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-

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“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
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