B.C. LUMBER WORKER

ist Issue, October

Items of Interest To
Labor In Capsule Form

Strike Vote 96 Percent
DIGEST.—Local 200 United Auto Workers at the Ford Motor
Co, announced that a strike vote would be taken in their contract
dispute with the company. Union demands are for 15 cents an hour
increase plus a prepaid medical plan. The vote was 96 percent in
support of strike action if necessary.

New M.P. Recruit
OTTAWA.—The CCF announced that Samuel Drover, Inde-
pendent member for White Bay, Newfoundland had joined the Party.
CCF representation climbed to 67 provincial and 23 federal members.

Merged Drive Launched
ST. LOUIS, Mo—Three unions, CIO Maritime Union, AFL
Masters, Mates and Pilots and the CIO Marine Engineers announced
a joint organizing drive on the 28,000 miles of inland waterways
through their Rivers Joint Organizing Committee. Signed up mem-
bers will be allotted to their appropriate union.

Membership Increased
LONDON.—The British Trade Union Congress announced mem-
bership of 8,100,000 in 184 unions in its 86th annual convention

report.
415,000 Added
OTTAWA.—Canada’s population at July 1 was estimated at
15,236,000 an increase of 201,000 in the first half of 1954 and 415,000
greater than one year ago. |

Emergency Claimed i

OTTAWA.—Resolute action to save the Canadian textile indus- |

try was urged on the federal government by David Lewis, National

Chairman of the CCF. Lewis called for placing government textile

orders, where possible, in threatened areas; removal of 10 percent |

sales tax on clothing; Government assistance in establishing new
industries in areas affected by shut-downs.

Production Drops

*  OTTAWA.—Goods and services produced by Canadians in the
second quarter of 1954 remained at an annual rate of $23.9 billion.
This was 2 percent below 1953's level of $24.3 billion.

Works Program Planned |
OTTAWA.—Works Minister Winters announced the establish- |
ment of an economic study unit to plan its public works program to|
“the best advantage of the Canadian economy”. Dr. E. G. Weeks, |
<a Defence Production economics and statistics chief, will lead |
the unit,

Sloan Named |

OTTAWA.—Chief Justice Gordon McGregor Sloan of British|
Columbia, 56, was named federal government arbitrator in the con- |
tract dispute between the railways and 145,000 non-operating |
employees. |

Give

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NOW-4+ APPEALS
IN ONE

Publicetion dote of the next issue of the B.C. LUMBER WORKER
is October 15th. Deadline for ad copy is October 14th and for news
‘copy October 15th.

Representing the Organized Loggers and Mill Workers of B.C.
PUBLISHED TWICE MONTHLY ON THE FIRST
AND THIRD THURSDAYS BY.
International Woodworkers of America (CIO-CCL)

B.C. District Couneil No. 1

DISTRICT OFFICERS:

—

nN — -., Joe Morris
——— ‘William N. Gray
a ituart M.
ig H. Mitchell
‘alter F, Allen

LOOK
FOR THE

NAME

_ DIONEER,
7 BRAND

REGISTERED

FOR WORK CLOTHIN
OF :
UNSTINTED MATERIALS
DESIGN and
WORKMANSHIP.

Illustrated is the Cruiser’s
Stag of pure virgin wool
in mackinaw or kersey.
Mackinaw plaids are either
red and black; green and
black, or blue and black.

Notice the four large pockets in front, and the large
pack pocket in back, which opens at both sides... a
feature of hoth mackinaw and kersey garments.

These are two of the many designs of “Pioneer
Brand” clothing obtainable from your commissary
or favorite dealer.

Made in Vancouver, B.C., by Jones Tent & Awning
Ltd., they are designed through careful study of the
needs and desires of B.C. workmen.

| ground according to the specifica-

|the category

UNION-BUSTING CHARGED

Form of contract invented by B.C. Forest Products! fashion. Whether the workers

Ltd. to include ail boommen in one of its operations has | could secyre redress in the courts

been challenged by Local 1-71, IWA, before the Depart- Would be a matter of. doubt and
great expense. Certainly they

ment of Labor. | would be outside the protection
Simultaneously, loggers were warned not to sign any | of the Coast master contract held
such type of contract, as it is calculated to undermine, by the IWA.
union organization and undercut negotiated wage stand-
ards. j are not in the same category as
Under ‘the terms of the con-!-—————-, - |faller and -bucker, on contract
tract, the individual boommen un- | iterpret the contract to require rates, for they do not even have
dertake to perform jointly all the | 9 work performance impossible, | the rights of employees in claim-

hecessary work on the booming | 2nd then penalize the workers by! ing protection regarding remun-
‘pay deductions in an arbitrary eration and working conditions.

Boommen, under this contract,

UW

ions of the Company, and are
paid jointly a specified sum per
thousand f.b.m. |

The Company agrees to supply
the most of the equipment, such
as chains, boom boats, ete. but)
the men, all described in the con- |
tract as contractors, are required |
to supply the necessary crew to}

Keep pace with the company’s re-|
|
|

quirements.

By placing all the boommen in|
of self-employed |
contractors the Company is freed |
from the necessity of making
provision for such matters as}
holiday pay or board.

As described by Fred Fieber, |
Financial Secretary, Local 1-71,|
IWA, “This is a trap, cleverly |
disguised in legal language which |
enables the Company to enforce |
all the rights of an employer
over the workers, but at the same
time evade the responsibilities of
an employer. The worker takes
the risks, accepts all penalties of
hampered output, and the em-
ployer reaps an assured profit. In
this instance, it is made to appear
that all the men are employers,
whereas all the men named them-
selves constitute the entire crew
on the booming ground. Clearly,
it is a union-busting trick.”

An interesting section in the
contract, which elsewhere de-
seribes the men in charge of the
booming ground as independent
contractors, states, “The contrac-
tors agree to aecept and abide by
the rules and regulations from
time to time of the Company,
whether written or implied, it
being understood that the inter-
pretation of the Company’s Su-
perintendent at Fraser Creek of
any rule or regulation shall be
binding and conclusive.”

In the opinion of the Union,
this and related sections of the
contract indicate a desire to de-
prive the workers involved of all
rights usually made secure under
a Union agreement.

As pointed out, if the Company
was so disposed, it might easily

BANKING BY MAIL

The safe way to save
your money is to put it
in a bank. You can do
this best through any
of the branches of the
Canadian Bank of
Commerce in British
Columbia. Get some
Banking by Mail forms
before you leave town,
or write for a supply to
your nearest branch of
the Commerce.

BANKING BY MAIL is convenient, easy tn do.
See for yourself—today.

THE cath a BANK
OF COMMERCE

80 Branches in British Columma