5} 2nd Issue, March B.C. LUMBER WORKER From Page 1 “Negotiations” such matters. “It is because we recognize the Union’s responsibilities that we will press for the ten per cent wage increase. Our first respon- sibility is to the workers in the industry, who have suffered a loss in the reduced value of the wage dollar due to steadily rising living costs. “This Union has a respon- sibility to negotiate wages for lumber workers that are on a par with those paid for compar- able work in other industries in the province. “We remind our critics that a large percentage of those work- ers in B.C, who negotiated long term contracts last year, are this year enjoying automatic in- creases equal to or greater than that now demanded by the IWA. These increases to be given in 1958 affect almost 50% of the working force of B.C. and range from 7 to 17 cents an hour. “We heard the same argu- ments on the part of the em- ployers during the last recession in 1954. Total wages and salaries in that year went up almost 3.2 per cent, with fringe benefits as well. The results have been recorded by our economists. Organized labour’s negotiation of higher wage standards in that year brought an expansion of business activity that ended the threatened recession. Business profits rose in the following year, after taxes, by 30%. “This year we have still more urgent reasons for demanding a wage increase as we consider our responsibility to the public. Wage increases are the contri bution the employers must make to meet the present unemploy- ment crisis. Wage increases will do more than anything else to reverse present trends and set us on the path to economic pro- gress again.” From Page 1 “Economic Aims” 10. Amendment of the Article dealing with Arbitration to provide for the following: The appointment of a new per- manent Arbitrator for the set- tlement of disputes relating to interpretations of the Agree- ment. The appointment of a per- manent Arbitrator to deal with disputes relating to unfair dis- missals or failure to re-hire under the agreement. To provide that arbitration shall be a required stage of the (a) (b) (©) grievance procedure, Provision that the petitioning party shall have the right to state the terms of the question before the Arbitration Board. 11, Amendment to the Article dealing with wages to elimi- nate the sub-standard wage rates for females. Amendment to the Article dealing with seniority to pro- vide for Union supervision in hiring halls to ensure obser- vance of the contract pro- visions. (@) 12. Price Index Rises IWA Research Department reports that Canada’s consumer price index advanced 0.2 percent from 123.4 to a new record high of 123.7 between January and February 1958, according to the Dominion Bureau of Statistics. The following table has the 1949= 100: Total Index Food Feb, 1958 ... 123.7 119.9 Jan, 1958 123.4 119.4 Feb. 1957 120.5, 117.2 1 Other Household Commodities Shelter Clothing. Operation & Services 136.9 1088 120.8 129.5 136.6 1088 120.8 129.1 133.8 107.4 1191 123.8 More Starts Reported OTTAWA (CPA)—Starts on the construction of new Canadian homes rose in January 1958 to 4,521 units from 1,931 for the same month last year, according to advance figures released by the Dominion Bureau of Statistics. Completions, however, were down to 10,172 units compared with 10,249 in 1957. Units in various stages of construction climbed 12 percent to 67,714 units from the year- earlier total of 60.504. WATSONS * GLOVES « Union Made for Union Trade Insist on WATSON’S LEATHER GLOVES THE ONLY LEATHER WORK GLOVES UNION MADE IN B.C. JOHN WATSON LTD. 127 EAST 2nd AVE. VANCOUVER, B.C. Eddie Defends Rights Trade union opposition to all forms of compulsory arbitra- tion as a substitute for strike action was placed before the Provincial Legislature by Rae Eddie, M.L.A., Local 1-357, during the course of the Budget Debate. He challenged the position taken earlier in the debate by Labour Minister Wicks. He pointedly asked the Minister if in his refer- ences to conditions behind the Iron Curtain, and industrial war- fare in the Western world, he was threatening B.C. workers to e good” or be subjected to ight to work” laws. Strike Weapon Essential Compulsory arbitration as en- visaged by the employers, he ex- plained, would compel the workers to give up their right to strike, the right to bargain collectively with freedom, and to withdraw their labour when facing unfair working conditions. He suggested that it would be a first step toward the destruction of the free trade union movement. He told the House that the invari- able preliminary to the establish- ment of every regime of dictator- ship had been the elimination of free trade unions, He suggested that large corpor- ations, such as MacMillan and Bloedel, would not be prepared to open their books for purposes of compulsory arbitration. The recording secretary of Lo- cal 1-357 further added that there are many comments abroad to the effect that unions are not respon- sible organizations and that they must, because of the power they have attained, accept more respon- sibility. The people using these argu- ments are basing their remarks on the fact that there are some rogues in the labour union movement and the member admitted that there are some members in the trade union movement who are not as- sisting in any way to ensure a good reputation for trade unions. Labour No Different In this respect; trade unions are no different to any other group or profession. He used the Canadian Banking system as an example, pointing out that often one reads of accountants, clerks, and even bank managers who have ab- sconded with some of the firm’s money but we do not condemn the whole banking system because of that. On the other hand, there were people who were loath to con- demn the whole labour movement because of a few individuals.” Wages Take Slump Latest information released by the IWA Research Depart- ment reveals that industrial employment, payrolls and ay- erage weekly wages and sal- aries were all slumping at the beginning of January 1958, ac- cording to the Dominion Bur- eau of Statistics. On the base 1949—100, the employment in- dex fell 4 percent to 117.6 from 122.5 between December 1 and January 1. The payrolls index declined 7.6 percent to 183.1 from 198.2 a month earlier. Weekly wages and salaries averaged $66.63, down 3.8 percent from $69.24 a month earlier, From Page 1 “Federation” outlining clearly the crisis which would face Canada this winter. of the Federation, they had a responsibility to stay in office, and with the support of the other political parties — which was pledged to them — introduce legislation to correct this serious situation, Rather than face up to this issue they deemed it politi- cally expedient to call an elec- tion, and hope in the confusion to again get elected to office without accepting any respon- sibility for the unemployment picture. It is obvious that Social Credit Government in British Columbia has also made a complete failure with regard to this issue. Although the labour force in British Colum- bia is roughly 1/12 of the labour force of Canada, we have approxi- mately 1/8 of the unemployment. It was the decision of the Politi cal Education Workshop, held in Victoria on Sunday, February 16, 1958, that the Federation should prepare for distribution a leaflet on the election issue. 10,000 copies have been prepared, one of which is enclosed for your information. These leaflets will be distributed to campaign committee rooms and labour councils throughout the province. Should your Jocal union wish additional copies, they can be obtained through the Federation Office at a cost of $185.00 per 10,000 copies. Comparable prices for lesser amounts. The Federation requests each local union to actively work with the focal C.C.F. Constituency As- sociations. A copy of the Candi- dates and the Campaign Managers is enclosed. It is suggested this information be conveyed to your members, ee, Your membership can assist in the following manner: By canvassing neighbours. Telephoning friends. Distributing literature. . Assisting in’ putting up signs. 5. Helping on Election Day. 6. Giving a financial donation. In addition we suggest your local union give serious considera- tion to a direct financial donation to the local C.C.F. Constituency. Should the trade union moye- ment fail to serve warning now to the political parties in Canada-that we are in deadly earnest with re- gard to the unemployment situa- tion, then we can expect to drift aimlessly to an even greater crisis than the one now facing us. We suggest most forcibly that we can best serve this warning by actively working for the political party which warrants the support of organized labour in British Co- lumbia, namely the C.C.F. Trusting for your fullest co- operation, we remain, Fraternally yours, W. M. Black, President. Peis G, Home, Secretary-Treasurer From Page 1 “Legislative Aims” eight statutory holidays. 10. Prohibition of injunctions in Labour disputes. 11, A comprehensive _ national social security system, with adequate benefits, covering un- employment insurance, family allowances, old age pensions at ‘65 for men and women with- out means test, industrial pen- sions, health insurance with sickness cash benefits, mothers’ and widows’ allow- ance, 12. A Dominion-Provincial public assistance system to cover those not covered by social insurance. 13. Public ownership of public utilities. Nationalization of banking and credit. 15. Maintenance of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation to control all radio and television and to operate the main sta- tions and all the networks, Adequate representation for Labour on all Government Boards and Commissions deal- ing with Labour’s interests, and Labour representation on the Boards of all public enter- prises. 17. Full support for producers’ and consumers’ co-operatives and credit unions, 18. Taxation based on ability to to pay; higher taxes on big incomes, higher exemptions for small incomes, higher cor- poration taxes and succession duties, abolition of the sales tax. 19, Full support of co-operative, limited-dividend and subsidiz- ed low-rental housing; “low down payments, low interest rates and long amortization for owned houses; slum clearance. 20. Planned immigration for full employment and a higher stan- dard of living with an Im- migration Advisory Commit- tee or representatives of Lab- our, management, welfare and Government to keep the Im- migration Act, regulations, policy and administration un- der constant review and re- 14. 16. commend necessary changes. 21. Conservation and development of natural resources for the benefit of the people, with the fullest possible processing of raw materials in Canada. 22, Maximum international trade, with proper protection for Ca- nadian living standards, National control of air trans- portation and all forms of long-haul land transportation; reservation of coastal and in- tercoastal trade for Canadian vessels, Canadian built; an ad- dequate merchant fleet. Abolition of all non-elected legislative bodies; universal suffrage in national, provincial and municipal elections; re- presentation by population, to end the present under-repre- sentation of urban workers; advance polls for those unable to be home on election day; voting facilities for the sick and disabled. ’ 25. Amendment to the British North America Act to add to the Constitution a Bill of Rights prohibiting discrimina- tion on grounds of race, colour or creed, and guaranteeing of speech, freedom of the press and other means of com- munication, freedom of as- sembly, freedom of association and organization, freedom from arbitrary arrest, and other civil liberties. Free compulsory education, with full provincial autonomy, but with national aid for all grades from primary school to university, and a system of national scholarships and bur- saries. 27. Full support of the United Na- tions, the International Labour Organization, the World Heal- th Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization and similar international bodies, and for the Colombo Plan, UN. Technical Assistance, a Special United Nations Fund for World Economic Develop- ment and similar efforts to raise living standards and pre- serve and strengthen peace, 23. 24, 26.