APRIL-MAY, 1977 Long-time member of Local 1-357 IWA, Rae Eddie, passed away suddenly February 6, in Burnaby. Rae was highly respected and liked by all who knew him. He served his Local Union as Recording Secretary and Business Agent for a number of years and was one of the leading figures in building the organization. He was also an International Trustee and carried out this duty well. In 1952, running as a CCF candidate in the riding of New Westminster, he defeated the Liberal Premier Byron Johnson. He was so popular with the voters in New West- minster that he was never defeated. During his seventeen years in the provincial legislature, Rae fought for improved labour legislation, the removal of all tolls on bridges and the right of civil servants to col- lective bargaining. He retired from both politics and his union duties in May of 1969, at the age of 68. A funeral service was con- THE WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER ORGANIZER WANTED Regional Council No. 1, IWA, is considering hiring an additional or- ganizer in the near future. This position requires a person with a good union background who is prepared to travel extensively and face long periods of time away a i: — ban RAE EDDIE ducted February 9, at the East Burnaby United Church and was attended by a large gathering of relatives and friends. He is survived by his wife Norma, two daughters, Linda and Wilma, and two sons, Glen -and Len. _The officers and staff of the Regional Council extend to them their utmost sympathy. CHANGE ACT U.LC. INJUSTICE SCORED BY WRITER - To The Editor, Dear Sir: I write this letter in the hope that I can bring about some awareness to fellow workers and the general public who believe in justice, equality and just plain decency concerning the injustice, inequality and indecency perpetrated on workers through the present Unemployment Insurance Act and its Regulations. Let me start by telling you briefly of one experience I have had. I was laid-off due to a work shortage from CFB Esquimalt (Dockyard), Nov- ember, 1975. My average weekly earnings were less than the maximum insurable earnings, therefore I received less than the maximum benefits. I found work in a sawmill for two days during January and was successful in hadar claim and that my rate would still be under the maximum. I did job searches like an ee oe vee thle to get work for one day a week for 3 weeks which me approximately day. I then went ‘for 3 days in different weeks that my average weekly earnings were below maximum. I found to my Surprise that my weekly benefit rate had dropped even further. I found work when I could for whatever pay I could get and generally being a good citizen I have been penalized to the tune of $13.00 per week. Iam now back to work again but should I become so unlucky as to be unemployed again within the next 2 or 3 months, I will still be on a running claim ‘and still on a reduced rate. The question is, should I turn my other cheek and seek low paid casual employment so that my benefits can be reduced even further, or should I be deceitful in order to hold my own against a discriminatory law. You be the judge. It seems unthink- able that the legislators of our country could contrive such a mess and call it social legisla- tion. : I have touched one area where injustice and inequality reign supreme within the UIC Act and its Regulations. It seems to me that it is high time that a thinking public should demand of their legislators to put an end to these kinds of things and find a fair level of UIC benefits that any human being can exist on and put an end to discrimination to the honest and willing worker, put an end to the witch hunt that goes on in increasing intensity whenever there is an unem- ployment percentage point increase, and lastly demand that they initiate a law that is fair and just to all in place of the present one. J.M. Gauti, General Delivery, Sooke. . from home. First consideration will be given to applications from IWA mem- bers. Anyone interested in the position should write to Regional Presi- dent J. J. Munro, 2859 Commercial Drive, Vancouver 12, British Columbia, Postal Code V5N 4C7. | ESTIMATED 1,000,000 CANADIANS ~ HAVE PROBLEMS WITH ALCOHOL | By ALD. HARRY RANKIN The continuing pressure of hotel owners in B.C. to get licenses to sell hard liquor in their beer parlors can be properly evaluated only if seen in context — which is that alco- holism has become an alarm- ing social problem in our society. ‘It is estimated that 1,000,000 Canadians are alcoholics. According to the World Health Organization, an agency of the United Nations, Canada has the world’s fifth- highest rate of alcoholism (the US. is first). B.C. has the highest per capita of drinkers of alcoholic beverages in Canada. One half of all traffic fatalities are linked to alcohol. Half of all homicides are alcohol related. Every third arrest is for alcohol. Many of the worst crimes, such as child assaults and rapes, are alcohol related. Over 50 percent of commit- ments to mental and correc- tional institutions are for alcohol. One half of all divorces are caused by alcohol related problems. Children of alcohol- - ics have a higher rate of delinquency, crime and emotional disorders. One in three suicides are -alcohol related. This list of the social tragedies caused by alcohol could go on and on. The problem is: What can be done about it? I think the first thing to recognize js that some are profiting from the increasing use of alcohol — the distiller- ies, the brewers, the owners of beer parlors . and ‘cocktail lounges, and provincial gov- ernments. Those who profit from the sale of alcoholic beverages naturally want to see it grow. Every additional sale means additional profits. Provincial governments, like ours in B.C., make huge profits from liquor sales. The net profit of the B.C. Liquor Com- mission in 1976 was $147 million, up from $118 million in 1975. Our problem in B.C. is compounded by the fact that the party in office is strongly supported by the liquor inter- ests, and in turn supports them. The so-called “‘profits”” made by the B.C.-government from. the sale and distribution ~ of liquor are more than offset by the enormous social costs of - liquor abuse — added police and court costs, higher health and welfare bills, absenteeism and impaired productivity in industry and commerce, traffic accidents.and countless other costs. So the increased sale of liquor is not really making more money for B.C., it’s costing us much more than it makes. The problem of increasing alcoholism needs to be tackled on several fronts. ; One is to make those who cause the problem bear more of the social cost. All distiller- ies, breweries and liquor. outlets in the province should be heavily taxed with the revenues going into a special fund to be used to help cover the costs incurred by the victims of alcoholism. Another is to contain and if possible reduce the use. of alcohol. No liquor advertising of any kind should be permit- ted. Promotion ‘‘gifts’’ by dis- tillers and brewers should be banned. Police road blocks, which have proven to be so effective at Christmas and New Year’s, should become a year-round thing. A serious public education campaign should be undertaken extend- ing from the schools into every home and community. One of the measures desper- ately needed for those who have become alcoholics is more. detoxification centres. I’ve been battling-for these for a long time and this govern- ment is harder to budge than any previous one. Rehabilita- tion centres for long term treatment are also needed. My list of remedies is by no means complete. The main thing is that more should be done along these lines and that will require a great deal of public pressure. The liquor people have a well organized and financed lobby to press their demands. An even more powerful lobby is needed to represent and protect the people’s interest. : FOUNDING MEETING of the Regional Council’s Committee on Alcohol and Drug Abuse. Members of the Committee include Henry Nedegard, Local 1-85; Don Muirhead, Local 1- 424; Paul Beaulieu, Local 1-217; Jack McNeil, CNR & Addixs; Neil Menard, Regional 3rd Vice-President; Ron Tweedie, Department of Labour; Bob Blanchard, Regional 2nd Vice- Presiden and Chairman; Dr. Christine Rodgers, Alcohol & Drug Commissioner; Barbara Downs, ADC; Marty Mansen, Addixs; Jack Kerrsens, Local 1-417; Tom Fawkes, P.R.; Don Davidson, Local 1-405; Max Salter, Ernie Smith, Local 1-288. Regional Safety Director; Ross Davies, Local 1-80;