14 Committee Chairman. OFL STUDY GIVES HISTORY OF OLD AGE PENSIONS The six-part study of issues concerning senior citizens published by the Ontario Federation of Labour includes a concise account of the origins and development of Canada’s old age security system and organized labour’s role in it. The study is titled ‘‘The Rest of Your Life.”’ The first appeal for. old age benefits came from the Trades and Labour Congress of Canada in 1905, when its convention resolved ‘“‘that in our opinion the time is oppor- tune to introduce legislation for the maintenance of deserving poor, old and disabled citizens who are unable to maintain themselves.” Following this, in 1906 the Amalgamated Society of Car- penters and Joiners urged the government to pay members of such unions ‘‘as paid super- annuation and unemployment benefits an amount equal to one-half paid by such unions, the same to serve as the begin- ning of a national system of old age pensions.” This was likely the first public advocacy of an old age pension plan for Canada. In 1912 the trade union move- ment proposed a national pen- sion plan to a Royal Com- mission on Industrial Rela- tions. TLC President Tom Moore stressed that Canada’s social legislation lagged behind that of other countries in the western world. But the government took no action until after the Winnipeg General Strike of 1919. The strike failed in its immediate economic objectives, but public support of the strike, its leaders and participants car- ried over into the federal elec- __ tion of 1921 (as it did in provin- cial and municipal elections) and J. S. Woodsworth, ‘a clergyman turned lumberjack, poor in possessions but rich in courage,’’ was elected to parliament as a representative of labour. In 1925 a member of the Uholsterers Union was elected to parliament — A. A. Heaps, a strike leader who had been re- elected to the Winnipeg City Council in 1921. ; Both Woodsworth and Heaps | TELh n> oes we _ WINE MAKERS TAKE NOTE PHILADELPHIA — Oreste di Tiburzio, who celebrated his 100th birthday, said he has found the secret to a long life. “Don’t drink water,” Di Tibur- zio warned. “‘It’s not good for you.” According to Di Tibur- zio, wine, liquor and beer is much better for you. 1973 Aa ca a CY BETHEL seem THE WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER CHECK YOUR COFFEE ASPENITE WINS COAST INCREMENTS 3 FOR SAKE OF ANGOLA Local 1-184 IWA, Saskatchewan, has signed a Letter of Understanding with the Aspenite Division of MacMillan Bloedel at Hudson Bay, which provides identical grade increments in the plant as those negotiated for plywood operations on the Coast, in the Southern Interior and Quesnel and Canim Lake. Negotiating for the Union were Neil Menard, Local President and Ray Ricard, Plant had been vigorous advocates of old age pensions and unem- ployment insurance before they entered the House of Com- mons. In parliament they promul- gated their views and soon found an ideal opportunity to influence the government in their favour. A committee appointed by the Liberal government had recommended old age pensions for persons age 70 or over in 1924, but the government didn’t implement the recom- mendation because of pro- vincial opposition. In the 1925 election, the Liberals won only 101 seats to 116 for the Conservatives under Arthur Meighen. The Progres- sive Party (largely western farmers) won 24 seats. There were four independents, in- cluding Woodsworth and Heaps who were members of the Independent Labour Party. The Liberals could retain power only by garnering the Progressive votes. Woods- worth was by now the recog- nized leader of the MPs who were neither Liberal nor Tory and especially of a segment of them who became known as the Ginger Group. In effect he controlled enough votes to decide whether the Liberals or the Conserva- tives should govern. On two previous occasions he had urged the Liberals to adopt old age pensions, but ‘‘the government owed too much to its big business supporters to risk it.”” After the 1925 election the time was ripe for another deal and Woodsworth held the winning cards. Woodsworth and Heaps addressed a letter to both Liberal leader Mackenzie King and Conservative Arthur Meighen asking each if he would be prepared to legislate ‘provision for the unemployed (and) old age pensions at this session.” Only Mackenzie King rep- lied, agreeing to introduce old age pensions. He turned down unemployment insurance as he doubted that he could get enough support for it in parlia- ment. He confirmed his pro- mise of pensions in a letter .. And Noah he often said to his wife When he sat down to dine. “T don’t care where the water goes If it doesn’t get into the wine.” . Gilbert K. Chesterton, 1874-1936 which today hangs in Woods- worth House, Ottawa. After first being rejected by a reactionary Senate, old age pension legislation was passed on a second try after the 1926 election on the strength of Liberal, Progressive and Labour votes. This first legislation, enacted in May 1926, provided $20 a month to British subjects age 70 or over who had been resi- dent in Canada for 20 years. Payment was subject to a means test which limited it to applicants with virtually no other income. The cost was shared 50-50 by the federal and provincial governments. Radial tires on your car are reputed to provide better mileage, better traction and better stops. But, if your car is equipped with radials on the front, and you are now equipping with winter snow tires on the rear, they must also be radials — it’s the law. Your cup of Maxwell House coffee might be “‘good to the ‘last drop” but the money you spend buying this and some other coffee brands is helping the Portuguese government keep the people of Angola in virtual slavery. The Portuguese government has such a strangle hold on Angola that the coffee bean pickers cannot leave the coffee plantations. They are also sub- jected to all forms of abuse and even more tragic is that over cabinet Order-in-Council. UNIONS TO HAYES TRUCKS Following a meeting with unions which normally deal with equipment manufactured by Hayes Trucks, the B.C. Federation of Labour announ- ced that all the unions have taken steps to ensure that no Hayes parts or other material will be allowed in mills or other industrial operations. Federa- tion Secretary-Treasurer Len Guy announced: “The full support we are receiving from the IWA, the PLANTSALESAVES —_ FEDERAL TAXES FOR B.C. Plateau Mills Ltd. has been sold by the B.C. Cellulose Company to the provincial government, according to a — The transfer to direct Crown ownership will exempt the | operation from the federal corporation income tax laws. And it’s the safe way. United Paperworkers, Build- Jurisdiction - Federal Rate $1.90 for employees 17 and over 1.65 for young workers $2.00 for employees 18 and over © 1.60 for employees 17 and under $2.25 for employees 18 and over 1.85 for employees under 18 $2.50 for employees 18 and over 2.10 for employees under 18 British Columbia- Alberta $1.75 for employees 18 and over 1.60 for employees under 18 1.25 for students employed part-time Saskatchewan $1.75 : 2.00 Manitoba $1.75 for employees 18 and over Ontario $2.25 for construction workers 2.00 for all employees except students under 18 1.65 for students working 28 hours maximum per week : Quebec $1.84 for employees over 18 1.70 for employees under 18 © $2.00 foremployeesover18 $2.15 for employees over 18 $1.50 ; $1.65 for employeesover18 es * 1.40 for employees under 18 “ New Brunswick Nova Scotia — Prince Edward Is. $1.50 for employees 18and over ; Newfoundland — $1.40 for employees 18 and 0 a Se i eee ee for employees under 1 2 Wiping i Ta ei toe Ue cote er ee ni MINIMUM WAGE RATES IN CANADA $1.40 for male employees 18 andover _ half of these workers — children. E> Conditions are so bad in country that the Canad government has spoken ¢ against the Portuguese e ploitation of the people. Coffee brands containi; Angola coffee are, Maxwe House, Maxim, Brim Sank; Yuban, Taster’s Choice, Nescafe. - For the sake of the childrer of Angola don’t buy the brands. : BOYCOTT ing Trades and other unions f the Federation’s ‘‘hot’ declaration will ensure that th striking members of the United Steelworkers employed a Hayes Trucks will ultimately win a Satisfactory settlement. “Most of the Hayes equi ment is used in the forest an pulp industry and the refus.. by the IWA and United Paper- workers to permit any new Hayes parts on to the job will ensure that this ‘hot’ declara- tion is completely effective.” ’ Effective ‘Da by