12 MORRIS URGES LABOR ACTION The twin problems of unemployment and automation are so inter-related that a thorough analysis of both are necessary to arrive at satisfactory solutions. This formed the main theme of an address by former Regional President Joe Morris who was welcomed to the IWA Regional Convention as a fraternal delegate and Executive Vice-President of the Canadian La- bour Congress. After a review of the economic situation, and the steps taken by the Canadian Labour Congress to combat unemployment, the speak- er said in part. “The situation that we are faced with calls for vigorous and or- ganized action on the part of all sections of the community to erad- icate this needless problem of unemployment. There is ample work waiting to be done and there are ample people to do it. “With respect to the other problem, the problem of automa- tion and its effect on the unem- ployment situation, we are faced in Canada with an ever and ever accelerating process of automa- tion. Whether, in fact, automa- tion will be a boon to our people or not, we will still have with us the problems that are attendant in the wake of a development such as this, a development that has been often described as the second industrial’ revolution, which is supposed to bring in its wake the era of the greatest pros- perity and increase in living standards that have ever been known by. mankind. “But it is- becoming increasingly obvious to us that as the process of automation and mechanization develops it is not the cure-all for the ills of the economic system that many of the industrialists say it is. “Unless there is proper planning developed by government, man- agement and labour to use the benefits of automation for the good of the community, we may find that these benefits will be obscured by increasing unemploy- ment, Unless we properly under- stand and control the advent of automation into industries, grave social dislocations may result. We must consider the problem of dis- placement of workers from their jobs by the new automatic pro- cesses and we must develop plans to alleviate their distress. “WE MUST PLAN” “We must also plan how we can share the fruits of improved auto- mation, including the current and foreseeable economic trends, the impact of automation and techno-. logical change on occupational structures and _ labour - manage- ment relations and changing man- power requirements, mobility and training. of the labour force and we must plan for the potential economic gains and social costs of automation and technological change. “All sections of the community, collectively, will have to work together on this problem with a view to devising socially and eco- nomically satisfactory solutions. CANADIAN There must be procedures set up for the training and re-training of displaced workers. We must provide better opportunity for technical training for younger workers who are entering the la- bour market, to provide them with the new skills required by industry. JOE MORRIS CLC Executive Vice-President “We must take care to provide the highest possible measures of job security. We must increase the annual income of our people so that they will be in a better position to buy back the goods that: they produce and keep the economy in a buoyant state. MOBILITY OF LABOUR “We must ensure that the mo- bility of labour is facilitated so that workers who are displaced in one operation may be provided with opportunities for employ- ment in other operations, or in other areas-of the nation. We must make sure that there is an extension of the social services in the community so that workers displaced will not be forced to live on minimal standards of liv- ing. But above all, we must make sure that our people are aware of the problems that they are faced with.” delegates while International . - z E ao’ oe i CCF-NDP OPPOSITION LEADER Robert Strachan holds an informal conference with three Interior Board member Joe Madden looks on. Group left, Robert Strachan; Ron Tweedie, Local 1-424; Bill Muir, Local 1-423; Dick Larson hidden by Muir, Local 1-417; Joe Madden standing. DELEGATES STATE LEGISLATIVE AIMS The repeal of restrictive labour legislation was given high priority on a long list of legislative demands approved by the IWA Regional Con- vention. Other legislative demands were: @® A comprehensive medical care plan with coverage for all. @ The enactment of a govern- ment automobile insurance plan. ® The complete over-haul of the minimum wage laws. @ Amendments to the Hours of Work Act that would remove compulsion on any worker to work more than eight hours in a twenty-four hour period. ® Amendments to the Income Tax. Act providing exemptions for all optical, dental and surgical expenses; occupational expenses incurred by workers in their nor- mal employment, higher exemp- tions for children at school; handicapped and retarded chil- dren; board and travel expenses; cost of protective clothing and tools when necessary. ® Stiffer penalties upon em- ployers convicted of violations of the Labour Relations Act. ® Amendments to the Labour Relations Act that would permit strike action by Local Unions based on a majority vote of the entire membership. @ Amendments to the Semi- monthly Payment of Wages Act, that would require an employer of workers at isolated points to make at least $25 in cash out of wages due available upon termin- ation of employment in order to provide funds for travel expenses. Make saving IMPERIAL BANK OF a habit with a COMMERCE MORE THAN 1260 BRANCHES TO SERVE YOU ® That Unemployment Insur- ance stamps be provided for the periods during which a worker is on compensation. @® That provincial regulations be amended to require at least 50% of all logs harvested in pub- lic working circles to be sold on the open market and to insure that independent conversion plants have an equal opportunity to bid on these logs with the large integrated companies. ® That beer be placed on sale in grocery stores. @ That woodworkers protective clothing and footwear be exempt from the sales tax.- PEACE AIMS OUTLINED The IWA Regional Convention expressed opposition to nuclear weapons on Canadian soil, as it turned to problems now causing world tensions. Other related resolutions called for .» a ban on all nuclear testing. - support of a policy for world disarmament. : . the’ diversion of armament expenditure to such purposes as housing, free medical care, and improved educational facilities. .a publicity program to in- form trade union members of the effects of radiation hazards and nuclear warfare. SENIORITY © PROBLEMS GET AIRING Problems relating to sen- iority rights under the con- tract were under extended discussion during the recent IWA Regional Convention. Progress was reported in securing a greater degree of uniformity, but the remaining complexities require further consideration by all Local Un- ions, it was agreed. It was decided to hold Re- gional Staff Conferences to perfect uniformity in the ap- plication of seniority. All Local Unions were re- quested to co-ordinate their efforts to reach a satisfactory solution of this problem through the Regional Council that seniority may be based on length of service and abil- ity to do the work required. A study will be made of the problems involved in portable seniority within a company in the event of a shut-down or any one oper- ation. Permissive attitudes by parents are what start grade - school youngsters off as regular smokers, according to a study by the department of epidemiology at Harvard’s school of public health. IWA INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH DIRECTOR Elwood Taub ad- dressing the 25th Annual Regional Convention. To the right is Regional President Jack Moore.