WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER aS 7 _ pe 7 ae RT Pe te 7 eS ie. a a Nagao ae a agin? Hin Aes a ia ED ae Kite ) 2 -* PRESIDENT’S COLUMN by Jack Moore Interference (G 2ae again, the Communist Party, through a mysterious B.C. Lumber Workers’ Committee, is attempting to influence the policy of the IWA from outside the Union. Leaflets distributed in IWA plants give distorted facts in an effort to prove that only the Communist Party knows what should be done by the IWA. This arrogant intervention in the business of our Union does nothing more than betray the great desire of the Communist Party to gain a foothold in our Union and dominate its decisions. Our Union has had experience with Communist dictatorship of its affairs. In 1948, it took a tremen- dous and costly effort by IWA ' ministration, eXx- mi. __ ercised through a st-LPP group entrenched Communi in Official positions. This action be- came necessary because the Union was being exploited for the advan- tage of the Communist Party. The expressed will of the membership frustrated. The principles, Leadership Defined As a result of this experience the Union’s membership was at pains to define what is meant by leadership in the Union. It is the Communist concept of leadership that offends IWA members in the leaflet distri- bution. The Communist notion of leadership is foreign to everything the IWA stands for in the conduct of its affairs. Let us examine what the Com- munists call the leadership of the IWA. The officers of the IWA are elected by membership referendum: and are at all times held respon- sible to the membership for their actions. Every major policy decision is submitted to the membership. At no time may the officers of the Union dictate what the member- ship. shall decide, or they would quickly place their heads on the chopping block. When negotiations are in pro- gress, every recommendation origin- ates with representative committees. These committees are sufficiently representative to be closely in touch with membership opinion. When the Communists talk about leadership in the IWA they are talking about something that doesn’t exist and that we don’t want to exist. In the IWA, membership decisions govern. The Contrast Seen If the kind of leadership urged by the Communists is so good, why has it not gained better results in Unions which are actually domin- ated by Communists? One such Union has had the opportunity to be well established in another basic industry. As we are under attack by the Communists, a comparison is very much to the point. The IWA has succesfully main- tained industry-wide bargaining, under which workers in small and large operations enjoy standard wages and working conditions negotiated openly on behalf of all of them. Every settlement has been approved by the membership. Every member in every operation knows exactly what the negotiated settle- ment means to him. In the light of these facts, it be- comes amusing to hear Commun- ici negotiations, when we learn that in many in- stances they have signed “sweet- heart” agreements with large and LOOK FOR THIS NAME It is your Guarantee that you can’t buy a better Glove ANYWHERE Union Made by JOHN WATSON LTD. 127 - 2nd Ave., E, Vancouver B.C. wealthy corporations without refer- ence to the workers concerned. As a result, we hear of workers in a state of revolt, because they find themselves blindly forced to submit to sub-standard wages and working conditions by deals that cannot stand the light of day. Uniform Basic Rate The IWA has negotiated a basic wage in ‘the areas covered by its master agreements. This is a floor under wages paid in all operations. We may well ask the Communist leadership to explain why they have negotiated varying common labour rates in many operations far below anything paid under an IWA con- . tract in the same area. Certainly, these rates are lower than those paid in the same industry in East- ern Canada. The IWA has consistently at- tempted to boost tradesmen’s rates to those prevailing in the trades. The rates paid skilled mechanics under some Communist-negotiated con- tracts look sickly in comparison to IWA rates for skilled workers. My point is that those who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones. Communist leadership im- posed upon the membership has never proved to the advantage of any union. Complete independence is essential to the vitality of a union. We are not “witch-hunting”. We simply object to mischievous inter- ference from any outside interest. The IWA is well able to run its own affairs without the advice or attempted influence of the Commun- ist Party. + or PES SS a Pe Pe He oe oe oe ee ie | iS a : 4 LOCAL 1-71, IWA MEMBERS who acted as timers during the Squamish Loggers’ Sports Day were Art Fraboni, Camp Chairman at the Canadian Collieries Camp, Squamish, and Dan Otto, Local 1-71 Trustee. Local 1-42: Settles At Eagle Lake Local George, has reached a settle- ment with Eagle Lake Saw- mills Ltd., largest spruce pro- ducer in B.C., it was announced last week by Regional 3rd Vice- President, Jack Holst, in charge of negotiations. The company bargains independently of any employers’ agency. _ The new agreement awards a ten cent an hour wage increase over a period of two years as obtained under the Northern Interior master agreement. In addition to the general wage increase, graders and licensed scalers will get an increase to $2.20 an hour. A training program similar to that contained in the revised North- ern Interior agreement will be given effect, and seniority provisions will be vastly improved. Health and Welfare A Health and Welfare Program, adapted to the requirements of the employees of one company will be incorporated in the agreement. In all essential details: this is identical with the pattern established for the industry by the coast. The contract clauses relating to grievance procedure, arbitration, and leave of absence will be clarified. Letters of understanding will be ex- changed with regard to the check-off procedure and transportation diffi- culties. The parties have agreed to meet and resolve problems affecting the work force during emergency forest ires. Confirmed bachelor: A man who has no wife expectancy. it at ok Life . . . By the time a man is in shape to buy his wife beautiful , Clothes, she isn’t. YOUR GUARDIANS 51 WEST HASTINGS STREET MEET THREE GENERATIONS OF THE (arid A DYNASTY OF SHOE CRAFTSMEN ROGER — STEVE — GREG — PIERRE — RICHARD — GEORGE — MIKE 7 Pierre, who founded the business in 1907, tells his four grandchildren some of the finer points of the craft. Here he is pointing out the importance of heel- making and the purpose of well-anchored logging caulks, factors on which men’s lives depend. In these regular family bull sessions, new generations gain insight into a great tradition, and ensure that the spark is handed on. They in turn will pass on the family philosophy: "ONLY MAN CAN PROFIT BY EXPERIENCE, AND EXPERIENCE IS BEST HANDED DOWN WITHIN THE FAMILY” Pierre Paris E- Sons Tel. MU 5-0164 OF A GREAT TRADITION FAMILY 1-424 IWA, Prince VANCOUVER 3, B.C. ss alba