THE WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER JIM LEHMAN, Warden and Gordon Davis, Con- ductor, are photographed at the conference’s reg- istration desk. FROM PAGE 4 “LOGGERS” realize that we need voices in government. To get the kind of voices we desire, such as Tom Barnett and Frank How- ard, we must elect more of these labour-minded and so- cially conscious people. “Our Local Union is pres- ently affiliated with the NDP, but in voice only! For over a year we have not made any per capita contributions and this needs correcting.” The section of the Report dealing with safety noted that the Local contributed to the IWA Brief presented to the Workmen’s Compensation Board Public Hearings and also made presentation at the Hearings on Regulations af- fecting the logging section. The Local’s Ladies’ Auxil- iary which was formed in 1962 and is now the largest auxiliary in the Regional Council was highly compli- mented in the Report. After listing the various worthwhile projects carried out by the ladies during the year it stat- ed in part: “We are proud of the work being done by the Ladies’ Auxiliary in Terrace and the interest that they are show- ing to both Union and Com- munity affairs. We wish them continued success in all their efforts.” INDUSTRIAL INJURIES More industrial injuries were reported to the WCB in 1964 than in any one year since 1957. Last year the toll reached 87,827, up seven per cent over 1963. In 1957, the total was 88,189. The 1964 Annual Report of the Workmen’s Compensation Board states that the increase is due mainly to economic ex- pansion within the Province. 1964 set an all time record of $23,781,915—up $2 million over the previous year. Of all injuries reported by workmen during the year, 26,258 were time-loss com- pensation cases (more than three days off work). Fatal accident cases amounted to 215, slightly above the annual average for the past five years. Employers covered under the Workmen’s Compensation Act increased to 34,704, high- est in the 48 year history of the WCB. About 460,000 workmen are employed by these firms and organizations. The total assessable payroll of employers was slightly un- der $2 billion, an increase of nearly $100 million over 1963. Employers pay the total cost of Workmen’s Compensation through assessments levied regularly by the WCB. The various industries in the Province are rated on the basis of their injury cost ex- perience. Assessment rates vary from a low of 10 cents per $100 of payroll to a high of $15 per $100 of payroll. No assess- ments are levied on an :em- ployee’s earnings over $5,000 annually. The largest single WCB cost during 1964 was for time loss compensation to work- men — $9,865,048. Permanent disability and death awards amounted to $8;479,574. Cost of medical aid for injured workmen totalled $5,437,293. INDUSTRY FACTS There are more than 2,000 companies engaged in forest products manetestare in B.C * Automatic lathe chargers find the exact geometric centre peer Meek we 6 wl tore evenly on the spindle. A plywood mill lathe can turn out veneer at 600 feet per OF UNION MEMBERS LEAVES THEM PICKING UP THE PEANUTS By JOHN SQUIRE, NDP-MLA OURTEEN sessions in the Legislature have convinced me [F that there is too much apathy on the part of organized labour in respect to the political life of the Province of British Columbia. True it is that the B.C. Fed- eration of Labour and the oc- casional Labour Council does all within their power to off- set rank and file and Local Union apathy. The indiffer- ence, however, toward united and concerted action persists to the detriment of the Prov- ince. Many members of organiz- ed labour completely ignore the basic political facts of life and play the proverbial “head in the sand game” when it comes to recognizing and deal- ing with the issues of the day. Too many members feel that the sole answer to all their problems is the bargaining table and that an “across-the- board increase” will resolve everything. Nothing could be further from the truth, and while we sit around that bargaining table picking up the peanuts there are powerful organized groups packing away bananas by the bunch. And just in case someone might think that in- dustry abstains from political action and organized pressur- ing then this is the second greatest misunderstanding of the times. : Let’s take for example the Forest Industry — its profit and the current problems of municipal tax increases, Uni- versity needs, tuition fee in- creases and medical coverage for low income groups. All these problems are a direct result of Legislation or the lack of legislation in Victoria, and this legislation is deter- mined to a great degree by the representation made by various social and economic groups to elected members who make up Parliament’s Select Standing Committees. ebaTLihs JOHN SQUIR It would be appropriate in this area to consider the Forest Industry, the use of the Select Standing Committee on Forestry and the representa- tions made to it. As a member of that Committee for many years, I have witnessed a yearly parade of industrial organizations all asking for more timber, secure timber, secure timber quotas, less stumpage rates, less taxes and “POLITICAL APATHY IWA less responsibility for fire pro- tection and reforestation. From the largest to the smallest, from the Council of Forest Industries to the Truck Loggers, to the Independent Converters, the Forestry Committee has heard them all. Even while appearing to argue amongst themselves, they are collectively asking for the same thing, which is more monetary returns to industry. The Financial Reports of the forest products compan- ies indicate they have been successful. The B.C. Federa- tion of Labour and the IWA appeared before the Forestry Committee this year for their first time. It was a welcome change to hear concern ex- pressed for the workers in the industry and greater tax and stumpage returns to the people of the Province. The Officers and Executive Boards of these two Labour Organizations need the full support of individual members and affiliated Labour Coun- cils to offset industries con- tinuing cry for larger and larger returns. Until this is done the mem- bers of organized labour will have to content themselves with the loss of their wage in- creases through increased municipal, university capital costs and tuition fee increases. Organized labour’s voice and influence is needed in Victoria to insure greater returns to the Province from the forests, the sea, the mines and the oil industries. It is either that or take the costs of running gav- ernment out of their own pockets. WHALEN Well was it my danged fault a skunk jumped me?