Editorial Menace Or — peg a Blessing? I: is now evident that organized labour will be _ 4 saddled with the responsibility of outlining neces- sary solutions for problems which accompany the introduction of automation in industry. When a com- parison is made between the briefs submitted by the Canadian Manufacturer’s Association and the B.C. ‘Federation of Labour before the Select Standing “Committee on Labour in the B.C. Legislature, labour’s superior insight into the question is obvious. The point of view stated by the CMA that auto- mation has been progressing for two centuries was boldly challenged. The distinction was drawn by the Federation between the familiar processes of mechanization, and the new automatic and in some cases self-regulating chain of processes. In rejection of the CMA point of view that profit should be the sole reason for automation, the Federa- tion did the workers of the province a service. The full benefits of automation will not be realized - through investment. The ultimate purpose should be to sustain, develop, and protect human life with a minimum of effort, and with a maximum of physical comfort and well-being. It was made abundantly clear that organized labour is not opposed to automation. It welcomes the advent of automation but insists that its benefits shall be equitably distributed. The point made on behalf of the workers was that in periods of transition, responsibility should be assumed by governments and industry for the wel- fare of displaced workers. Otherwise, as it was stated, the “hard core of unemployment” will grow greater and greater. The crux of the situation is the better distribu- tion of income, The fiscal policies of governments will have much to do with providing “an economic pace at the full employment level.” One of management’s main responsibilities will be the provision of lower prices as well as shorter hours with higher real wages. Quite properly the Federation urged that management should accept a large share of responsi- _pility for the maintenance of workers who may require re-training in the new skills demanded. Automation makes a convincing case for the guaranteed annual wage. This is one way of ensuring » compensation in case of temporary displaceiient. The trade union program of pressing for the shorter work week, longer vacations, more paid statutory holidays, better pension plans, higher unemployment insurance benefits, as well as high wages all contribute toward. the higher purchasing power, without which automation may become a menace instead of a blessing. It is the joint responsibility of management, labour, and government to make sure that the poten- tial abundance of the new technology will be used Publication date of the next issue of the WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER is April 6th. Deadline for ad copy is March 24th and for news copy April Ist. THE WESTERN CANADIAN {| . PUBLISHED. TWICH MONTHLY ON THE FIRST AND THIRD THURSDAYS BY 2 tay International Woodworkers of America <4 = (ATL-CIO-CLC) Regional Council No.1 cag@pp= 2 REGIONAL OFFICERS: e we J0@ Morris ... Jack Moore ssmeeneee’ BOD ROSS seenercsereee Ered Fleber .... George H. Mitchell Walter F. Allen S. M, Hodgson President ist Vice-President ... 2nd Vice-President .. 8rd ¥ een p ronan se Secre. *TY-TI@aSurer .....--c-csnceeorvemnnwseresenses Intern:. onal Board Members Address all communications to GEORGE H. MITCHELL, Secretary-Treasurer 45 Kingsway - TR 4-5261 - 2 Vancouver, B.C. Subscription Rates.............§2.00 per annum . Advertising Representative,.....—..G. A. Spencer d as Second Class Post Office Dept., Ottawa Authorize7 £00 COPIES P. IN THIS ISSUE’ with social wisdom to improve standards of living and well-being. If as a people we fail to meet the challenge, we may undergo distressing economic dislocations. If we meet the challenge, with vision, and humanitarian motives, we can help usher in an age of abundance and freedom the like of which the world has never known. Wenner-Gren Committed To Build Railway Soon Whether the Wenner-Gren interests will proceed with their grand plans in the Rocky Mountain Trench or forfeit the $500,000 it has deposited with the Government, should be decided by this June. Under the memorandum of intention, signed by Wenner- Gren and the B.C. Government, Wenner-Gren is committed to start coustruction of a railway, during the second quarter of 1960, froin the southerly end of the Rocky Mountain Trench adjacent to the Pacific Great Eastern Railway north to the northern boundary of B.C. Cost of the railway is estimated at $90,000,000, which would make it one of the biggest industrial projects in B.C. in recent years, if undertaken. LW. | F Gilt AD SF 2 R747 } W GRCOuUVS | BAR? gue | P | Lhe diror, | ; An announcement wis made irom Boston, Mass., on January | 20th stating that Vancouver, B.C. had made a clean sweep of all of the top awards conferred by the National Fire Protection As- sociation for, Fire Prevention Campaigns conducted during 1959. Included among the Awards won by Vancouver were; Ist place for major citics and muni- cipalities in B.C.; Ist place for major cities and municipalities in Canada; and the most. coveted honour of all, the “Grand Award” which is conferred in the City, Town or Municipality regardless of its size, which conducts the most outstanding. Fire Prevention Campaign in Canada, Although Vancouver’s Camni- paign was sponsored principally by the Fire Department, its not- able success this year was due, to a very great extent, to the co- operation of the entire com- munity. With such city-wide support as we have received, we may yet be successful in drastically reducing the loss of life and property in Vancouver by Fire. Please accept my most sincere thanks for your contribution to our Campaign, I assure you that your support has done much to ensure its success. Yours sincerly, H. S. Bird, J)! Chief, Vancouver Fire Department CARLING'S PILSENER .... of course! : ) When it comes to enjoying a light and bright pilsener beer B.C.’s Favorite because of the taste A This advertisement is pot published or displayed by the Liquor Control Board or by the Government of British Columbia, Housing Starts Down ; January housing dropped more than 25 per cent from the previous year’s total, the Dominion Bureau of Statistics has reported, Starts on the construction of new dwelling units in urban centres of 5,000 population and over in January, 1960, declined to 3,722 units from: 4,833 units in the corresponding month last year. Units. under...construction at the end of January numbered 55,743, a decrease of eight per cent from 60,423 a year earlier. starts THE CARLING BREWERIES (0.¢.) LTD. |