B.C. LUMBER WORKER

SALUTE!

IN the proceedings of the Second Convention

of the B.C. Federation of Labor was seen the
highest peak of accomplishment for the trade
union movement of British Columbia.

Not only did the reports furnished the con-
vention provide complete vindication of the pro-
vincial merger, but it disclosed as never before
the enormous potential for social and economic
progress which is contained within the workers’
united legislative effort.

In many respects it was a model convention.
In the convention reports it was furnished with
complete information regarding all aspects of
Federation activities. Well-organized committee
work expedited convention decisions. Before
adjournment, every single issue referred to the
gathering had been dealt with. The efficiency
of a workers’ convention may easily bear com-

parison with those of prominent industrialists’

and politicians.

The practical achievements written into the
record are noteworthy.

It defined the outlook of the Federation with
regard to an immediate program of political
education and possible political action in the
future.

It provided a detailed basis for representa-
tions to the Legislature respecting necessary
amendments to the Labor Relations Act and
related statutes.

It outlined those steps required to improve
the benefits of Workmen’s Compensation for
industrial casualties.

It assumed leadership of public opinion in
protest against reckless disposition of the na-
tural resources and advocating the use of such
resources for the public weal.

It re-elected to office the officers whose lead-
ership had launched a successful merger.

The Federation in convention performed a
service for the workers of this province which
is unexcelled by any other similar effort.

WARNING!

‘TRADE union members should be on their

guard against misrepresentation of the de-
cisions recently reached by the B.C. Federation
of Labor regarding political action.

It should not be said that any Union is com-
mitted to the support of any single political
party.

The convention simply informed the workers
of the province that their support of the CCF is
warranted at the present time, if they desire
fulfillment of the legislative aims declared by
the trade union movement.

The rank and file members of affiliated
unions have not lost any freedom to decide
whether they accept this advice or whether they
act upon it in any respect.

The Convention endorsed conclusions pre-
sented by a representative committee which
were not amended. These conclusions make very
clear that trade unions can no longer evade con-
sideration of direct political action through
some agency in self-defence,

The convention concluded significantly that
the administrative machinery maintained by
any trade union to better wages and working
conditions should not be burdened with political
activities.

The general trend was toward the conclusion
that some form of parallel organization to give
expression to the workers’ political needs would
be essential, now or later.

Rash conclusions about the import of the
debate should be avoided. Trade unionists who
are genuinely interested should study the re-
port in its entirety.

A JOB

WELL DONE

They will then discover that no attempt has
been made to impose a political action program
on the membership from above. The door has
been opened a little wider for the membership
to take such political action as they may deem

workers.

advisable in their own interests.

The facts will convince them that such action
must be taken collectively for the collective
protection of the economic well-being of the

Comprehensive report on the
international situation as
viewed by organized labor was
submitted by the Standing
Committee on International Af-
fairs, Stuart M. Hodgson,
Chairman, at the recent con-
vention of the B,C, Federation
of Labor.

All affiliates of the Federa-
tion were urged to undertake
payment of 1 cent per month
per member- for the activities
of the ICFTU. The Canadian
Labor Congress was urged to
recommend the appointment of
President Claude Jodoin as a
full member of the Canadian
delegation to the U.N.

Resolutions introduced by the
Committee and which were ap-
proved by the convention, re-
affirmed the Federation endorsa-
tion of the UN; urged inter-
national control of nuclear weap-
ons; and called for recognition
of Communist China.

Following its review of devel-
opments in the Canadian trade
union movement relating to for-
eign policy, and the work of the
ICFTU, the Committee drew the
attention of the delegates to a
number of matters as follows:

“The unanimous findings of
the Committee appointed by the
United Nations General Assem-
bly consisting of representatives
of Australia, Denmark, Tunisia,
Ceylon and Uraguay, were up-
held by the General Assembly.

The Committees findings were:

1, Russia violated the. UN
Charter by depriving the Hun-
garian péople of their political
independence.

2. The present Hungarian re-
gime was imposed by armed
Soviet intervention,

8. Russia has carried out mass
deportations of Hungarian citi-
zens.

4. The present regime in Hun-
gary has violated human rights
guaranteed by the peace-treaty
with Hungary,

This was the verdict of Man-
kind’s conscience as expressed
through the U.N.

The 5th World Congress of the

SUPPORT FOR ICFTU
URGED BY FEDERATION

adopted a recommendation to the
effect that the ICFTU and its
affiliates should give full atten-
tion to the November 4th first
anniversary of the Hungarian
Revolution, and that it would be
appropriate on that occasion to
compare it with the Bolshevik
Revolution of 40 years ago which
has, in the course of time, de-
veloped into a most vicious and
cruel dictatorship.

International Solidarity Day
will be inaugurated in Brussels
on November 4 at a mass-meet-
ing to be held that evening which
will be attended by the ICFTU
Executive Board,

Today we find the world is still
in a serious state. Tensions in
the middle east have increased
and a threat of a third world war
is indeed always a possibility.

The Committee is convinced
that Labor must step up its role
in the International field. We
note that George Meany, Presi-
dent of the AFL-CIO has been
appointed a full member of the
United States Delegation to the
United Nations General Assem-
bly. He is the first American
trade union leader to be so hon-
ored.

We would point out that Can-
ada should follow this example,
and appoint our top officer as a
member of the Canadian Delega-
tion.

The future of the world lies
in the hands of the people; if
they are organized and satisfied
the chances of a war become
remote.”

Two Weeks
Refused

OTTAWA (CPA) — The
Tory Government has refused
to support a bill for two weeks
paid holidays after one year's
service to all workers under
federal jurisdiction, introduced

into the Commons again by de-

puty CCF leader Stanley H.
Knowles (Winnipeg North
Centre).

The Parilamentary Assistant
to the Minister of Labor, Arthur
Maloney, rejected Mr. Knowles’
proposed legislation because he
said the government has a simi-
lar bill on the order paper.

Government Bill
The government bill, however,

proposes one weeks holidays with

pay after one year, and two
weeks after two years.

Finance Minister Fleming in an
earlier attempt to quash the
CCF measure, tried to get the
Speaker to rule that debate on
Mr. Knowles’ bill was out of
order because the government’s
draft should receive precedence,
but Speaker Michener ruled Mr.
Fleming out of order instead.

Shelve Bill

The Tories, however, did man-
age to shelve Mr. Knowles’ bill
by adjourning debate on it at the
end of the Tuesday hour for pri-
vate members’ legislation, The
bill now goes to the bottom of the

order paper and will probably
not come up again this session.

S
5
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£
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ICFTU recently held in Tunisia

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