of Chilli- wack, B.C., or anyone know- ing his present whereabouts please contact Wilson & JOHN D. McLAUGHLIN? Hinds, Barristers and Solici- tors, P.O. Box 298, Chilli- wack, B.C., who have im- portant information for him regarding his late father’s estate, ae NAAT HAVE YOU 110 LOSE? A valuable watch? A ring You just couldn’t re- place? Important papers? Savings Bonds?—Any_ small personal possession you would hate to lose? Then why risk loss? Why even worry. about it when complete protection—against fire, theft and loss — costs so little? You can rent a Safety Deposit Box at the B of M for less than two MY BANK TOA Mutton BABS Bring your valuables to your nearest ‘ B of M branch as soon as you can. It always pays to play safe. , Bank or MONTREAL . Canada's First Sanh WORKING WITH CANADIANS IN EVERY WALK OF LIFE SINCE 1817