STR LT URRY EL |) PS | a ee ee | | LR ere aa v | B.C. FEDERATION OF Labor to raise cain on unemplo yment issue . Federation of Labor will ‘ to Se take 800,000 by late January. municipal, decided by 350 second n here ae resolution executive 1 ¢hat * clared ists in the felad o ment.” ™, ee Se — ae er The resolution calls for: 2 in un- employment insurance bene- fits. e@ An exte of seasona benefits. allowan oyable @ Increase in unemployed ad- e apath vincial 100 empl by the and pro accepting said BCFL secretary George Home. “It’s not good enough for employers to Say; we'll hire you from Marc eh to October, and for the, rest of the time you can look after yourself. We need a guaranteed annual wage, but right now we must combat the dismaying rise _in unemployment = by fighting for the things this resolution calls for.” Further quotes from the discussion: John Squire (IWA, Port Al- berni): “At a time when we should be engaged in the big- gest home, building program in the history of Canada, ply- wood } are looking throu the glass in Unem- ployment Insurance offices. In one plywood plant in our town we have 900 unempl« byed, out of a full-time crew of 950.” Vic Midgley (Carpenters 1598): “As long as we have a tree in our forests, and as long as we have a family without raise a row” this winter provincial and federal governments to action against rising unemployment, expected to hit nousing, there is no need foi one man to be laid off in the lumber industry.” J. A. Moore (IWA 1-85): “Tve been travelling in the In- terior, and poverty -and misery already are stalking through the coal mming communities in the Rockies. There is grow- Kim- Some 8,000 woodworkers are jobless The issued ing unemployment in the berley mining area. or on part time. unem- by show ployed figures the the two don’t men days a government number of or three working week.” Lloyd Whalen Labor Council): confidence in tl} ment at Ottawa, (Vancouver “TI have no > Tory govern- for I remem- ber the Hungry Thirties and the R. B. Bennett regime. There are close to 1,000 unem- ployed in my IWA local, yet thousands of people need homes. Did you ever see such a crazy situation? If those donkeys in power fail to act we'll have to take political action and elect our own spokesmen. Talk isn’t enough. We are going to have to make a lot of noise to compel the government to move.” : Fred Fieber (IWA “Some 3,000 loggers off. But this tyranny necessary layoffs is not en- tirely due to economic condi- tions. The stockpile of logs is not high. The price is such that big companies can operate. It is not strictly coincidental that pulp and sulphite negotiations 1-71): are laid of un- are at a crucial stage. In my opinion a lot of the lumber layoffs are just shenanigans on the part of big employers, part of a gigantic squeeze play.” Angus Macphee (Pulp and Sulphite 708): “I have no con- fidence in any of the govern- ments now in power. We in the labor movement will have to take independent political action to prevent another eco- nomic crisis.” Bill Stewart (Marine Work- ers): “A declaration of prin- ciples, is not enough. We'll have to start raising cain with the various governments. Our union also has a resolution calling for the setting up of unemployment committees in every local, to be coordinated through the labor councils. In this way each local. can take action,” BILL BLACK Returned as BCFL president. GEORGE HOME Returned, secretary-treasurer. | Bill’ Black as BCFL president returned Bill Black was re-elected by acclamation to a second off year term as president of B.C. Federation of Labor at second annual convention of Also returned by acclama- tion were secretary - treasurer George Home, first vice-presi- dent Joe Morris, second vice- president Vic Midgley and © fourth vice - president Pat O’Neal. Bob- Smeal defeated Lloyd Whalen, 162 to 152, to capture the post of third vice- president. It took five ballots to elect the 10-member council (under BCFL rules, winning candi- dates must poll over 50 -per- cent of the votes cast). On the first balldt these seven were elected: Ed O’Connor (B.C. Govern- ment Employees) 279 votes; Charles Stewart (Street Rail- Waymen 101) 243; Mel Kem- mis (Bakery Workers 468) 230; Stu Hodgson (IWA 1--217) 227; Bob Beddome (Beverage Dispensers 676) 223; Hector Wright (Fire Fighters 18) 209; and Sam Jenkins (Marine Workers): 165. Votes polled by the remain- ing 13 candidates were: John McNiven (Kitimat- Kemano Labor Council) 151; Bill Symington (Packinghouse the 100,000-strong labor body! 180) 151; Al Toone (Vito Labor Council) 144; R. Hayn® © Wholesale 580) ih John Brown (Dockmen 605) 139: George Smythe (wa 1-80) 120; Ewart Orr (Stee! workers 2821) 111; Frank oH nedy (Longshoremen 509) } a Fred Bevis (Electrical 230, toria) 103; John Hines it ers, 138) 98; John Hinema”” (Pulp and Sutphite ‘L. Randall (IWA 1-85 E. Edwards (CBRE 276) 6 No one was elected of second ballot (from whit (Retail those candidates polling les d than 100 on the first ballot he been dropped). et On the third ballot Ha with 184 votes, and Syming” te with. 175, were elected 10 council. Other votes “si Smythe, 145; McNiven Brown 138, and Kennedy On the fourth ballot candidate polled more 50 percent of the total le cast. Smythe polled 118, prow 84, and McNiven 77. yo! On the fifth and final b® a Smythe was elected, © Brown 145 votes to 133. Vociferous ‘No’ voters routed by show of hands on Sunday sports By an overwhelming show of hands a resolution favoring Sunday the provincial government to provide for the Chairman Joe Morris called for the gates roared “No!” when the question Was put. he commented. “All those in questing voices,” swamped. The contentious Sunday sports question found adher- ents of contending viewpoints lining up at the microphones to speak. Here are some of the opinions voiced: Pat O’Neal (Prince Rupert Trades Council): “You can’t force church attendance. Lots of operators work on. Sunday, and the Lord’s Day Alliance raises no protest. We want the same privilege as indus- trialists. The LDA would do better to ally themselves to the labor movement and help us fight for the elimination of slums.” Sam Jenkins (Marine Work- ers): “Labor wants a shorter work week, and opposes Sun- day work. I am a firm be- liever in keeping the Sabbath holy. I oppose Sunday sports — it is the thin edge of the wedge, which will lead to con- ditions such as prevail in the B.C. Federation of Labor delegates supp? sports where municipalities vote in the affirmative, an implementation of such plebis ele “hands up” procedure after a small minority © of fo i “The chair cannot be swayed by ya United States, where super- markets operate full blast on Sunday. We should ascertain the feelings of our member- ships before acting on. this re- solution.” Bob. Strachan (Carpenters 527): “I voted against in the legislature, because I don’t be- lieve it should be left to muni- cipalities to decide. I favor a province-wide _ plebiscite, and I would vote yes, because I believe in the democratic right to go to hell in my own way.” John Squire (IWA 1-85): “Like Bob Strachan, I voted against in the legislature, but I would vote yes in a province- wide plebiscite. I am not pre- pared to support this resolu- tion.” Tom Alsbury (Civic Em- ployees 407): “I support the stand taken by Strachan and Squire, although as for go- ing to hell — well, some of us November 1, 1957 — PACIFIC TRIBUNE—F favor raise their right hands.” The oppositio# i would rather go in the yes direction. There is ample aot vision for Sunday sports ® I am opposed to commer’ ized sports on Sunday.” Stu Hodgson (IwA } “T support the resolutio™ re | the ait 7, ai ci is unrealistic to think th@ of” present government wil abi duct a province-wide pie cite. Municipalities hav® i right to demand that wishes be carried out.” iv" E. M. Lawson (Truck ae ers 213): “Let’s not be pe: af ed into fear of a wide-® ee Sunday. I play golf. som ssf one else might like 10 Pe football — and he has same right as I have.” va th? The vote was taken, 4? ont’ majority “Ayes” were no" shouted by the minority ait’ enthusiasts. Then the err man called for a show of i ' and the issue was DO °\4d) in doubt, for the “Ayes” it by four to one. ~ cb