~ per man hour have declined, and the output per man hour has steadily * increased. The labour ‘cost entering into a given unit of produétion ’ for the final product. Ls 8 eee B. Cc. LUMBER WORKER . Ist Issue, March — From Page 1 ; Ney 2 “MORRIS" cent wage increase. This month we will enter into the usual bargain- ing processes with the employers, and at all times will adhere to coe legal requirements of the Labour Relations Act. i The Legitimate’ Procedures 4 “We have not spoken of strike action. We will expect our employers to meet us in good faith, and to discuss differences of opinion with the resolve to reach an agreement under which we may both live with reasonable harmony for the next contract period. _ “The editorial writers of the Vancouver Sun may not be familiar with the democratic processes by which such matters are settled on behalf of the IWA. These procedures provide’checks and balances intended to protect the public interest. We must-point out, however, that the Sun in a statement obviously designed to include the LWA, does the Union a grave injustice by pre-judging the outcome of this bargaining process. ' f : i Conciliation vs. Prejudice “The Sun would do the public a service, if it spoke for greater reliance by all parties on conciliation, based on honest fact-finding, rather than to open the door for appeals to prejudice, and accentuate a division of public opinion on the basis of conflicting economic interests, I must say this with all deference to the Sun’s professed interest in the welfare of organized labour, in order to stress the promotion of industrial harmony based onfair and just conditions. “The argument advanced by the Sun’s editorial writers does not hold water, as it applies to the lumber industry, because of one vital omission. No reference was made to the fact that production costs is less in ratio to other factors determining the cost to the consumer, either at home or abroad. Wage Costs Lowered “It is also noteworthy, that after all the employers’ opposition to the wage increase obtained by the IWA in 1957, the wage costs for the same year were actually lower than in 1956, “We must, therefore, ask the Sun, in its role of impartial ad- judicator of industrial relations in the province to give the same consideration to the other factors entering into the price established “The editorial writers of the Sun should by this time uriderstand that trade union members have learned to expect the employers to use these same arguments, in much the same language appearing in the Sun, every time negotiations are mentioned. The employers have cried ‘wolf, wolf’ to their employees in every one of the years they have enjoyed their greatest profits. The fact is that we can no longer believe our employers on-these matters, and have established our own research facilities, and developed our own media for the dissemination of information. 5 Try Honest Fact Finding “Would it be asking too much that the Vancouver Sun make its stand for some really honest fact-finding on.which to base wage settlements, It should be possible to determine whether an in- creased distribution of wage income would be in the public interest. “The Sun’s editorial writers no doubt read their own news- Paper’s reports of the constant rise in prices. This quite naturally, and always, provokes a demand for increased wages. This rise in -price levels, as experienced in recent years, has occurred even though our productive capacity has far out-distanced the ability of the con- sumer to buy; a clear indication that profit-making is now fixing prices, Wages Are Lagging “I refer the Sun to the statement made by the Conference on Economic Progress, Washington D.C., Chairman, Thurman Arnold. The Committee features this statement, ‘As wages 0, so goes the DUNCAN BUSINESS GUIDE LOUTET AGENCIES LTD. ~ INSURANCE AND REAL ESTATE J. Lindsay Loutet Gordon R. Loutet 131 Jubilee St, Lake Cowichan S. Shore Road| HANEY BUSINESS GUIDE “ESQUIRE” MEN’S WEAR (Graham Mowatt) Complete Stock of Work and Dress Clothing “THE STORE WITH THE POPULAR BRANDS’ BRITISH COLUMBIA HANEY PORT ALBERNI BUSINESS GUIDE MacGREGOR’S MEN’S WEAR We Can Afford For Everything A Man Wears. %& WORK, SPORT-or DRESS 4 To Sell The... BEST For LESS! WOODWARD STORES a (PORT ALBERNI) LTD. “YOUR FAMILY SHOPPING CENTRE” Closed Wednesdays All Day - Phone 1600 * Hours: 9 - 5:30 % STANDING COMMITTEE ON LABOUR meeting with labour officials during the presentation of the B.C, Federa- ion of Labour's brief on unemployment, February 17th, in ictoria. Seated at table are the MLA’s on the Committee, while the labour delegates may be seen seated in the background. whole economy; for security and economic strength, we must quickly remedy the wage lag’. “This statement was made with reference to conditions in the United States, where wages are much higher than in Canada and where prices are approximately the same. = “Our Union is not unmindful of the fact that our production is mainly exported. .We also realize that for every 1000 f.b.m. exported our people must be able to buy the goods received in payment. Therefore, the lower our purchasing power, the less able are we to participate effectively over a period of years in profitable export trade. “In this connection we direct the Sun to statements of trade experts indicating that Canada has failed to avail itself of export markets, mainly in Asia, which are now being most profitably de- veloped by the United Kingdom and other Western Powers. Sales Forecast Good “When we examine the report of the Provincial Department of Industrial Development, Victoria, we find it difficult to understand the alarm expressed.by the Sun with regard to the immediate future. The Executive Opinion Survey, recently released, indicates that 84% of our industrialists anticipate an increase in wage rates, and 82% anticipate that prices will remain the same or show an increase. “They agree with us that all the signs point to an increase of living costs, and evidently they consider that the most sensible ad- justment would be to forego expectations of the lush profits enjoyed in previous years. “We deplore the habit of making comparisons with years that recorded unprecedented profits for the investors, and urge that plans for the future be based on the realities of present-day circumstances. 1958 Expansion Ended “In former years, a large portion of surplus earnings was ploughed back into capital expansion, in anticipation of further increased pro- fits. This was done in addition to increased dividend payments. ‘The forecast for the coming year, based on the consensus of opinion among business executives is that the amount required for capital expansion will be less, but that sales will remain close to the present level. In the forest industry, expansion has now been completed to meet all expected market demands of the forseeable future. No Contempt Shown “The men who form the District Policy Committee of the IWA are well aware that the outcome of negotiations conducted by them on behalf of the lumber workers has a vital bearing on the prosperity of the Province. Directly, and indirectly, the -wage pattern to be negotiated affects the livelihood of more than one half of the pro- vince’s population. We are endeavouring to assume our responsibili- ties with due regard to the welfare of all the people affected. For this reason,I say that the Vancouver Sun does our Union’s members a Srave injustice if it attempts to portray these efforts to the public as. being irresponsible, or in contempt of the maximum good for the community.” Local 1-80 ~ Names. Delegates Detailed report on progress made in amending the Interna- tional Constitution was given by District President Joe Morris to the quarterly meeting of Local 1-80, IWA, Feb. 17, in Duncan, District Safety Director John T. Atkinson also.was in attendance and addressed the meeting. Following are the names of dele- gates elected to attend the Special International Convention to be held in Portland; Gilbert Schofield, Stanley Heys, Lorne Atchison, Weldon Jubenville, George Smythe, -Jo- seph Reilly, William Barnum, Stanley Abercrombie, Sarwan Singh, John Colwell, George Zizac, Edwin Linder, and Percy Clements. The following members were elected to represent the Local Union at the 2nd Convention of * the Canadian Congress of Labour which will convene in April in Winnipeg: John Colwell, Robert Bou- chard, Alistair McLeod, Walter Tickson. me After breaking her first pair of glasses, the secretary called her optician and asked: “Will I have to be examined all over again?” “Oh, no,” he replied, “Just your eyes,”* | February 3rd to 8th, in Vancouver, DELEGATES representing Local 1-363, IWA, Courtenay, at the 21st Annual District Convention, |