EDITORIALS “Crucial Test’ RGANIZED LABOUR in British Columbia faces a crucial test in the approaching labour-management conference now to be staged by the provincial govern- ment. Both government and management believe that they can drown out labour’s grievances by propaganda di- rected to stir public prejudice against labour’s aims. The onus will rest on labour to document its cause thoroughly on every point. Nothing could be more disastrous for labour than to allow adverse decisions by default. Such conferences rarely present mutually satisfac- tory conclusions. The professed purpose is, on this oc- casion, to improve the climate for industrial relations. The main value of the proposed conference from labour's point of view is to provide a public forum for trade union views on improved labour-management re- lations. This makes it important that labour’s case be stated in the most convincing terms. Labour's first responsibility is to make certain that the scope of the conference is broad enough to air all the grievances which have arisen on the labour front. Labour’s representations at the conference should dem- onstrate that its objectives coincide with the public interest. If the conference proves successful it should arouse public support for consultation between government, labour and management on all legislation touching on trade union interests. Any form of government interven- tion should ensure complete impartiality in the enact- ment of legislation. Management has professed an interest in the Swedish industrial relations experience. The secret of industrial peace in Sweden lies in the encouragement of complete organization on both sides of the bargaining table, a minimum of: government intervention, and mutual respect for the organized strength between both parties to negotiations. Consultation Needed ABOUR MINISTER PETERSON assumes that the two minor amendments to the Labour Relations Act pro- posed by him will restore industrial harmony. His pro- posals fall far short of existing requirements. This statute has become a highly technical and com- plex set of rules governing union -certification, concilia- tion and arbitration of disputes. At many points these rules determine the opportunity for the organized work- ers to improve their circumstances. With so much at stake for the workers, the only democratic procedure is to extend to the workers the right of consultation. Each session of the Legislature a Standing Committee on Labour is appointed, representative of all political parties in the House. In recent years, this Committee has not functioned as originally intended, because of the government's failure to refer labour matters for its con- sideration. Since the government intends to amend the Labour Relations Act this session, and as labour has many other amendments to propose, the time has come when this Committee should be enabled to provide organized labour with a hearing on sections of the Act which have caused trouble on the labour front. Members of the New Democratic Party in the Legis- lature will no doubt attempt to introduce the required amendments. Discussion on the floor of the Legislature of highly technical points is never satisfactory. The mem- bers of the Legislature require more detailed explana- tions from those who have had practical experience with the application of the Act. The glaring ignoranze of Social Credit members with regard to collective bargaining as prescribed by the Act is a most important reason why this legislation should be publicly discussed before the Standing Committee. The Minister's dictation is not good enough. WORLD SHIP LOSSES IN 1962 WORST SINCE 1929 LONDON — A report by the Liverpool Underwriters’ Association said that more ships were sunk or totally damaged in 1962 than in any other peacetime year since 1929. While the report gave no reasons for the increase in sinkings it did emphasize the need for extreme caution in ships fitted with radar to ensure proper use of the equipment. i Boron THE CANADIAN MOSE Sourte: DBS re Aare s Me In 1961, according to the census, there were 2,844,263 foreign-born residents in Canada—an increase of 38% since 1951. F Birthplace we ERMANY “4343 : +226 my U.S. ial © OTHER COUNTRIES: +92 Publication date of the next issue of the WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER is February 21. Deadline for ad copy is February 7, and for news copy February 8. a Onna Al EKER Published Twice Monthly on the First and Third Thursdays by INTERNATIONAL WOODWORKERS OF AMERICA (AFL-CIO-CLC) Regional Council No. 1 Editor . . . Grant MacNeil REGIONAL OFFICERS: President ... = Ist Vice-President — Jack MacKenzie 2nd Vice-President o... Jack Holst 3rd Vice-President — eee Bob Ross Secretary-Treasurer _-- ss SS brea niepen International Board Members ......... Joe Madden, Walter F. Allen Address all communications to: FRED FIEBER, Secretary-Treasurer 2859 Commercial Drive, Vancouver, B.C. TR. 4-5261 - 2 Subscription Rates —.__._.._____. $2.00 per_annum Advertising Representative ........G. A. Spencer Authorized as Second Class Mail, Post Office Dept., Ottawa, and for Payment of Postage in Cash. 27,500 COPIES PRINTED IN THIS ISSUE Aedes soe Jack Moore THE FINANCIAL POST the memorandum in court during the income tax evasion of A. Gentles. 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