B.C. LUMBER WORKER 1st Issue December ‘EDITORIAL A Fight For ~ Labor's Rights AFTER.ten weeks of struggle, the IWA will now be given’ the opportunity to air publicly the real causes of the conflict, in the Interior. The enquiry to be conducted by Mr. Justice Lord, will not only compel the lumber operators to face the facts under judicial auspices, but will open the opportunity to demonstrate the reason- able position consistently taken by the Union. The appointment of the Commissioner is in itself official recognition that the causes of indus- trial strife in the Interior are so deeply rooted as to require a thorough probe. It is difficult to imagine, that upon an impartial consideration of the evidence, the Union will be denied fair terms of settlement. The most potent factor in the shaping of the situation toward settlement has been the fighting spirit of the men on the IWA picket lines. Their determination to gain their legitimate ' rights has won public support, and the full co- operation of all unionists, thus defeating all at- tempts of the employers to resume operations with strike-breakers. From one end of the province tothe other, trade unionists accord the IWA strikers unquali- fied praise for their magnificent struggle in main- taining the fundamental right of workers to organize and secure a voice in the conditions of their employment. The defence made for this democratic right in the Interior, is a vital defence of the right for all workers in the province. The IWA Interior strike will prove to be the turning point in recent labor history in this proy- ince, for it has successfully resisted the prelimi- nary phase of an organized onslaught on wages and working conditions by the employers. i A Must WHEN IWA delegates assemble for the ap- proaching conventions of IWA District No. 1, and the B.C. Federation of Labor, they face a legislative problem they dare not ignore. It is now imperative that the B. C. Trade Union Act be amended to prohibit the use of injunctions by the employers to break a strike. Never have injunctions been more freely used than in the Interior IWA strike. Almost 50 such orders have been issued, and the Union’s solicitors are now almost constantly engaged in court de- fending the interests -of the Union. 2 The restraining orders have been modified in some instances, but too frequently they have been issued as to prevent all forms of peaceful picket- ing. The ability of the employers to secure an in- junction without first allowing the Union its day in court is one that requires legislative prohibi- tion. Considerable evidence has been accumulated to show that the employers are not too scrupulous in the detail set forth in supporting affidavits. The present court procedure is a survival of the days when union organization with strike action was considered a conspiracy against the “state. It negates the rights accorded unions, intended to protect them against damage suits for revenue lost in strikes. It is directed against the Unions to deprive them of the strike weapon. The time has come for determined action by organized labor which will make injunctions against trade unions impossible in an industrial dispute until after fair trial, disorderly conduct has been proven. DEFENCE IN DEPTH — ike Speech made by President Wal- ter Reuther at the opening of the recent CIO Convention in Cleve- land attracted nation-wide inter- est. Some of the more notable and pithy excerpts from his speech are reprinted below. THE CIO COMES into this convention with its peak mem- bership. During the past year, we picked up almost a half mil- lion new members, which I think reflects in a real measure the growth of affiliated unions. Almost without exception every CIO union has made pro- gress; progress numerically, in terms of building membership; and real, substantial progress in terms of bread and butter issues at the collective bargain- ing table. I SAY THANK GOD for CIO, because today instead. of having 2.5 million workers or- ganized we have 16 or 17 mil- ion organized workers in Am- erica. a 4% # WE WANT LABOR UNITY on an honorable basis, on a basis in which the basic demo- cratic trade union principles upon which the CIO has been built are protected, expanded and implemented in terms of the practical work of a united labor movement. We believe that labor unity without prin- ciple is labor unity without purpose. eee I WOULD LIKE to warn the delegates, the membership back home and the American people that a big steal in Washington is in the making. It is a tax steal that the architects of re- action and social irresponsibil- ity are working on. I would warn the American people to keep a padlock on all df their zippers, because their pockets will be picked if they do not. x ¢ * BIG BUSINESS has moved in. They are taking over the government lock, stock and bar- rel. When we saw the cabinet that was formed, we character- ized that cabinet as eight mil- lionaires and one plumber, but the political plumbing in Wash- ington got so fouled up that the political plumber picked up his plunger and went home. rarer THE BASIC PROBLEM in America, all of the economic difficulties we face as free peo- ple, flow essentially out of the unbalance in the distribution of wealth that our labor and our productive tools make possible. Four percent of the families on top are now to get more than the 41% at the bottom of the economic pyramid. New tax legislation will make that even worse. soe oe WE OF THE CIO answer the views of those men of little faith and less vision by saying that we reject the defeatist philosophy that would have us believe that depressions are in- evitable. Depressions, like war, are man-made, and what man can make he can also avoid making. REUTHER SPEAKS OUT We say to the world that neither war nor peace is in- evitable; that neither depres- sion nor prosperity is inevit- able. You can drift to war; you can drift to depression; but if you want to build peace, if you want to build prosperity, then you have got to work, and you have got to plan. That is precisely what we in CIO are determined to do in America, with other men of good will. - IF WE WILL put political action to work in this job of good citizenship, taking the is- sues and mobilizing our forces, getting good candidates, we can do this job. What happened the other day in Wisconsin and New Jersey and New York? I say, let us roll up our sleeves, let us go to work, and let us repeat that performance in ey- ery state in the union in 1954, CMA Wants Bar TORONTO (CPA) The Ontario division of the Canadian Manufacturers As- sociation has urged the pro- vincial government to end bargaining rights of unions engaging in illegal strikes. In a brief to Labor Min- ister Daley, the CMA also called for the inclusion of the ‘secondary boycott? within the definition of a strike un- der the Ontario Labor Rela- tions Act. ‘Secondary boy- cotf is a refusal to work with 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 materials plant. Unfair practices, as de- fined in the OLRA, should also include picketing where a strike is declared unlawful and where there is no dispute between the employer and employees, | CMA suggested. from a struck SAN FRANCISCO — TAILORS — LOAN MONEY ON Suits, Overcoats, etc. Loggers’ Boots, Sleeping Bags, Suitcases, Radios, Watches and Rings Expert Watch Repairing UNREDEEMED Suits and Caulk Boots For Sale MAIL ORDER, 52 West Hastings Street VANCOUVER, B. C. ANS On DIAMONDS, JEWELRY, SILVERWARE, FURS AND ALL VALUABLES Immediate Cash! No Red! Tapet Unredeemed Diamonds for Sale B. C. COLLATERAL LOAN BROKERS LT 77 EAST HASTINGS, Cor. COLUMBIA