12 B.C. LUMBER WORKER Whalen Heads CCL Couneil President of the Vancouver Local Union, 1-217, IWA, - was accorded a thumping majority when on February 9 he was elected President of the Greater Vancouver and Lower Mainland Labor Council. : In the election he secured a DISTRICT CONVENTION Education To Be Extended Although interrupted by the Interior strike action, the educational program of the IWA made substantial pro- gress during the past year, it was reported by the District Officers to the Annual Convention. Stress was laid on the value of education as a potent means of building the vitality of the Union. The report stated on this matter: vote of 95 over contender R. jpunaarom, who received 20 bal- lots. te E. Sims of the Brewery Work- ers won the post of Vice-Presi- dent and V. W. Forster was returned to the office of Secre- tary-Treasurer by acclamation. EXECUTIVE The newly-elected Executive will be composed of the follow- ing: Legislative Committee Chairman, W. Trineer; Organiza-~ tion Committee Chairman, B. Hodgkins; Grievance Committee Chairman, Lawrence Vandale; Credentials Committee Chairman, |}: W. Pierce; Public Relations Com- mittee Chairman, P. Lawson; Education Committee Chairman, G, Hall. Unions Urge Work Pl Almost -simultaneously with the preparations of the IWA District Convention to impress upon the authorities the need for steps to alleviate unem- ployment conditions, two major international unions, the Unit- ed Steelworkers and the United Autoworkers interviewed the Federal Cabinet stressing the urgent need for planned action. Acting in co-operation with the trade unions, Clairie Gillis, M.P. (UMWA) moved for the ad- journment of the House to dis- cuss a matter of urgent public importance, namely the growing seriousness of unemployment. This move followed closely on ans the announcement that the CNR had laid off 1500 men because of declining business conditions. The Gillis motion was refused consideration by the Speaker. Re- ply of the Government in the House and to the trade union delegation was that there was no cause for alarm, as existing un- employment was merely seasonal in character. Trade union members of the Legislature are expected to urge planning of public works to help take up the slack in employment, as the number of employable un- employed in B.C. has this month reached the highest mark in re- cent. years. INTERIOR SETS UP CENTRAL O More highly centralized plan of administration on a regional basis has been achieved by the District Office in cooperation with the Interior Local Unions, _ it was reported to the District Convention by the officers. ‘The officers’ report.on this sub- ject was as follows: “After the Interior Wage and Contract Conference held in Kamloops, the District Officers called a meeting of the repre- sentatives of the Local Unions in the Interior and discussed with them the matter of organization and administration. As a result of the discussions, a plan was developed to set up a Regional Administration to cover the three Local Unions in the central and southern areas of the Province, that is Locals 1- 405, 1-417, and 1-423. SAN FRANCISCO — TAILORS — LOAN MONEY ON — .. Suits, Overcoats, etc. Loggers’ Boots, Sleeping Bags, Suitcases, Radios, Watches and Rings Expert Watch Repairing FFICE This plan for the setting up of a Regional Office in the Southern Interior and a complete co-ordi- nation of all financial adiminstra- tive and organizational efforts was to be carried out from the central office. The plan was submitted to the membership of the various Local Unions concerned and received their approval. The office was set up in Kelowna and arrange- ments made to take over the books and records of the various Local Unions.” “The past year saw an exten- sion of our Educational Program and for the first time schools were held, organized and admin- istered by our own Education Department. This was made ne- cessary because of the inability of Brother Howard Conquergood of the Canadian Congress of Labor Department to attend, due to other commitments in the East. However, schools were held in co-operation with the Canadian Congress of Labor affiliates in British Columbia, in Vancouver, Victoria and Nanaimo, and for the first time we extended our Education Program into the Fraser Valley area, where we held a school at Mission. This was the first institute held in the coastal area in which no other Union but our. own participated. Schools had beer planned for the Interior at Cran- brook, Vernon and Prince George in the months of October and November, but these had to be cancelled because of the strike situation in the Interior of the Province. However, we hope. to hold the schools in the Interior area in the summer months. Also, we are glad to note that some of the Local Unions of the District Council have set up their own educational classes and we are sure that this education at the local level will be of marked benefit to the unions as a whole. In co-operation with .the B.C. Federation of Labor, a Staff Se- minar is being planned for the month of March and we urge all Locals in the District Council to participate in this endeavour. The Year Ahead During the jcoming year we believe it will be necessary for us to further extend and. de- velop our educational program and attempt, where possible, to hold institutes in places that we have not touched before and that the program of the insti- tute should be developed to place the emphasis on those subjects necessary to strength- en the organization. We believe that the matter of audio-visio education should be explored and the use of film strips investigated in order to broaden our present education program, and trust that the same co-operative spirit will be ex- twoen the District and the Local Unions in the matter of develop- ment and: furtherance of “on the job education” of our member- ship both at the District and Local education level. Due to the action of the last International Convention, the In- ternational Research and Educa- tion Department now have avail- able increased funds for the furtherance of the Education Program of. the International Union, They should now be in a position to extend more assist- ance to the District Councils on the development of their educa- tional program. Therefore, in co- operation with the International Research and Education Depart- ment, we will make every effort to co-ordinate within the struc- ture of the educational program for the coming year, the needs and desires of our membership.” LABOR FORCE INCREASED At the present time the Canadian labor force num- bers about 5,400,000 people, or approximately 37 per cent of the population. About four workers out of five are male. Almost half of the labor force are aged 25 to 44 years, inclusive. hibited in the coming year be- Union Shows Growth Most noteworthy progress in organization has been made in the Interior British Columbia by the IWA, it was noted in the Officers’ Report, which brought all such activities un- der review at the District Con- vention. Special reference was made to the Penticton strike. » “We are pleased to note that the membership of the District Coun- cil has maintained a fairly con- sistent level during the year. Arrangements have been made for the replacement of additional staff in the Interior by the Inter- national Organization Depart- ment,and this has resulted in a strengthening of the organiza- tional structure, and it is our opinion that the results of this will start to show proof in the spring months when work is re- sumed on a normal scale.” GB now “= WHITE BREAD = iG Heeb pread es SANDWICH WHITE BREAD Sliced e— Yow Choose from the World’s Finest Worsteds , at Modernize All the finest English imported fabrics and we custom-make your SLACKS or SUIT with-the utmost in skill and detailing. * MAIL ORDER SLACKS Please give us an idea of your material and color preference. FREE samples, measuring tape and self-measure chart sent on request. Write today! TAILORS (AT CARRALL) I W. PENDER A Real Untent®hae And No Mistake! No less than TEN unions work in harmonious association with the management of The Van- couver Sun to produce the daily issues of Western » Canada's leading newspaper that go into two out of three British Columbia homes. The Sun is happy to be a real Union Shop throughout, with agreeable ” relations with all its organized crafts and personnel. BROWN UNREDEEMED eeAy gad ° oer — * Palle a ETN as an ald to better nutrition all a.8- White Bread PHONE TAtlow 7140 RATION js now made with Vitamin Enr' wi BBE: FOR DAILY HOME The white flour content of such lo: Ration, Brown, Rye and Special Meal riched Flour. “Listen to G.B., CKWX — 5:30 p.m, Mondey thra Fridey” Sliced pread CARRIER DBLIVERY LRG eat,