6 B,C, LUMBER WORKER Ist |: CLC Charges Act Violated The Canadian Labour Congress has charged the Diefen- baker Government with violating the provisions of the Unemployment Insurance Act in the surprise appointment of A. F. MacArthur as a member of the Commission to succeed Robert Tallon, retired. The recent appointee is known to be a member of the Conservative Party. The statement issued by Presi- dent Jodoin of the Canadian Labour Congress states in part: “Despite the clear requirement of the Unemployment Insurance Act, the government has appointed a Commissioner who was picked by the government before there was any consultation with organ- ized labour. The fact is that the government, of its own accord, made no move whatsoever to con- sult with labour, as the Act requires, until representations were made to the Minister of Labour. “Unemployment insurance is naturally a matter of vital interest and concern to working people and employees who, through regular contributions, provide a very large share of the insurance funds. These circumstances are clearly recognized in the legis! tion which says: ‘One Comm sioner, other than the Chief Com- missioner, shall be appointed after consultation with organizations representative of workers and the other after consultation with organizations representative. of employers.’ Tallon Retired “The labour nominee on the Commission has been Mr. Robert Tallon, a former Secretary- Treasurer of the Trades and Labour Congress of Canada, who was apointed following nomina- tion by that organization, Mr Tallon retired effective December 31, 1958. The Canadian Labour Congress first learned of this through newspaper reports, After some time had passed and no approach had been made to our organization I arranged an inter- view with the Minister of Labour on January 30, and called to his attention the requirements of the Act. He informed me that the government had -a nominee i mind, He suggested that three names be submitted as nominees from the Congress and this was done, but it was made clear to us that the name of the government’s choice would also be submitted to Cabinet. “On March 18 we received from the Minister a letter acknowledg- ing our nominations, but pressing the name of the government's previously chosen nominee. MacArthur Appointed “I pointed out to the Minister that: ‘even before you wrote me on February 5th, even before you asked the Congress to submit its nominees, you had advised me of your intention to recommend the in | appointment of Mr. A. F, Mac- Arthur. ““You will recall my sense of shock when you told me that you were ready, even before you had consulted us, to recommend making of an appointment. You have now confirmed in’ writing what you told me on January 30th, which makes it quite clear that the Government had made up its mind on this appointment before consulting labour at all, indeed even before advising labour that there was a vacancy and that we could submit three names as nominees. You acknowledged that | Mr. MacArthur was a member of addressed by District $ Treasurer, George Mitchell, who also installed the newly officers for the year. cluded a gramme setting out in detail the}George Mcl. Resolution urging a per capita increase to finance an organ- izing drive in the Interior of British Columbia, Alberta, Sas- katchewan, and Manitoba, was unanimously adopted by the delegates attending the First Annual Convention of Local 1-417, IWA, April 25, in Salmon Arm. The Convention delegates were cretary- elected Other in- Pro- action Action convention Political respon: ities of the Local Executive Board and Plant Com- initteemen the forthcoming Pro- vineial election; and endorsation of the CCF and B.C, Federation of Labour. stand on Public Owner- ship of Power in British Columbia, C. E. McInnes of the Kamloops Labour Council outlined to the delegates the work of the Council on behalf of the Newfoundland | Loggers and asked for more active participation by the Local in a Banquet held with mus by Lawrence Chaybas and A. Ahenakew — Vavenby. Officers tee bh rresident, John Kelly, President, J pe President, ‘ 3rd Salmon Conductor, Warden, zeit by District, Executive Board, Dick L a by. William Zurba of Vavenby was also elected as Safety Director for the coming year, your party, and you will recall that I stressed the point that in the view of the Congress this| appointment should not be made | on a political basis.’ | “On April 28 TI recei | ed from the Minister a letter advising me | } that the government proposed | proceeding with the appointment | of Mr. MacArthur on April 30 and inviting ‘any further suggestions’ On April 29 I again telegraphed | the Minister asking for an appoint- | ment with the Prime Minister and | himself, No reply has been} received to this telegram, In other | words, no reply has been received | to two requests for an interview | with the Prime Minister and the | Minister of Labour in this m: Not Labour's Representative “We have advised Mr, Mac- | Arthur that, in view of the proce- dure followed by the government in ignoring the provisions of the statute, we do not re: being a representative on the Unemployment Insurance Commission. We hi been ad- vised by the two Canadian Congress nominees on the Com- our | mission’s Advisory Committee | that they propose resigning in protest at this disregard of the requirement that labour's repre- sentatives should be persons pro- posed by labour “Not only, did the persons nominated by our Congress have the support of our organization, but they were also endorsed by the Canadian and Catholic Con- federation of Labour, and the government was so advised. The government’s action in ignoring thesé nominations and proceeding with the appointment of its chosen’ candidate is a dictatorial action and insulting to the Canadian workers who help finance and who are dependent upon the funds administered by this Commission.” 221 Carrall Street Power Saw Operators We Offer Fast, Efficient Sales and Service on PIONEER CHAIN SAWS AND PARTS OREGON CHAIN FOR ALL MAKES OF SAWS CASTROL OIL AND AXES, FILES, GAS CANS TAPES, TOOLS, ETC. Sells & Maher Agencies Ltd. 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