4 B.C. LUMBER WORKER 2nd Issue, No SABOTAGE A front-page story in this issue of the B.C. Lum- ber Worker carries’ an obituary border, sug- gesting that the IWA may have cause to mourn the disappearance of what has been a steadily improving safety program. The concealed tragedy is that the sad event may result in increased loss of life, before matters are righted by independent action on the part of the Union. The most lamentable development in the lum- ber industry during recent years has been the sabotage of the industry’s safety program by Mac- Millan & Bloedel Ltd. No doubt, other intentions will be immediately declared, but. the brutal fact is that this large corporation has launched a pro- cedure which deletes free employee co-operation from accident prevention activities. Safety men throughout the industry are dum- founded. No one can find a rational answer for an incredibly stupid onslaught on safety. The safety program, built on labor-management co-operation since 1949, has saved the company millions of dol- lars in reduced compensation assessments and penalties. It has wiped out much of the indirect loss to the company caused by accidents, and serv- ed to increase efficiency of production. In the insane desire to fix all the blame for every accident on the employees, in order to exon- erate the company completely, the MacMillan & Bloedel officials have reasoned negatively instead of positively. The human element is, of course, a factor in many accidents, although not the only factor. There are well known defects in human performance which must be corrected on the negative side. The more positive approach to safety, however, and overlooked by ambitious but cynical officials, is that the human element makes a safety program yield results. It has been the humble worker, reckoned as quite insignificant by the M. & B. staff, who, with free co-operation inspired by the ideals of safety, has made the reduction of acci- dent rates possible. The industrial history of our continent is pack- ed with incidents to illustrate the point that “you can’t make men work at the point of a bayonet”. Neither can any magic claimed by M. & B. make men and women co-operate in safety with methods that are alien to our way of life. IWA VICTORY ‘THE men who successfully held picket lines at the Imperial Lumber Co. Ltd., at Marl- boro, Blue Ridge, Barrhead, and Kinuso, in Al- berta, against formidable odds, deserve the un- qualified congratulations of the IWA. Company opposition to unionization and a fair agreement was especially bitter at the outset of the strike. The isolation of the operations, and the onset of wintry sub-zero weather, presented a test of the strikers’ determination. Coupled with these adverse factors were those of inexperience, and the knowledge that the Company in former years has always succeeded in breaking any organized protest. The strikers had justice on their side. A base rate of 85 cents an hour under present conditions is a disgrace to a civilized community. Sub-stand- ard wages were in effect only because the com- pany had found it possible to browbeat unorgan- ized employees. If no other victory had been won, by reason of the extension of the jurisdiction of District Coun- cil No. 1 to Alberta, this capitulation of a notor- jously anti-union company has fully vindicated the IWA decision. The District Executive Board, and the Local Unions that have rendered concrete support to the Alberta campaign, may now properly claim that another bulwark has been built to protect B.C. ‘wage standards as well as those of Alberta wood- workers. Of even greater importance, they may indulge feelings of satisfaction that another telling blow has been struck for trade union rights, and decent conditions, on the Canadian economic front. The employers’ front of organized resistance to trade union organization in the Alberta woods is crumbling. The Imperial settlement is only one of a number of key positions won. Workers in depressed wage areas are now tak- ing heart, and are rallying around the IWA or- ganizers in that territory. Alberta may soon be one of the bright spots on the IWA map, and when that day comes, the Brit- ish Columbia section of the Union may claim cre- dit for sound judgment, in the decision to extend the District’s activities to Alberta. Again, the IWA, in company with the workers for Imperial, get the pay-off which is invariably won by adherence to trade union principles. ABRAMS STATES VIEWS The Editor: With reference to the letter printed in the B.C. Lumber Work- er, second issue of September, I would like to acquaint you with the true facts which evidently the worker did not bother to as- certain for himself before writ- ing such a letter. He stated that the MSA uses their profits (?) for kickbacks to doctors and employers. ° This is definitely untrue and such a statement could be termed libelous. All accounts from doctors for services rendered are examined by a staff of trained people who have a schedule of fees for their guidance. Any deviation from this sched- ule are turned over to our Medi- cal Board (some permanent, some part time) who discuss this with the doctor concerned. If it is not explained satisfactorily they are paid on the schedule of fees. If the doctor is not satisfied he can refer it to the B.C. Medical As- sociation who rules on the right or wrong of the bill, then returns it to the Board of Directors of MSA. All doctors are paid according to services rendered, no more no less. With reference to employ- ers, the writer might have a point there. But this is of no concern of MSA, As all contracts are between employer and MSA so that in the event a group has attained its reserve, and better, then there! the Liquor Control Board or by the Government of British Columbia, will be a refund to that group through the employer. Some pay it out in cash, others in additional benefits or waive premiums until the refund is ex- hausted. Many employers have passed on any increase of fees to the employees without assuming their 50%. Such employers would also keep any refunds to them- selves as the employees would have no knowledge of it. That is the only disadvantage in a two-way contract. It should be three ways—MSA, employer and employee. I hope this will be corrected in our next contract. Education is a wonderful thing. Both Bro. Cummins of 1-217, and myself have tried to do this for our members through the B.C. Lumber Worker. We knew that many of our members are un- aware of their rights and priv- ileges through MSA and we have written many articles on this. ‘These have been sent to the Lum- ber Worker, but have not been printed. The first appeared last December; since then only three have appeared. Articles have been sent and others waiting to be sent as those sent were printed. How- ever, you must have co-operation in order to do a job well. I haye no desire to start an argument through the columns of the Lum- ber Worker, that is why I haye written to Bro. Turner first to explain the true facts. Both Brother Cummins and my- self have been Board members for two years now and should know the truth. I assure you that the letter referred to was a gross mis-statement of facts and could not be proven. Bro. Cummins joins me in the hope that the statement will be retracted re kickbacks through the same col- umns. I’m sure space could be allowed for this. I also wish it known that while I’m a board member of MSA am also Chairman of our own Credit Union Credit Committee, and have been for years. For this I reserve one night a week. So I’m in the same boat as other Credit Union members but with more information on the subject men- tioned. Fraternally yours, C. J. Abrams, Board Member, Patronize Our Advertisers Alex B. Macdonald Barrister & Solicitor Notary Public 751 Granville Street VANCOUVER, B.C. Telephone TAtlow 6641 SOLICITOR TO THE 1. W. A. Uy mo30o” Seagram's “83” @ £9 wagieg * This advertisement is not published or displayed by e