iat ato

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T this time all TWA members are looking forward with

keen anticipation to the decisions of the Annual Dis- trict Convention, which assembles for a four-day session in Vancouver on February 17. i

It is abundantly clear that any decisions reached will have a significant bearing on the future welfare and pro- gress of the Union. Bound up with the progress of the Union, are the desired standards of wages and working conditions, which can be attained only through the united strength of the IWA.

The responsibility of the convention delegates is to interpret the will of the membership, and give accurate expression to the desires of the majority of the organized lumber workers in terms of policy.

This can be done, only when the members themselves, in preparation for the convention, utilize the democratic channels provided by the Union’s Constitution to voice their views.

The resolutions which will come before the Conven- tion originate with the Local Unions. Every member should interest himself in these resolutions to make cer- tain that the problems in his operation are correctly stated. He should, likewise, exercise his right to inform

the delegates representing him of his views on the sub- jects to be considered.

’ Plans must be mapped out to ensure that the Union forges ahead. There can be no standing still. Any Union must either advance or stagnate. It is vital that such plans conform with the will of the membership. Members are required to give thought to such matters now, as failure to do so, with subsequent criticisms of convention decisions, can only impede progress.

The Convention will be only as successful as the mem- bership will it to be. It is the creature of the members, and will reflect their needs, in the degree that the mem-

” bers act to use it as an instrument for their own welfare.

It must not be said after the convention that our thinking on Union policy was too little and too late. Earnest thought and action now can eliminate later misgivings. Apathy now can only cause regrets.

An Obligation

‘CL Unions in British Columbia are indebted to a

former IWA official, Marty Levinson, representative of the International Affairs Division of the Canadian Congress of Labor, for the able discharge of his recent mission among the workers in this province.

His appeal, on behalf of the ICFTU, left in its wake an awakened interest in the responsibilities of Canadian trade unionists toward their less fortunate brothers in the backward countries.

He drove home the lesson, that Canadian workers cannot safely limit their outlook to their own immediate job problems. Through the world-wide organization of the ICFTU, the needs of fellow-workers in distress must be served, else Canadian objectives will suffer.

Tt has been made unmistakably clear that Canadian workers must help to promote the growth of the free trade unions in all those countries where the fate of democracy hangs in the balance. Trade unionism is one of the most potent weapons of democracy. In this re- spect, trade unionism serves the cause of world peace.

Trade union isolationism from world affairs will only invite disaster for trade unionism on the domestic field.

Unless a genuine effort is made to raise living stand- ards in the under-developed countries, their low-wage competition will react to lower Canadian living standards.

It has been said that to be truly selfish, one must be completely unselfish. Marty Levinson has taught us a lesson in enlightened self-interest.

| Bed Dice

The recent narrowly -averted railway tie-up has thrown into sharp focus the attitude of the man in the street towards strikes in public utilities.

Because of the strike by the railway-operating em- ployees in 1950, and its effect on the economy of the country, Prime Minister St. Laurent is reported to have told a group of Liberal M.P.’s that he intended, in the present situation, that no strike would take place. What a trump card in the hands of the companies! They knew that the government would refuse to allow a strike. In that knowledge they just sat back and refused to nego- tiate in good faith until the parties were brought to Ottawa. Finally a settlement was reached at the eleventh hour—pretty much on the companies’ terms.

If the railway employees, or employees in any other public service, have grievances which cannot be straight- ened out by conciliation procedures, then those employees have as much right to strike as their brothers in other industries. There should be no second-class citizens in

Canada.

B.C. LUMBER WORKER

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CONVENTION

SWITZER QUERIES DUES’ ALLOCATION

The Editor:

; ; ‘The pamphlet circulated in Lo- ¢ Teas hump mature, to be (cue alt cayitebe nate nee ious as to just how much or how|gown of our two dollaca would

little we get for our money. This | make one wonder that...

also applies to union dues,

‘on Your Space Boys!

Readers Theulel

Gratitude

The Editor:

I am writing to you so that my wife and I can express through the medium of our excellent paper, our appreciation for the collection which was taken up on our behalf, We wish to express to each and every one who con-

Sample $2.00 Dues Break Down

tributed, our heartfelt apprecia-

District International Local tion, P 4 Strike Fund 25e Org. Fund...... 25¢ U.L.C. 5c|__In sponsoring this collection, BCL Worker Te Neg. Fund...... 10c B.C. Fed! 2%c| tHe TWA has again demonstrated Administration .....28¢ Spec. Reserve 5c 1-357, W.A. 1c] that spirit of brotherhood and CIO-CCL Administra- kindness that has made our orga- per capita .. 10c tion .. nization great, So once again to Administra- each and everyone, we express a

tion gore hearty “thank you”, ets — Fraternally yours,. TO TAT Cae 60e . TOTAL .... 75¢ TOTAL .... 65¢ Elof Sunquist.

(1) The International should control 75¢ of the $2.00.

(2) The administration cost of International District and Local of $1,09% out of $2.00 to be out of line.

(a) Could there be a triplica-

tion of services?

(b) Most business administra-

tion costs do not exceed 10%.

(3) A per capita of 25c is paid to the International Organization and yet the District maintains an Organizational Staff. Are they not on speaking terms?

(4) Are dues assessed on a cost plus basis and then load on‘all the traffic will bear?

I trust, at the forthcoming District Convention, time will be taken to reveiew the situation as it now stands between the allo- cation of per capita payments with a view to streamlining ad- ministration costs and eliminat- ing duplication and possibly trip- lication of services,

It is my unalterable opinion that, one of the first duties of the incoming District Officers will be to consolidate our union by adopting practical policies re- garding per capita commitments.

Henry F. Switzer, E-113, Local 1-357, IWA.

ANS

B. C.

On DIAMONDS, JEWELRY, SILVERWARE,

77 EAST HASTINGS, Cor. COLUMBIA

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