B.C. LABOUR MUSTERS STRENGTH TO REGAIN TRADE UNION RIGHTS Ommcet Pettianon ot tee Irebornational Woodworkers of America — diet Cont tah JORKER VOL. XXVI No. 17 =p VANCOUVER, B.C. 2nd Issue 5¢ PER COPY ~ sept., 1959 EDITORIAL SALUTE! I N this issue of its official organ, the IWA salutes the recent convention of the B.C. Federation of Labour. Although the IWA has always taken a prominent d active part in the work of the Federation, this salute Labour’s Parliament in B.C. is appropriate, and is tendered without any thought of self-adulation. It emphasizes the fact that those who formulated Federation policies this year, subordinated their group interests to those of the whole organization, and worthily upheld the best traditions of the trade union movement. It was a sign of maturity that four hundred and fifty trade union delegates could achieve such a remarkable degree of unity on questions previously regarded as highly controversial. Presiden-Emeritus Percy Bengough touched on a vital truth for labour’s ranks. He said in effect that when organized labour is required to fight for its rights, it always gains in strength. It was made obvious in the recent convention that the Federation has gained in Strength, largely because it has shaken off a great deal of discouraging apathy, and mustered its ranks for an all-out fight. : The Federation wisely directed its new-found Strength to the definition of labour’s rights, and practi- cal plans to regain and retain these rights. The deter- mined proposal to gain the repeal of Bill 43 symbolized this aim, and gave a special urgency to the plans of the convention. The salute to the senior body is deserved because when the chips were down there was no hedging on the issue of political action. The convention first issued a point-blank declaration in support of the national plan to create an independent See “SALUTE” P.4 Smeal, Morris Elected Robert Smeal, former Fed eration Vice-President, and Business Manager of the Can- adian Airlines Flight Attend- ants* Association was elected President of the 126,000 mem- ber B.C. Federation of Labour at its fourth annual convention in Vancouver, October 9, He polled 271 votes against 84 registered for Thos. MacGrath, Financial Secretary Ironworkers Local Union, No. 97. IWA. Regional President Joe rris retained the ‘office of First Vice-President defeating William Stewart, IBEW, 287 to 76. Thirty-nine-year-old Bob Smeal was born in England and migrated to Canada at the age of eight. He has resided in B.C. for the past 23 years, He served in the RCN from 1940 to 1946, Following demobil- ization he became general repre- sentative for the Canadian Brotherhood of Railway Em- ployees in which post he served M See “ELECTIONS,” P.3 Delegates lay plans at Federation Convention Aggressive action to defeat the employers’ continuing attack on trade union rights as the major theme of the 4th Annual Convention of the B.C. Federation of Labour, Oc- tober 5 - 9, disclosed an unprecedented degree of unity among all sections of the B.C. trade union movement, with fresh determination to do battle for omic and political fronts. Convention proceedings were keynoted on this theme during the opening ceremonies, and con- tinuously throughout, with the B.C. Trade Union Act (Bill 43), as the immediate objective. The four hundred and_ sixty delegates, and fraternal repre- sentatives heard one prominent guest-speaker after another stress the importance of a planned of- fensive to thrust back the threat- ening moves now contemplated by the employers, Bill 43 No Answer Mayor Tom Alsbury, in ex- tending a civic welcome to the delegates stated: “Restrictive legislation is not the way to in- such rights on both the econ- dustrial peace. Such legislation has been weighed in the balance and found wanting.” President-Emeritus Percy Ben- gough, who for years headed the old Trades and Labour Congress, deplored the legislative trends in the provinces which have singled out labour as a victim. He hope- fully suggested that as the unions had awakened to the danger. the fight would, as in earlier days, serve to strengthen labour. Losing Basic Rights In his Presidential address, re~ tiring President Bill Black de- clared that the Social Credit Ministers and their supporters See “REGAIN RIGHTS,” P.3 Labour Votes To Back CCF Until New Party Formed By standing vote, with an overwhelming majority, the B.C, Federation of Labour in convention Oct. 5 - 9 decided to support the CCF and work actively for the election of a CCF Government if a provincial election takes place before the establishment of the new national working-class political party. Debate on this issue was the liveliest and longest in the week- long sessions. Speakers from the extreme left and the extreme right, they sometimes as were described, combined to state their objections to the proposed plan of action to protect labour’s rights. See “LABOUR VOTES,” P.2 Per Capita Tax Raised Per capita tax for affiliates of the B.C. Federation of Labour was boosted from four to six cents by vote of the recent convention in 2 order to strengthen its pro- grams of education and public relations. The salary of the Secre- tary-Treasurer, Pat O’Neal, was increased to $130 per week, without dissent, there- by marking a tribute to his records in office. WHAT'S INSIDE B.C. Federation of Labour in session LISTEN TO Green Gold-CJ0 Jodoin ....- 10 Bills wvenceoeee V1 Block: woeenn- 12 7:00 p.m. Thursday : CKP Ist and Last Thursday 6:00 p.m.