vs From Page 1 “Banks” The Office Employees Union contemplates a program which Will sound this appeal to all em- ployees in the 500 branches of the chartered banks in the province. The reason for the present concentration on bank employees js the notoriously low bank salaries, with the ad- ditional reason that if bank em- ployees are unionized, the drive to organize all other “white collar” workers will be acceler- ated. IWA Locals Help Leaflet distribution for the City of New Westminster has been undertaken by Local 1-357, IWA. In the Fraser Valley, Local 1-367, 1WA, has assumed the task on behalf of the Office Workers. An interesting development since the campaign was an- nounced is that all banks have summoned their employees to conferences at which wage in- creases have been announced. Formerly such increases were syanted on an individual basis, but under the present circum- stances the increases follow a uniform rate schedule for all hanks. It is presumed that this has been done at the instance of the Bankers’ Association to weaken the union’s appeal. McGavin’s good bread made by UNION Bakers sold by UNION . Salesmen Drivers asked for by UNION ~ Customers Printers of The Western Canadian Lumber Worker LIMITED PRINTERS AND LITHOGRAPHERS 944 RICHARDS STREET MUtual 1-6338 - 6339 ll . : IWA DELEGATES attending the IWA Regional Safety Conference March 26, in the Stry Hall, Vancouver. Members Assessed $100 Each Saskatchewan Doctors Fight CCF Prepaid Medical Plan A fourth opposition party has entered the field against Saskatchewan's CCF Government. The Saskatchewan College of Physicians and Surgeons is making a $100 assessment on each of its 930 members to fight the CCF Government's prepaid medical care proposal. The pool of $90.000 that the doctors hope to collect will be used to spread propaganda against the health plan which is supported by the Saskatchewan labour movement, One member of the doctors’ committee has al- ready announced his intention to become a Conservative candi- date in the coming provincial election. CCF Plan The CCF plan, which if re- elected, the government will be- gin in 1961, provides medical care for everyone in the province at a premium of $17.50 per adult or a maximum of $85 to $40 a year per family. Addi- tional funds will come from general revenue. An advisory committee. on which doctors hold three of ten Premier Douglas. they have to defeat him at the polls. This they will try to. do. War Chest The $90.00 war chest will probably far surpass CCF funds in the election campaign. In 1956, the CCF spent $36,000. On top of the doctors’ money, Social Credit, Conservative and Liberal campaign funds are ex- pected {to swell with out-of- province donations. Apart from a public campaign, doctors are said to be working up a “scare-campaign’’ among their patients. One woman re- ported that her family doctor of many years’ standing warned her against the CCF plan. He told her that their old “‘doctor- patient” relationship would vanish if the CCF won the next assessment levied by the medical profession. “There has been comment about placing a levy on trade unionists to support things they don’t necessarily believe in. I certainly don’t agree that all doctors are opposed to the pro- posed medical-care, plan.” said Mr. Douglas. It was noted that the doctors did not have any “contracting-out” rights. They have to pay. Premier Douglas pointed out that in 1948 the college passed a resolution asking for a state- aided medical care program. The government was unable to institute it at that time as it had just made a start on its compulsory hospital insurance program. On the CCF side of the fight, the trade union movement of the province has thrown its weight. The Saskatchewan Federation of Labour, labour councils and a number of affili- ates have criticized the doctors’ “selfish stand.” The unions have promised to back the plan and the government in the coming election. CLC Executive Seeks Small Dues Hike A three-cent hike in affiliation fees will be sought at the coming Canadian Labour Congress convention. The executive council will ask the convention to raise the per capita fee paid by affiliates to 10 cents a month. It is now seven cents. New Apprentices Centre VICTORIA—Million dollar centre for the training of ap- prentices, located in Burnaby, will be opened later this year, it Was announced in the Legislature by Labour Minister Wicks. At the present time 2842 young workers are under inden- seats, would work out the|election, This argument was} ture of apprenticeship or in pre-apprenticeship classes, it was details. termed “bunkum” by one CCF disclosed. The government is prepared spokesman. Courses in the new institution will be welding, steel fabri- to stake its fortunes in the next Premier Douglas cation, automotive mechanics, boat building, millwork, joinery, election on the issue. If the Premier Douglas of coutse} painting, carpentry, steam fitting, plumbing and sheet metal doctors are bent on stopping|takes a dim viéw of. the $100] work. Get LUCKY LAGER -t This advertisement is not published or displayed by the Liquor Control Board or by the Government of British Columbia V 422 | a» he real lager beer!