B.C. LUMBER WORKER 2nd Issue, November ICFTU Mobilizes Hungarian Support BRUSSELS (CPA)—Continuing its action to mobilize the free trade unions of the whole world in support of the Hungarian people’s fight for freedom and independence and to bring to an end hostilities in the Middle East, the ICFTU General Secretary sent the following cabled mes- sage to affiliated organizations in many different countries: “In view world situation con- sider free trade union ‘moye- ment must do everything to defend freedom and to prevent war spreading. Therefore re- quest you make representations to your government to support -at United Nations level resolu- tions and action for stopping Soviet armed intervention in Hungarian struggle for free- dom and independence and for immediate ending hostilities in Middle East. Further request you make representations to embassies of countries concern- ed expressing condemnation of their Government’s measures. Finally appeal to you to organ- ize protest meetings under slo- gan ‘Against War, Against Foreign Intervention, For Peace and Freedom’.” Reaffirming a protest already sent to the United Nations by the ICFTU, the following cable was also despatched to the UN Sec- retary-General: “International free trade union movement strongly pro- tests Soviet armed intervention in Hungary’s struggle for free- B.C. UNIONS RESPOND Support of the ICFTU International Solidarity Fund, urged by the- recent merger conyention of the B.C. Federation of Labour, was acted upon immediately by Local 1-217, IWA, when at the general meeting, November 18, the sum of $100 was ordered to be forwarded immediately to the ICFTU. On the following Tuesday evening, the Vancouver and Dis- trict Labour Council authorized the donation of a similar sum. dom and independence and de- mands effective UN action. We support UN resolutions and action on Middle East.” A special sub-committee of the committee set up in 1953 to ad- minister the fund raised by the ICFTU in support of the Berlin uprising against the Soviets met in Vienna to co-ordinate interna- tional trade union relief action for the Hungarian people. Solidarity Fund Donations Contributions to the ICFTU International Solidarity Fund con- tinue to flow in with gifts of why your VANCOUVER are say you are an excellent host... U-B- POR FREE DELIVERY PHONE > TA 1121 > YO 2636 * WEST 2118 advertisement is not published or displayed by the Liquor Control Board ey, See Gormmnent of British Columbia, guests will HARD-WORKING CREW was this quartet of Local 1-80 members, seen here as they made the final preparations for the opening night of the newly-renovated IWA Hall in Lake Cowichan. right) Stan Creelman, Glen Ward, Stan Abercrombie, and Jack All. (Left to $25,000 from the AFL-CIO and the AFL-CIO Industrial Union Department and $1,000 from the Canadian Labor Congress heading the list. Further to the protest voiced by the general conference of the international trade secretariats, the International Federation of Free Teachers’ Unions has issued a statement greeting “Anna Kethly, ex-President of the Hun- garian teachers’ union, the per- sonification of the heroic struggle of the Hungarian people for free- dom.” Endorsing the protests of the free world at Soviet aggres- sion, it calls on teachers’ trade unions of all countries to mani- fest their desire to see establish- ed in Hungary a democratic re- gime based on free elections and full trade union rights. Anna Kethly, a Hungarian Social Democrat and union leader, was imprisoned for many years by the Communists. From Last Issue MORE CANDID SHOTS To assist former CCL members to become better ac- quainted with former TLC members elected to the Ex- ecutive Council of the newly- merged B.C. Federation of Labor, the following “thumb- nail” sketches of their trade union activities are published |" below. MEL KEMMIS Mel Kemmis is the 45-year- old Business Agent of the Bakery Work- ers, with his base of opera- tions estab- lished in the Labor Temple. In his spare time he func- tions as the Director of Educa- tion for his International Union in Canada, which is designated as their 12th District. Mel is a veteran of the repeat- ed strikes which were necessary to establish decent working con- ditions and wages for bakery workers in the large Vancouver establishments, Soa BREWERIES LIMITED One important victory as an outcome of this prolonged strug- gle was the 35-hour week, now being placed into effect. This was a “must” on Mel’s agenda, be- cause of the rapid mechanization of the industry, displacing the craftsmen in his union. Next objective, Mel declares, is schedules, now made possible by the re-organization of work modern science, to reduce night work and eliminate work on Sun- days and holidays. ROBERT BEDDOME Robert Bed- dome is Fi- nancial Secre- tary and Busi- ness Agent of the Beverage Dispensers, an important di- vision of the Hotel and Res- taurant Em- ployees Union, - and looks younger than his ‘Be years. He held an executive post on the Executive Committee of the former B.C. Trade Union Con- gress. Bob carries on his trade union duties with the good nature and aplomb that makes a successful bartender. He must be in that category, because he was re- cently selected by the Manitoba Government as one of those who will instruct the boys who will mix the drinks in the cocktail bars soon to be established in that province. His proudest boast, as a Busi- ness Agent, is the Health and Welfare plan now included in his Union’s contract. It seems}- that this takes 10 cents an hour from the employer to finance, and that its provisions are among the finest of such schemes on the North American continent — at least, that’s what Bob says, and the members of his Union believe him. ED O’CONNOR Ed O’Connor is the 48-year- old General Secretary of the B.C. Goy- ernment Em- ployees. Be- fore he became engrossed in trade union activities he spent 17 years in the Reuters cenerietenacts ment. ‘ His experience as Secretary dates back to 1944. All this be- comes apparent when he takes the floor in a debate. It is readily detected that he has become pro- ficient in debating skill by reason of his many arguments with the politicians, who from time to time form Provincial Cabinets. Much more surprising was the discovery that he still carries a card in the Musicians’ Union, and has done s0 ever since 1926. Men- tion of his place in the orchestra always results in corny puns, from members of other unions, he says, so here it is treated as a dark secret. Ed is a man dedicated to a mis- sion. His mission is to secure for civil servants the right to bargain collectively on the same basis as -|dent. of Local | 18 of Interna- “elimination of laws which place the Government above its laws for others”. HECTOR WRIGHT Hector Wright is the Presi- tional Associa- tion of Fire- fighters. Also he carries the title of Vice- President of the Interna- tional Associa- tion of Firefighters, and he looks the part. Hector’s specialty, apart from dealing with the ordinary routine of a trade union, is the work necessary to win legislation for the adequate protection of muni- cipal employees. He is fighting to raise the level of superanuation benefits for all municipal employees, as provided in the Provincial Statutes. His pet beef is the disgrace- fully low pensions provided for firefighters on the Federal Goy- ernment payroll. He thinks they are treated as though they were “steerage passengers”. agers STEWART Chas. Stew- art is Business Agent for Di- _vision 101 of Union. He gra- duated to this union from the Lumber and Sawmill Workers ee Union in the days ieee the IWA was on the scene. His record with the Street Railwaymen dates batk ten years. For eight of these years he serv- ed on the Executive, and for the last five as Business Agent. He has taken a major part in some famous strikes, which gain- ed better terms from the BCER, especially the memorable battle of 1947. He was also known as Chair- man of the Joint Shop Stewards’ movement in the North Burrard Shipyards, 1938-39. He is active in the Stry Credit Union. UNIONS MERGE NEW YORK (CPA) — The first two affiliates of the AFL- CIO operating within a similar jurisdictional field to complete actual merger arrangements have formed a 160,000-member union of public workers. The Government and Civic Em- ployees Organizing Committee, a former CIO affiliate with 30,000 members, voted 959% in favor of joining with the former AFL- affiliated State, County and Moly other workers. He urges the cipal Employees. the Street Rly. _ ss \e