2nd Issue, November

B.C. LUMBER WORKER

From Page 1

“BRAINWASHING”

The way this Canadian OGPU system works is seen in a

safety report prepared at Canadian White Pine.
“Ym Guilty”

The description of the accident is as follows: “A piece of
8x6 was sticking out of the square end of load and I didn’t
notice it. Hit it with my leg while trying to reach the other
side of the load.”

The confession pressured out of the worker with the in-
jured leg, and lacerated hand, reads as follows: “I will take
more care in future and will try to avoid pieces sticking out
of loads.”

No matter what the conditions surrounding the accident
may be, it is evidently intended that the foreman should get a
signed statement from the yictim, if alive and conscious, that
no one was to blame but himself.

An Anti-Union Policy

To date, no satisfactory explanation has been furnished by
‘management sources to account for this reversal of the three-
way plan of co-operation which the Union has always loyally
supported. One theory is that the Company is secretly deter-
mined to deprive the Union of any credit for its share in pro-
tecting the interests of workers in the field of accident-preven-
tion.

Another version is that the Company is bent on returning
injured workmen to work sooner than is now’ permitted, in order
to lower the WCB assessments, by a “faked” accident rating.

The-plan of making no more than a polite gesture in the
establishment of job safety committees; as required by law, and
substituting the Company’s own “safety police” gives some
basis for the suspicions voiced.

Resistance Considered
The accumulation of evidence disclosing a gross manipula-
* tion for Company ends of the results cultivated by the Union
in terms of loyal co-operation with official safety programs, has
‘Teft the IWA Board no alternative but to consider the organiza-
tion of a “resistance movement”.

Whether every instance of unfair pressure, for which evi-
dence may be gathered, should be processed as a grievance
under the contract, is still a matter of speculation. One disad-
vantage of such a procedure would be to clutter up the grievance
procedure, and block consideration of grievances in other direc-

tions.
: Civil Rights Involved

It is conceivable, of course, say some, that every injured
workman could be instructed by the Union to stand on his il
rights, and refuse to incriminate himself, when-held for inquisi-
tion in the foreman’s “torture chamber”. Such resistance would

require prompt and well-organized action to‘protect any worker,
about to be disciplined for asserting his democratic rights.
The eyident intention of leading companies to by-pass the

Union, is a question which is also receiving close attention, with

the object of taking independent action to protect life and limb
where the companies haye chosen to disregard the welfare of
the employees. :

Independent Program Possible

If the IWA is compelled, in self-defence, to establish its
own independent safety program, the formation of Union job
safety committees apart from the joint committees would be-
come necessary. These committees would be charged with the
responsibility of policing the safety of the operation, and taking
the necessary steps to invoke the law against negligence con-
cealed by the company. 2

It might be required to undertake much of this work in
secret by trusted union members, until action is finalized. Advo-
cates of this method argue that such action is necessary, inas-
much as the company is more disposed to protect machinery and
plant, than human lives. This would require that the union’s
members should concentrate on human welfare, and disregard
the effort to keep machines working, while human lives are
exposed to undue risks.

WCB Queried

Whether the Workmen’s Compensation Board will act to
prevent this total collapse of a safety program, which has won
continent-wide recognition for its excellence, has not yet been
determined. Some reports have indicated that the Board’s
Safety Branch has given tacit approval to management’s plan.
If this proves to be the case, the Union will undoubtedly appeal
to higher authority.

It is predicted by the Union’s safety men, that if the com-
panies persist in this suicidal policy outlined, that job action
can prevent undue suffering from accidents, but that the com-
panies will face a much higher assessment under the Workmen’s
Compensation Act. The companies will also be confronted with
unusual costs in the repair of machinery and equipment, as the
workers in self-defence will be compelled to abandon the effort
to preserve equipment to protect their own safety.

Men First, Machinery Last

The reasoning, generally expressed, is that if the companies
are now reneging on the co-operation to which they have
hitherto given lip service, that the worker is thereby relieved of
any responsibility to co-operate in the employer’s interests.

If the employers are determined to expose the workers to
greater risks, they must be expected to pay, it is now said on

||LABOR'S

PART
TOLD

WASHINGTON (CPA)—The-
failure of the Republicans to
win control of Congress in the
November 6 election was “little
short of a political miracle” in
view of the Hisenhower Jand-
slide, AFL-CIO President Geo.
Meany said in a comment on
the election result.

Mr. Meany stated: “Obviously,
President Eisenhower’s personal
popularity was the key factor in
yesterday’s election results. It
was the man, not the Republican
program, that the voters so over-
whelmingly endorsed. This is
proved by the fact that, despite
Eisenhower’s landslide, his party
failed to win control of Congress.

Political Miracle

“Considering the record-break-
ing proportions of the Eisenhower
victory, this was little short of a
political miracle. I am convinced
it was due in large part to the
educational work of labor. The
Committee on Political Education,
the political arm of the AFL-CIO,
Kas concentrated its efforts, day
in and day out throughout the
year, on the election of liberal
progressive candidates to Con-
gress.

“While the 85th Congress will
not be predominantly liberal, we
now have renewed hope for ac-
complishing that objective in
1958.

“Meanwhile, in the great Am-
erican tradition, the workers of
this country along with all other
citizens, will close ranks behind
President Eisenhower in his ef-
forts to preserve peace and
strengthen the forces of human

freedom throughout the world.”

RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE appointed at the recent merger convention of the B.C, Federation of Labour. Chairman was Bob Smeal,
and Secretary was Jim Bury, UPWA.

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CLC BRIEF
JAN. 23rd

OTTAWA (CPA) — The first
brief of the Canadian Labor Con-
gress legislative proposals to the
federal government will be pre-
sented to cabinet representatives
by CLC officers next January 28,
the CLC has announced, Form-
erly, the Trades and Labor Con-
gress and the Canadian Congress
of Labor — which merged last
April to form the CLC—present-

ed separate briefs every year.

Other CLC activities during the
same week will include a meeting
of the Executive Council of the
labor body on January 21, 22, 24
and 25; a Political Education
Committee meeting January 24-_
25; and the first meeting of rep-
resentatives of CLC-affiliated in-

ternational unions, January 22,