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B.C. LUMBER WORKER

‘COMPULSION’

strikes. Compulsion fostered defi-
ance of unjust decisions.

No Bayonets

“The reasons for this are ob-

vious, Canadian workers cannot
be made to work at the point of
the bayonet, or by the compul-
sion of a policeman’s baton.
If conditions are unjust, they
will refuse to work, whateyer
may he tlre technicalities of the
situation. We find this disposi-
tion even where agreements
are signed and a binding arbi-
tration is the means of redress.
Men in a body have walked off
the job, rather than work under
unfair conditions, with the re-
sult that management has been
compelled to set those matters
right which they had felt free
to ignore, because they thought
they could stand on the legal-
isms of their case. How can
any authority punish wholesale
disobedience?

“T suggest that the experienced
officials in the labor departments
across the Dominion are not
quite so naive as some of the em-
ployers. I am quite sure, that if
they were allowed to speak
frankly, they would advise the
governments as they have done
in the past, to the effect that any
attempt to impose compulsory ar-
bitration on the Canadian trade
union moyement would result in
unprecedented labor unrest.

“What outward form that un-
dercurrent of rebellion would
take, I would not presume to pre-
dict. I venture to say that the
employer who today may say,
‘so what?’ would within a short
time be desperately endeavoring
to restore the morale in the
working force which is indispens-
able to efficient production. Co-
operation, based on justice, and
honesty, is vastly to be preferred
in a democracy to the methods of
compulsion, now seen at their
worst in the police state.

“Consider one very practical
matter. The tribunals for com-
pulsory arbitration would be
established by the governments
now in power. For the most
part, these governments are
dominated by the employers,
for the simple reason that the
employers have taken pains to
make goyernments susceptible
to their desires, It has been
often said by astute politicians
from all parties, that those who
pay the campaign funds, write
the party policies, It is as sim-
ple as that.

“With these facts staring us in
the face, it would be very difficult

indeed to convince any body of

Printers of
The B.C.
LUMBER WORKER

LIMITED

_ PRINTERS AND
LITHOGRAPHERS

An Employee Owned Co.

944 RICHARDS STREET
PAcific 6338-9

workers that they could be as-
sured at all times of a square
deal from such arbitration tribu-
nals, In all probability the men
selected for such tribunals would
be selected as those least likely
to embarrass the employer
friends of the government in
power. They would likely be sel-
ected from an environment where
they are influenced to regard
trade union demands as being in
conflict with the best interests of
the community.

Closed Minds

“Many such men, because of
education and training, have
closed minds to interests except
those of their own immediate
economic or social group. They
are inclined to regard their inter-
ests and their views as repre-
senting the essential truth for the
entire’ community.

“The fact is that over and over
again they have been proven
wrong. If the trade unions had
not developed the power of or-
ganization to prove that they
have been wrong, our society
would have made little progress
away from the terrible conditions
to which British workers were
subjected following the industrial
revolution. As we think of these
historical facts, let us not forget
that we are entering upon a new
and revolutionary phase of indus-
trial production known as auto-
mation.

“The locomotive firemen may
not now be on the strike picket
line, but the issues they have
raised are still alive and must be
faced by the whole trade union
movement. The most fortunate
result has been that the actions
of the Federal Government have
vindicated the position taken in
the matter by the Canadian La-
bour Congress, and gave us time
to take up the cudgels against
compulsory arbitration.”

High Rates
Protected

OTTAWA (CPA)—A bill to
fix the maximum interest rate
on small loans at 12% a year
has been proposed by Hazen
Argue (CCF Assiniboia) for
the second consecutive year.
The rate would cover the in-
terest, carrying and other
charges on loans made by
small loans companies.

Last year Mr. Argue’s bill was
defeated by a combined Liberal
and Conservative vote. The gov-
ernment introduced its own
amendment to the Small Loans
Act to provide for an interest
rate of 24% on loans under $300
(the vast majority of small loans
are in this category); 12% on
loans between $300 and $1,000;
and 6% on loans between $1,000
and $1,500. There is no interest
limit on loans above $1,500.

The Dental Association has for-
bidden Dr. R. Llewellyn Douglas
(Old Doc) from announcing

publicly that he is willing and
able to provide top quality,
guaranteed dental plates at
only $40 per plate.

Dr. R. Llewellyn Douglas

712 Robson St. Vancouver 1, B.C.
(Corner of Granyille)

Phone: PAcific 4022

not, it will be a hard winter.

The Loggers’ Local held its An-
nual Convention on Jan. 7. This
time it was a two-day affair with
Jots of resolutions from the
camps. Some of those guys out
there sure dream up some good
resolutions. Shows that they’re
on their toes.

Lots of Resolutions

Saw lots of resolutions con-
cerning fallers’ problems, and
there was plenty of talk on the
convention floor about them, too.
The executive of the Local rec-
ommended that we negotiate for
a set rate for falling snags,
right - of-way, bucking broken
timber, etc. Seems to me that this
is a sensible approach for pro-
tection for the fallers. But the
convention didn’t see it this way,
for they turned down this execu-
tive recommendation. Instead we
are going to bargain for a day
rate for fallers. I sure hope that
the fallers give this idea their
full support this year.

Brothers Frank Howard and
Fred Fieber were returned, by
acclamation, to the posts of presi-
dent and secretary-treasurer ri
spectively. This is election year
in the Loggers’ Local and quite
a number of the offices are con-
tested.

Guess we'll be getting a ballot
in the camps about March some
time, I believe that we got to
keep an eye on these officers of
ours, and one of the best ways
that we can do this is to get out
and vote.

About The Ball

Went to the Loggers’ Brawl
(excuse me, it’s Ball. isn’t it?)
Had a good time, too. Saw our
District President Joe Morris
there with his wife. Last time
that I saw Joe he was a bit thin-
ner. 0 well, these Union jobs are
supposed to be easy, and I guess
a guy gets fat on it, (I happen
to know that Joe does a lot of
hard work for the Union, though,
and I was just kidding.)

Saw Alex Campbell from Ver-
non Lake there and he was sure
giving Joe Morris an earful.

“LOTS GOING ON”

BY THE CAMP INSPECTOR

There was sure lots going on during the Christmas
shut-down this year. It was a swell time to see most of the
boys in town. Hope they get out to work pretty soon. If

That’s one thing about Joe, he
wants to hear if anything is
wrong in the Union and he
doesn’t care who tells him.

Went down to the Fraser River
where the Loggers’ Local are
building a new boat, to be called
“Green Gold”. Actually, Harvey
Heard, skipper of the~ Loggers’
Navy is building the new boat.
Any time that I was down there
he looked as if he knew what he
was doing, too. Bob Ross is down
there pounding nails, too (Won-
der if the Boat Builders’ Union
know about this?.)

What a Gimmick!

I heard, by the grapevine, that
Columbia’ Cellulose in Terrace
have dreamed up a new scheme
for paying fallers. Someone,
probably with a crystal ball, goes
out and guesses how much tim-
ber there is on a quarter. The
boys are then paid on this guess.
Not paid at so much a thousand,
though, but at so much for the
area,

This means nothing else than
a cut in pay for the fallers. I
sure hope that they don’t let the
company get away with this one.

The government’s increase in
liquor prices didn’t have much ef-
fect on how much was bought.
In fact, I paid a little bit of the
province’s top-heavy taxes my-
self.

Don’t know which camp T’ll
head out first this year. I hear
that the Charlottes are going to
open up about the end of Janu-
ary. That’s a bad place to go to
though, for a guy can get canned
for just living up there. Most of
the boys who are fired, are fired
before they have their 30 days i
This means no grievance proc
dure for them. Too bad.

Say, before I forget it, some of
the companies have got another
gimmick out to gyp us out of our
fare allowance. Instead of laying
a person off, they take the liberty
of firing a person. Sure wish
more of the loggers would take
these firings up with the Union.

this week.
“ M.. J. Coldwell, CCF Leader,
proposed that Parliament amend
the British North America Act
to provide a Bill of Rights for
Canadians. The bill would be a
written guarantee of such funda-
mental rights as freedom of
speech, the press, religion and
lawful assembly.

An amendment to the Indus-
trial Relations and Disputes In-
vestigation Act, which would

Alex B. Macdonald

Barrister & Solicitor
Notary Public

751 Granville Street
VANCOUVER, B.C.

Telephone TAtlow 6641

SOLICITOR TO THE |. W. A.

LABOR BILLS INTRODUCED

OTTAWA (CPA)—Several bills and resolutions of in-
terest to labor were introduced in the House of Commons

provide for the continuation in
effect of the terms of a collective
agreement despite a change in
ownership of the company con-
cerned, was proposed by Ellen
Fairclough (PC Hamilton West).

Merv Johnson (CCF Kinders-
ley) proposed an amendment to
the Unemployment Insurance Act
so as to provide coverage for
agricultural workers.

Roy Knight (CCF Saskatoon)
asked for government action to
relieve the financial crisis in edu-
cation, and Stanley Knowles
(CCF Winnipeg North Centre)
proposed an amendment to the
Income Tax Act which would re-
move the 3% floor relating to de~
ductibility of medical expenses
for income tax purposes.

Mr. Knowles had previously
introduced three bills providing
for annual vacations with pay;
pay for statutory holidays and
for work performed on statutory
holidays, and voluntary revocable
check-off.,

and Issue, January
pHa Ee ees

Attempt to gain certification
for a company union in the op-
eration of the Fort St. John
Lumber Co. Ltd. in lieu of

- TWA bargaining rights was re-
cently defeated by Local 1-424,
IWA,

The issue was successfully
contested by the Local Union of-
ficials in a hearing before the
Labour Relations Board. The ap-
plication made on behalf of the
company union was rejected.

Jacob Holst, Local 1-424, xep-
resented the Civic Employees
Federal Union recently on an Ar-
bitration Board which gave a-
majority decision reinstating two
civic employees who had been
dismissed unfairly.

The two men had refused to
work with their foreman on the
grounds that his actions were un-
safe, They had endeavored to pro-
cess the grievance under the con-
tract, but had been denied a
proper opportunity to do so.

The majority of the Board
found, Jacob Holst assenting,
that although the men had acted
in an insubordinate manner; their
grievance had not been properly.
investigated. Because of this in-
attention to the grievance regard-
ing the employees’ safety, the
majority of the Board ordered
their reinstatement, without pay
for the time lost due to the dis-
pute.

Skeena
Chooses
Howard

KITIMAT, B.C. — Frank
Howard, former MLA, was
nominated as CCF Feedral
candidate for the Skeena rid-
ing, here at a representative
convention, Jan. 20. Ernie Rod-
da, Carpenters’ Union Business
Agent, and John McNiven,
Kitimat Local Union president,
were also nominated. Mr. Mc-
Niven declined and the contest
was between Rodda and How-
ard,

Kitimat’s Reeve. Wilbur Hall-
man, in welcoming the delegates,
paid tribute to the late Ernie
Winch in his welcoming address.
The delegates stood in silence for
one minute in memory of the
elder Winch.

Mayor George Hills of Prince
Rupert gave the keynote address
to the convention and set the
theme for the coming Federal
campaign.

Howard, in his acceptance
speech, said that he accepted the
nomination with humility and ap-
preciation. “We have no need or
desire to conduct this campaign
on any other basis but sincerity
and honesty. I look toward a
elean campaign with a minimum
of animosity. The record of the
Federal Liberal Government is
sufficiently well known by the
public to warrant their rejection
by the voters on election day.”

The COF’ers established a $5,-
000.00 campaign fund with the

money to be raised within the
next four or five months.

A small porcupine was taking
a morning walk. Suddenly he
stepped back into a cactus plant
and asked: “Is that you, Ma?”

e *& #

There’s really only one thing
wrong with the younger genera-
tion—A lot of us don’t belong to
it anymore.

i