B.C. LUMBER WORKER 2nd Issue, May iNEWS DIGEST q Items of Interest To Labor In Capsule Form TLC-CCL Merger Progresses J OTTAWA — The TLC-CCL unity committee made sufficient progress at its last meeting to place merger proposals before the TLC annual convention in Windsor at the end of May. The merger of the two labor congresses is expected to take place in late 1955 or early 1956. UAW Kohler Strike SHEBOYGAN, Wis.—The strike of 3,000 United Auto Workers memibers at the Kohler bathroom fixture plant went into its second year with the union holding firm and boss Henry Kohler refusing to submit the points in dispute to impartial arbitration. Unemployment Recruiting Station OTTAWA—A report from Seven Islands, P.Q., indicated that army officers were studying the possibility of opening a recruiting station in the town at the railhead leading to the Iron Ore Com- pany’s Labrador-Ungava iron ore deposits. A total of 448 job seek- ers were reported to be looking for work in the small town; the Iron Ore Co. has jobs for only 50 men. Pickersgill’s Canadian Babies OTTAWA—Immigration Minister Pickersgill’s unfavorable com- parison between immigrant and Canadian babies was raised in Par- liament by Conservative Leader Drew who asked whether the sharp drop in immigration within the past few months was a result of the “new immigration policy”. The Minister stated that he felt that his comparison, based on the fact that both the immigrant and baby were equally good people, was true since an immigrant had to learn how to be a Canadian while a Canadian baby was one already. Insurance Workers Merging WASHINGTON — A merger of the AFL and CIO insurance workers’ unions is progressing with leaders now studying a merger agreement, constitution and rules for the first convention of the combined organization. Unions involved are Insurance Agents Inter- national Union (AFL) and the Insurance Workers of America (CIO). unionists. Farmer member. UB HUMOR Deakin Mourned LONDON (CPA)—The Rt. Hon. Arthur Deakin, secretary of the largest union in the world, died at the age of 64 while addressing a May Day rally at Leicester. He was a former president of the 8,000,- 000-member British Trades Union Congress. Mr. Deakin succeeded the late Ernest Bevin as secretary of the 1,200,000-member Transport and General Workers Union in 1946. Previously he had been tempor- ary head of the T@WU when Mr. Bevin had entered the wartime coalition Cabinet as Minister of Labor. W.F.T.U. President At the age of 13 Mr. Deakin started work in a Welsh steel plant and rose to the top posts in the British and international trade union world. He was presi- dent of the World Federation of Trade Unions until he felt that communists were gaining control of that body and then led the TUC out of the organization. Other powerful union groups in the western world followed his example and the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions was formed. In 1949 he was awarded the Companion of Honor and in 1954 he was made a member of the Privy Council. Mr. Deakin was to have retired as TGWU head next November, Political Trade Unionists BRUSSELS—The ICFTU announced that 42 of the 467 mem- bers of the recently elected House of Representatives were trade Forty-one were Socialist members and one a Labor- SPECIAL, 2-PANT SUITS $55. Quolity tailored of Yorkshire bardine. An outstanding buy. Get yours with the HUB’S FREE CREDIT PLAN. THE “HUB tro 45 EAST HASTINGS Coupon Clippers’ Benefits OTTAWA—CCF Leader Coldwell charged that the 1955 budget gives “layish” benefits to coupon clippers. He told the House of Commons that’ a married person with no children receiving his in- come from Canadian corporation dividends could make $11,133.33 a year without paying one cent of tax while a person earning that amount would be liable for $1,877.33 in taxes. Dominion-Provincial Conference OTTAWA—The Dominion-Provincial conference will be, held in Ottawa starting October 3, federal and provincial representatives decided following an agenda meeting here. 'The agenda will include: federal-proyincial fiscal relations; public investment and natural re- sources development; establishment of a federal-provincial continu- ing committee; health and welfare services; and the timing and scope of any other special conferences. Union Contract Negotiations -OTTAWA—Peaceful negotiation of union contracts was the rule rather than the exception, Labor Minister Gregg declared in connection with the publication of a Labor Department study on collective agreements in 1953. The study showed 1,538,323 workers under agreement—39.7% of the non-agricultural labor force in 1953— compared with 31.8% in.1939. UAW Raise Dues WINDSOR—Dues of the United Auto Workers will be tripled to a total of $7.50 a month beginning in May. The dues increase, which is expected to last for three months, was approved by the UAW convention in order to build up a $25 million strike fund to back union collective bargaining demands. Blind Pensions Bill OTTAWA—A bill to lower the age for receipt of blind pensions of $40 a month from 20 to 18 years and to raise the permissible income of pension recipients by $10 a month was introduced in Parliament. Publication date of the next issue of the B.C, LUMBER WORKER is June 9, Deadline for ad copy is June 2nd and for news copy SCAB EXPELLED FOR LIFE BCLonsenWorven International Woodworkers of America (CIO-CCL) ‘B.C, District Councit No. 1 >_> DISTRICT OFFICERS: * MONTREAL (CPA) — A union president who crossed a picket line has been dismissed ere pees agers ae NM Workers of B.C. from office and barred from PUBLISHAND LHTRD THURSDATS BE | his union for life. Emile Duch- arme, former president of the National Syndicate of Linotype Operators (CCCL), was dis- missed following, a meeting. of the syndicate. In addition to Ducharme’s dis- missal he was barred from mem- bership of the syndicate for life while four other syndicate mem- bers were fined $500 and refused membership for five years for I “NYLON POPLIN” FEATHERWEIGHT Water Repellent Clothing The Cruisers’ Coat (P. 658) has double thickness over ‘shoulders, chest, back and sleeves. Four roomy out- side pockets, de- signed for ‘field books and instru- ments; pencil pocket overlaying left breast poc- ket; one inside breast map poc- ket} one large pack - pocket in back. The Pants (P.656) are completely double with additional .interlining on front only. Made exclusively by 43 WEST HASTINGS STREET VANCOUVER 4, B.C. 632,913 Unemployed Canadians OTTAWA—Unemployment in Canada reached a new post war high—and only 13,000 below that recorded in the depths of the depression of the 1930’s—at March 17. NES offices reported a total of 632,913 Canadians looking for work—63,000 more than a year earlier. CCL Secretary-Treasurer Donald MacDonald described the records of unemployment as tragic and called on the federal govern- ment to institute measures to expand job opportunities. CCL Summer School OTTAWA—The CCL summer school will be held at Port Huron, Mich., between June 26 and July 9 this year. CCL and UAW Edu- cation Directors Howard Conquergood and William MacDonald will jointly direct the school. Money Orders! When you want to send money by mail, use Canadian Bank of Commerce money orders. You can buy them at any Com- merce branch in British Columbia. They can be mailed safely — cari be cashed readily. Be safe when mailing money. Use Canadian Bank of Commerce Money Orders. BANKING BY MAIL is convenient, easy tr do. See for yourself—today. THE CANADIAN BANK OF COMMERCE 80 Branches in British Columbia