B.C. LUMBER WORKER and Issue, December The aio Shop BY UNION NEGOTIATOR In my opinion discussion by members of the IWA on the Union Shop is not always tailored to meet the arguments most frequently used in opposition by the companies. A typical employers’ argument is given here. It was actually used in another industry before a board. It is quoted here for bunkhouse lawyers to get their teeth into. It is intended simply to provoke discussion and encourage members to supply the right answers. This is what the counsel for the company said, when the Union in question demanded union shop conditions in the union security clause of their contract during conciliation: Management’s Argument The’ company and its subsidi- aries in this country have Union agreements with many unions, In none of these is there a full union shop clause, and the company has no intention of breaking prece- dent in British Columbia. Without going into too long a discourse regarding union secur- ity, the company wishes to ex- Plain its attitude towards com- pulsion with respect to union membership or union dues. The key in either a union shop or a compulsory check-off clause is the phrase, “ as a condition of employment”. Employees who either refuse to comply, or who are unable to comply, are de- brived of employment with the company, and the compulsion to comply and the sanctions for non- compliance, are in both cases by virtue of the terms of this pro- posed agreement, imposed by the company, The company is only able to impose such conditions through its position as an employer. This, the company contends, and firmly believes is an abuse of the em- bloyer-employee relationship. The company is unalterably op- bosed to any device which im- poses a condition on employees which is unrelated to the per- formances of their jobs. The pres- ent clause in the agreement which compels an employee to continue to pay dues for the duration of an agreement, IF THE EM- PLOYEE HAS ONCE AGREED Printers of The B.C. LUMBER WORKER LIMITED PRINTERS AND LITHOGRAPHERS An Employee Owned Co. 944 RICHARDS STREET PAcific 6338-9 TO DO SO, is not, in the opin- ion of the company, dangerous compulsion but is rather designed to protect the Union from a dif- ficult collection problem. Insofar as the Union Shop is concerned, it is significant that proponents consistently gloss over or ignore the fact that an employ- ee’s job may result, not from the employee's refusal to become or to remain a member, but because the employee is prevented from joining or is expelled. In other words, there is considerably more involved than just the volition of the employee. The Union may well argue that the “expulsion” or “re- striction of membership” features of the Union Shop are not impor- tant in that few people are hardly ever expelled or refused member- ship. Obviously, this is no answer. Even if only one employee lost his job, or was prevented from ob- taining another one as a result of being refused admission to Union membership, or being expelled therefrom, the problem would still be a serious one—serious enough to over-ride any alleged virtues of Union security provisions. What’s Your Answer? @ Now, what do you say? What would-be your reply, if you were confronted with this argument when presenting the demand for a Union Shop before a Concilia- tion Board? @ Even though a company may have agreements in other less well organized districts, which lack Union security provisions, can it logically use this reason to oppose Union Shop development in B.C.? @ Do you accept the company’s sincerity in opposing the Union Shop, because it professes to be solely concerned about the free- dom of the workers? @ Does management's deter- mined opposition to the Union Shop suggest to you that exactly for the opposite reason it is of great value to the employees? AFL-CIO Record Proves Worth AFL-CIO President George Meany issued the follow- ing statement, marking the first birthday of the AFL-CIO (December 5): The American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations marks the first birthday of a uni- fied labor movement in the United States in a spirit of con- fidence and determination. We have made considerable progress so far in establishing unity as a living fact and an ef- fective working force. As a re- sult, we will be able to forge ahead more rapidly in the year to come. Still Problems There are still problems to be solved, of course. Merger at the top level was only the first step in a long process. Given patience and good will, the rest of the job will be completed ahead of our most optimistic hopes. Today the American labor movement speaks with one voice on Capitol Hill. It is recognized as a major factor in the political * as well as the economic life of the j nation. Our United Action Our united action during the recent political campaign resulted in a large measure of victory for liberal, progressive forces in the Congress, despite the personal popularity which produced Presi- dent Eisenhower's landslide vic- tory.... We must continue to fight un- lentingly upon the domestic front for legislation which will make America better and stronger. We must oppose at every step legis- lation designed to benefit only the privileged few. We cannot, however, be content merely to resist the forces of re- action. We must lead a nation- wide drive for the realization of a positive and progressive legis- lative program, including federal aid to education, better housing, broader application of a higher minimum wage and enactment of thorough-going changes in the first Taft-Hartley Act that will make it fair to labor and man- agement alike. Organize the Unorganized Now, as always, our first re- sponsibility is to organize the un- organized. This we shall proceed to do with our full energies, Organizers have been already assigned to a number of impor- tant campaigns in tobacco, tex- tile and other industries. We ex- pect eventual victory no matter how bitter the opposition nor how restrictive the legislation im- posed upon us. In the international field, the AFL-CIO is determined to sup- port strong, free, democratic unions throughout the world — for they are the bulwark of dem- HEADS Champion of All Lightweight e LIGHT CRUISER Caulked Boots © Featarisg High Carbon Steel Oil » Tempered Boot Caulks FOR SURE GRIP Another Favorite HEAD’S famous “SAFETY TOE BOOTS” for Mill Workers 21 East Hastings St. W. J. HEAD BOOT FACTORY LIMITED (PA, 4844) “HEADS YOU WIN” Vancouver, B.C. ocracy, the first line’ of defense against war, More Effective We achieved unity in the labor movement in order to do a more effective job for the men and women we represent. Upon ac- cepting the presidency of the AFL-CIO, I remarked: “We must think in terms of the true mean- ing of a trade union movement, a movement that has for its sole, definite and single purpose the advancement of the welfare and interest of the great mass of workers who are part of this movement.” That will always be our goal. The AFL-CIO, on its first birthday, is fully cognizant of the great tasks and opportuni- ties for service which lie ahead. As we enter the second year of unity, we dedicate ourselves to completing a job well begun. Insurance adjuster: “When you found all the bureau drawers open and the contents scattered, why did you not report the rob- bery at once?” Housewife: “I just. supposed my husband had been hunting a clean shirt.” CAMP ELECTS OFFICERS | Children’s Jubilee Summer Camp Conyention held Novem- ber 18th, in the Stry Hall, Van- couver, was attended by 58 delegates and 11 executive members who yoted in the new officers for the year. The attending delegates were representatives of 81 Local Unions, one Labour Council, one Union Label Trades Council, one Building Trades Council and four fraternal organizations. Financial Report The Financial Report showed that the Committee had in the bank and credit notes the sum of $439.72. During the summer of 1956 there were 392 children registered at the Camp of which two of these received medical coverage through the Camp Sickness and Accident Benefit. A new cottage for the care- taker and two cabins to replace the old dormitory have been planned by. the Committee to be built in 1957. Officers Elected New officers elected are R. Ber- ger, re-elected President; W. J. Pierce, Vice-President; Mrs. D. L. King, Corresponding Secretary; Mrs.’ Reg. Lenfesty, Recording Secretary; Alex Duff, Treasurer; Mrs. James Cook, Publicity Chair- man; James Cook, Building Man- ager; Gordon Ryan, Finance Chairman; Executive - at - Large members, Mrs. R. Fordham; D. L. King, E. A. Hallock, Lorne Web- ber, Mrs. H. Berger, Reg Len- festy. Chairman of the Ladies’ Auxiliary, Mrs. Custer Solem. SARNIA, ONT. (CPA) — A plant at nearby Point Edward where Canada’s “first automa- tion strike” took place in the summer of 1955 has laid off its entire work force for a period of at-least six months due to overproduction. Holmes Foun- dry, a producer of engine blocks for the Ford Motor Com- pany, has laid off more than 300 workers as a result, accord- ing to the United Auto Work- ers, of automation. A strike by Holmes Foundry employees in the summer of 1955 lasted for nearly four months as workers protested the “inhuman” schedule initiated by the com- pany. Whereas a work force of 400 had previously produced 664 engine blocks a day, the introduc- AUTOMATION CAUSES SERIOUS LAY-OFFS tion of automated machines led to the establishment of a production target of 900 blocks.a day by 280 workers. 21-cent Package The agreement reached by the union and company after the strike provided for a 21-cent package and included a key pro- vision that the company would “establish production standards that are fair and equitable to the employees involved . . . and are based on the working capacity of a normal worker”. Len Baker of UAW Local 456 said that with the new machines used by the company, a year’s supply of engine blocks for Ford can now be turned out by the Foundry in six months. 127 EAST 2nd AVE. * GLOWES «— | SHE WEAR IS THERE Oe Union Made for Union Trade Insist on WATSON’S LEATHER GLOVES THE ONLY LEATHER WORK GLOVES UNION MADE IN B.C. JOHN WATSON LTD. VANCOUVER, B.C,