4 B.C. LUMBER WORKER EDITORIAL VICTORY ‘THE strike settlement achieved by the IWA in the Northern Interior must be recorded as a victory for the Union. It is in reality a great victory, when considered against the background of the circumstances, and the struggle waged against heavy odds by the lumber workers for 102 days. : There is no pretence that the settlement has achieved all that might be desired. Many urgent problems in the area remain to be solved. Never- theless, substantial gains have been made, which have bettered the circumstances of the workers and the status of their bargaining agency. The value of these gains must, be appraised in the light of the original intentions of the lumber operators. Not only had the operators refused to consider any contract improvements, but at the outset they had hoped to wipe out trade union organization completely. The struggle centred around the right of the workers to organize and bargain collectively for their legitimate democratic rights, and the work- ers scored on this issue. An important element of the victory was that after the long, bitter fight, lumber workers wrested concessions from the operators which had been refused until the Jast moment. At the same time the workers maintained solidarity of organization to the degree that firmly established recognition of its status in the industry. The IWA in the Northern Interior has de- veloped and proved an amazing strength under fire. Men who had little or no strike experience displayed a grasp of trade union principles, unity, and leadership, which commanded general respect. Tt is now clear that these results would not have been obtained without strike action or with- out the tenacity with which the stiikers main- tained the fight. Had IWA members surrendered at the outset, they would have been subjected to continued vic- timization for an indefinite period of years. It was a costly strike in terms of the sacrifices made by the men on the picket lines, and the drain made upon the Union’s strike fund. These losses are more than offset by the dividends which will in future be realized from the new standards and firmer bargaining status. ‘ Honors for the victory must be credited to the splendid fighting qualities of the membership in Local 1-424, IWA, Prince George. It required an indomitable courage to maintain strike action against ruthless strike-breaking tactics during zero weather and the Christmas Season. Trade unionists in all sections of the province have found cause to pay glowing tributes to the self-sacrificing and valiant spirit shown by the I er workers in waging their fight against in- credible odds to a successful finish. The Interior fight will go down in labor history as one of the most notable on the record. IWA members will not forget that the Interior Jumber workers undertook the defence of a vul- nerable section of the organization and made it strong. IWA members will remember with gratitude ‘the support tendered the strikers by members of affiliated unions in the province and IWA Local Unions in the United States. This generosity was warmly expressed in the support of appeals for the Children’s Christmas _ Fund, and for warm winter clothing. The victory in the Northern Interior is a good omen for a similar victory in the Southern In- terior, although a very natural jubilation should not obscure the necessity for continued support of-men still on the picket line, VICTORY CLIMB : Our The Editor: The following letter received by this Local from Mrs. Rene Bourcet, wife of one of our mem- bers, is typical of others sent to us expressing appreciation of the strike aid so generously given to them by organized labor and sympathizers. The letter reads in part: “Please accept my sincerest thanks for your kind remem- brance of us at Christmas time. The baby is just at the right age to find the toy telephone most intriguing. The parcel of candy and nuts added much to our Christmas cheer, and the cheque for $8 made up a bit for the things we could have had, had if not been for the strike. “Once again, we thank you very kindly; it felt wonderful to be remembered.” J. W. Strong, Financial Secretary, Local 1-423, IWA. ae Your Space Boys! ALL SAY “THANK YOU" The Editor: I have been asked by the mem- bers of the Nakusp Sub-Local to request publicity for a letter re- ceived recently from Mr, H. W. Herridge, MP, which was accom- panied by a cheque for $100 as a donation to our strike fund. In his letter Mr. Herridge said: “However, during this holiday season our thoughts will con- stantly turn to Nakusp and the people we know there, particu- larly as we realize it is not going to be the same sort of Christmas for many as when everyone is working. 1 enclose my personal cheque to value of $100, which I wish your Local Union Committee to use as they see fit; it may be considered ad- visable to assist some particu- lar families or provide presents for some of the children.” Deep appreciation is felt by members of this sub-local to Mr. Herridge for his act of gener- osity. F. L. Anderson, Nakusp Sub-Local. A SMELLY A new kind of racket came’ to light in the Christmas rush in Montreal. The “promoters” buy large quantities of attractively bottled cheap perfume. They persuade three or four big stores to stock a few bottles (without any obligation and with a guar-| antee that it will be.taken off their hands if they don’t sell it) at a very fancy price, in the neighborhood of $20 to $25 per bottle. The next step is to have sales- men descend on the unsuspecting public in a door-to-door campaign offering a real bargain. They offer to sell the same perfume to the prospective sucker for only $2.50 a bottle and they point out what a real bargain it is, that the very same perfume is being sold “at better stores every- where” for $20 a bottle. If the RACKET prospect appears to doubt their word they invite him to phone any one of the previously men- tioned stores they have stocked, for confirmation. Latest reports are that the racket has been pay- ing off handsomely. Readers Thiele The Editor: This Sub-Local, though small in number of members, wishes to go on record as being greatly appreciative of the way in which they have been backed up by the Coast IWA members in their bat- tle with the ILMA in the current fight for better conditions in the Interior lumber industry, being well aware that without that help we would stand small chance of gaining any concessions from our opponents. F, L. Anderson, Nakusp Sub-Local. Annual Wage Proposed BRANTFORD, Ont. (CPA) — Canadian auto workers have de- cided to drop a proposal for a 85-hour work week and to make the guaranteed annual wage a prime objective in collective bar- gaining, the Canadian District Council of the United Automo- bile Workers (CCL-CIO) decided following weekend meetings here. The Council made plans for a “full employment conference” to be held in Ottawa early in 1954 when the union will press for legislation to ensure full employ- ment through government-orga- nized work projects whenever the unemployment situation becomes Serious. Used Mag’s & Books from MICKEY SPILLANE to GYPSY ROSE LEE .-- AND THEN SOME! Pocket Manuals .. 8 for $1 Comic Books 5 for $1 8 for $1 Magazines, Dig MAILED POST-PAID (State Preference) STINSON LIBRARY 748 Eost Broadway Vancouver 10, B.C. Abramson & Hollenterg Optometrists 734 GRANVILLE STREET Marine 0928 ~— MArine 2948 Ground Floor, Vancouver Block Hours: 9 to 5:30 p.m. Wednesdays, 9 to 12 Noon poans On DIAMONDS, JEWELRY, SILVERWARE, FURS AND ALL VALUABLES Immediate Cash? Unredeemed No Red Tapet monds for Sale B. C. COLLATERAL LOAN BROKERS LTD. 17 EAST HASTINGS, Cer. COLUMBIA