Items of Interest To Labor In Capsule Form Two Negroes Win Posts NEW YORK—The American Federation of Labor and the Con- gress of Industrial Organizations voted themselves out of existence as separate labor bodies at conventions held three blocks away from each other here, Two Negro union leaders were named vice-presi- dents of the new merged AFL-CIO, posts which no Negro had eyer held in the separate organizations. U.S.A. Members Give $500,000 WASHINGTON—The United Steelworkers (CIO) made what is believed to be the biggest ever inter-union strike contribution to the CIO Elctrical Workers. Steel’s cheque for $500,000 was given in support of the strike by 55,000 employees at 38 plants of the West- inghouse Corporation. Ontario Labor Considers CCF TORONTO—Delegates to the TLC-affiliated Ontario Provincial Labor convention here voted 133-133 in favor of supporting the CCF party. Demands for a secret yote on the issue were sidetracked and OPFL President McArthur refused to cast a deciding ballot on the ||] drawn vote. Reuther Praises Merger NEW YORK—Walter P. Reuther, President of the CIO, said that the AFL and CIO merger would give the labor movement “great new opportunities for service to our nation and all its peo- ple” in his report to the last separate convention of the CIO here. CABINET VEXES FED: OFFICIALS “An insult to labor,” was the description applied by President Dan Radford, B.C. Federation of Labor, to the official treatment accorded the members of the delegation making their annual pilgrimage to Victoria in order to place the legislative demands of the CCL affiliated unions before the provincial cabinet. B.C. LUMBER WORKER - The Only GENUINE ‘DRY-BAK’ ASK FOR IT BY NAME AT YOUR COMMISSARY OR LEADING STORES The treatment by which canvas is made water repellent to produce “DRY-BAK” is a development and exclusive process of Jones Tent & Awning Ltd., and is entirely processed in our own plant. You should, therefore, look for the name “DRY-BAK” on every garment as your guarantee of obtaining the finest water repellent canvas clothing obtainable. Government in power at these annual presentations. This is in line with the demo- cratic procedure followed by the Federal and other Provincial Governments in Canada. Since the elections of 1952 and 1953 things have been changed here in B.C. Federation Cooperated NEW YORK (CPA) — A good start to the massive or- ganization drive planned by the AFL-CIO was given by Walter Reuther, President of the CIO Auto Workers and President of the AFL-CIO Industrial Union His criticism of-the Govern- ment was amplified by Secretary George Home, on the CKWX Labour Forum. He said: “For some time now hucksters’ slogans have been thrown around British Columbia, such as “we are a peoples’ government”, says the Social Credit. “Economy with efficiency”, “our door is always open”, and “we are a friend of labour”, says Premier Bennett. The fallacy of these hucksters’ slogans was definitely signified to the people of B.C. by the ac- tions of this Government on Dec- ember 12th. On that date the action of the Government clearly demonstrated their contempt for organizations established by groups to further and protect their interests. No doubt you have seen the papers today wherein our President, Mr. Dan Radford, has stated that the Government has insulted Labor. What were the reasons for our President making such a state- ment? The B.C. Federation of Labor was organized in 1944, and the main purpose and objective of Federations of Labor are to co- relate and present to the Govern- ment the legislative requirements of its membership. Each year since its inception the Federation Officers have received careful and courteous hearings by the WATSONS * GLOVES « THE WEAR IS THERE Publication date of the next issue of the B.C. LUMBER WORKER is January 5th. Deadline for ad copy is December 30th and for news copy December 31st. eee | Representing the Organized Loggers and Mill Workers of B.C. PUBLISHED TWICH MONTHLY ON THH FIRST AND THIRD THURSDAYS BY. = International Woodworkers of America - District Council No, 1 DISTRICT OFFICERS: (CIO-CCL) <=> President. Joe Morris ist. Vice-President 2nd Vice-President ps Yee _ jecretary-Treasurer - International Board Member 45 Kingsway - Address all communications to GEORGE H. MITCHELL, Secretary-Treasurer ‘Vancouver, B. C. paStbreription Raton $1.60 per, r enntim present . Dathomast aa bemee Class Mall, Post Office D 24,000 COPIES PRINTED IN THIS ISSUD ‘William N. Gray Stuart M. Hodgson .- Fred Fieber George H. Mitchell ‘Walter B. Allen Dickens 6261-2 G. Spencer ept., Ottawa In January 1955, our Federa- tion was refused a hearing by the Cabinet, whose stated reasons were that we had delayed making our request until it was too late, and therefore they were too busy during the sittings of the Legis- lature to hear us. To avoid such a predicament for the 1956 session we changed our normal Convention date from January, back to November. On November 23rd we made our re- quest for a hearing and on Dec- ember 6th we received notice that the Cabinet would meet us at 12:30 December 12th, 6 Delegations 2% Hours Arriving in Victoria we were dismayed to- find that the Gov- ernment had scheduled five other delegations to meet with them between the hours of 10 a.m. and 12:30. From our experience we knew that it is a physical impos- sibility for any group of men to hear six delegations in one morn- ing, and give those delegations’ presentations the careful thought and consideration to which‘ they are entitled. These delegations are composed of people from many walks of life and who are generally extremely busy per- sons, and the matters which they bring to the attention of the Gov- ernment are generally of ex- treme importance fo the interests and welfare of the groups they represent, Our appointment with the Goy- ernment was delayed for oyer a half-hour and then we were given the alternative of meeting the Cabinet at that time or returning to our hotel and meeting them later in the afternoon. This clear- ly demonstrated to us that our fears were confirmed, the Cab- inet had become exhausted. But we also had made other arrange- ménts for the afternoon. Empty. Chairs Our greatest disappointment came when, being shown into the Cabinet Chambers were found a large number of empty chairs. Instead of having the privilege of meeting the Premier and the Cabinet Members which we had always enjoyed in the past, we found instead a “caretaker” Cab- inet of six members, and noted the absence of the Premier. Department, when he an- nounced that his union voted $1,500,000 from its treasury to finance the task of organizing the unorganized. Reuther Launches Organization Drive Reuther stated that former CIO affiliates have already pro- mised $4,000,000 to help in or- ganization work right across the country. He said that there was work to be done in the paper industry, among teachers and in the building trades besides “the thousands and thousands of white collar workers in the offices and in the distribution trades”, 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 — can be cashed readily. Be safe when mailing money. Use Canadian Bank of Commerce Money Orders, BANKING BY MAIL is convenient, easy to do. See for yourself — today. ¢ THE oa as BANK OF COMMERCE Branches in British Columbia .