B.C. LUMBER WORKER

3

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, B.C. Federation of Labor, elected to office at Annual Convention, Jan-

8-9. (Back row, from left) George Droneck, Pen Baskin, Sam Jenkins, Donald MacDonald, ( National Seeretary-treasurer), Bob Sandlin, Warren Lowery, Lawrence Vandale. (Front row, from left) William Symington, George Home, Dan Radford, Joe Morris, Bob Smeal.

From Page 1

“FEDERATION”

which if given literal application would cause serious labor unrest, and «grave instability in labor- | management relations. |. The attitude expressed by the ) Convention was eminently fair. The delegates will point out again to the Government, that the Act in its present form was hurriedly enacted without giving labor’s representatives any op- portunity for consultation. »The Government will be re- _ quested to open the Act for amendments at the approaching session of the Legislature, and refer any proposed amendments to the Standing Committee on Labor. This procedure will per- mit the trade unions an oppor- tunity to be heard by the mem- bers of the Legislature, before action is taken in the Legisla- ture,

) Labor Committee

Several points should be here explained, One is that the Stand- ing Committee on Labor, has been a standing committee of the Legislature since the days of the John Hart Government. Secondly, the Committee cannot function as intended unless by Order of the House, specific matters are referred to the Committee. This, in practice means that the Gov-

Printers of

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i ‘The B.C. = LUMBER WORKER =

ernment majority with the procedure.

Such a committee can be given authority, if so instructed by the House, to hear representations from public bodies directly con- cerned with the matters under consideration by the Committee.

The Committee is required to report to the House, so care is always taken to make sure that the party in power has a majority on the Committee,

It will be seen, therefore, that the proposed procedure cannot threaten any interference with Government responsibility. It does, however, allow the problems to be fully aired in the presence of the people’s representatives.

It is indeed very difficult to understand why any Government would deny té the trade unions this fundamental democratic right, long upheld by British par- liamentary practice. I point to the fact that many other organ- izations such as the Federation of Agriculture, and municipal bodies are heard almost every session by the standing commit- tees of the Legislature, Trade unionists are by no means to be regarded as second-class citizens.

Unemployment

As might be expected, the con- vention gave a great deal of at- tention to the threat of growing unemployment. Here again, a very sensible attitude was taken. The facts as made known to the convention were carefully ap- praised without any exaggera- tion, Whatever dispute may exist with regard to the extent and duration ef unemployment, all agree that it is sufficiently seri- ous to warrant action.

The view taken by the Federa- tion is that unemployment should be curbed at the outset, lest worse befall us. Action now will arrest dangerous tendencies to lower the buying power of the public, and will be much less costly than measures which will

must agree

SAN FRANCISCO — TAILORS —

LOAN MONEY ON

Suits, Overcoats, ete. Loggers’ Boots, Sleeping s, Suitscases, Radios,

fatches and Rings

Expert Watch Repairing

UNREDEEMED

Suits and Caulk Boots For Sale

MAIL ORDER 52 West Hastings Street _ VANCOUVER, B.C.

be required if the situation gets out of hand.

The Federation asks for a clear-cut policy in this matter on the part of the Provincial Gov- ernment. Especially, the provin- cial government is urged to take leadership in the encouragement of the municipalities in utilizing to the full, all provisions of the National Housing Act in the pro- motion of housing projects,

It is proposed that the provin- cial authorities should plan pub- lic works, and purchasing to take up the slack immediately, as far as possible, and that a represent- ative advisory committee should be set up. Much could be accom- plished by more effective provin- cial-municipal co-operation in the matter of public wor

Many other practical sugges- tions were made, all of which, if adopted, would tend to alleviate the present lack of employment. One such suggestion, not to be overlooked, is the general adop- tion of the 40-hour week, and the abolition of over-time work per- mits as far as possible. A greater effort should be made, not only to provide new jobs, but also to spread the available employment equitably.

“No Injunctions”

Lumber workers will be pleased to learn that the convention sought to stop the unfair use of injunctions during labor disputes. They asked for an amendment to the Labor Relations Act which would require that a hearing be granted to the union concerned. They also asked for an amend- ment to the Trade Union Act, which would prohibit the issuance of injunctions against a trade union in a labor dispute, except with the consent of the Minister of Labor.

The Labor Relations Board will be requested to give a hearing to unions affected in all matters where it may be necessary for them to make representations, In this regard the convention was demanding that the Act be more scrupulously observed.

Summary

Other resolutions’ which may be summarized briefly were: That the provisions of the Hospital Insuranee Act should be broad- ened—that the sales tax should be taken off work clothes—that two weeks annual vacation with pay after one year be granted by

“OLD DOC”’

Dr. R. Llewellyn Douglas hes moved his Dental Office from 9 East Hastings St. to 712 Robson St., Vancouver, B.C.

NEW ADDRESS

law to all workers—that farm labor co-operation be planned— that the more general use of the union label be sponsored—that amendments to the Workmen’s Compensation Act formerly re- quested in the name of the Fed- eration be pressed—that revision of the auto insurance laws be urged—that public ownership in the production and distribution of electric power, as well as num- erous other amendments to pro- vincial legislation, be urged.

Political Action You will notice that I am re-

porting solely on matters within provincial jurisdiction. Many other subjects affecting labor will be raised on the Federal field through the Canadian Congress of Labor.

The Convention gave consider- able attention to the question of political action necessary to ob- tain the desired legislation. IWA members will noté with satisfac- tion that the emphasis was placed in its rightful place—upon educa- tion as a necessary preliminary to political decisions on behalf of Tabor.”

FROM PAGE 1

“Discrimination”

porting logs short distances where there is assurance that there will be no rough water. This consists of tieing logs to- gether in a-circle and filling the centre with logs.

2, Flat booms are made up by arranging logs in orderly fashion and securing them on the sides and ends for transporting’ over long distances. This method is used by all companies that ship jogs anywhere inside Vancouver Island.

3. Davis Rafts are made up somewhat similar to Flat Booms except that the logs are stacked and securely interlaced with cables to ensure against loss of logs in rough water. This method is used for the shipment of logs over rough open water. The Queen Charlotte Islands camps use this method in bringing logs down the Coast.

4, Bundle Booms are made up of a number of bundles of 8 to 10 logs, fastened by a metal strap, which are then placed in ters and made up into a boom nilar to the common flat boom. This type of boom is excellent for handling in any kind of weather.

Therefore, we can find no justi- fiable reason why workers doing this work should not be included in the Hours of Work Act and we recommend that regulation No. 8 and Order No. 1, be amend- ed to place boommen within the scope of the Act.

Boatmen

On the matter of boatmen the problem is somewhat varied be- catse of the fact that several types of boats are used in log- ging.

Boom boats are usually small boats that are used exclusively to assist the Boom Crew in making up log bags, Bundle Booms or Davis Rafts. They are used to push logs into pockets and to transport them in and around booming ground. They are, in ef- fect, part of the booming crew.

We can find no justifiable rea- son why these men should be ex- cluded from the Hours of Work Act. The Companies have con- tended from time to time that it is impossible to place these em- ployees under the Act.

We believe that just contend- ing they cannot be placed under the Act without undue hardship is not sufficient, and we would ask the operators to name and give specific in¢idents where they have problems with the Boom Boatmen and if there be unusual circumstances the Union is of the opii they could be covered by special regulations.

Camp Tenders

Camp Tenders are used as a means of transportation between the Camp and a central point, such as Alert Bay, Minstrel Is- land, or Stewart Island.

Many of the Camps have wharfs suitable for large boats and regular service is therefore provided by Shipping Companies, such as Union Steamships, This results in very little need for a Camp Tender.

There are, however, occasion-

ally trips made to the central point and we find Boatmen in this instance subject to abuse on the matter of working hours. Al- so on the matter of wages. Par- ticularly so, if he is employed on a monthly salary basis.

The Boatman doing Camp Ten- der work is expected to work his regular day shift and make any necessary evening trips without the benefit of extra pay.

In regard to Camp Tendermen having to work extra hours with- out overtime privileges we think that there should be some respon- sibility accepted by the employer.

The employers have argued in this case also, that it is not pos- sible to maintain a proper work schedule. We maintain that it is and we would again ask the op- erators to name specific instances and operations, if necessary, where it is impossible to carry out a proper work schedule with overtime payment in excess of it.

We, therefore, recommend that this type of worker be included in the Hours of Work Act.

Tug Boats

Tug boats are used for towing the log booms and Davis rafts long: distances.; they travel for several days or longer taking the logs from the logging camps to the pulp mills or sawmills. This type of boat requires sufficient men to establish regular work shifts and to our knowledge no problem with them exists. It is our understanding that tug boats are covered by Federal Code and are therefore not the jurisdiction of this Board.

In almost every instance the tug boats are owned and operat- ed by towing companies. There are a few exceptions where large boats are owned by logging com- panies and are used for towing logs short distances, such as inter-camp trips and taking logs to a central booming operation. In no case do these boats make trips for which proper arrange- ments cannot be made.

Therefore, we request that these workers be included in the Hours of Work Act.

In summarizing, we ‘contend that all boommen and boatmen, engaged in logging, should be classified as production workers and included in the Hours of Workk Act.”

THE LADY HAD GOOD TASTE

A farmer had arranged to have his old mother cared for in a nursing home, where he had been visiting her each week.

Every time he went to see her he brought her a special lunch of delicacies from the farm, includ- ing a bottle of fresh ‘milk in which he slipped a little brandy—

$5 the advice of the family doc- vr.

The aged lady was alwa:

lighted with the lunches, aa & ie as bedeaee the milk, she oy apy e ‘John, don’t ever