ON STRIKE ‘THE strike situation at Vavenby, B.C., is to be deplored at a time when the Union and the In- terior employers are making a full-scale effort to iron out their differences at the bargaining table. _ ,The Birch Island Lumber Co. Ltd., and the individual owner who includes this operation in his little empire, must accept full responsibility for the outbreak of strife. Side by side with this situation, the [WA must consider the actions of other employers in the Interior, who have remained aloof from the or- ganized employers’ bargaining agencies. In one case the employer openly stated that he would not tolerate a union in his operation, and paid the penalty before a magistrate for his brash- ness. In some instances employees engaged in legal collective bargaining have been locked out. Else- where, flagrant disregard of all decencies in labor- management relations have compelled arbitration boards to rule unanimously against stubbornly individualistic employers. The fact of the matter is that a few employers have refused to accept an industry-wide bargain- ing arrangement in order to set up their own little low-wage empire. They are so much more inter- ested in making profits, “by hook or by crook” that they have no concern with regard to stable labor-management relations. These anti-union “independents” in the In- terior have in actuality engaged in a type of indus- trial “guerilla warfare” against all modern indus- trial relations. Their one motive, is that they may gain some temporary advantage, enabling them to undersell those lumber operators in the Interior who now rely on the procedures of collective bargaining. This confronts the IWA with a situation where the strike weapon must be used, and continued in use until the situation is remedied. The arrogant Messrs. Swanson and Capostin- sky who believe themselves to be the economic masters of the communities of Vavenby and Clear- water and feeder bush operations, are due for a grim surprise. They are not in the position where, as they believe, they may scare a group of eighty or so men into submission. They have deliberately challenged a Union of 34,000 members, which will place a million dollar strike fund behind the Va- venby strikers to uphold the rights of the members. of an industrial union. Whether Messrs. Swanson and Capostinsky bargain through the employers’ agency or not is theix own business. If they choose to remain aloof, they should follow the example of the “in- dependents” throughout the Coast area, and accept the wage pattern determined by the bar- gaining through the major groups. If they choose to challenge the wage pattern established for the Interior, they must live at. sword’s point with the other-owners, and prepare: to engage in constant battle with the TWA. If the Union must stake its fortunes on collec- tive bargaining under the procedures determined! by law, these “independents” must be expected to: do likewise. Messrs. Swanson and Capostinsky are quoted! as saying that they are quite unconcerned as to: whether they resume operations for another year: _ or SO. If such be the case, Messrs. Swanson and Ca- postinsky can prepare to do all their own work im their own plants when they do resume production. All wide-awake lumber workers by. that time will be working for a much higher scale under the: ‘Interior master agreements. No self-respecting” worker will be forced to have the title “scab” pinned on him for life, merely to endure the high-: pressure chiselling; high speed-up; highly unsafe: production methods for which the Vavenby opera-: tions have been notorious. Book a6 Wal. Review TRADE UNION HISTORY By MORDEN LAZARUS A BRIEF HISTORY OF CANADIAN LABOR—by Clifford A. Scotton, Woodsworth House Publishers, Ottawa. 36 pages. 35 cents. The formation of the Canadian Labor Congress heralds a new era for Canadian labor. The publication of this concise history co- incided with the birth of the new Congress. The first copy was sold at the CLC convention. Taking the story of the growth and problems of the Canadian labor movement to April 28, 1956, this beautifully The development of unions in| Canada followed the pattern of} the Canadian economy. It was strongly influenced by British laws. When Britain barred union organization in 1800, its effects were felt in this country. ‘Then unionization in the U.S, bolstered the efforts in Canada, and gra- dually the U.S. influence grew. But the steady influx of British workers to Canada helped to maintain through the years cer- tain British traditions such as direct political action. Printing Trades Led Union members in the printing trades are among the highest paid skilled workers in Canada. Perhaps this is because they were the first to organize (1827) and the first to demonstrate. It is interesting to know that 85 years ago (1872) the printers’ union organized a public meeting attended by 10,000 people in To- ronto to protest the arrest of their leaders on a charge of crim- inal conspiracy and to support their demands for a 9-hour day. It is interesting to know that Daniel O'Donoghue, an Irish im- migrant printer, was known as the “Father of Canadian Labor” and was the first labor member to be elected to any Canadian par- liament. In fact he headed the first “cap-in-hand” to meet with Sir John A. MacDonald. The story of the rise of the | railway workers, the mineworkers in Nova Scotia, the Knights of | Labor, the Trades and Labor | Congress of Canada, the 0.B.U., the ‘split-off of the CB of RE, steel and auto unions in the 30’s to form the CIO and CCL in |] Canada, all these events are told with clarity and brevity. Throughout the author shows commendable judgment in his choice and use of material. Best Short History While most of the account deals necessarily with the. TLC and the CCL, their forebears and recent history, none of the other important labor groups are ig- nored. The reasons for the estab- lishment of the Catholic Unions in Quebec are carefully sketched, while even the renegade Cana- designed booklet should be in every union member’s home. National Council of Canadian Labor get brief attention. There are books on Canadian Labor which give more details, and accounts which cover a little ' more ground. But this booklet is undoubtedly the best short his- tory yet written, certainly the most readable and most useful for reference. It is a working- man’s account written by the Qt- tawa correspondent of Co-opera- tive Press Association, a young writer from whom much more will be heard. An old mountaineer and his son were sitting in front of the fire smoking their pipes, crossing and uncrossing their legs. After a long silence, the father said: “Son, step outside and see if it’s yaining.” Without looking up, the son answered: “Aw, Pa, why don’t we jest call in the dog and see if he’s wet?” eae os Most men like to see their wives in clinging dresses—espe- cially those that cling to them for Votes” DETROIT (CPA)—A survey conducted by three Wayne Uni- versity professors and financed by the United Auto Workers indicates that UAW members want their union in politics and that they trust labor recom- mendations more than those of any other group. The findings of the survey have just been published in book form by the UAW Education De- partment under the title “When Labor Votes”. Although the union financed the study, it specified that the sponsor should remain anonymous until the research was concluded. Cross-section Survey The survey was made of a cross-section of UAW members both before and after the 1952 presidential election. Results in- dicate that 78 percent favored the unions working for Demotra- tic nominee Adlai Stevenson. More than 80 percent supported the union-backed candidates for Senator and Governor. A total of 55 percent thought that labor should take a more ac- tive part in politics affecting their lives while only 14 percent thought the unions should say less. : If you don’t believe in coopera- tion, just watch what happens to several years. a car when a wheel comes off. Inadequate glasses can MA. 0928 «dian Federation of Labor and the Use, Abuse and Age eyes change with use, abuse and age. A thorough examination by your optometrist will detect any need for a change in your present lens prescrip- tion. Your precious eyes merit the professional care, technical skills and the finest scientific in- struments offered by optometrists. Abramson & Hollenberg OPTOMETRISTS 734 GRANVILLE STREET Ground Floor — Vancouver Block cause headaches. Your MA, 2948