THE B.C. LUMBER WORKER

Page Three

Sawmill News

“Every Reader a Correspondent”

_ Says Victoria Millworkers’ - Conditions Are Intolerable

To the Editor:

During the month of March, I have been spending considerable time in or- ganizational work in the mills at Victoria “and thought that a letter should be sent to your paper in order that the situation in Victoria could be placed before the woodworkers of B.C. 4

There are approximately 1200 wood- workers in Victoria in about 15 mills and box factories with very little organ- {zation amongst them.

/ ‘The men are subject to intolerable con- ditions owing to the lack of organization. Wages are the minimum in most cases and if any move is made to better their conditions then they are told to get out. Sanitary conditions are unhealthy; dust is plentiful because there are no blowers, despite Government Regulations. that machinery should be installed to elimi ate the dust.

Many are compelled to purchase wa savings stamps, to buy tickets from tHe bosses for various organizations, /to accept many things that men organized would never dream of accepting, In plain words, the men of the lumber industry in Victoria are working under conditions that could be in effect under the feudal system, ¢

However the men are conscious of these conditions and are talcing steps to organ- ize into the I, W. A. where they feel as- sured they will be able to take the nec- essary steps to have their wages increas-

Shingles Find ‘Ready Market

Heavy sales of shingles to the United States to meet the growing requirements of an unprecedented housing boom may result in British Columbia operators filling their annual quota by September, although normally the quota year would not end until December 31.

The present quota for Canadian shingles entry into the United States is 2,500,000 squares.

Labor troubles in the shingle and saw- mills of the Pacific Northwest States have contributed to the demand for B.C. shingles. Although the present turmoil may be cleared up in a few days, the shutdown has caused a_ substantial shortage of stocks which B.C. supplies will be required to meet.

PRICES UP 10 PER CENT.

‘The shingle market here has improved accordingly, and prices range about 10 per cent higher than the levels of two or three months ago,

Lumber sales continue active in Hast- ern Canada and in some parts of the United States. There has been a brisk demand for side lumber, and flooring has been really scarce. Increase in domestic sales has helped soften the blow to the industry caused by drastic decline in ex- port sales.

Cedar mills are reported to be excep- tionally active just now because of the strong demand in the United States for

cedar siding to be used in house con- struction,

Join the IWA and Help Boost Our Pay a Buck a Day!

JOHN STANTON

Barrister, Solicitor, Notary

508 Holden Building 16 East Hastings St. MArine 5746

HASTINGS STEAM BATHS

|. WEPSALA, Prop. Also Agent for Norwegian and Swedish S American Steamship Lines.

0240 ALWAYS OPEN

ed, stop discrimination, intimidation, speed-up, company unions and unhealthy working conditions.

It is not good policy at all times to announce the strength of an organization when it is being organized but the rapid increase in membership in the I. W. A. local in Victoria is demonstrating that these woodworkers are on the way to becoming part of the large membership already in the I. W. A. ps

It was decided to get after the sanitary conditions in Cameron's and dust in the shingle mills.

‘The local secretary and I met Mr. Adem Bell regarding these two questions and it was agreed that the factories Act covered them.

/ Mr, Bell stated he would get in touch with the Assistant Factory Inspector re- garding Cameron’s as he was in town and he would get in touch with the Chief

| Inspector re blowers for the shingle mills.

He said, “We will revive this question )and see if more results can accrue than last time.”

\Recently we telephoned Mr. Bell to find out if any results were forthcoming and he told us that the report from the Assistant Inspector regards Cameron's was not satisfactory and he would meet us in a few days when he received an answer from the assistant and also, knew more regarding the blowers,

We suggest that any time you have a grievance or there is something. wrong in the mill you get in touch with the union in order that we can try to do something for you.

“Shaky” Robertson, General Organizer. Island Labor Council; Victoria

Says Bosses Are Discriminating

To the Editor:

The working conditions of our depart- ment are run unjustly to the unemployed men, The boss in our department is carrying on a policy of favoritism in hiring. He will make life miserable for a man to try and get him to quit and if he doesn’t quit he will find some small excuse which he will make bigger and then fire him, saying it is the superin- tendent’s orders.

If the day's cut is small and the sup- erintendent asks why, he lays the blame on the men. He doesn’t explain that the machinery broke down and it takes time to repair it, or maybe he changed a couple of saws, or that very little wood came that day compared with the previous days. In other words, he takes no blame, and doesn't explain the conditions to square the incident.

If any of the boys fool with another one, he is apt to be discharged, Whereas, if the boss fools with one of them, that is quite all right, it seems.

This is the true way the department is run,

A MILLWORKER.

Meet Your Friends at

MANITOBA | HOTEL

44 W. Cordova St.

Outside Rooms — Elevator Service Steam Heat — Reasonable Rates Centrally Located

PA. 0267 N. J. THOMPSON, Mgr.

Blackout At Fraser Mills

After the recent test blackout of the Lower Mainland, glowing statements of its success were made by military and government officials. The daily press lauded to the high heavens the’ spirit of cooperation exercised by the populace, and especially how industry and work- ers cooperated to “blackout” the mills, plants and factories operating on night work.

Fraser Mills came in for special men- tion because of the size and nature of the plant, It was announced, with pride, that the workers in the mill were able to gain a 100 per cent rating during the blackout; all fires and burners were dampened and not a light was to be seen.

The government decreed that it be so, so industry and workers cooperated. But wait! If all the lights were out, then the workers would not be able to work! For fifteen minutes the plant would not be producing! Did this mean that the Canadian Western Lumber Company was donating that fifteen minutes to assist the government in this important test? No, by no manner of means. nadian Western Lumber Company in- structed its employees to remain fifteen minutes AFTER quitting time to make up production, at the expense of the workers in the mill—these same workers who were responsible for the success of the blackout.

Night work anywhere is no easy task, and it is nothing short of disgraceful that a company that poses as a friend of the workers should take such an un- fair and petty step as to keep the men fifteen minutes late on such a night. It was indeed a blackout. However, it has clearly shown one point, regardless of whether the military “benefitted by the blackout, regardless of the feelings of the workers, in working overtime gratis—profits at ALL times must be pro- tected.

It is incldents such as cited above that clearly show the need for a strong, virile trade union in Fraser Mills, Organiza- tion does not only mean higher wages, but also means self-respect, to be able, through your organization, to sit at the table with your employer, and negotiate, as equals, the basis and conditions of your employment. No union of employees would allow an employer to get away with such tactics as the company did on the night of the blackout.

The International Woodworkers of Am- erica stands ready to assist you to or- ganize, as it has assisted thousands of other workers in B.C, Trade union or- ganization is the only guarantee that our wages will be increased and condi- tions of work made satisfactory. Thou- sands of workers in B.C. have learned this lesson, The shipyard workers are 100 per cent organized; the American Can employees have just organized; the steel workers of this province are or- ganizing. Millworkers, let’s get in step with the rest of labor, in organizing to protect ourselves and our families, Let's get out from under the blackout of in- dividualism, into the sunshine of organi- zation, through the beacon of the IWA.

Before you buy or exchange your car} Phone A. L. SANDBERG FAir. 6175 — BAy. 1872-L

“Support the one who supports you|

for progressive security and a better} deal.”

Representing

McEWEN MOTORS

65 Kingsway Vancouver, B.C.|

“The greater the difficulties are, the stronger we resist, The final victory must be ours,”—Dr, P, D. Chang, in “China Today,

HANEY TAILORS

62 East Hastings St, Phone MA, 5834 Vancouver, B.O.

WE GUARANTEE A PERFECT FIT AND COMPLETE SATISFACTIO:

The Ca-|

COST OF LIVING RISING SHARPLY

‘The average index number for the Do- minion of Canada for the months of January to March inclusive, 1941, was 108.2, which was an increase over the corresponding months of 1939 of 7.3 per cent and of 1940 of 3.9 per cent.

Index numbers for food for the City of. Vancouver have been released and the average index number for the three months, January to March inclusive, 1941, showed an increase of 11.6 per cent over the corresponding period in 1939, and 5.4 per cent over the corresponding period of 1940,

‘The index for April, 1941, of 108.6 for the Dominion shows an increase over the index at the outbreak of war (August 1939) of 7.7 per cent.

It must be pointed out that the in- crease in the cost of living is based upon a fixed budget and does not take into account deductions from the basic rate of pay such as National War Defense Tax, which, incidentally, is being in- creased by 3 and 4 per cent, effective

July, 1941, nor lower exemptions for in- come tax, etc,

Victoria Millworkers!

IWA LOCAL 1-118, — Meet- ing held every second Wednes- day at 8 p.m., 1110 Broad St. Victoria. Next meeting will be held June 11,

SEA FOODS ARE GOOD FoR YOU +. and you'll like them at

THE “ONLY” FISH

THEY ARE ALWAYS FRESH!

20 East Hastings Street 100% UNION HOUSE

LONDON Jewellers

DIAMOND BROKERS

70 West Hastings Street Vancouver, B.C,

The London Jewellers has reopened under new management, We take pride in the work we do and cater especially to workers. We specialize in Waltham, Elgin and Hamilton watches and all our work is guaran- teed or your money refunded, Mail orders are attended to promptly.

When In Vancouver Stop at

COLUMBIA HOTEL

Licensed Premises

303 COLUMBIA AVE. MA. 3757

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BINGO & DANCIN

at the

Swedish Community Hall 1820 Hast Hastings St. . BINGO 8:30 DANOING 9 to 2)

Music by HELGE ANDERSON

EVERY SATURDAY

ADMISSION 25 CENTS