NEWS DIGES

Items of Interest To
Labor In Capsule Form

CLC Model Contract

OTTAWA—A new model two-year contract was approved by
the Canadian Labor Congress and its office employees who are mem-
bers of the Office Employees International Union, ‘The new agree-
ment provides for substantial pay increases, the 30-hour week, the
union shop, the check-off and many other benefits.

Jurisdictional Dispute Halted

OTTAWA—A jurisdictional dispute which had threatened to
delay mergers of local union organizations in Canada was halted
when construction union‘officials withdrew slow-down instructions to
their members. The dispute between building and industrial unions
involved jurisdiction over certain installation and maintenance op-
erations. The withdrawal ended “some confusion which has existed
in Canada”, when Canadian locals of the unions involved received
delaying instructions CLC Secretary-Treasurer Donald MacDonald
stated.

CCF Reject LPP Support

OTTAWA—The CCF sharply rebuffed reported offers from the
Labor Progressive (Communist) Party which CCF Leader Coldwell
described as just a manoeuvre, The CCF would not co-operate with
the communists in any way, direct or indirect, said Coldwell, who
described the ultimate objective of the communists as being the
liquidation of such movements as the CCF.

Food Unions Merge

CINCINNATI—A merger which will bring into being the lar-
gest food union in the world was approved by members of the
Amalgamated Meat Cutters and Butchers Workmen and the United
Packinghouse Workers. The two groups, which will merge in the
early fall, have a combined membership of 435,000. They plan a
vigorous organizing campaign with a target of 600,000 members by

1960.

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Publication date of the next issue of the B.C. LUMBER WORKER
is July 19th. Deadline for ad copy is July 12th and for news copy

July 13th,

Representing the Orgenized Loggers and Mill Workers of B.C.
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B.C. LUMBER WORKER fats ; 3

ILO Effort Aids All
Workers Says Radford

Work of an ILO Industrial Committee meeting in
Istanbul this year to promote better conditions in coal
mines the world over, was vividly described by Dan Rad-
ford, Vancouver Representative of the Canadian Labor
Congress, when speaking recently over the Green Gold

radio program.

In his explanation of the ILO
objectives, he pointed to its value
for the workers in all countries.
In dealing with this point he
stated:

The ILO

“The ILO, as it is called, was
established in 1919 and is today
the only surviving agency of the
League of Nations. It was found-
ed to-achieve higher standards of
social and economic justice on an
international scale by agreement
between nations.

In 1946, it was fitted into the
new world organization, the
United Nations, as a specialized
agency. It has direct relations
with the Economic and Social
Council, the Food and Agriculture
Organization, and the World
Health Organization, as well as
UNESCO.

At present, 70 countries, about
20 more than in 1945, are mem-
ber nations of the ILO. Recently
admitted, have been the German
Federal Republic, the USSR, Ja-
pan, the Soviet Ukraine and
others,

ILO Composition

The ILO is quite different from
other United Nations specialized
agencies, in that it is more than
an inter-governmental agency. It
is comprised of representatives
from labor, management, and
governments in agreed-upon pro-
portions. It is in effect an Inter-
national Forum where workers,
employers and government repre-
sentatives can thrash out their
economic and social problems.

The General Conference of the
ILO meets once a year, and is the
supreme policy-making body. The
Governing Body, as it is called,
is the Executive Council of the
ILO, and is comprised of 40 mem-
bers, also recruited from labor,
management, and governments,
There is’ ,of course, as well, the
International Labor Office, well
staffed to carry out conference
decisions.
The ILO has, since its incep-
tion, undertaken the drafting of
international minimum social and
labor standards, Its proposals as
communicated to the participat-
ing nations are called conventions
or recommendations.
A convention, or international
treaty,.as it really is, must first
be approved by two-thirds of the
delegates present at the confer-
ence. These conventions to be
given effect must be ratified by
each individual country. If any

member country fails to ratify a
convention, it is at least expected
to give the convention the most
serious attention.

In addition, world attention to
a subject may be secuxed by a
resolution of the conference, I
may add, that through the years,
the ILO has worked patiently,
but successfully, to secure sub-
stantial improvements in condi-
tions of employment across the
world. The principles of the 8-
hour day and vacations with pay
are among those upheld on a
world seale by the ILO, in a man-
ner which has influenced legisla-
tion on this continent,” ;

When the speaker referred to
the proceedings of the Commit-
tee, he spoke highly of the atti-
tude taken toward desired im-
provements in working conditions.

“The industrial committees,
such as the one I attended, were
set up in 1946. These operate in
eight major industries and have
done much to gain a better un-
derstanding of the international
aspects of industrial and labor
problems;

In this way, the ILO has given
useful protection to workers in
this and other countries by help-
ing to offset the threat of produc-
tion based on low wages and poor
working conditions, in any one
country engaging in world trade.

Ventilation and dust suppres-
sion were topics of more than or-
dinary interest, because of the
prevalence of silicosis and miners’
asthma among the coal mining
fraternity. Here we directed the
attention of governments the
world over to the desirability of
planning mines in accordance
with safety requirements and
utilizing the most modern meth-
ods of dust suppression. I should
add that the risks of terrible mine
explosions from dust is usually
as great as from gas.

The members of the IWA will
be interested to know that the
committee supported the idea of
forming everywhere, what we call
job safety committees in this
province. We agreed that the
workers should be enabled to
elect their own delegates to such
committees. . é

One element in mine safety is
the proper training of miners in
the uses of new equipment. For
this reason, we proposed a sys-
tem of vocational training, with
special emphasis on new equip-

ment and new material.
Migrations

There has been a tendency to
encourage the migration of coal
miners to countries where coal is
of major importance in the na-
tional economy. Here we stressed
the importance of training which
would overcome language bar-
riers, and which in coal mining
can be a pronounced hazard. In
this province, for instance, we
require that every man working
underground shall have a sound
working knowledge of the Eng-
lish language. Otherwise, it is
quite impossible for him to intel-
ligently receive or transmit warn-
ing signals.

Fatigue and Safety

Another factor too frequently
neglected, but which was consid-
ered at Istanbul, was the factor
of fatigue. I’ve often wondered
if undue fatigue is not often the
cause of fatal accidents in B.C.
industry, To remove this danger,
we proposed a number of meas-
ures. We considered that more
modern methods of mechanization
should now be introduced every-
where to lighten the labor of coal
miners.

It is also important, we stated,
that the tasks given miners
should be more carefully deter-
mined, in order to avoid excep-
tional fatigue. Among other im-
provements urged on a world-
wide scale was the transporta-
tion of miners to and fr the
pit-bottom landing and their
workplace. We also advocated
that they should be assured de-
cent housing, and comfortable
transportation to and from the
mines. Adequate social services,
in our opinion, also have a bear-
ing on the question of fatigue.
For the older workers, we asked
special attention to avoid risks
incurred as a result of unusual
fatigue.

‘Is Frank a confirmed bach-
elor?”

“He is now. He sent his picture
to a lonely hearts club and they
sent it back with a note saying,
‘We're not that lonely’.”

* 8 &

“Mama, I just knocked over
the ladder at the back of the
house.”

“Well,
daddy.”

“He already knows. He’s hang-
ing onto the window ledge.”

hee ig py

“This is a holdup!” said the
thug. “Give me your money or
else.”

“Or else what?” demanded the
victim.

“Don't confuse me,” begged
the thug. “This is my first job.”

run and tell your

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