LUMBER WORKE R Ist Issue, January “GIFTS” from political and business interests to newspaper reporters have been vigorously condemned by organized newspaper- men in Quebec. A proper schedule of salaries was urged instead. Formerly, reporters who needed a raise were shifted to “beats” where the “take” was higher. * * * SIMPSON-SEARS, TORONTO, is the immediate objective of the new organizing drive of the Teamsters’ Union in Canada. Earlier, plans were announced to organize into the Teamsters’ Union all truckers and dock workers along the St. Lawrence Seaway. Heading the drive in Canada is Casey Dodds. President Hoffa’s plan to or- Banize the New York police force has been abandoned under public Pressure, : * * * NEWSPAPER STRIKE in New York ended when the publish- ers finally agreed to pay wage increases of $7.00 a week, (over two years) in a “package” which will provide an additional paid holiday. * * * THREE MILLION WORKERS in the United States are as- sured of pay hikes in 1959. These increases range from 5 cents an hour to 13 cents an hour with an average of ten cents an hour. An- other 4,000,000 workers are assured of increases under “escalator” clauses, if the costs of living continue to soar. * * * BEST YEAR ON RECORD was the description given by Sec- retary James P. Mitchell to 1958, when he referred to the possibilities of industrial peace. The 3,440 strikes for the nation was lower than eny other post-war year except 1957. * * * STRIKE BENEFITS are not taxable as income it was ruled recently by the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago, reversing the ruling of a lower court with regard to a UAW Kohler striker. * * * SUPPLEMENT UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS totalling $36,451,535 have been paid out by 18 large steel firms in the United States during the year ending August 31, 1958 as a result of the SUB provisions in the UAW contract. $14,000,000 remain in trust funds, and another $14,000,000 are held in escrow for Indiana and Ohio workers now eligible for payments. * * * TWO TOP OFFICERS of the Jewelry Workers Union resigned recently, and the AFL-CIO installed a trustee to take charge of the Union's affairs temporarily. This effects 20,000 members and occurs as a result of an investigation ordered under the Ethical Practices Code of the AFL-CIO, * * * REBEL LEADER, Donald R. Rarick, leader of a “dues protest” Group in the United Steelworkers has been exonerated of charges of dual unionism. Two other committee members were cleared earlier. * * * _ MONITORS have laid down terms approved by a U.S. Judge, which must now be followed by President Hoffa of the Teamsters. One condition calls for new methods of voting to prevent “rigged” elections. Latest ruling states that President Hoffa is permitted “to proceed with the duties of his office provisionally”. This is a pre- lude to a further investigation by the McClellan Senate Committee. * * * ELEVENTH-HOUR SETTLEMENT recently averted a strike by the UAW in the Canadian Ford plant at Windsor. The new agree- ment provides for three six cent increases in the present $1.87 aver- age rate. It follows closely the contract won by G.M. employees earlier, Baltic Workers’ Representation Farce Workers have such meagre representation on the so-called Factory Productivity Committees in the three Baltic States that it is farcial to pretend labor views are given a fair hearing. Fig- ures speak for themselves, The Riga newspaper! i nounces that out of 70 persons elected to Productivity Commi tees in Latvia's two largest paper factories at Ligatne and Jaun- ciems only two are workers. CUT SAWING COSTS IN HALF! DOUBLE YOUR CHAIN SAW LIFE! ae DAN RADFORD, recently appointed by the Cana sala 6 Si in Labour Congress as the Education Director in B.C., is seen here addressing union staff members at the luncheon held to honour George Home. Group from left, Chris Pat O'Neal, B.C. Federation of Labour Secretary. itchard, W.C.B. Commissioner; Radford; Ed. Sims, 1st Vice-president Vancouver Labour Council; Cuban Revolt Hailed BRUSSELS (CPA) — Over- throw of Cuban dictator Ful- gencio Batista has been wel- comed by the International Con- federation of Free Trade Unions in a statement issued here. The international free trade un- icn movement, “being opposed to all dictatorships, welcomes the downfall of Batista and expresses the fervent hope that the military regime will be succeeded by a truly democratic government based on free elections,” the statement declares. Tribute to Victims Paying tribute to victims of dic- hip and civil war, the U expressed the hope that “there shall be no further blood- ed, and that the people of Cuba will achieve stability in govern- ment and will avoid the use of force in settling Cuba’s political problems.” The ICFTU expressed alarm at rumors that force has been used against the CTC, the Cuban trade union federation. The CTC under Batista “has been able to maintain itself and represent the interests of its mem- bers as well as could be done in the circumstances,” the statement continued, appealing to Cuban unionists to “maintain their unity, to resist the imposition of a sclf- appointed leadership and to insist upon their right to elect their of- ficials in full freedom in accord- ance with democratic procedures.” One day in the summer of 1957, a notice of vacancy in the pipefitter’s helper classification was posted on the bulletin board of a small paper con- verting plant. It seems that journeyman pipe- fitters were occasionally working at less than their top skill and management decided to correct the situation by promoting a qual- ified laborer. Fourteen Bids Fourteen bids were entered. | Management thought that one of the relatively new employees would be best suited and offered him the job. The bidder with top seniority thereupon filed a griev- ance, On reviewing the whole’ situa- tion, the plant manager decided that the safest course would be to continue as they had in the past; he cancelled the notice of vacancy and announced that the pipefit- ter’s helper job wouldn't be filled ar all. Discrimination Charged That solved the seniority griev- ance, but the union filed another, claiming the company had no right to refuse to fill a job after posting it. “It’s just a roundabout way of discriminating against the man with top seniority,” said the shop steward. “You can’t tell us how to fill our manpower needs,” answered the personnel manager. “We have the right to fill job vacancies or leave them unfilled, as, we see fit, as long as we don’t violate the collective bargaining agreement.” Eventually, the case went to ar- bitration under the Rules of the American Arbitration Association, The Award The arbitrator said the right not to fill a particular job was dependent upon strict adherence to |job classification boundaries and |conformity to contractual provi- sions for having pipefitter’s help- er work done, he contract permitted journey- |man_pipefitters to do the work as long as they got the higher rate. This was what had been done in the past and the arbitrator said that in could be continued, | If the company should assign helper’s work to anyone outside |the pipefitter's classification, it would be a breach of the senior- ity and job bidding provisions of the contract. Caution to Readers The award in this case is not an indication of how other arbi- trators might rule in other appar- ently similar cases. Arbitrators do not follow precedents. Each case is decided on the basis of the particular history, contract, testi- mony and other facts involved. BANK B Save time and trouble— =H Y MAIL! + Job “Posting” % Ruling Given When you bank by mail, our nearest branch is as close to you as your nearest post-box. No parking problems! Ask for special deposit forms at our nearest branch—we have more than 700 branches to serve you. THE CANADIAN BANK OF COMMERCE 100 Branches In British Columbia See and Test FILE-N-JOINT at your dealer today! NYGRAN INDUSTRIES LTD. Burnaby, B.C. money-