4 WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER BEY Ley ee | Editorial No Apology The most effective answer for the politicians who have viciously attacked the IWA and affiliated unions pone of their politicial action is a true statement of the acts. In this respect the IWA agrees with the statement recently issued by the President of the B.C. Federation of Labour. All of labour’s decisions in this respect were made in a full democratic manner. The politically active trade unions have nothing to hide or defend. There is no occasion to enter a defence for trade union political action. The IWA decision to participate actively in this campaign in order to defeat the Social Credit Government and elect a CCF Government was made at a representa- tive policy-making Regional Conference of delegates from IWA Local Unions in B.C. This decision was in strict conformity with similar decisions made democratically by the B.C. Federation of Labour and the Canadian Labour Congress. Support of the CCF, the one political party which has consistently fought for the common people, and which is pledged to implement labour’s legislative aims, is the ex- pressed desire of the trade union rank and file membership in this province. Session after session, the CCF elected representatives have boldly stated trade union demands in the Legislature. Session after session, the Social Credit Government has scorned these demands and given effect to the employers’ anti-labour plans. The CCF has kept faith with labour. In this election campaign the IWA has determined to keep faith with the CCF. The IWA has no apology to make for this action. Action to defeat an administration which has attempted to hobble and strangle unions at the behest of the organ- ized employers is action which will serve the welfare of the membership. The IWA has no apology to offer for its opposition to corruption and bribery in Government. Trade unionists will not be forced to vote for any particular party. Their intelligence and reason lead them to vote for the CCF as the best way to accomplish their most important objectives. The trade union movement was instrumental in securing the secret ballot, and through the years has fought to protect this and other basic civil rights. No action of the trade union movement will infringe upon this right. In full appreciation of this right, so ardently preserved through the years, every trade unionist is ex- pected to exercise his franchise on polling day, September 12th. Every worker may under the law demand sufficient time off to vote. The organized employers have for many years taken political action to protect their own interests in the legi- slative field. Hundreds of thousands of dollars have been made available to the Social Credit Party campaign funds. Such contributions are made in the firm expectation that the party when in office will “reward its friends.” In this campaign, the business interests are uniting in financial support of Social Credit, because they oppose the better deal for labour advocate by the CCF. Organized labour has always believed in low-cost power that can only be made possible through public ownership, as in other provinces. For years labour has urged medical coverage for everyone. Repeatedly during the present year, labour has stressed the need for action with regard to unemployment. The CCF will carry out these policies, starting with a session of the Legislature this fall. Apart from the many other points which labour has written into the CCF platform, these three alone provide good and sufficient reason why labour is pursuing its present course. Publication date of the next issue of the WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER is September Ist. Deadline for ad copy is August 19th, and for news copy August 26th. LOM BERNONMED wT Sw IReOW WIL PUBLISHED TWICE MONTHLY ON THE FIRST AND THIRD THURSDAYS BY International Woodworkers of America (AFL-CIO-CLC) Regional Council No.1