Ist Issue, January AWWA AA AN NY \ psy B.C. LUMBER WORKER Guest Editorial © After Three Years I N its first three years the AFL-CIO has suc- cessfully weathered a major political assault on the trade union movement, a severe economic recession and the internal stresses of a newly merged organization. As it begins its fourth year, the united labor movement stands as a tribute to the determina- tion of millions of organized workers that labor shall speak with a clear, strong voice in the coun- cils of the nation. When the historic merger of the AFL and CIO was consumated in December 1955 it was frankly acknowledged that merger of itself had not solved the many problems that had divided the AFL and CIO. The architects of merger agreed that these problems would be solved with fairness and justice over a period of time within the structure of the united trade union move- ment. Considerable progress has been made in evolving solutions to many of these problems; tremendous strides have been taken in meeting head-on the forces of corruption and in cleaning them out of the trade union movement. To the viewers-with-alarm and to labor’s forthright enemies who grasp eagerly for every sign of internal controversy, the third birthday of the AFL-CIO must come as something of a “Sorry — No Jobs — “I’m sorry, but you do not have enough stamps to qual- the destitute. Don’t set your hopes too high for you will be disappointed. There is every in- dication that you will remain un- employed for some time to come. The Government plans very little ify for Unemployment Insurance.” These words have been used by U.LC. officials during the past few months with a greater intensity than ever before. Most times they don’t even bother to say “I’m sorry.” shock. For three years, at almost monthly inter- vals, they have heralded a ‘‘crisis’’ in the move- ment, with each ‘‘crisis’’ advertised as the one that would split the AFL-CIO wide open. To those who used the merger to launch a gigantic attack on the trade union movement, the results of the recent elections and the over- whelming defeat of the “‘right-to-work’’ drive must give this third anniversary a bitter flavor. To those who decided the time was ripe be- cause of mounting unemployment and economic recession to ‘‘put labor in its place,” the steady gains in wages and working conditions over the last three years have spelled defeat. The AFL-CIO has withstood well the chal- lenges of the first three years. As it moves into its fourth year it is ready to pick up the chal- lenge of the future, with its host of new prob- lems, guided by the preamble of its constitution: “At the collective bargaining table, in the community, in the exercise of the rights and re- sponsibilities of citizenship, we shall responsibly serve the interests of all the working people.” . : —AFL-CIO News Bread lines and soup kitchens are becoming a regular part of the life of our working force and the spectre that haunts many who are now working. Fear and Privation Fear and privation, cold, misery and hunger are everyday experi- ences of the unemployed. But they do not get used to them. They are no substitute for work, for a steady income, for bread and butter on the family table. During the 1930’s hungry, dis- illusioned men marched upon Ot- tawa only to be turned back by machine guns at Regina. But then, during the 1930's there was no Unemployment Insurance. Now that we have this “wonder- ful?” dole we should be content to wait for industry to pick itself up. We are told to just be pa- tient and all will be well. Back to Prosperity We are told by the Prime Min- ister that we must spend our money so that we can buy our way back to prosperity. The working men and women of this nation were promised FULL EMPLOYMENT two years ago by the Conservatives. The working men and women took that promise as an honest one and made a bargain with the Conservatives. The working class people kept their part of the bar- gain, but the Government didn’t. Word of Caution Now what are we to expect from Parliament when it opens on January 15th? I would add a word of caution to the unemployed and to help you get out from the mess that Government, in collusion with Bosses, got you into. I know that these are cruel things to say about our Govern- ment, but" the truth hurts as the saying goes, and it is necessary to say them. Not Profitable There are people all over the world who could use our lumber, our pulp, our wheat and all of the other things that we produce in abundance, The reason that they cannot use these things is because it is not profitable for someone to get these materials to these other countries. Industry operates this way; No profit — no work. No work — unemployment. Unemployment — “sorry no profit.” MONTREAL (CPA)—The Ca- nadian Broadcasting Corporation Publication date of the next issue of the B.C. LUMBER WORKER is January 15th. Deadline for ad copy is January 8th and for news copy January 9th. has fired 74 producers striking for union recognition, and has told employees respecting pro- ducers’ picket lines that workers absenting themselves would re- ceive no pay. BC. Lous PUBLISHED TWICH MONTHLY ON THE FIRST AND THIRD THURSDAYS BY International Woodworkers of America (CIO-CCL) District Council No. 1 => e President ......-.-~. Ist Vice-Presiden 2nd Vice-President. rd _Vice-Bresident Secretary-Treasurer International Board Member Address all communications to GEORGE H. MITCHELL, Secretary-Treasurer 45 Kingsway - Dickens 6261-2 DISTRICT OFFICERS: ._ Joe Morris — be madden art M. How nm aaa wits George H. MI ) ‘Walter F, Allen Vancouver, B.C. Subscription Rates_____.$2.00 per annum Advertising Representative....__.G. A. Spencer Authorized as Second Class Mail, Post Office Dept, Ottawa 27,600 COPIES PRINTED IN THIS ISSUD The producers formed a union affiliated with the Canadian and Catholic Confederation of Labor, just before the end of 1958. The CBC has said that the pro- ducers exercise managerial func- tions because they can hire and fire, and thus cannot form a union among themselves. CLC Supported Almost two thousand unionists have refused to cross producers’ picket lines. The men are members of unions affiliated to the Council of Broadcasting Unions. Their position has been supported by the Canadian Labour Congress. Producers have offered to aban- don management rank to gain federal recognition, CBC Producers Picket Station A CBC back-to-work appeal which failed led to the firings and no-pay policies, announced to pro- ducers and the other unionists via personal telegram. Supervisory personnel and management have kept some pro- grams going on radio and tele- vision. French-language programs have been the majority of those cancelled, since most English- language programs are produced in Toronto. Two Greeks were watching their first baseball game. Said one to the other: “This is all American to me.” A plutocrat is a guy who can get a haircut the day before pay- day. A man finds out what is meant by a spitting image the first time he tries to feed cereal to his infant, MGavin's good bread made by UNION Bakers sold by UNION Salesmen Drivers asked for by UNION Customers