ist Issue, January

B.C. LUMBER WORKER

BENEFITS LOST BY TRICKERY

Disqualification for Unemployment Insurance benefits has resulted from the action taken by management of the Englewood Division, Canadian Forest Products, when last December all employees were required to make appli- cation for leave of absence in order to spend Christmas

with their families.

The order, when posted, was protested by the officers of Local 1-71, IWA, who warned the com- pany that the obvious attempt to deprive crew members of any right to fare allowance, should snow shut the camp down later in January, would also disqualify crew members otherwise entitled to unemployment insurance.

Subsequently a number of ap- plications for unemployment in- surance resulted in disqualifica- tion, with the explanation that the applicant had requested leave of absence from his employment.

False Pretences

The device employed by the company, it is stated by the Lo- eal Union, placed an entirely er- roneous construction upon the situation, as in the normal course of events the camp would close down for the Christmas season, and the responsibility for any such shut-down has never before been placed upon the employees.

It is claimed by the Local Union officials that a firm com- mitment was made during nego- tiations earlier in the year, under which the TWA had been assured by the employers’ representatives that the holiday shut-down would not be seized upon as a pretext to alter the conditions under which

fare allowance was intended to

be paid. In this instance, the Lo- cal Union argues that the intent of the agreement has been gross- ly violated.

Owing to a heavy snowfall, re- ported at press time, it appears that the situation is assuming ugly proportions. Crew members are not being called back to work, and by reason of the company’s tacties, devised by the legal rep- resentatives of FIR, they cannot secure unemployment insurance benefits until after a month’s dis- qualification, neither will they be awarded fare allowance.

Protests now reaching the Lo- cal Union office in volume would indicate that either the legal ad- visors attached to FIR must abandon an absurdly legalistic at- titude to justify a return to provocative tactics, which they had agreed to abandon in the in- terests of honorable labor-man- agement relations, or that the company must reckon with the unrest which always follows con- temptuous treatment of a legiti- mate grievance.

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VANCOUVER 10, B.C.

A Real Union Shop And No Mistake!

No less than TEN unions work in harmonious

association with the management of The Van-

‘couiver Sun to produce the daily

issues of Western

Canada’s leading newspaper that go into two out

of three British Columbia homes. The Sun is happy to be a real Union Shop throughout, with agreeable

relations with all its organized crafts and personnel.

Ball Wins

Favor

Annual Loggers’ Ball spon- sored by Local 1-71, IWA, drew a large and an enthusiastic crowd, December 26, to the Pender Auditorium, for an eve- ning of gala entertainment.

Eagerly anticipated by log- gers and their friends, the Ball this year as in former years pro- vides a meeting place during the festive season where old friends rendezyoused for a night of pleasant relaxation and dancing.”

Music for the dancing, which lasted from nine to one, was pro- vided by the Rhythm Larks, an all-girl orchestra. Their rendi- tions kept the dance floor full of dancers throughout the evening exhibiting their dancing skill.

Prize List

District President, Joe Morris, was a guest at the Ball and dur- ing the evening drew the winning tickets for the prizes which had been donated by various business firms and the Local Union.

The following is the prize list and’ the names of the winner:

ist Prize—Tom Mel Camp, Englewood, D Jewel. Wrist Watel B.C, Forest Products Ltd.

2nd Prize—Hugh Cnirney, Port Hardy, B. ent’s Calvin Wrist

donated by

led by Crown Zeller- back Canada Ltd.

8rd Prize—Ray 8 Rich-

Rogers

ford),

fh Prixe—H. Ave.

Nissiln, s Vancouver, B.C.: Genuine Gladstone Luggage .Local).

1504 FE,

A. DeGryp, Vancouver, 1. Light Cruiser Loggers’ Boots, do- nated by Hends Boot Factor;

Camp, lewood, Dayton 64's, donnted Shoes Ltd.

Sth Prize—A Stokkeland, Woss Camp, Englewood, B.C.: 1 pair Made-to-measure Sinx, donated by Harrison Clothes Ltd.

9th Prize—John Carlsson, Beach Camp, Englewood, B.C.: Electric Razor (Local).

10th Prize—Leo Formeaux, Woss Camp, Englewood, B.C.: Pioneer Brand All-wool Cruiser Jacket, donated by Jones Tent & Awning Ltd.

Jith Prize — Hugh MacDonatd,| Camp “L, Englewood, B,C.: Royal Stetvon Hat, donated by (Local).

12th Prize—M. J. McInnes, 205 Carrall St., Vanconver, B. thing Scotch (Local).

‘There was nn additional prize of Travelzard Luggage, donated by Canadian Forest Products Limited, which came in too Inte to he in- cluded on the tickets—this wax drawn at the dance and the prize won by Jean 0’Genxki, 4211 Cam- bridge St., Vanconver, B.C.

YOUR UNION MEETINGS /

SAN FRANCISCO TAILORS LTD.

LOANS

On suits, overcoats, watches, rings, baggage, radios, log- ging boots, chain saws and all articles of value.

STORAGE

Store your clothing and bag- gage in our storage vaults while out of town.

52 WEST HASTINGS VANCOUVER, B.C.

FROM PAGE 1

trict strike fund reaches the total of five million dollars.

The interest of the loggers’ representatives in legislation af- fecting their interests became ap- parent when the convention was addressed by Mr, R. Lanning, of the Unemployment Insurance Commission, and Mr. Tom Bar- nett, M.P., a member of Local 1-85 IWA.

Tom Barnett Acclaimed

As explained by the Conven- tion officers, M.P. Tom Barnett had placed his services at the disposal of the loggers in his capacity of a member of the House of Commons, and had ac- complished much in the presenta- tion of the loggers’ views, es- pecially in respect of Unemploy- ment Insurance and Income Tax exemptions.

At the conclusion of his re- marks, Tom Barnett, was warmly applauded, and eulogized for his work on behalf of the loggers by a number of the officers.

Greetings from District Coun- cil No. 1 were conveyed by Dis- trict President Morris, who com- plimented the Local Union on the remarkable growth shown in recent years. This was most wel- come, he declared, as it estab- lished a better balance between all sections of the Union, and

s|enabled loggers to participate

with greater influence in the

Union’s policy-making.

Morris Reports Prospects

The conditions, under which loggers work and-live in remote camps, the President stated, gave them time for reflection, and imbued them with the spirit of co-operation and working-class solidarity,

The speaker held that the growth of the Union throughout the entire District during the year was evidence that, the poli- cies pursued had won the con- fidence of the membership. No union could grow, he stated, un- less it gave active and faithful expression to the wishes and needs of the rank and file mem- bers.

Alberta Growth

He also referred to the fact that organization development undertaken by the IWA during the year had brought to light a still greater potential, as now seen in the Interior and Alberta expansion.

Progress made in Alberta in breaking .down apathy among the lumber workers, had been due to the example set by achieve- ments in B.C., and the response in Alberta would in turn yield dividends in protection for B.C. workers as well as those in Al- berta, he added.

In a brief forecast of changing conditions looming up on the hor- izon, he mentioned that the guar- anteed annual wage had been discussed and urged by the IWA four years previously. It had then been dismissed by the employers as an idle dream, but is now a reality in some industries. The possibilities of making an ad- vance of this nature depended largely on the acceptance of such ideas by the whole membership expressed in a convinced and mil- itant attitude.

Among the major decisions reached by the Convention were the following:

Major Decisions That income tax exemptions

“LOGGERS”

be allowed by the Federal Goy- ernment to lift the penalties now endured by loggers in re- spect of transportation and board.

That the District Strike Fund be supported by continuation of the present assessment.

That support be given to the principle of the guaranteed an- nual wage, subject to continued research by the Union’s Re- search Department.

That a continued effort be made to institute a program ensuring union shop conditions in the logging camps.

That the Local Union should urge a reclassification of jobs in logging operations to ensure better wage rates for skilled workers,

That better methods be de- manded to ensure more equit- able returns for fallers and buckers under the sliding scale.

That the forty-hour week be strictly enforced.

That present restrictions re- garding Unemployment Insur- ance benefits be removed to prevent hardship on loggers with interrupted employment.

That Insurance benefits be increased.

That the Local Union’s edu- cational program in the camps be continued, and expanded where practicable.

That more frequent inspec- tions be made by the Work- men’s Compensation Board of all equipment.

That stricter enforcement be sought of the provincial health regulations as applicable to camps.

FROM PAGE 3 “BOOMMEN”

and Somass Division. Canadian Western Lumber Co. Ltd. , Tahsis Company Ltd, —- Tahsis Division, Port Alberni Division. Canadian Forest Products Ltd. — Ebume Saw Mills Division, Pacific Veneer and Plywood Divi-

Products Ltd. — sion, Hammond Di- vision, Vancouver Division, Vic- toria Division, Victoria Plywood Division. x

Alaska Pine Company Ltd.

Universal Lumber and Box Co. Ltd. -

4, THAT the effective date of the said revision shall be October Ist, 1955.

New Centre Forms

WASHINGTON (CPA) — The political centre of the na- tion is fast becoming the centre or organized labor. Today, forty-six international unions, repreesnting 6,500,000 workers, haye made Washington their headquarters,

New York City holds second place for union headquarters with 32 unions, with a combined total of more than two million work- ers, locating there while 23 in- ternational unions with one mil- lion members have their head- quarters in Chicago.

First cannibal: “Am I late for dinner?” Second cannibal:

\ “Yes, every-

body’s eaten.”