ry 3 }. 719 Robson St. — MAr. 2622 Journeymen labor department delay Tailors score Investigation of union complaints against the management of Rose Marie Reid Ltd., 1255 West Pender Street, is being conducted by the provincial labor department, according to a report made by Gary Culhane, Journeymen Tailors’ repre- sentative, to Vancouver Labor Council (CCL) this week. -When some of the most active union workers at the Shop had been fired Culhane said, the union filed affidavits under the ICA Act, charging the company with anti- union discrimination. Every pos- sible means had been used by the company, even the use of a pub- lic address system on the job to misrepresent the trade union move- ment, to cause confusion and frighten the girls. Despite this intimidation, Cul- hane reported, the girls there had remained solid. Even after being cross@xamined by the govern- ment inspector during the hear- ing, one girl had ‘walked over to the union organizer and pull- ed out of her purse a dozen more applications to join the union. Culhane pointed out to delegates that government delay in acting on the union’s complaints—charges were filed December 15 and not acted upon until January 12—had played directly into the company’s hands. _ “When the investigator finally got to the company’s office, the management had reached the posi- tion of contempt for the labor de- partment and contempt for the law,” he said. The company then called a meeting of workers on the job and tried to show that the union could not do any better for them than the plant committee, otherwise there would not have been such delay. Although this firm has been in business about ten years, no real organization had ever been com- pleted there. One previous attempt had been made some time ago, but when the Journeymen Tailors went in there last October there was no organization at all, No sooner, had the investigation opened, Cul- hane remarked, than the union re- ceived -a: visit from the Western representative of the International Ladies’ Garment Workers “ Union |. RIGHEST PRICES PAID for = DIAMONDS, OLD GOLD 3 Other Valuable Jewellery “STAR LOAN CO. Ltd. Est. 1905 den. aoe eS cee et UNION DRIVERS ‘ HA. 0334 ae att as East Hastings, Vancouver Style Value Quality Always at the Home of UNION MADE CLOTHING — and | Friendly Service Established For Over 40 Years rHE-Hus 45 E. Hastings — Vancouver Phone PAc. 3645 EAST END-~- {i who informed Culhane _that the shop was his and the Journeymen Tailors should get out of it. “We informed him we were or- ganizing in there and we were staying in,” Culhane declarcd. “This is no new experience but it does not serve thé trade union movement. The only way the ILGWU- would enter the picture is if it was called in by the man- GARY CULHANE agement, thus playing into the company’s hands.” Culhane also reported organiza- tion by his union of one of the large custom-tailoring shops in the city, Charles Kent and ComPany, on Hastings Street. The Journeymen Tailors has passed its fiftieth birthday this month, and is celebrating with a banquet to be held in the Hotel Vancouver on Friday, February 13, to which all trade unionists are invited. Prices ducting a two-week buyers’ strike against meat, boycotting all pork products. A provincial conference of Housewives’ Leagues is being jcalled for February 19-20, with |the intention of sending a dele- gation to the legislature. @ In Calgary, Canadian Legion Branch No. 1, has set up a com- mittee to fight high prices. | It"was the same story all across the country. The govéernment’s own cost of living index stood on December 1, 1947, at 146.0, a 448 percent increase since Aug- ust 1, 1939. This was higher even than the 145.4 peak reached in 1920 after the First World War. It was also higher than the 145.0 at which Finance Minister Douglas Abbott, with a misplaced optimism not shared by house- wives, estimated prices would level off. zs But the agitation by the big oil companies for an increase in gas prices, the incessant demand from property owners for lifting of rent controls, the constant rais- ing of food prices, all indicate that there will be no levelling off unless the government steps in—or the bottom falls out of the inflationary boom. And if that happens it will again be the work- ing people who will suffer the most. According to the letter, exact duplicate of that received by the Pacific Tribune in response to a protest written by Editor Tom McEwen, the Deputy Attorney- General stated that he did “not see how we can do anything about it. The pamphlet is un- signed and we do not know the author.- Further, if any anti- racist legislation is passed it would seem it should be done by the Dominion and not the pro- vincial government.” It was pointed out that a man has now been arrested and charged with seditious libel in connection with distribution of this anti- semitic leaflet, that this case would undoubtedly go before a higher court and it would be up to the Attorney-General’s depart- ment to see that the charges were pressed. IWA delegate Ernie Dalskog demanded that this man’s record should be forwarded to the trade unions in New Zealand, to which country he was reportea to be on his way when arrested. Labor Council demands gov't introduce anti-racist legislation Question as to why this province has not passed legislation to deal with racial discrim- ination, similar to that enacted in sevéral other provinces, was raised by delegates to Vancouver Labor Council (CCL) this’ week, when a letter from the Attorney-General’s department, disclaiming any ability to act in the case of anti-Jewish literature recently circularised in the city, was received and filed. “I understand this man arrived in the U.S. seven months ago,” declared Sid Sarkin, Journeymen Tailor’s delegate, “where he met with Gerald K. Smith. Then he proceeded to Montreal where he is reported to have talked with ‘Adrian Arcand and from Mon- treal he has now come to Van- couver.” Requesting that the council’s legislative committee investigate the question, Gary Culhane, Journeymen Tailor’s delegate, de- manded that “labor should give a bold lead at this time” in seeing that legislation dealing with racial discrimination is passed by the province. Fact that the province does concern itself with racial questions was remarked upon by IWA dele- gate Hjalmar Bergren, who re- ealled that it was the provincial government that had refused the Japanese votes and if this one racial question was within its juridiction, then another racial question should be as well. Following breakdown of kers of America, District 18, ton, carrying on the UMWA “no contract, no work” tradition, walked off the job this week in protest against the constant delaying tactics of mine opera- 4 tors. Wage increases and abolition of the contract system are among the miners’ chief demands, drawn up at a special convention held last October to discuss revision of the agreement with operators, The men are asking a straight $14 a day wage for most under- ground men, $3 a day increase for all inside and outside day workers, 10 cents a ton for the welfare fund, which now stands at 3 cents; improvement in the holidays-with-pay clause, and for all wage increases to be retroac- tive to December 3, 1947. Union representatives have charged that mine operators have deliberately delayed negotiations by every possible means, thereby trying to place the union in the position of having to strike ille- gally. They have — stubbornly fought against any wage increases and publicly attacked the 40-hour week on every ocasion. The case has been before the Alberta courts for- almost three months, In 1946 miners won $1.40 a day wage increase and the 40-hour week, which left them approxim- ately the same or less take-home pay.. In line with the rising cost of living, a wage increase is there- fore long overdue. The strike being “investigated” by British Columbia’s newly app- pointed Labor Relations Board, which will report to Labor Min- ALL FORMS OF INSURANCE Auto — Fire Sickness & Accident Personal Property Floaters, ete. LAURIE NOWRY Representing A. J. Rudland Insurance Broker & Auto Finance M.A.7756 163 W. Hastings M.A.9407 (after 4.30) y) Led. MEN’S WEAR 54 W. Cordova Phone TA. 2657 Y, Block East of Woodwards Work Clothes for Worker PERSONAL ATTENTION Friendly Service Operators’ stall forces coal miners to strike negotiations between western coal mine operators and representatives of United Mine Wor- more than two thousand coal miners on Vancouver Island, Crows’ Nest area and Prince- ister Gordon S. Wismer who will then decide whether or not the walkout is “illegal” under Bill 39. Anti-Semite would ‘have taken the same stand if the same thing had been done against colored people.” Demanding tao know. who ‘had brought the charge against him, Graham asked Detective Plummer: “Is this a racial charge or political charge, and on whose behalf is it being brought?” Plummer informed Graham that he had brought the charge himself and “as is usual, on behalf of the Crown.” Graham was identified by Jeane Ray, public stenographer of 615 West Hastings Street, who said he had come to her office early in Dec- ember and asked her to mimeo- graph 500 copies of the leaflet con- cerned. He had asked her if she was Jewish. He told her he had just come over from England where they were having trouble with the Jews and she gained the impresion, she said, that he would be “shipping out some time in March for Australia,” Graham is also reported to have told Detective Plummer when ar- rested that “there is no law against talking against the Jews.” “You boys should get wise to yourselves. The Jews have taken over England and they will do the same here.” Graham is alleged to have said. Graham was committed to a higher court for trial and bail was raised from $100 to $2000, 5 LENIN MEMORIAL ‘MEETING and Musical Program SUNDAY, JANUARY 25 — 8 P.M. HASTINGS ODEON THEATRE | Tickets on sale at Pacific Tribune office, 650 Howe St. and at 104 Shelley Bldg. ALWAYS MEETAT THE Excellent Acoustics Renovated—Modernized—Hall Large and Small for Every Need DANCING—CONVENTIONS—MEETINGS : Triple Mike P.A. System — Wired for Broadcasting PENDER AUDITORIUM 339 West Pender Street JOHNSON HIGH QUALITY. LOGGERS AND WORK BOOTS HAND- ‘$ 63 WestCordovaStreet =e = eee = =) Phone MmAriNe Tis MADE BOOTS Open and League Play Invited THE PENDER BOWLING ALLEYS ‘FIVE: AND 10 PINS Open Noon Till Midnight — Monday to Saturday 839 West Pender Street — FUR RANCHERS, TRAPPERS and TRADERS — SHIP ALL YOUR RAW FURS TO Jack I. Louis 207 West Hastings St., Vancouver, B.C. I PAY TOP MARKET PRICES — PROMPT RETURNS FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 1948 PACIFIC TRIBUNE—PAGE 8 rie teat