B.C,

LUMBER WORKER

February 21, 1952

o SNUBBED AGAIN!

" By J. STEWART ALSBURY, District President

"THOSE of us who were members of the delegation from the B.C.

Federation of Labor to wait upon the Provincial Cabinet, Feb- Tuary 20, returned from Victoria with bitter disappointment that organized labor had once more been treated like a “poor relation”. We received little more than a courteous hearing from the

Government.

The impression

seems to have

seized the minds

of our leading|

politicians that

the trade unions

are merely try-

ing to bully them

into dispensing

enactments that

will ‘‘feather-

bed” the unions.

They have quite overlooked the

fact that we .were in Victoria

because of the urgent need of

thousands represented by the trade unions.

When we examine all that is

involved in some of the recom-

mendations of the reports of the

Enquiry Boards, we see most

clearly that delay in the enact-

ment of labor legislation spells

continued misery for many.

Hospital Insurance Urgent

We asked that amendments to the Hospital Insurance Act be introduced this session. Unless this is done, many of those in the low-income bracket will be required to make the effort to pay premiums they can ill afford, or sacrifice their protection un- der the scheme, .

The Board of Enquiry agrees that they should be exempt under the Act, and have their premiums paid for them. Delay simply means that their distress con- tinues that much longer.

The plight of the chronic cases who are too frequently released from hospital before other care can be provided is one that needs immediate relief,

Now that co-insurance charges have been found to be not only a hardship, but also a source of confusion, why should any fur- ther time elapse before the condi- tion is remedied. I suggest that without an amendment eliminat- ing co-insurance the hospitals will now be thrown into hopeless confusion.

Compensation Legislation -

The same situation exists with “respect to Workmen's Compensa- tion. The Commissioner recom- mended no more than was abso- lutely necessary to patch up a distressing situation, It will re- quire adoption of all his propos- als to place the administration of compensation even within strik- ing distance of a solution of the problem.

His recommendations may be found by labor to be far from adequate, nevertheless, their adoption would be infinitely pre- ‘ferable to the proposed delay.

Widows’ Pensions On one point, immediate action ,

i

is necessary by the Provincial Government. The pensions for widows will in future be increas- ed from $50 to $75 a month, but

this inerease does not apply to

present awards.

The Commissioner states that the widows are in dire straits due to the rising costs of living. He points to the necessity of special action by the Provincial Govern- ment, apart from the accident fund, to alleviate their circum- stances. Here again is another acute need that admits of no de- lay in the remedy.

‘The rapid development of B.C. industry makes it imperative that we correct the abuses that have crept into the official supervision of collective bargaining and con- ciliation. If there is any further delay, the peak of bargaining activity will be passed, and we will face many unnecessary risks of industrial upheaval.

These questions could now so easily be given satisfactory’ ans- wers if our, Government would realize that-the real purpose of government is the welfare of the people, and not the struggle for office to gain for a few followers the rewards of office.

1-118 Officers Installed

Secretary George Mitchell, of the B.C. District Council No. 1, installed the Local officers of Lo- eal 1-118 for the coming year.

The Local officers are as fol- lows:

President, J. MacKenzie, First Vice-president, C. Crockett, Sec- ond Vice-president, W. Muir; Third Vice-president, Ranzit Singh; Financial Secretary, Ed Haw; Recording Secretary, Sam Cook; Conductor, N. Salisbury; Warden, Bob Anderson; Trustee (8-year), Ernie Knott; Trustee (2-year), J. Crouch.

Secretary Mitchell then ad- dressed the meeting on the com- ing negotiations and very force- fully pointed out that the mem- bership were desirous of many of the conditions asked for through Convention action and it was the responsibility of the active union members to give good leadership during the coming negotiations.

He also spoke briefly on the major demands to be presented to the employers during 1952 nego- tiations.

The membership gave Brother Mitchell a hearty vote of thanks for his efforts. *

i eas para

ICA MINORITY BRIEF “LOST”

Attempted suppression of the minority report submitted by Arthur Turner, MLA, member of the Board of Enquiry, dealing with the ICA Act was quickly challenged by Harold Winch, MLA, when the report

was first tabled. .

Although the deletion of the minority

enquiry.

report from the official volume was de- fended by Attornéy-General Wismer, the Premier finally undertook to remedy the yiolation of Parliamentary precedent. All copies were re-called, re-printed and re- issued with the complete resultd of the

$2000 Raised By 1-80 For Three Widows

Families of the three men killed last November in the Comox Logging and Railway Co. operations are richer to-

day, thanks to the 1-80 Sub- Locals of Ladysmith and Na- naimo, who, by putting on a concentrated drive, succeeded

in raising over $2000 for them.

Tony Poje, Business Agent for Local 1-80, IWA, pre- sented the cheques to the widows, Mrs. Hamilton, Mrs. Serniagotto, and Mrs. Sutton who were deeply apprecia- tive.

MORRIS, SEKORA WIN

20% FOR 1-424 MEN

An overall wage gain of 20% was won by District 1st Vice- president Joe Morris and Inter- national Organizer Mike Se- Kora, acting for Local 1-424, IWA, in conciliation proceed- ings at the Fort St. John Lum- ber Co. and Wilson Freight- Ways Ltd. both of Dawson Creek.

Provisions of the Contract are almost identical with that of the present Northern Interior Agree- ment and will bring to the work- ers a_wage gain of 15%, effec- tive January 1, 1952, and the cost of living clause ‘applicable March 1, 1952. A further increase of 5 cents per hour will become effective April 1,

The contract was submitted to a membership meeting on Febru- ary 21 in Dawson Creek by Mike Sekora for ratification.

Delegatés Mike Sekora and C. H. Webb reported to a general membership meeting of the Ques- nel Sub-Local on February 17, de- cisons taken at the IWA District Convention held recently in Van- couver.

Harry Neal, former Sub-Local officer, and long-time employee of Sinclair Mills, has been ap- pointed Assistant Business Agent of the Quesnel Sub-Local, IWA. The IWA District Office will par- tially finance the salary and ex- penses of Business Agent Neal.

‘Action is being taken by Local 1.424, IWA, against the Upper Fraser Spruce Mills Ltd., over the unjust dismissal of the Com- mittee Secretary, who, according to the Company’ Superintendent, had fle audacity to complain,

1-80 Meets March 16

Annual meeting of Local 1-80, IWA, will be held in the Odeon Theatre on Sunday, March 16, commencing at 10 am.

International President A. F. Hartung has been invited to speak, The nomination of the Local Union’s officers for the ensuing year will be a Major item of business.

CAMP “L” NOW 100%

IWA committee at the Cana- dian Forest Products Camp “L”, Englewood, proudly announces that their camp is now one hun- dred percent IWA. A new slate of officers recently elected wer M. F. Moore, secretary; C. Hegman, chairman; W. Koziner- chuck, shop steward,

Two Brothers from the camp were lucky winners at the Log- gers’ Ball held in Vancouver last December—Pete Staven winning a fine Gruen wrist watch and Myles Moore winnig a pair of Head’s “Champion of all Light- weight” Caulked Boots.

Despite adverse’ weather condi- tions, the camp is still operating smoothly and with the worst of the winter nearly over, it is ex-

will ‘soon be

under instructions from the camp committee, about the poor food.

Since signing the last contract, not only have the mill operators raised by 15 cents a day the price of the food but have lowered the quality. The crew are unanimous in their opinion that the food has deteriorated badly in the last few months and are wholeheartedly supporting the Union in its ef- forts to have the Secretary re- instated.

6 Delegates From 1-118

The IWA Wages and Con- tracts Conference, to be held in March, will be attended by six delegates from Local 1-118, IWA who were elected at a re- cent meeting. They were:

S. A. Muir, E. Knott, C. Crockett, L. Rowney, J. Peace, E. Haw.

Alternates: E. Sudhues, G. Van Humbeck, R. Anderson, E, Rolls.

ALSBURY INSTALLS 1-405 HEADS

Newly-elected officers of Lo- cal 1-405, IWA, ‘Cranbrook, were installed by District President J. S, Alsbury at the quarterly meeting held Febru- ary 17.

They were:

Walter Hartfield, president; Arthur Danstrom, 18t vice-presi- dent; Clifford Sinclair, 2nd vice- president; Executive Board mem- bers, Roy Thompson, W. S. Weir, Harry Lightburn; Peter Ber- kosha, financial secretary; H. Larsen, warden; Fred Barnhardt, conductor; George Knezacek (one year), George Webster (three years), Steve Kasmar (tw, years), trustees. e

Following installation tm meeting was addressed by the District President, who explained the plans outlined by the District Convention for the expansion of IWA activity in the Interior.

Many matters relating to deci- sions of the convention and the approaching negotiations were dealt with during the President’s remarks. 5

Albert Schikowski was elected Business Agent for the_ Local Union.

Investigation will be conducted by the shop stewards to deter- mine results of immigration in the district.

A vote of thanks was accorded retiring President James White for his faithful service.

6

Patient: Joe looks a lot better after his operation. What did you operate on him for?

Doctor: We took away a brass rail that had been pressing against his instep for years.

8 Branches of The Bank of Toronto to serve

you in British Columbia— stamp. Don't take chanci

ll within easy reach of a iS : —don'r lose your pay. Open a Savings Account with the Bank of Toronto and tak

stage eadvantage

of our convenient “Bank by Mail” service. FOR FULL INFORMATION MAIL THIS COUPON TODAY Me

eo >,

Send me full information about The Bank of Toronto

“Bank by Mail” Service.

Address ..s+000+

| | | | Name..... | | !

MAILTO

VANCOUVER BRANCH, DEPT. B.A., VANCOUVER, B.C.” 18 BRANCHES TO SERVE YOU IN BRITISH COLUMBIA

| | | 1 1

“YOUR MANAGER"

™BANKerTORONTO

Incorporated 1955