ee B.C. LUMBER WORKER Ist Issue, March “Wages Cannot tag ‘Behind Production” In a searching analysis of the economic position of the] 7 B.C. lumber industry, International Research Director, Ed Kenney, openéd the recent District Convention discussion on ntract demands, and after pointing to all the “uncertain- ties” suggested continued emphasis_on the expansion -of wage income for those employed to enlarge consumption, < production, and jobs. © Some of the basié considerations are, he stated: i “Our objectives must he to help restore and maintain full employ- ment and full production, and to mect our imperative domestic and international needs. Any philoso- phy that says that our public needs can be met only at the ex- pense of adequate progress.in real wages and living standards is morally wrong and economically unrealistic, “Wages cannot lag behind pro- duction, behind profits, behind prices and still have us maintain an economy of full employment, increased purchasing power and expanded markets. Because. the lag in wages and consumption is at the core of our economic dif- ficulties our restorative effort must commence at this core. he initial major emphasis in the private sectors of our.economy should be upon expanding the wage and salary rates of those al- ready employed, thus enlarging consumption, production and. jobs. “Many of our key industries, which exercise leadership and exert a profound effect upon the whole economy, still have very ample resources to act promptly and vigorously in this regard. In many cases, no sacrifice of an adequate level of profits, even in the short run, would result from a combination of pay increases and price reductions reasonably com- bined to achieve more real. pur- chasing power. Increases Modest “Unions have brought about gains in wages, salaries and fringe benefit gaining, which has been helpfal to bolstering family incomes and con- through collective bar- sumer buying “power. Improve- ments in real wages and salaries, in recent years, have been rather modest. Despite the organized at- tack on these gains as “being in- flationary”, there is no evidence that ,the improvement in real wages and salaries has been ex- cessive. The gains made by. or- ganized operations have tended to spread to unorganized © working people—thus helping to strength- en the economy's mass consump- tion base. The decline in. real earnings for many groups of wage and salary earners in 1957 (as a result of less hours of work) is an indication of ethe, need for significant wage and salary gains’ in the period ahead. Economic Expansion “The tight-money policy, that restricts the activities of most économie groups and curbs the growth of the national economy, should be replaced by government policies to encourage economic ex- pansion, “Economic expansion is needed for continuing improvements in the living conditions of a growing population. It is essential to pro- vide-a sound base for defense and international policies: “Improvements in wages, salar- sand fringe benefits are’ re- quired to strengthen the econo- my’s mass consumption. base and |’ to provide wage and ‘salary earn- ers with an equitable share of the fruits of industrial progress.” Institute Meets March 23 Eighth Annual Labour Institute on Race Relations will be held in the-Central Branch of the Y.M.C.A., Sunday, March 23, under - the joint sponsorship of the Vancouver and District Labour Council and the B.C, Federation of Labour. Arrangements for the Institute will be in charge of the Van- couver Labour Committee For Human Rights. Before You Buy... Investigate the Features of the Reming Exclusive Distributors TIMBERMAN Telephone TA 2435 900 Pacific St. Publication date of the next issue of the B.C, LUMBER WORKER is Merch 20th, Deadline for ad copy is March 13th and for news copy March 14th, a LOGMASTER CHAIN SAWS if EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES LTD. Vancouver. 1, B.C, “ LABOUR OFFICIALS who participated at the presentation of the B.C. Federation of Labour's brief on unem- ployment to the Standing Committee on Labour, February 17th, in Victoria, are shown here MLA for Fernie. Group are from left, IWA District President, Joe Morris; B.C. Federation President, Bill Black; .Tom Uphill; Pat O’Neal, 3rd Vice-President, B.C. Federation of Labour. ‘h Tom Up! Local 1-252 New Certification Bargaining rights for the em- ployees of the Fleetwood Door (1955) Ltd., Vancouver, have been granted Local 1-252, IWA, by the Labour Relations Board, the Local Union reports. Prior to the start of negotiations with the Company, the Local will send their Vice-president, Percy Reid, to survey the operation for Wins classification purposes, Dues Increase The Local also reports that the tabulation of the referendum bal- lot put out to their membership seeking a 75c increase in dues, shows a clear majority in favour of the move. The increase took effect on the Local's February check-off. NOTICE Will anyone knowing the present whereabouts of Dmi- tro Kotanchyk please contact Dane Bogush, 440 Queen St. W., Toronto, Ontario, or the IWA District Office, 45 Kingsway, Vancouver, B.C. February. 3rd to 8th, in Vancouver. DELEGATES representing Local 1-417, !WA, Salmon Co Arm, at the 21st Annual Dist KEEP YOUR = MONEY SAFE... when you’re travelling ! 2 AC Lowsent!Worwen Representing the Orgarized Loggers ond Mill Workers of B.C. PUBLISHED TWICE MONTHLY ON THE FIRST AND THIRD THURSDAYS BY. International Woodworkers of America (CIO-CCL) District Council No. 1 DISTRICT OFFICERS: . Joe Morris —~- JO6 Madden meer 2 i er Sceratarpatvonsurer re George H. Mitchell fational Be President ... Ast Vice-President .. 2nd Vice-President International Board item ‘Walter Fr, Allen ‘Address all communications to _ GEORGE H, MITCHELL, Secretary-Treasurer 45 Kingsway - Dickens 6261-2 Vantouver, B.C. Subseriptio: Siaeewnus$2.00 per annum be ‘averting Representative 0. A. pence thorized as Second Clase Mail, Post Office Dept., Ottawa 27,500 COPIES PRINTED IN THIS ISSUE Traveller’s cheques protect you against loss of your money while travelling. Negotiable anywhere. : You can obtain Traveller’s Cheques at our nearest branch — - we have more than 700 to serve you, ‘ THE CANADIAN BANK OF COMMERCE 100 Branches In British Columbia NW-126