B.C. LUMBER WORKER 1st Issue, December membership meeting of Local 1- 217, IWA, Vancouver, resulted in a membership decision to donate the sum of $500 in aid of the strikers’ families during the * Christmas season. The Local ‘Union also decided to make avail- able $1000 worth of toys already collected and on hand. Under the auspices of the B.C. Federation of Labor, and affiliat- ed unions, the UAW visitors have been invited to address a large number of unions on the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island. In a statement prepared for TWA members, the UAW repre- sentatives said in part: UAW Statement “Our mission to British Colum- bia was undertaken at the re- quest of our Local Unions, with the encouragement of the Cana- dian Congress of Labor, in order that we might relate the facts about the strike to trade union- ists on the Pacific Coast. We con- sider it necessary to do this be- cause of misleading statements that have been given circulation. 80 Days on Strike We have been bargaining since April 14th of this year. We have been on strike since September 19th, a total of 80 days (Decem- ber 8). The possibilities of an early settlement are remote be- cause the Corporation has at- tempted to. defeat the strike through legal action to have it declared illegal. The Corporation has not succeeded in this but their tactics have effectively blocked conciliatory steps that might have led to a settlement, Our Union has always been ready to enter into discussions likely to lead to a mutually satisfactory settlement of the strike. ‘We are demanding an agree- ment in settlement of this strike, which will deal with conitions in the five plants now operated by General Motors, and which will establish the principle of a mas- ter agreement for all the workers employed by General Motors in its Canadian production, The only way in which we can achieve satisfactory bargaining and stable labor-management re- lations is by a bargaining proce- dure which will enable our Union’s Canadian Negotiating Committee to meet top G.M. man- agement, and negotiate a con- tract with terms which will pro- vide for all the Canadian G.M. workers. 33 Demands There are 33 items now in dispute, and this list includes: the duration of the agreement; two additional paid statutory holidays, making a total of eight; an employer-paid health and welfare plan to provide necessary improvements in the existing scheme; union shop conditions, instead of the pres- ent compulsory check-off; a base wage rate of $1.60 an hour, an advance of 13 cents an hour on the present base rate of $1.47; promotions on the basis of seniority by means of posting vacancies and inviting applications from eligible em- ployees; the elimination of the incentive system, which sub- jects our members to an un- bearable speed-up system; in- creases in the retirement pen- sion benefits now in effect; an “STRIKE APPEAL” increase in the night shift dif- ferential; equitable category adjustments; and the right to accept or decline overtime yol- untarily. Huge Prefits General Motors Corporation has not pleaded financial inability to meet the Union’s demands. It would be difficult for the Cor- poration to do so, with any de- gree of honesty because the en- ormous surplus profits earned are a matter of public know- ledge. The latest and most ac- curate estimates indicate that if the present rate of profit making continues for the balance of the Corporation’s fiscal year, the surplus earnings will exceed two billion, six hundred and thirty- five million dollars. That makes a very tidy return of 79% on the investment or profit earnings at the rate of $300,000 an hour or $7 million 200 thousand dollars every day. For every $1.00 paid in wages, General Motors Cor- poration makes $1.22. Christmas Needs For reasons that all trade unionists will appreciate, our strike assistance programme, is confined to the bare subsistence needs of our families. We must remain prepared for a long, drawn-out struggle, for up to this time the Corporation has endea- voured to starve us into submis- sion, and their resources to do so are great, We may rely on the splendid spirit of the member- ship, and their wives, to endure all that can be endured but never- theless we must strive to ease their burdens as far as possible. S “holiday time is Friends coming in? Treat them to Canada’s Finest... good, satisfying Lucky Lager Beer. You will like Lucky, the aged Beer. For free home delivery call— TA 1121 LUCKY LAGER t _ Also Brewers of Silver Spring Ye Olde Ale ish if ere ete pater com . M.S.A. DIRECTORS J. T. CUMMINS a C. J. ABRAMS From Page 4 “M.S.A. REPORT” ing, an extraordinary resolution was passed, allowing the Direc- tors of MSA to administer the plans for MSI, until MSI was able to look after their own af- fairs. The latest figures show that there are now over ten thousand people covered by MSI and that the Plan has reached the stage where a separate direct fee and a small group department has been set up under the direction of Mr. H. W. Jones. If MSI con- tinues to grow, in no time at all, it will be a healthy organization able to look after and administer its own affairs. For those who are not familiar with the variation between MSA and MSI, might I point out that MSA gives group protection while MSI concentrates on indi- vidual attention. People who are desirous of medical protection but do not belong to a group and are unable to qualify for MSA can be covered through MSI. The staff of full-time officers this year has been increased by the appointment of Dr. Cyril Robert- son as Assistant Medical Direc- tor. Prepaid Medicine Forum May 9th marked the opening of the MSA’s Forum on prepaid medicine. Those taking part in the Forum were Dr. S. A. Jen- nings, Dr. J. F. Tysoe, Mr. C. J. Abrams, Mr. J. C. Broatch. The subjects that were covered by the Forum were Organization and Administration of MSA, the =I — ook OUT! 00K: ge FOR THESE WET DARK, SLIPPERY FOGGY NIGHTS) eal dieliiey WEY "2 | SORTER “QUICKEST ACTION” REPAIR SERVICE CALL PA 9267 BODIE COLLISIONS Ltd. The Best Equipped Collision Shop In Town 1150 SEYMOUR ST. Free Estimates service it provides; the relation- ship between the MSA and the medical professions in the Prov- ince; the services provided by MSI and the answering of re- quests for extending the services of the Association, costs, etc. Extended Emergency Medical Care This year, your directors have been successful in working out a plan for increased coverage for medical care outside the Province of B.C. Reciprocal agreements and arrangements have been established for the inclusion of Hawaii along with continental U.S.A. It is now possible for MSA members to receive emergency ° medical care in such provinces and states as Hawaii, Washing- ton, Oregon, Montana, Utah, Idaho, Wyoming and Alberta and Nova Scotia. It is hoped to ex- tend this emergency medical care for outside the Province to take in more territory. Conclusions After having participated for a year on the Board of Directors of the Medical Services Associa- tion, we have become more and more aware that organized labor has not been giving Health and Medical Service Organizations as much attention as they should. It is our impression that up to the present time, MSA is a pretty fairly run organization, withouv* patronage going one way or the other. It is our sincere hope that it continues to operate on this basis. However, because this is the case at the present time, it doesn’t necessarily indicate that this will be so in the future and it is only by more and more of our members takihg an active part in organizations such as this that we can assute that the As- sociation will fulfill all the de- sires and objectives that it was originally set up to do. Jimmy Abrams, Local 1-357, TWA. John Cummins, Local 1-217, IWA. SAN FRANCISCO TAILORS LTD. LOANS On suits, overcoats, watches, rings, baggage, radios, log- ging boots, chain saws and all articles of value. STORAGE | Store your clothing and bag- gage in our storage vaults while out of town. 52 WEST HASTINGS VANCOUVER, B.C.