ee B.C. LUMBER WORKER

UNBEATABLE
SPIRIT.

‘THE IWA is seen at its best when fighting

against odds for the rights of the workers. The
Union’s spirit has again been tested, and has not
been found wanting.

This was evident during the discussions of
the Interior strike at the recent quarterly meet-
ing of the B.C. District Council. It was an occa-
sion for pride in an organization that did not
falter in acceptance of its obligations.

The quality of the Union was found in the
words from the Interior strikers themselves. They
expressed a cool yet spirited determination that
had proven unbeatable on the picket line.

Their unassuming language stirred the dele-
gates, especially as it originated with men who
had little previous experience in strike’ action.
They had a confidence in the Union’s solidarity
that could not be shaken, and that must not be
betrayed.

The response to the strikers’ appeal was spon-
taneous and warm-hearted. There were no reser-
vations when the Union decided to place all its
financial resources, in hand, and yet to be secured,
at the disposal of the strikers.

The one precaution exercised was that which
would make certain that the funds in sight would
meet the requirements of a prolonged strike.

The strike issues were seen in their broader
aspects, and not merely as a localized fight with
a few operators.

The IWA has been called upon to offer effec-
tive resistance to a well-planned campaign of one
branch of the CMA against trade unionism. The
. purpose of the CMA campaign is to boot the IWA
out of the Interior lumber industry, as a prelimi-
nary to a more powerful offensive against trade
unionism in the Coast area.

The main strike issue for which the Union
is now engaged in a life and death struggle is the
right to organize and bargain collectively.

The immediate issue is that those who have
risked the sacrifices of strike action should not
be deprived of employment opportunities in their
own communities by the employers’ use of strike-
breakers. :

It is now evident that if the picket lines are
held, as they have been held, the employers’ “back
to work” movement will remain permanently
defeated. The basic condition of victory has been
already established by the militant spirit of the
Interior strikers themselves, on their picket lines.

The further requirement for certain victory
is that they should be able to rely on the Union
for sustenance during their fight. They have now
been given this assurance. _

Decisive moves made by the IWA are provid-
ing powerful weapons for the penetration of the
employers’ front.

The decision to raise the strike relief, and at

the same time continue the increased relief for

an indefinite period, not only raised morale on
the picket lines tremendously, but disconcerted
the employers. ) S

The operators never reckoned on the militancy
of the Interior lumber workers, nor did they cor-
rectly estimate the financial strength of the IWA,
supported by affiliated unions. : ;

The decision to blockade the Interior by warn-
ing off transients who might be lured into strilke-
breaking employment, struck a blow at a vulner-
able spot in the employers’ plans.

Industry cannot operate without labor. Unless
many of the operators find workers to man their
plants soon for the normal seasonal operations,
they will be in trouble with their bankers.

Never has the IWA shown greater confidence
in ultimate victory, because never has the IWA
had greater cause to fight and win.

IN TOP FORM

%. Your Space Boys!

KEEP IT
up, Boy=1'M
With You /

Readers
Veiwkel

COOKHOUSE MEN COMPLAIN

The Editor,

One of the main things that I
have noticed recently in the log-
ging camps is that the Companies

are getting very cheap. This is |

particularly noticeable in the
cookhouses. I don’t mean in the
quality of the food but in the
number of men who are employed
in the kitchen.

Many camps are working with
one or two men short in the kit-
chen with the result that the
cooks and waiters have to put in
longer hours. Some of them up to
ten‘ and twelve hours a day with
no overtime.

In one camp of about 100 men,

there are six men working in the
kitchen, The cook averages eleven
hours per day. The second cook
averages ten to eleven hours per
day and the flunkies work about
nine and a half to ten hours
daily.

In another camp, the cook and
the Second cook put in about ten
and a half hours each day. They
have to put these hours in for
the Company. At still another,
which is now almost closed down,
the cook started work at 5.30 azn.
and quit at night around 7 p.m,
without any time off during the
day.

The second cook used to start

at 5 a.m. and work until 1 p.m,
then he would go back at 3.30 and
finish up about 8 p.m.

The reason that the Companies
are able to get away with this
sort of thing is that there hasn’t
been established as yet any defin-
ite ratio of cookhouse workers to
the number of men in camp, plus
the fact that there is no limit to
the hours which a cookhouse
worker may put in.

A few years ago, the Com-
panies tried lowering their costs
by _cutting- down on food. This
failed so now to save money they
are hiring fewer employees in

the kitchen,
Card No. 469.

U.0.C.

Action has been secured on
an issue raised by the IWA
last mid-winter with regard to
payments received on separa-
tion from employment and for
holidays, it is indicated in a
recent announcement by the
Unemployment Insurance Com-
mission,

A spokesman for the commis-
sion said the changes were made
following representations from a
number of unions and employ-
ers.

He said they xepresent an
easing of the regulations cover-
ing money received on separation
from employment on a more
equitable method of paying bene-
fits for holidays.

Separation Pay

Under former regulations a
worker who received a gratuity
or gift from an employer on ter-
mination of employment could
not immediately receive unem-

*| ployment insurance benefits. He

was not able to collect until the
period represented by the gift of
money had elapsed.

A man earning $100 a month
who received a gratuity of $100
on termination of employment
had to wait one month before
becoming eligible for benefits.

RULES AMENDED

The new regulations stipulate
that all gratuities received on
termination of employment will
be disregarded in determining
whether a person is entitled to
benefits.

Holiday Pay

The commission formerly paid
benefits to persons laid off when
a plant shuts down for a general
holiday for the period they did
not receive holiday pay. Under
the new regulations benefits will
not be paid to an employee for
the first week of a plant shut-
down for a general holiday, re-
gardless of whether the employee
is paid for the holiday,

Abramson &-

Hollenberg

Optometrists

734 GRANVILLE STREET

MArine 0928 MArine 2948

Ground Floor,
Vancouver Block
Hours: 9 to 5:30 p.m,

Wednesdays, 9 to 12 Noon

But if the shutdown for holi-
days lasts for more than a week
benefits will be paid for days,
other than statutory holidays, in
the second and subsequent weeks
for which the employee does not
receive pay. Holiday pay receiv-
ed at termination of employment
will not deprive a claimant of
benefits,

_—————

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