4 ee : ‘ B.C. LUMBER WORKER se Greetings == ‘THROUGH this column, the Officers and Mem- bers of the B.C. District Council and the Edi- torial Board tender to all woodworkers their ‘sincere wish that joy and good cheer may attend them and their families during Christmas and that the New Year may be one of happiness and prosperity throughout. The traditional gaiety of the Yuletide season is warmly echoed by those who cut and hew B.C. lumber. The spirit of good will and brotherhood has built their. Union and has made its achieve- ments possible. The Christmas season brings into more active play those qualities which under- score the day-to-day cooperative endeavor for effective mutual aid. It will not strike a discordant note to say that the IWA has played a major part in adding to the well-being, happily expressed in thousands of woodworkers’ homes at Christmas time. But for the Union, the festivities would be dampened down by greater economic need. As a matter of fact, when IWA members say “Merry Christmas” to one another, as on this occasion, they express gratitude for the collective effort which has given reality to the spirit of “good will toward men”. The Union’s greetings for the New Year also have the ring of reality, that is far removed from the empty commercialism which is dinned into our ears at this season. Next year will be a good year to the extent, and only to the extent, that/the passing year has laid sound foundations. | 1953 has been one year in the parade of years since 1948 which have witnessed the steady up- building of greater economic and social security for the woodworkers through the instrumentality of their Union. Every step taken which-has resulted in better- ement of living and working conditions for lum- ber workers, will now make further steps pos- sible in 1954. These New Year’s greetings on behalf of the IWA, are in effect a dedication to the purpose of making 1954 eventful as a year in which still greater progress will be won. It will be won, because the Union’s strength is greater, by reason of past experience. These greetings are intended to have a special meaning for brothers who may be forced to re- main on the picket lines throughout the holidays. They will be remembered by all those lumber workers whose circumstances permit a freer par- ticipation in the Yuletide observances. The heroic struggle now being waged in the Interior exemplifies the spirit which has built the Union and which has brought a larger measure of peace and contentment to many homes. “It is a struggle, made necessary, that future Christmas seasons for Interior workers may be observed without the blight of degrading and unnecessary poverty. IWA members, outside the strike area unite on this occasion to extend fraternal greetings to those who are giving their best to the fraternity of the lumber workers. The strikers have not flinched under fire. They will have from their employed brothers all that is required to carry them through to victory. ‘ Behind the good wishes from other sections of the Union lies the hope that Christmas may be brightened in many ways, even though the fare may be lean. : It can be said with confidence that the sacri- fices now being made have laid the foundation for brighter days ahead. The men who have held the picket lines in the Interior have built a Union which can hold the Interior for trade unionism and the right of every lumber worker to live with self respect as a citizen of industry. Nags ae es 1:99? SS SS 19 =” ey CONTINUED DRIVE a =e ror A BETTER ei STANDARD OF y LIVING 40 ‘BETTER ¥ WORKING CONDITIONS y Fa Office Crews Lead OTTAWA (CPA)—The gap between conditions for office . and plant workers in manufac- turing industries is gradually narrowing but the office work- ers generally still have a slight lead on their fellows in the plant. A Department of Labor survey shows that 85 per cent of office employees in manufacturing were on a five-day week as of April this year. This compared with 79 per cent of plant employees en- joying the same conditions. How- ever, the disparity that existed in 1949 is not now so marked. At that time 68 per cent of office employees worked a five-day week against only 61 per cent of plant workers, Office Workers Suffer In comparison with plant workers, the “white-collar” work- ers in the manufacturing indus- try have had comparatively little change in the length of their work week during the period from 1949 to 1953. For plant workers there has been a strong movement towards a 40-hour week, Most office workers in manu- facturing, however, were already working less than 40 hours—63 per cent in 1949 and 69 per cent in 1953, The most common sche- dule for office staffs continues to 37% hours, with about 30 per cent of workers at this level both in 1949 and 1953, However, the] - survey shows a slight increase in the proportion of employees working less than 37% hours. Overtime ‘ The survey indicated that over- lex 8. Macdonald Barrister & Solicitor Notary Public 751 Granville Street VANCOUVER, B.C. Telephone TAtlow 6641 SOLICITOR TO THE time payments, almost universal for plant workers, was gaining ground among office staffs. Forty-two per cent received straight-rates or more for over- time in 1953 whereas only 23 per cent got such benefits in 1950. Four-fifths of the clerical workers covered in the survey were allowed eight or more paid statutory holidays. Those with nine or more paid holidays were in marked contrast to plant workers. In 1949, the percentage of office workers with nine or more paid holidays was 17, and this increased to 23 per cent by 1953. Only nine per cent of plant workers, on the other hand, were allowed eight paid statutory holi- days. 73% AGREE PRINCETON, N.J. (CPA)— Three out of four Americans approve of trade unions, the latest Gallup Poll has revealed. The 75 percent favorable re- sponse is an all-time high figure. While those questioned did not give blanket approval of all la- bor policies and activities, they approve unionism’s basic prin- ciples and purposes. The latest poll shows that pub- lie favor towards unions has risen 18 percent since the last survey in 1949. Previous surveys have shown the following trend on the question; 1937, 72 percent; 1989, 68 percent; 1941, 61 per- cent; 1947, 64 percent and 1949, 62 percent. 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