5, 10 B.C. LUMBER WORKER 2nd Issue, January Royal Commission Urged On Separate Schoo! Question Royal Commission to investigate the question of sep- arate schools in British Columbia was proposed by the delegates attending the recent Annual Convention of the B.C. Federation of Labor, when they endorsed the report of a special investigating committee. The committee avoided making any recommendations, but called for the royal commission to de- termine whether discrimination exists against Roman. Catholics and their schools in B.C, The committee pointed out that only Manitoba and B.C. have no arrangement for support to and provision for the operation of Roman Catholic schools. It also said that B.C. has 172,- 000 Roman Catholics who contri- bute $8,000,000 annually in education taxes “for the support of schools to which they claim, in conscience, they cannot send their children.” Right To Strike Delegates endorsed a resolution re-affirming the CCL’s stand to resist federal interference in the |right of workers to strike and lasked for revisions to the B.C. Municipal Act so workers whose homes or property are mortgaged will have the right to stand for public office. Jobless Aid Asked ‘The convention called for an increase in unemployment insur- ance benefits and the extension of payments to those whose bene- fits have run out. income tax, tax relief for season- al workers and increase of the $150 income tax exemption for children to $400. The federation will ask federal government to increase the old age pension to $65 monthly. Delegates called for a provin- cial government inquiry into the financial structure of the B.C. Electric and other utility com- panies. They asked for a royal commission to investigate the public utilities commission, and called for the immediate resigna- tion of the commission. A brief, submitted by the Van- couver Labor Council charged the PUC granted B.C. Electric its recent fare boost without al- lowing citizen’s groups a chance to appeal, The brief said the action “is unethical and shows the Resolutions called for cuts in bias.” From Page 9 a strict religious matter. The politicians too, are reluctant to take a firm position. Fertile Ground India unlike Canada presents to the trade union officials a fer- tile ground in the matter of bar- gaining. All goods are purchased after considerable bargaining and haggling. Regardless of how small the article might be it is customary to bargain over the price, It is not uncommon to see the customer and proprietor sit and haggle over a cup of tea. The unsatisfying feature of it all, was, that after I made several purchases, I never did know whether I had made a bargain or whether I had been ‘taken’, One of the bright spots that I experienced was in the visit I made to the ICFTU’s Workers’ Education Centre, in the city of Caleutta. Here, under the ICFTU, workers meet to learn how to read and write, Volunteer mem- bers, who are able to read and write, and giving their time free- ly, to assist their brothers who are less fortunate. Illiteracy be- NOW AVAILABLE NEV F#-30 M°CULLOCH CHAIN SAW CN ‘McCulloch 1-man saw, manufac- McCulloch 4-30 for steady fast sawing in timber up to 5 feet in diameter. NOW ON DISPLAY et your nearest dealers ‘Come in for a free demonstration. this saw out; feel its power, speed, and smoothness. McCULLOCH COMPANY OF CANADA LTD. ‘West Ist Avenue — ‘10, B.C. Phone: EM 2155 “IMPRES ing one of the biggest drawbacks to the development of the trade union movement in India, it was indeed gratifying to see some- thing being done in a practical way to alleviate the situation. Here again, because of the very large percentage of illiteracy, the very large population, that which is being done is just scratching the surface. In this too, we must intensify our efforts. When one considered seriously the whole situation as it exists today in India, the slogan of the ICFTU’s Workers’ Education has a very real significance—‘Education is Liberation”. Living Standards I always was of the opinion that to raise the living standards of any nation, the main and im- portant factor to be considered would be mechanization. After visiting India, I have now some reservations about this theory. I saw building workers, carrying bricks on their heads and I said to myself “Let’s supply this fel- low with a wheelbarrow”, but then what are you going to do with the other six persons whom you displace, by the introduction of ies very simple mechanical tool. This is an example of what un- planned mechanization would ereate in the economically under- developed nations of the world, because of the very large popu- lation, where unemployment and under-employment are growing. A sane combination of mechaniza- tion and planned distribution of the displaced persons is neces- sary, SIONS” Labor Laws As for the trade union move- ment itself is concerned, the situ- ation in India and Pakistan is far from good. The labor laws, if they can be called such, are very weak, loosely written, and very ineffective. It is not uncom- mon to have five and six unions bargaining for workers in the same unit, Practically all trade union leaders and officials have come from other levels of society, such as lawyers and politicians. Very few have come from the ranks. Very few if any have had any practical experience, in the matter of organization, collective bargaining, and the every-day administration of unions. Unfor- tunately, only about 10 percent of the union members are enjoy- ing the benefits of a working agreement, whether it is verbal or written. We from Canada repeatedly emphasized that to build a strong and functioning trade union movement it is a must that work- ers see in a practical way—bet- terment of wages and conditions — before any appreciable pro- gress can be made, or expected. Another drawback, which is now slowly disappearing is the almost fatalistic attitude of a great number of the workers, who feel just because for genera- tions past, their fathers and fore- fathers were, for example, oxen cart drivers, that they and their childrens’ children will always be oxen cart drivers. Atmosphere of this type makes trade union or- ganization very difficult to create anything, there must be a desire on the part of those involved. PR. GEORG E OFFICIAL HOWARD WEBB, Financial Secretary, Local 1-424, seated at his desk in the Local Union’s office. Jacob Ring Rem Popular Vancouver Island IWA member, Jacob Ring, off work due to illness, was re- cently presented with a sum of money raised through the com- bined effort of Employees, IWA members and Supervisory Officials of MacMillan & Bloe- del Ltd. Shawnigan Division. A committee representing the employees of the Company con- sisting of Pat Mason, Buster An- drews, Bill Heyd, Peter Helin, embered Harry Paddle, and Mack Pickard, the Wood’s foreman, made the presentation to Jacob Ring at his home, They were accompanied by Ernest Boulet, Business Agent of Local 1-80, IWA. Pat Mason, IWA Head Job Steward in the Shawnigan Divi- sion, spoke for the Committee and other friends in the Commun- ity, in wishing Jacob a speedy recovery. He expressed his ap- preciation to all for their act of kindness. STRIKE FUND PLANNED NOW The B.C. Federation of Labor, meeting in annual convention re- cently endorsed a plan to set up a province-wide strike fund with a yearly assessment from each union member. Details of the plan, will be voted on by all Canadian Con- gress of Labor unions in the province. The scheme calls for a yearly assessment of $1 per member. Any CCL union voting to stay out of the plan will not be eli- gible for assistance. Any participating union can apply for assistance after four weeks of strike, Participating unions whose strikes are termed illegal by the court will not re- ceive benefits. * The fund will be administered by a trusteeship of three or five persons. ei Amount of the benefits to each striking trade unionist will be determined after a suryey. Northern Girl: “Men are all alike,” Southern Girl: “Men are all ah like, too.” “Ym really cutting quite a figure,” observed the chorus girl, a she sat down on a broken bot- tle. RYE Slictl greod ———— SANDWICH WHITE BREAD Sliced BALANCED RATION riched Flour. . Se WHITE BREAD GB now As an aid to better nutrition all G.B. 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