Packing workers in Okanagan
impatient over delay in vote

KELOWNA, B.C.

Trade unionists employed in
the fruit and vegetable pack-
ing industry were still wait-
ing this week for the provin-
cial Labor Relations Board to
act on their request for a
government-supervised vote
to be conducted in the indus-
try to determine a single bar-
gaining agency.

The labor department has
acknowledged receipt of the
joint request for the vote made
by the Federation of Fruit

and Vegetable Workers and
the Fruit and Vegetable Work-
ers affiliated to International
Brotherhood of Teamsters.

The joint action came about
as a result of a meeting be-
tween delegates of the two
groups in Kelowna at the end
of August. The request stip-
ulated that the vote should be
held by September 15 if pos-
sible and no later than Sep-
tember 20.

Because of the apparent
stalling by the labor depart-

ment, local trade unionists are
considering working out a
joint plan to conduct the vote
themselves.

Workers are anxious to have
the jurisdictional dispute
cleared up in order to stren-
gthen their bargaining posi-
tion before next season’s work
begins. This year the com-
panies granted a “voluntary”
increase of 10 cents an hour,
but workers feel more could
have been gained had their
ranks been united.

Labor around the province

Were looking for new readers
and if that’s not exactly new, it’s still
mighty important to us and to you.
Right now we're conducting a cam-
paign for 1,500 subs, new readers and
old readers, whose subs have lapsed.
And because we. have only a small
circulation department and no money
for promotion we are asking you to

get them for us.

That’s

not new

either, but it’s one of the things that
makes us what we are. What’s new
with us is what’s new with the world.

THE PACIFIC TRIBUNE
is Western Canada's most
influential labor weekly

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Steelworkers defeat
restriction of rights

A united protést on the part
of delegates representing 80,000
Canadian members, plus sup-
port from a majority of U.S.
delegates, defeated a bid made
by international president
Dave McDonald to put Can-
ada under an_ international
representative at the annua!
convention of United Steel-
workers of America, held last
week in Los Angeles.

McDonald’s attempt to strip
the Canadian union of some
of its traditional rights fol-
lows the pattern set by Inter-
national Association of Mach-
inists recently, when it reject-
ed a request from Canadian
locals for greater autoncmy.
But the Steelworkers’ leader
went further and tried to re-
duce the democratic rights
currently enjoyed by the Can-
adian section of the union.

The rebuff received by Mc-
Donald should make him un-
derstand that Canadian mem-
bers of international unions
will demand more, not less,
autonomy in the future.

Recent history shows that
only good can come from the
free granting of greater aut-
onomy. Since Mine-Mill free-
ly gave full autonomy and
independence to its Canadian
section, Mine-Mill in Canada
has reached its greatest
strength in history, yet ties
with the international, based
on free brotherhood and mu-
tual respect, are stronger than
ever.

The reverse side of the coin
is the top brass dictatorship
exercised over Canadians by
such internationals as the Hod
Carriers, and the consequent
weakening of the union.

* * *

B.C. Government Employees
Association now has more than
10,000 members, and Loggers
Local 1-71 International Wood-
workers of America claims
5,000 members, both new highs
in membership.

Local 1-71 has bought a 24-
foot cruiser, thus doubling the
size of the “Loggers’ Navy.”
It previously used a rebuilt
fishing vessel for organiza-
tional work up and down the
coast.

* * *

Aid to educational institu-
tions will be the target of a
new drive by the Canadian
Labor Congress. A three-man
committee has been set up to
head the campaign — Gower
Markle, Steelworkers; John
Whitehouse, Textile, and Gor-
‘don Milling, Ontario Federa-
tion of Labor.

Extension of educational
opportunities is essential to
our whole economic develop-
ment, said Max Swerdlow,
Ottawa CLC educational vi-
rector. “We want to take the
price tag off education.”

SEPTEMBER 28, 1956 — PACIFIC TRIBUNE

Efforts will be made 0!
the heat on_ provincial ©
federal governments for ™
financial outlays. The, ‘
is also considering settiNe
a full-time labor colle®
some Canadian centre

* * *

Carpenters Union is ® if
old. It was formed .]
when carpenters WO,
hours a day and wage
10 to 15 cents per hou
now has 850,000 membé
2,950 locals. :

* * x

Mine-Mill has wor ¢
increases ‘up to 15 cer
hour for 60 men at He
Bell silver mine, nea! cet
na. Miners get mine
this year, six cents ?
and other workers
cents each year.

x x us es)

Since 1951 the dilf@'g)
in pay between Canal i
the U.S. has widened. © y
it was $1.95 and $1.48. 9
it is $2.33 and $1.78.

* * x

sp

Western Pulp and id
Worker reports this

“William M. Bost r
Washington formed ost
union and paid himsell’ of
a year dues to beat thé (
tax. He called it LAWS |
ly American Workm a
ciety). He figured
worth $98,098.98 2 ¥
only got $5,045.36.

"Yours?"
wo w
The HUB has ie” a

I
sport. Carss Ja
Cruiser coats, Heavy,
pants . . . In faC% Jiplf

cHE HY

To
45 EAST HAST