‘ORGANIZE JOBLESS PLANS

HEN the B.C. Federation

\ of Labor convention
Meets October 24-29 it will be
asked to approve formation
Of a B.C. Federation of Un-
"ployed to organize unem-
Dloyed workers throughout
the province.

Plans for launching the new
Srganization were discussed at
-* recent meeting of the Van-
/SOuver Labor Council at
Which time the structure and
‘lms of the Federation were
agreed to.

Top policy making body of

€ new B.C. Federation of
_shemployed will be a provin-
‘Sal executive council of 19
“Members.- Fourteen members
} % this council will be officers
%f the CLC, B.C. Federation
°f Labor, local labor and
building trades councils, and
five members will be directly
flecteq by the unemployed.

The 14 union representativ:
Son the council will be the
Secretary treasurer of the BC
Federation of Labor, who will
— 4lso be secretary treasurer of
4e B.C. Federation of Unem-
Dloyed; secretary treasurer of
Vancouver Labor> Coouncil,
“€cretary of Vancouver Build-
a Trades Council, secretary

of Victoria Building” Trades
Council, local CLC represen-
tative, and secretaries of labor
councils at Victoria, Nanaimo,
Nelson-Trail, Kelowna, Kam-
loops, Prince George, Dawson
Creek, Prince Rupert and Kit-
imat-Terrace.

The five unemployed mem-
bers of the council will be el-
ected at regional conferénces
— two from Vancouver and
one each from Vancouver. Is-

land, southern interior and
northern interior.
Officers to be elected by

the council, will consist of a
president, first and second
vice presidents and the sec-
retary. treasurer of the B.C.
Federation of Labor.

Each of the 10 local labor
councils, including Vancouver
will set up a local unemployed
council, of which the local la-
bor council secretary will also
be secretary. These councils
however, will be administra-
tive rather than policy making
bodies.

Main aims of the proposed
Federation, as defined by the
report will be to provide an
effective voice for the unem-
ployed, to press upon govern-
ments the need for action and

to aid unemployed families

and persons by directing them |

to the appropriate
for assistance.

To carry out these aims, the
Federation’s provincial exec-
utive council will - establish
three committies in addition
to a- membership committee,
with corresponding commit-
tees to be set up by each local
unemployed council.

These three committies will
be charged with obtaining
publicity for unemployed
problems and proposed rem-
edies, with organising com-
munity support for the unem-
ployed from other organisa-
tions, and. with organising
such direct action as unem-
ployed demonstrations.

Plans for financing the new
organization have not yet
been worked out but it has
been proposed that each union
local be asked to donate $10
which, with 230 locals in B.C.
would provide $2,300 with
which to launch the new or-
ganization. Vancouver Labor
Council secretary Paddy Neale
has also announced that offic-
es for the new Federation
would. be at the Labor Tem-
ple.

agencies

Round-up of Situation |

Depression
Certain

Without

National
Wage
Increases

incense

PROFIT HOPS ?

?

a.

ee ca

—— : , : 7:
BvuyInG STOPS

we tat

Wor kere SACKED

Ca eg

JOBS DRY.OP >

SION'S BACK

DEPRES

Job Picture Grim |

BY WILLIAM E. STEWART

Last week a little guy slid obstrusively into our office,
leaned over the counter and whispered, “can I wash your floors
and windows for the price of a meal?”

Now, anyone who has looked at our floors or windows
recently, would know that this. was a very bad deal, however,
with painful recollections of being on the other end of such
exchanges during the Hungry Thirties, I dug down, and in
the manner of such transactions, “helped the guy out.”

As it happens I was involved at this precise time in boil-
ing down a pot-full of figures from the Dominion Bureau of
Statistics in preparation for this article. When refined these
figures showed that in forty-one key @reas from St. John,
Newfoundland to Victoria, British Columbia, the job picture
had taken a turn for the worse between August, 1959 and
August, 1960. Not one bright spot in one major centre across
the country.

In British Columbia the figures -show an increase of
10,208 in August for a total jobless figure (Unemployment
Insurance figures) of 44,848, or a 31% increase over last year.

This little guy didn’t ask me about his future. About as
far ahead as he cared to look was the next meal and perhaps
a place to flop that night. May be, however, I might ask on his
behalf: What does the future hold? What are his chances of
getting a job?

G

Here’s a round up of the main industries around the

province:

® Construction: In this industry, accounting for 13% of B.C.’s
economy, employment has dropped from a peak of 38,040 in
1947 to 26,755 in 1960, a drop of 80%. There are over 1,000
union carpenters out of work in Vancouver. This makes. no
allowance for unorganized carpenters who probably outnum-
ber those in the union.

Electricians have over 10% of their membership out of
work and are freely predicting a figure of 40% unemployment
this winter of their union membership.

Ironworkers estimate 25% unemployment in the steel erec-

tion end and 50% in the steel reinforcing end of the trade.
Rock and Tunnel reports about 40% of its membership on the
beach now with most big jobs grinding to an end. Plumbers
who now have 293 out are expecting 850 by mid winter.
@ Lumber and Sawmill: In 1959 this was one of the only
major industries to defy the downward movement. This year,
however, the wood industry in B.C. has been hit hard. With
a slump in housebuilding the plywood industry is in serious
difficulty; the mills in Vancouver have layed off 1,500 and
not a week goes by that does not add to this figure.

Sash and door just announced its withdrawal from the
Vancouver Labor, Council on the grounds that unemployment
had affected the financial situation of that local to the extent
that they could no longer meet their per-capita payments.

While there are no figures available on logging it is
recognized as one of the worst seasons in post-war history.
® Fishing: At the lowest ebb that most officials can recall.
The industry is at a cross-roads according to union spokesmen.
The herring industry. has not been in operation since 1959,
companies_are threatening to cancel out whaling. Last week
the United Fishermans Union sent a delegation to Ottawa
to urge the Federal Gov’t to take over the operation of the
herring industry.
® Mining: Figures show a decrease in employment in this
industry from 18,259 in 1952 to slightly over 9,000 in 1960.
Mine union leaders point to Trail as an example. No one, they
say, has been hired there for years. As an old-timer dies, so
dies his job. The work force has dropped from a peak of
8,000 to 3,000.
® Shipbuilding Industry: There has been a steady downward
curve since the end of the war. From what was once a major
industry in this province it now gives employment. to 4,465;
this figure represents a 32% decrease over the last three years
alone.

The steel fabricating industry looks pretty black according
to a top official of the Marine Workers Union. He reports about
250 out of work now with lay-offs mounting. Western Bridge
just laid off 75 with more to come. According to this official
it is both a question of automation and no consiruction. He
cited the example of Western Bridge where 300 men this
summer produced the work that would have required 500
men three years ago.

e

Cold statistics would illustrate that growing numbers of
jobless are not eligible for Unemployment Insurance. This
year many have been cut off U.I.C. benefits in the greater Van-
couver area. Echoing this has been the growth in the roll call
at the social assistance office and the line ups at the flop-
houses and soup-kitchens.

Even now ‘the hammers and saws are merrily converting
a garage on Cordova St. into an overflow flop-house for the
expected record destitute this winter." Accompanying this of
course is a growing number of repossessions and foréclosures,
the latter being ten times greater than last year.

So if yyou see my little friend on the street, or anyone
else looking for a solution to their jobless dilemma, tell them
that no matter how thin you slice it there are just not enough
jobs to go around. Tell them there is an alternative to pogey,
social assistance, hand-outs, soup kitchens and flop-houses;
that’s to stand shoulder to houlder and fight for their right to
work: and wages. This winter looks like a good time to start
such a fight.

October 21, 1960-—-PACIFIC TRIBUNE—Page 7