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Bi, 9 eat

2nd Issue, September

B.C. LUMBER WORKER

FROM PAGE 1

“CCL ACTION”

toms appear. It is unthinkable
that we should once’ more see
thousands of able-bodied Cana-
dians walking our streets looking
for work in vain, as they did in
the hungry thirties.

As we found out then, unem-
ployment can do terrible things
to warp and twist peoples’ lives.
It is a waste of productive energy
that should never be tolerated,
and leads to social consequences
that are damaging in the ex-
treme.

Our Congress has already
warned the Federal Government
of the danger, but without any
apparent results. The reply usu-
ally given is that the present un-
employment is seasonal, although
the army of the jobless has been
larger every month this year,
than in any of the corresponding
months in each year since the end
of the war.

Tough Bargaining

Evidently, this inaction on
the part of the Federal Gov-
ernment suits the employers,
for they are starting to act as
though they were in the driv-
er’s seat, and able to swing the
Tash over the workers during
their negotiations for contract
improvements, Any one who
has been able to follow the
trend of bargaining and con-
ciliation this year, will readily
agree that it has become in-
creasingly difficult to overcome
the employers’ resistance to
every demand for contract im-
provements.

As each month goes by, this
resistance to the unions’ demands
is intensifying, and the attitude
of the employers hardens as un-
employment increases, This sets
in motion a chain, reaction, for
the more unemployed the less the
purchasing power of the com-
munity, and in turn this creates
more unemployment, as the do-
mestic market for our production
shrinks in this way.

The obvious responsibility of
the Federal Government:is to
take the necessary steps to stim-
ulate production in the various
ways open to the national auth-
ority. Any government that is
determined to maintain full em-
ployment, can meet the present
situation without difficulty, and
ward off a much worse situation.

In the face of such an import-
ant issue, we appreciate the full
value of our affiliation with the
Congress. As one single Union,
with our Canadian activities cen-
tred mainly in British Columbia,
our influence on a national ques-
tion, such as unemployment would
be negligible. But when through
the Congress we act in unison
with all the Canadian workers,
we share in a general effort, that
counts for the most where it is
needed most, at Ottawa.

Unemployment Insurance

One of the sensible steps to
take in the present situation is
to extend the benefits of the Un-
employment Insurance Act. The
reserve accumulated in the hands
of the Commission is so large
now that the increased benefits
urged by labor are now feasible.
Aiso when we raise this question
we see that we must act through
a workers’ organization such as
the Congress which can function
on a national scale.

Every recognized economist has
said that one of the most effec-
tive remedies for unemployment
is the better utilization of our
national resources for the needs
of the people.

As lumber workers we should
be interested, therefore, in the
promotion of a national housing
program, for which a large share
of our production would be re-
quired. We should spearhead the
demand already voiced by Cana-
dian workers for such a housing
program, and the place where we
should be in action first is on the
floor of the CCL Convention.”

In every
- quarter of Canada

Bank or MontTreAb
Canadas First Pank
WORKING WITH CANADIANS IN EVERY WALK OF LIFE SINCE 1817

FROM PAGE 1

Union was PAC, and the need
for action at the ballot box.

All Local Unions carried ban-
ners which identified their affilia-
tions, and their numerous floats
ingeniously portrayed their main
activities.

This year the honor of leading
the parade fell to the CCL
Unions, and President Lloyd
Whalen of the Vancouver Labor
Council marched at its head.

IWA District Officials Joe Mor-
ris, George Mitchell, John T. At-
kinson, and Joe Miyazawa joined
the ranks of the members from
the Vancouver Local Union, dur-
ing the march.

Exhibition Ceremonies

Upon arrival at the Exhibition
grounds, the marching trade
unionists assembled in the exhi-
bition’s outdoor theatre, and were
welcomed by the President of the
PNE Board, Johri Moffitt. They
were then addressed by Lloyd
Whalen, President of -the CCL
Council, and George Johnston,
Vice-president of the TLC Coun-
cil, as well as Labor Minister
Lyle Wicks.

President Whalen reminded his
audience of the struggle out of
which the observance of Labor
Day had sprung, and called for
action with regard to the press-
ing problems of today.

Bakery Workers Marched

He expressed sympathy for the
locked-out Bakery Workers, who
had taken part in the parade, and
urged support for their fight. to
gain the 35-hour week.

The Vancouver Labor Council
official denounced the B.C. La-
bor Relations Act as a threat to
the legitimate rights of the trade
unions, and urged that it be ef-
fectively challenged by the ranks
of the unions.

The unemployment situation he
described as one with menacing
features, which required vigilant
and united action in defence of
the workers’ welfare.

The speaker was especially bit-
ter with regard to the increase in
transit fares, only recently ap-
proved by the Public Utilities
Commission, over the opposition
of labor. He termed this an in-

direct wage cut, given legal sanc-
tion.
Unions Complimented
District President Joe Morris,
in a reference to the day’s events,
at a later stage said:

“Pll bet you think that
about all the girls!”

Why pay for your credit when
you can get it FREE. at THE
HUB, Hundreds of our cus-
tomers like our credit plan be-
cause it costs them nothing
extra. No ‘special’ or ‘hidden’
charges. See our new fall line
of coats and top costs. Buy
yours and make your own terms,

THE™HUp

tro

NGS

“Those who witnessed the La-
bor Day Parade, in Vancouver,
last Monday as organized jointly
by the Trades and Labor Council
(TLC) and the Vancouver Labor
Council (CCL), must have been
impressed, as I was,:at the best
demonstration yet staged of or-
ganized labor’s strength and
unity in the Vancouver metro-
politan area,

preparations to make the parade
@ success, deserve our warmest
congratulations for a job well
done.

Most of all, I wish to praise
those workers who cheerfully
responded to the appeal of the
trade unions and marched un-
der labor’s banner on their day.
By their action, they exempli-
fied the spirit of solidarity and
loyalty which has built better
living and working conditions
for the workers, and will carry
them to still greater victories
in the future.

Its Méaning

It’s not quite good enough to
brag about our success in organ-
izing this parade, and let the
matter rest there. That parade
meant something to our trade
union movement, that was not
all show and display, It was
good for us to march in that
parade, because we were remind-
ed in a concrete way of matters
that are often left forgotten in
the background.

All those trade unions whose,
officials spent weeks in strenuous |

The general cooperation that|
made the parade possible and!
gave it prominence in the observ- |
ance of the holiday, was a defi-|

bearers.

“Wins Trophy”

nite recognition of labor’s major
role in community life.

The parade, with its attractive
floats, banners, bands and march-
ers, was a credit to the partici-
pating unions. By the same token,
it was obvious that the spectators
took pleasure in acknowledging
this fact.

Organized labor has grown in
stature, not only numerically, but
in public esteem. An increasing
number of those persons outside
the trade union movement have
come to believe that the trade
unions are. indispensable to social
progress in our democracies.

Prestige Maintained

The day’s ceremonies provided
an example of harmonious co-
operation between the two prin-
cipal sections of the trade union
movement, the Trades and Labor
Congress and the Canadian Con-
gress of Labor. Unions affiliated
with the Canadian Congress of
Labor had their turn this year in
leading the parade. But, beyond
this fact, little attempt was made
to distinguish between local union
affiliation,

It seemed to me, that a greater
pride was shown by each union
in the fact that they had suc-
cessfully organized the industry
in which they find livelihood. The
slogans used. also indicated that
all sections of the trade union
movement are pressing forward
toward the same objectives, I
believe that the parade left no
doubt in the minds of the Van-
couver public as to the fact that
the trade union movement is here
to stay, and that it is now “big
business” in our industrial life.”

y

LLOYD WHALEN, President Vancouver Labor Council, heads Labor Day
Parade flanked by Executive Committee members acting as standard

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