and Issue, March B.C. LUMBER WORKER Do You Remember When? WILLIAM MAHONEY, (Right) Assistant National Director, United Steelworkers on his recent visit to Van- re do} of the 1948 “revolution”. r visits the office of District Pre: sident Joe Morris, with George Home (left) to reminisce about the PROPERTY REPAIRS EXEMPT BUT NOT HUMAN REPAIRS Although permissible for income tax purposes to deduct from gros income, repair costs for business properties and equipment, the Federal Government does not consider that deductions should be made for repairs"to the human body. This was the conclusion of trade unionists when advised of the vote in the House of Commons on Stanley Knowles bill proposing an amendment to the Income Tax Act to make all medical expenses de- ductible from net income for pur- Poses of arriving at new taxable income. The Bill was defeated, 86 to 60, though supported by CCF, Socreds and Tories, The amendent intended to give effect to an election promise made by the Liberals in 1948, seven years earlier, stated the sponsor of the Bill, The history of this legislation goes back to 1943. At this time the Liberals brought in a bill amending the income tax law of that time with a provision for the deduction of medical expenses in excess of 5% of net income. This legislation was the Liberal’s Canada's Finat Bank WITH CANADIANS IN EVERY WALK OF LIFE SINCE 1817 answer to a great deal of pres- sure which resulted from the high scale of taxes paid by people dur- ing the war, many of whom had never paid taxes before, This pressure was spearheaded by the CGF. By 1945 the 5% had been re- duced to 4%, and a year or so ago, another reduction brought the rate down to 3%. Stanley Know- les’ bill would have the effect of allowing as a deduction all medi- cal expenses including drugs ob- tained by prescription at the drug store. There is no doubt that the annual presentation of this bill has had the effect of reducing the limitation from 5% to 3%. Comparisons To compare the present ar- rangement on medical expenses with donations to charity, take for example a married couple having no children, with an income of $2400 a year. If they had medical expenses of $200 they would get a rebate of $21.70 on a tax of $68.00. If they donated $200 to charity they would get a reduc- tion in the amount of their tax of $34.00, a saving of $12.30. Remov- ing the 3% would give them the $34.00 reduction. 3 The loss in revenue to the gov- ernment, estimated at from $30,- 000,000 to $35,000/000 could be made up by the restoration of the higher tax levels imposed on cor- porations during the years of world war two and on the per- sonal income of the well-to-do. FROM PAGE 1 opened for negotiations. With this carefully prepared list of demands, which are reasonable and well within the resources of the industry, I urge immediate ac- tion on the part of the member- ship that will keep pace with ac- tivities at the bargaining table. These demands originated with the membership. It is now the responsibility of ‘the Local Unions to clarify all the issues involved in continuing membership discussions at every possible opportunity, around the Locals, and on the job. Role of the Members I suggest that it is not enough to keep repeating our demands as being the contract benefits desired. There are good and valid reasons why each one of these demands is now being presented to the em- ployers. The reasons are in possession of the Local Unions, for that is where the proposals were shaped. Our Union’s job stewards should be well briefed to answer the num- erous questions in the’ minds of the workers on the job. Every woodworker should be made fami- liar, not only with the demands as stated, but also with the principal reasons why the Union made these demands at this time. A Wage Increase For instance, consider the de- mand for a wage increase. Every member of the Union realizes that there is an urgent need for a wage increase. His own circumstances make its desirability very appar- ent. But it is necessary to say more than that we want and need a wage increase. At the bargaining table, and in the country at large, we must be prepared to justify it, and the best advocates for this are well-inform- ed, rank and file members of the Union. The employers will un- doubtedly tell the public that the industry is unable to meet a wage increase, without placing a grave handicap on production in. the province. The actual conditions in the in- dustry have all been factually dis- closed to the Local Unions. Every worker should arm himself with these facts, gained from his “TALKS” Local Union, and then meet the employers’ propaganda as circu- lated in his own community. Employers’ Propaganda It will not be Iong until some people will be talking about the high wages already received by all lumber workers, and they will suggest that a wage increase now is completely unreasonable. Every lumber worker knows the facts about wages in his own and neigh- boring operations, and he should prepare himself to give the facts about the actual annual carnings of the average lumber worker. Later we will report on the main arguments employed by the Union at the bargaining table. I am try- ing to show at this point that in every community, every lumber worker has his part to play, in presenting the Union’s c: so as to win public approval. At this time, his part is vital in influencing public opinion. Every man working this way in his own comminity, backing up the Union's case with words and action, makes the job of the Negotiating Com- mittee just that much more effec- tive. Every woodworker: who re- fuses to speak his mind with re- gard to his needs, places added difficulties in the way of the Union's efforts on his behalf. Local Unions Can Act The members of all the Local Unions participated in the pro- paration of this negotiating pro- gram. Every Local Union at this time has all the information on whieh the Conference based its decisions. Every Local Union can now encourage the type of dis- cussions that I am_ suggesting, and can do so with much greater efficiency if the individual wood- worker makes his proper response, as required by his own interests. Success in negotiations is ach- ieved only through’ team-work, and in our Union, every member is on the team. We are at the point where we must ask every member to. pull his full weight. The course has-been set by dec sion of the Union. It's our job to stay on course, to exert the utmost effort to make all possible headway, and to keep going till we cross the finish line.” CCL BACKS BRUSSELS (CPA) — The Canadian Congress of Labor has been quick off the mark in offering support for the Region- al Activities Fund of the Inter- national Confederation of Free Trade Unions, IGFTU head- quarters here reports. The world trade union body had requested affiliated organizations HEADS Champion of All Lightweight ° LIGHT CRUISER Caulked Boots @ , Featuring High Carbon Steel Oil Tempered Boot Caulks FOR SURE GRIP Another Favorite HEAD’S famous “SAFETY TOE BOOTS” for Mill Workers 21 East Hastings St. W. J. HEAD BOOT FACTORY LIMITED (PA. 4844) “HEADS YOU WIN” Con i a eS a ET Vancouver, B.C. ICFTU to make a voluntary levy of one cent per member to finance the extension of trade unionism in the under-developed areas of the world, The CCL has been the first organ- ization to accept the: target and has, in fact, indicated that it would exceed the proposed levy. — The trade union federation of Germany, Austria and the United Mine-workers of America have also accepted the one cent levy proposal, ICFTU notes, while the affiliate in Madagascar has. proni- ised the equivalent of one-quarter’ affiliation fees to the Fund, despite the modest resources at its dis- posal. SAN FRANCISCO — TAILORS — LOAN MONEY ON Suits, Overcoats, etc. Loggers’ Boots, Sleeping Bags, Suitscases, Radios, Watches and Rings Expert Watch Repairing UNREDEEMED Suits and Caulk Boots For Sale MAIL ORDER 52 West Hastings Street VANCOUVER, B.C,