B.C. LUMBER WORKER

Ist Issue, January

_ The Prospects
suggested by the LWA District Secretary-

Ss
AA tressrer in a recent radio address, dis-
cussion by the members of the Local Unions
of problems facing the approaching District Con-
vention is the best possible preparation for suc-
cessful deliberations.

Even more important was the advice that the
Union’s planning should be undertaken by the
membership with a confidence not to be dismayed
by disturbing factors in the existing economic
situation. Honest fact-finding is the best possible
prelude to honest policy-making in the best inter-
ests of the membership as a whole. A positive,
rather than a negative, approach, must be taken.

Although present unemployment is serious, it
is not of such a nature that it should be used by
the employers to beat down the legitimate de-
mands of the Union.

In 1957, employment hit a peak, even though
later in the year the threat of growing unemploy-
ment was the worst since the thirties. During the
year, the gross national product, the sum total
i what the nation produces, reached a record
evel.

The gross national product is levelling off, but
has not seriously declined. All predictions point
to a that it will be as good in 1958 as it was
in 1957.

There is one point to watch. It should be at
least five per cent better in 1958 than in 1957 to
fully absorb the jobless. The Canadian popula-
tion, due to immigration and a high birth rate,
has increased to a figure in excess of 16 million.

The Gordon Commission, which made a com-
prehensive survey of Canada’s economic pros-
pects, stated that early this year Canada would
start on another boom period stretching the pres-
ent gross national product of $30 billion to $76
billion in the next two decades.

Our economy is, of course, tied in closely with
that of the United States. It is said: ‘“When a

cool breeze blows from south of the border,
Canada starts to sneeze.”

American economists are now predicting that
the recent business set-back in that country will
not now be severe. Hopeful signs affecting the
B.C. lumber industry are: a marked improve-
ment in the construction industry, and an ex-

pected stimulus to business from increased
defense spending.

Americans are advised: ‘‘As long as people are
able to spend heavily for services and in stores,

production can be expected to recover before a
genuine depression develops.”’

A positive approach requires that the Union
should continue to deny that increased wages
have caused the alleged inflation. Actually, the
chief factor has been the slow-down of invest-
ment capital, mainly derived from the United
States. This high rate of investment (1.2 billion
in B.C. during 1957) increased our imports and
the unfavorable balance of trade with the U.S.
Investors grew more cautious when a threat of
recession appeared in the United States, and
over-capacity began showing up in Canadian
industry.

"All that has happened is that our capacity to
_ produce has temporarily over-reached our ca-
pacity to buy. The most effective way to increase
r total capacity to buy is to distribute greater
sing power to the workers in the form of
ved wage and contract standards,

A combined political and economic offensive
against the trade unions on the part of the organ-
ized employers may be expected this year. This
has been openly stated in many of the leading
organs of management. They say “‘this is the
year we must take on the unions, even though it
may involve widespread industrial warfare.”
The employers reason that if the Unions’ de-
mands stand in the way of greater profits, the
unions must be shackled.

IWA members must take pride that their
Union is better prepared than ever before to deal
with these problems. No stone is being left un-
turned in the present consideration of structural
change to bring the Union’s strength to the high-
est possible pitch of efficiency.

The Union’s course is now being charted
between the dangers of weak-kneed despair, and
a too-buoyant optimism. In this course there is
every reason for confidence that further progress
is in the offing.

BRITISH HONDURAS MILL shown here has a daily output of 8,000) f.b.m,
a day, with a crew of 28 employees. The mill workers toil nine hours a

day, 45 hours a week at the base rate of 35c per hour.
—Photo by Jim Bury, Assistant Secretary of O.R.I.T.

CLEAN-UP
INTERVAL
REFUSED

Reports now available regard-

ing actions taken by the AFL-
CIO convention to ‘clean house’
reveal that the Bakery and Con-
fectionery Workers Union was
expelled only after President
James G. Cross refused point-
blank to agree to clean-up direc-
tives with a three-month inter-
yal allowed for compliance.

A new charter has been issued
to the American Bakery and Con-
fectionery Workers International
Union. This was formed by more
than 250 anti-Cross delegates from
more than 100 locals with about
55,000 members, These delegates
attended a “loyalty” conference on
the call of the Committee to Pre-
serve Integrity in the Bakery
Workers’ Union.

The vote to expel the former
Bakery Workers Union was heated
and resulted in a vote of 11,003,835
for expulsion; against, 1,608,695.

Remarkable Defence

Speaking of the defence of-
fered by President Cross before
the convention, President Meany
said, “You have heard a remark-
able talk from Cross. But I can
tell you frankly that this union
is in a bad way if he continues
to run its affairs, whether from
one of his two homes in Palm
Beach, or from his other man-
sion, in conjunction with the
employers’ association -or with
(former Vice-president) George
Stuart or others of that ilk...

fs ++ + the AFL-CIO was
organized to make it an in-
strument to serve the workers
not to build up the personal af-
fluence of an individual or to
make him a “big shot” in the
community ... This is a work-
ers’ organization, and I don’t
know anything else about this
business. Let’s keep it that way.”

One of the best marksmen in the
FBI was passing through a small
town and everywhere he saw evi-
dence of amazing shooting. On
trees, on walls, on fences and on
barns were countless targets with
a bullet hole in the exact centre of
the bullseye. So the FBI man
sought out the person responsible

for this great marksmanship.

“This is the most wonderful New Westminster
shooting I have ever seen,” the
FBI man said. “How in thé world

did you do it?”

“Rasy as pie,” replied the marks- (
man. “I shoot first and draw the}
circle afterwards.”

CREDIT UNION DIRECTORY

IWA Credit Unions and other Credit Unions
supported by IWA Local Unions in B.C.

Alberni District Credit Union, 209 Argyle Street, Port Alberni
IWA 1-217 Sayings, Broadway & Quebec Streets, Vancouver 10
IWA (N.W.) Credit Union, Room 21, 774 Columbia Street,

Local 1-118, IWA (Victoria), 904 Gordon Street, Victoria
Chemainus & District Credit Union, Box 299, Chemainus
Courtenay Credit Union, Box 952 Courtenay

Duncan & District Credit Union, Box 1717, Duncan

Prince George & District, 1046 - 4th Avenue, Prince George