No Pretence

‘THOSE who will represent the IWA at the ap-

proaching convention of the Canadian Con-
gress of Labor will have more direct responsi-
bilities than were required of the IWA delegates
at Milwaukee in respect of the merger plans.

In Canada, the IWA- is one of the largest
unions to be considered, and in British Columbia-
it is the largest. This numerical strength is not
mentioned as a suggested basis for a wholly IWA-
devised plan of merger. It is mentioned for two
totally different reasons. z

It points to the proportionate responsibility
of the IWA in Canada to make the merger a genu-
ine unity plan in practice as well as theory. It
also points to the need for preserving the orga-
nized bargaining strength in the lumber industry,
which has accumulated great benefits for the
workers concerned.

It should also be noted that side by side with
the merger proposals are those made directly to
the IWA, that it should now forego the democra-
tic structure of organization which has developed
its fighting strength.

Recently there has been a rash of proposals
which would switch control of IWA affairs from
the membership to a bureaucracy. It is plausibly
argued that these plans would result in the greater
efficiency experienced by some unions.

It-is forgotten that the IWA membership in-
sisted on the present form of union government,
because they had had a nauseating experience
with manipulation of their affairs from the top.

The fact is that the IWA is without doubt the
most efficiently administered union in British
Columbia. For every dollar expended in salaries,
they gain as-high or higher value than the ma-
jority of unions.

Because of the strategic position occupied by
the IWA in the B.C. Jumber industry, a favorable
situation not duplicated or surpassed by any
other section of the Union, the IWA delegates at
Toronto will not be free to sign a blank cheque.
If they do, they may easily be swallowed up sub-
sequently in a type of organization that will
completely stultify their present aspirations.

Important clauses in the Canadian merger
agreement directly affecting the IWA are (e) and
(f), Section 1, dealing with the principles of the
merger. The first one provides that the necessary
steps will be taken to safeguard the established
bargaining relationships of each affiliate. The
second clause states that each affiliate will have
the same organizational jurisdiction in the new
merged Congress as formerly.

The following paragraph appears in a report
of the recent TLC convention in Windsor. “After
the unanimous vote was recorded, (approving the
merger), Edouard Larose, international repre-
sentative of the Brotherhood of Carpenters and
Joiners, registered his union’s dissent of subsec-
tions 1(e) and 1(f) (mentioned above) of the
merger agreement, dealing with the present bar-
gaining certifications and organizational juris-
dictions.”

It was also reported to the [WA Convention in
Milwaukee that the Lumber and Sawmill Work-
ers, affiliated with the Carpenters and Joiners,
had refused to sign the AFL-CIO no-raid pact,
thus rendering the signature of the IWA value-
less.

Unquestionably, the opinion held by the great
masses of the workers is in favor of organic unity.
No voice has been raised within the IWA against
the merger.

It would be arrant folly, however, to seek an
illusory popularity by swallowing everything on
the menu as at present, and neglecting plain
warnings of a fatal poisoning later. g

The sensible course, and the one which will in
the end build the greatest degree of unity is to
insist that the problems in sight be faced and
adequately dealt with as required under the prin-
ciples already approved.

Officers’ Report
Praises District -

Expressing deep concern over developments in world
affairs, the Officers’ Report, submitted to the IWA Inter-
national Convention in Milwaukee, stated:

“We reject the notion that Communism can be
The solution, we insist, lies in
social justice, in a world economy organized for the
common good of all peoples. War will not erase Com-
munism. It might even breed more.”

tended to Director E. W. Kenney

destroyed by force.

The report urged continued
suport of economic assistance to
under-developed countries, as a
matter of self-interest as well as
being the responsibility of the
U.S. as the wealthiest nation in
the world. Wholehearted support
was tendered the United Nations.

Referring to political action
the report held that the record
of the Republican Administration
with regard to labor presented a
dismal picture. Republican poli-
cies were described as banker-
controlled, and as causing large-
scale unemployment.

Right-to-work Laws

Eighteen states have adopted
the right-to-work laws and 12
more are due to consider same
this autumn. Five states rejected
the legislation. Efforts are plan-
ned to accomplish the repeal of
such laws.

Considerable attention was de-
voted by the report to the fight
for public control of the natural
resources, as opposed to the de-
veloping private monopolies en-
couraged by the present adminis-
rtation. The retirement of Sec-
retary of the Interior, Douglas
MacKay, was urged.

The Union was placed on rec-
ord as favoring extended Federal
aid for education, and the imme-
diate promotion of a National
Health program. Public housing,
featuring a low-rent program

was urged upon the American
authorities.

An extensive report was
made on negotiations through-
out the International Union
during the past year. This in-
dicated a general increase in
wage rates everywhere, The
Negotiating Committee of Dis-
trict No. 1 was congratulated
on the progress made, which
compared favorably with gains
made in other sections of the
Union.

The section of the report deal-
ing with organization revealed
that intensive drives are under

way in all unorganized sections
despite the fact that almost
everywhere the Union is handi-
capped by restrictive legislation,
and determined opposition from
employers. In this field, the pro-
gress made in British Columbia
was reported upon fayorably.

The work of the Department
of Education and Research was
shown to be one of the most im-
portant in the Union, as yielding

concrete results. Praise was ex-

and Associate Director Joe Miya-
zawa. Not only the officers, but
the Local Unions urged that the
work of this Department be ex-
panded.

Various constitutional changes
were recommended. It was pro-
posed that the International Con-
vention meet once in every two
years, and that an International
Strike Fund be founded.

Ruling
Awaited
On GAW

Announcement that the
new Unemployment Insur-
ance Act will come into force
on October 2nd, has given
rise to speculation regarding
a ruling on GAW by the
Canadian Government.

Sooner or later a ruling must
be made on the tricky question
as to whether insurance benefits
can be -supplemented by layoff
payments or the benefits'under a
guaranteed annual wage plan.

will approve of layoff payments
provided they are made and fi-
nanced in such a way that they
cannot be construed as wage
payments,

This would mean that they
should be paid from trust funds
as in the case of Ford, Detroit,
and G.M. in the U.S. The need
for a ruling is now pressing in
view of the recent contracts
signed by the United Steelwork-
ers and American Can and a simi-
lar contract in Continental Can.

Can Co. Contracts

These contracts call for up to
52 weeks’ layoff pay to supple-
ment unemployment insurance
benefits. The contracts are in-
ternational master agreements,
but cover 1000 Canadian em-
ployees,

The two can companies signed
a two-year agreement under
which the employees can become
eligible for 52 weeks’ layoff pay.
They may receive payments, in-
cluding unemployment insurance.
of about 65% of their normal
pay, depending upon the approval
of the Government.

A few days before these more
recent settlements, the CIO Blec-
trical Workers signed up with
GE in the U.S. on a five-year
contract, with no layoff provision,

Alex B. Macdonald

Barrister & Solicitor
Notary Public

751 Granville Street
VANCOUVER, B.C.

Telephone TAtlow 6641

It is predicted that the UIC

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