: : A a oe | 5 fs THE WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER 2nd Issue Oct. 1964 | EDITORIAL CONGRATULATIONS WE CONGRATULATE Regional President Moore, 2nd Vice-President Jack Holst and International Board Member Wyman Trineer upon their re-election to office in the B.C. Federation of Labour. Their re-election was not only a tribute to services rendered but also a compliment to the initiative shown by the IWA in labour’s fight for fair labour legislation in this province. The full weight of IWA influence should now be ex- ercised to gain legislative protection for trade union rights. The next session of the Provincial Legislature may present a crisis if the employers have their way. It is not enough that restrictive legislation should be repealed. The law must now spell out the right to or- ganize and the right to engage freely in genuine collec- tive bargaining. POLITICAL ACTION TH the convention of the B.C. Federation of Labour stimulated interest in political action was made evident by the number of active trade unionists who participated in the recent series of Policy Institutes spon- sored by the New Democratic Party. The major concern of unionists was the formulation of a plank in the Party's platform that would adequately meet the legislative needs of organized labour, It was made evident that labour would be granted the right to shape policy on this phase of the NDP legislative pro- gram. Continuing discussions will polish the draft which was accepted in principle and which will go forward to the NDP provincial Convention next Spring. A noteworthy feature of the discussions was the demand that proposals affecting labour’s legislative interests should now be considered against the back- ground of rapidly accelerating mechanization. Labour's spokesmen asked for brand-new concepts in the political field relating to the upheaval of technological change. The major demand made was “the right to a job at a living wage.” The committment expected was as follows: “By meeting the challenge of automation and technological change through cooperation with management and labour in planning for the employ- ment needs of the province with meaningful programs of research, training, re-training and re-location, a New Democratic Government would ensure that there are sufficient jobs for all employable people and that our people are adequately trained to fill these jobs.” When placed in power, a new Democratic Govern- ment will guarantee the right to organize and to bar- gain collectively, it was assured. Thus it is planned to eliminate the existing discrimination against civil ser- vants, reprisals of employers and restrictive actions by the courts. Trade unionists who take part in these discussions render a useful service to their unions. Public opinion which eventually determines political policy is influenced to accept labour’s program which holds the secret of industrial and social progress. An informed public opin- ion will reject the hostility toward unions which employ- ing inierests are trying to foment. It’s one thing to place an attractive program on paper and quite another to secure its enactment. The next step for politically-minded trade unionists is to exercise their rights of affiliation with the NDP and ‘secure the nomination and election of public represent- atives who will translate their objectives into provincial statutes. Lee AN ol A/a Published twice monthly as the official publication of the ep INTERNATIONAL ODWORKERS OF AMERICA, Western Canadian Regional! Council No. 1. Affiliated with AFL-CIO-CLC 2869 Commercial Drive, Vancouver, B.C. Phone 874-5261 SO ET ST aa ae SS git SRS ey A OO Grant MacNeil roe te Editor _... Pat Kerr Co eae nager .... .... Fred _Fieber Advertising Representative ................. ... G. A. Spencer member of the IWA in Western Canada in decisions, Subscription rate for non-members Speed gg eh Post Office Department, Ottawa, cash. 27 copies printed in this issue.. The Federation's Task By JACK MOORE Regional President B* DECISION of the delegates at the con- vention of the B.C. Federation of La- bour, our Union has again been trusted with heavy responsibilities in the field of labour legislation. My re-election as 1st Vice-Presi- dent, with that of Brothers Jack Holst and Wyman Trineer as members of the Execu- tive Council, gave recognition to the value of IWA support for organized labour’s legisla- tive program. IWA delegations played an important part in shap- ing the legislative program now known to be of vital importance to every trade unionist. IWA_ resolutions approved by our Regional Convention were all given thoughtful attention and were woven into the final “=< conclusions. The representation allotted to the IWA on the Federation’s Executive Council pro- vides our Union with an excellent opportun- ity to continue the emphasis ordered by IWA Conventions on important aspects of labour legislation. The IWA cannot successfully promote the welfare of IWA members by any isola- tionist policy in the field of labour legisla- tion. We are an integral part of the Cana- dian labour movement. As unity of thought and action is imperative in the affairs of our own Union, so it is equally imperative on the broader field of trade union political action. x * * FEDERATION TAKES THE OFFENSIVE T THE Federation convention, we shared with the members of other trade unions, deep concern because of the wave of anti- union “conservatism” expressed in the U.S. by the Goldwater campaign, and in Canada by the employers’ political spokesmen. In this respect, an offensive is the best defence. The Federation’s convention was notable for its bold declarations on the side of social progress. “Small-c conservatives,” under any political label, are clearly seen as the enemies of labour and the saboteurs of community progress. Their activities in B.C. will require vigorous action by the B.C. Federation of. Labour during the next year. * * * JOB SECURITY NEEDS PROTECTION dbs proceedings of the Federation’s con- vention indicated that the trade unions form ‘the only section of industry with a genuine interest in promoting job security in a technological age. It was also agreed that no. single union can negotiate a com- plete solution for the consequences of auto- mation. There must be concerted action by all unions. It is also necessary that Federal - and Provincial Governments should initiate measures to safeguard the welfare of work- ers displaced by the new machines. The B.C. Federation of Labour offers the best avenue to accomplish both purposes. Our Union has launched its own program to protect job security in the face of rapid mechanization. We will also work in close co- operation with the other unions in the Fed- eration to combat technological unemploy- ment. * * * SAFEGUARD FOREST RESOURCES C is important to note that the Federation displayed great interest in the conserva- tion and development of our forest resources. These resources are the basis of our employ- ment and should not be looted by private monopolies. : Through the Federation we must continue to exert political pressure to place our forest resources under the control of the people to be developed in their interests. - PERSONALLY I THINK IT’S SOME DANGED PIECE OF MINING EQUIPMENT ... SHIPPED UP HERE BY MISTAKE,