4- B.C.

LUMBER WORKER

Norfiem Interior
Settlement

‘THE “package” settlement placed before the IWA
_ members in the Northern Interior with the rec-
ommendation of the District Policy Committee
represents not only substantial progress for the
Interior membership, but also a creditable achieve-
ment in bargaining.

It reflects credit on the Union’s strength in the
Interior, when in contrast with former negotia-
tions, it can this time leave the bargaining table
with a settlement which in monetary value closely
approximates the value of the membership’s or-
iginal demands.

If the employers have taken a more reasonable
attitude than on former occasions, it may be at-
tributed partially at least to the improved state
of the Union’s organization in the Interior. Credit
must also be given to the Union’s spokesmen,
whose skill in bargaining has gained through ex-
perience.

Any settlement is a target for criticism. Every
settlement gives rise to misgivings in the minds
of those who must act for the Union at the bar-
gaining table.

The Union’s spokesmen must exercise well-
balanced judgment, after weighing indefinite as
well as definite factors. They must press the
issues to the point, where they gain the best re-
sults obtainable.. They must not go beyond the
point where the risks are likely to be greater than
are warranted by the additional gains in prospect.

_The determining factor in this decision is the
welfare of the membership. The final test, as in
this instance, must be the will of the membership,
as expressed in a referendum ballot.

The proposed settlement brings Interior lum-
ber workers closer to the wage standards estab-
lished at the Coast. To judge the improvement in
the wage standards, consideration must be given
to the up-grading of the category rates, before the
across-the-board hike is applied, on September 1.
This serves to remedy a long-standing grievance.

In the Northern Interior, improved union
security has always been given emphasis by the
membership. The compulsory checkoff for new
members, in addition to the present maintenance
of membership clause, will enable Local 1-424,
IWA, to entrench itself more firmly in widely
scattered operations.

As in the Coast region, this provision will yield
the additional strength and stability so necessary
for fulfillment of the Union’s task

Industry-wide medical services is a big item in
the “package”. It is sorely needed in the Interior,
where such benefits have been ‘largely ignored in
the past. It is important to note that the medical
plan has been made subject to contract negotia-
tions.

Whatever plan evolves, it will find uniform
application throughout all operations in the area.
This is of great importance, where workers must
move from operation to operation to seek avail-
able employment.

The contract improvements which add five
more paid statutory holidays, and the 6 percent
vacation pay allowance after five years’ employ-
ment, have permanent value, even greater than
the actual monetary sum involved. In these re-
spects the employers concede that greater atten-
tion must be given the health and morale of their
employees, to get efficient production.

This settlement marks another important mile-
stone in the progress which year after year the
IWA continues to accomplish, in the march to-
ward its declared objectives.

Contents:

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Sratvutor:
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Gpinass

Labour Plans To
Inform Farmers

By CLIFFORD-A. SCOTTON

OTTAWA (CPA)—A concerted drive to tell labor’s
story to the farmers of Ontario is being mustered by the
Canadian Labor Congress and some of its affiliated-unions.
A union exhibit on a continuous 11-week tour will be set
up at 18 fall fairs throughout southern Ontario. The fairs
last from two to five days and attract crowds averaging

level. |

from 5,000 to 75,000.

The project has been planned
as a combined effort by the
CLC’s departments of public re-
lations, education and political
education. It is designed to dispel
some of the myths that have been
created about the conflict of in-
terest between farmers and labor
and to tell organized labor’s story
to the important farm section of
the population.

Labor Exhibit

A large fairground tent, gaily
decorated with bunting and
lights, will house the labor ex-
hibit. Comfortable chairs and a
frequently replenished water
cooler will provide rest and re-
freshment for visitors to the fair.

The tent-set-up was planned by
CLC staff artist Harry Kelman
who also designed the 12 graphic
display panels which show the
similarity between the interests
of farmers and labor. Give-away
pamphlets will show how the
price spreads affect the incomes
of both the farmer and the city
worker, the structure of unions
and the CLC will be explained,
farmers will learn why unionists
pay dues, what wages they re-
ceive and much other information
in which they are interested. A
portable film projector will run
labor movies for visitors who
stay awhile.

125,000 Visitors

Roadman for the labor show
will be Linc. Bishop, CLC assist-
ant director of political educa-
tion. Line. will stay with the ex-
hibit and transport it around
from the beginning of August
until it winds up at the Interna-
tional Ploughing Match at Brook-
line, Ont., in mid-October. The}
Ploughing Match attracts up to!
125,000 visitors.

The participation of local labor
councils is expected to help ease!
some of the many problems at-'
tached to the travelling labor
show. A long-term advantage ex-
pected to accrue from this par-
ticipation is the establishment of ,
closer contact between unions
and farm groups on the local

All the platforms, displays and
other equipment have been de-
signed for. easy transportation!
by truck. When one fair ends, |
Linc. Bishop will close up shop, !

pack the equipment into special |

Fall Fair

Labor booths at country fairs
are not a new thing but the
CLC’s fall fair project this-year
will be the first time a concerted
effort to tell labor’s story to the
farmers, spread over a consider-
able period, has been undertaken,
In the U.S. the Michigan State
CIO and the Packinghouse Work-
ers have had labor booths at
country fairs. The UPWA and
the United Auto Workers in Can-
an exhibit at the International
Ploughing Match. At the 1956
Calgary Stampede, the Calgary
Labor Council and affiliated
unions operated a display.

CLC officials look upon the
present scheme as an experiment.
If it appears to be successful in
getting labor’s message across to
some of Ontario’s thousands of
farmers this year, the scheme
will be expanded in future both
in Ontario and in the rest of
Canada.

SUPPORT OUR
ADVERTISERS

Barbers
Merge

NEW YORK (CPA) — A
merger or reunion of former
CIO and AFL barber unions in-
to a single body has brought
about the first amalgamation
of two AFL-CIO affiliates since
the 15,000,000 - member labor
body was formed last Decem-
ber.

The 6,000-member Barber and
Beauty Culturists Union of Am-
erica (CIO) has voted to re-affili-
ate with the 84,000-member Bar-
bers Union which was formerly
part of the AFL. The merger de-

cision was made in a referendum

of the membership of the smaller
group. A 93 percent vote in favor
of the link-up led to immediate
integration of the two groups.

The Barber and Beauty Cultur-
ists Union was chartered by the
CIO in 19438,

Daughter: “Mother, it bothers
me to have Jimmy spend so much
money on me when he takes me
out, How can I stop him?”

Mother: “Marry him.”

Alex B. Macdonald

Barrister & Solicitor
Notary Public

751 Granville Street
VANCOUVER, B,C.

Telephone TAtlow 6641

SOLICITOR TO THE 1. W. A.

A Luchy Break

Broken glasses are often a lucky break for eyes handi-
capped by an obsolete lens prescription. Since human
eyes change with use, abuse and age .. . periodic eye

examinations are necessary to detect any need for lens

ups by your optometrist.

MA. 0928

crates, load up the truck and
drive off tothe next location. _ |

correction. Don’t wait for broken glasses to give your
eyes the break they deserve. Schedule regular check-

Abramson & Hallenterg
OPTOMETRISTS

734 GRANVILLE STREET

Ground Floor — Vancouver Block

MA, 2948