Ist Issue, January

B.C. LUMBER WORKER

From Page 1

“Interior”

contract, with small increases each
year which in the final result
would not have removed the

grievances of Interior lumber
workers,

“The question of a two-year
contract was never discussed be-
fore the Conciliation Board.

sequently the Union was not

n the opportunity to discuss

tract terms which would pro-
vide for the contingencies usually
considered in a long-term con-
tract.

“I deplore the fact that many
employers have attempted to exert
pressure on employed IWA mem-
bers in the area to influence the
strikers. This attempt failed sig-
nally, but it indicated a greater
desire to uproot the Union than
reach a settlement by negotia-
tion.”

The developments in the North-
ern and Southern Interior areas
were reported upon by represent-
atives from the Local Unions af-
fected, and carefully considered
at recent meetings of the IWA

rict Policy Committee.

eee

Annual Meet Loggers’ Local 1

-71

se

rom Page 1

“Federation”

ible language. In a month-by-
month comparison with the un-
employment figures of the prev-
ious year, it was shown that the
increase of jobless employables
was sixty per cent or more.

It pointed to the additional
“miserable aspect”, that thousands
had exhausted their eligibility to
Unemployment Insurance bene-
fits, Such conditions should not
be tolerated in Canada, the brief
Stated, as “this country is one of
the richest endowed nations in
the world.”

Loggers’ Needs
The position of the B.C. Fed-

eration of Labour on the question

of unemployment was subsequent-
ly supported by District Presi-
dent Joe Morris, who was un-
able to accompany the delegation
to Victoria because of member-
ship conferences in the strike area
of the Southern Interior.

He declared that the urgency of
the situation had not been exag-
gerated in the slightest degree by
the Federation, and coincided with
similar demands originating with-
in the IWA, He re-emphasized
the needs of loggers whose in-
terrupted employment had . not
given them the opportunity to
make sufficient contributions for
continuing benefits.

Church Youth
Scolds Taylor

The Editor:

Over half a million workers wili
be unemployed this winter, The
benefits of a large number have
run out, Many of these men have
wives and children, Hardship and
real want will abound,

Drinters of
The B.C.
LUMBER WORKER

AN QL

LIMITED

PRINTERS AND
LITHOGRAPHERS

Last week the Council of Labor
urged the Federal government to
declare the unemployment situa-
tion a State of National Emer-
gency. Further, it urged the Fed-
eral government to sce that all
unemployed persons continue to.
receive unemployment benefits
“until suitably employed.”

The member for the riding of
Burrard, John Taylor, voted
against this resolution.

This letter is to inform Mr.
Taylor and his friends that we do
not consider this situation a Na-
tional Emergency. On the con-
trary, it is a National Scandal.
It is a great wickedness in the
face of God.

This is one fellowship which is
not satisfied with packaging
crumbs for the unemployed in
bright Christmas wrapping, Our
consciences may be salved by
cushy, wishes and full hampers,
but what about the day after
Christmas. Need doesn’t follow a
calendar,

We are ashamed of your actions,
Mr. Taylor.

We are angered by a society in
which smug, complacent, and mor-
ally insensitive men are the lead-
ers of a so-called Christian. na-
tion.

In the best tradition of the
Christian Church we denounce a
social order which is contrary to
the teachings and spirit of our
Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ,

Yours truly,
Kitsilano United Church
Young People’s Union,

Minister Hears

Loggers

Plight

Officials of Local 1-71, IWA, the Loggers’ Local, have
inade direct representations to the Federal Government with
regard to the plight of unemployed loggers who have now
exhausted their entitlement under the Unemployed Insur-

ance Act.

The statement directed to the
Federal Minister of Labour, the
Hon. Michael Starr, by Financial
Secretary Fred Fieber, stated in
part:

“In the latter part of 1957, there
was a cut back in logging which
resulted in a large number of log-
gers being laid-off in October and
November of 1957. Many of these
persons did not find work until
the late spring months of 1958,
and even then, they were faced
with woods closures that were due
to unustially dry weather at that
time.

“In July and August of 1958,
we experienced unusually dry
weather which resulted in total
closure of logging operations dur-
ing most of these two months.
From September 1, to approx
mately December 15, there was
full employment in the coast log-
ging industry.

“We recognize that the ex-
tended provisions for entitlement
to seasonal benefit will to a large
degree alleviate our problem.
However, there still are a large
number of loggers who will not
qualify for regular insurance or
seasonal benefits.

“We are experiencing a num-
ber of people that are in need of

assistance to carry them over the
normal closure, and we feel
strongly that these persons should
be looked after by some form of
extra assistance,

“I suggest that you immediate-
ly arrange for an investigation to
provide assistance to these desti-
tute persons.

“We 1 at a later date make
a submission to you requesting
changes to Section 45(2) of the
Unemployment Insurance Act, as
we do not feel that the amend-
ment made to this Section a year
ago adequately takes care of our
normal problems.

“Our submission will request a
change from the twenty-four con-
tribution weeks required to twenty
contribution weeks.

“However, we require now that
some form of assistance be pro-
vided so that those persons who
require assistance and do not
presently qualify for benefit, shall
be taken care of in a proper man-
ner. We do not feel that our
membership should be required to
beg on the streets of Vancouver
in order to survive until work is
available.

Fred Fieber, Secretary,
Local 1-71, I.W.A.”

“Crash”

Works

Program Urged

Comprehensive program to combat the present menac-
ing unemployment as outlined by the B.C. Federation of La-
bour Council when before the Provincial Cabinet recently
laid emphasis upon the desirability of a crash program of

public works, to be launched
ation of municipal, provincial

Major aspects of the proposed
program were; declaration of a
State of emergency; appropriation
of an emergent fund of $5,000,000;
and a province-wide conference to
include all interested agencies.

It was proposed that such a
conference should reach agree-
ment on such matters as: (1) the
respective responsibilities of the
Municipal Governments and the
Provincial Governments; (2) a
stepped-up housing program to in-
clude low rental, low-cost hous-
ing; (3) an intensive building
program for educational and hos-
pital purposes; (4) more exten-

immediately with the cooper-
and federal governments.

sive road and bridge building; (5)
more dyke building and flood
control; (6) an improved hydro
development program under pub-
lic auspices; (7) efforts to en-
courage the establishment of sec-
ondary industries in the province;
(8) prohibition of dumping and
importation of foreign subsidized
goods; (9) reduction of the work
week; (10) amendments to the
Unemployment Insurance Act;
(11) better care of the indigent
unemployed; (12) debt morator-
ium for the goods and chattels of

the unemployed,

Sask. Plan
Insurance
Advocated

Organized labour took up the
cudgels for a long-suffering pub-
lic when in its recent presenta-
tion to the Provincial Cabinet
the demand was made for Auto-
mobile Insurance administered
by a Crown Corporation and
with features which afford gen-
uine protection to all the victims
of highway accidents.

It was contended with consider-
able force that an insurance scheme
such as has been successfully
operated in Saskatchewan for a
number of years would provide
the greater protection desired, and
at the same time save the public
millions of dollars,

Automatic Compensation

In place of the present “pink-
slip” law, the Federation urged an
automatic accident compensation
scheme designed to provide a rea-
sonable minimum of compensation
for losses arising from motor veh-
icle accidents, regardless of fault,

The view was presented that the
present concept of making com-
pensation recoverable only from
those proven to be legally respon-
sible is quite inadequate.

It was stated that third liability
insurance can do nothing to help
the victim of the hit and run driver.
Nor does it help the passenger
who is injured in an accident for
which his driver is judged to be
responsible, unless the driver is
guilty of gross negligence.

Protection Denied

In many cases, financial aid is
denied the parents of a child who is
knocked down while chasing a ball
into the highway, as a third party
liability decision may rule that the
driver cannot be held responsible
and that therefore the parents can-
not .recover compensation for
medical bills and other expenses
arising from the child’s injury.

The Saskatchewan Insurance
Act favoured by the Federation,
provides compensation in every
case. Under the terms of the Act,
“Every person is insured and in
the amounts hereinafter specified
against loss resulting from bodily
injuries sustained by him directly

. . through accidental means . . .
provided that such injuries are
suffered as a result of ...

(a) driving, riding in or on, or
operating a moving motor vehicle,
(b) collision with being struck,

run down, or run over by a moving
motor vehicle,”

Comparative figures submitted
revealed that not only does the
Saskatchewan Act offer better
coverage but that it costs the

owner of the car much less,