Ist Issue, May

B.C. LUMBER WORKER

From Page 1

“Stave Lake”

sideration, and were responsible

for the long-drawn-out discus- sions. Mainly, the individual griev-

ances resulted from the fact that the seniority provisions of the agreement had been disregarded, in the placement of workers at the various jobs as production re- quirements fluctuated. At the conclusion of the mediation con- ferences, all parties agreed that much of the trouble could have heen averted by adherence to the grievance procedure now provided by the IWA contract.

Reinstatement Assured

All employees were reinstated with full rights and_ privileges under the agreement,

A number of employees who had suffered loss of pay when de- prived of seniority rights under the contract were awarded retro- active adjustment of pay.

One item in the terms of settl ment provided for $60 retroactive pay for distribution among mem- bers of the Safety Committee. In future the Company will pay for every second meeting of this com- mittee.

The seniority rules as in the agreement will now apply to lay- offs and any reduction of the working force. Vacancies will now be posted for four days, with applications received in writing. Future lay-offs will be discussed with the Plant Committee. Emer- gency conditions which interrupt production will be broadcast over the radio station one hour before commencement of the shift.

IWA officials and crew mem- bers expressed themselves as sat- isfied with the outcome of the con- ference and predicted that in fu- ture employer-employee relations would be on a much more satis-

factory and harmonious basis.

CLC Reverses P.M's Ideas

By MORDEN LAZARUS

As he addressed the Canadian Labour Congress con- vention, Prime Minister Diefenbaker’s voice was just as “sweet” as it was during the election campaign but his line

was different.

Repeating his campaign talk about “vision” in the de- velopment of Arctic areas, the P.M. added a few facets which his electioneering didn’t reveal.

Nailing his flag to the mast of free enterprise, the P.M. stated he was for

1) a minimum of govern- ment “interference”

2) wage restraint

3) confidence

4) more spending

Convention delegates had al- ready expressed their opinions on these points before the P.M. ar- rived. Disturbed by the latest un- employment figures, the highest since 1940, the convention ap- proved a statement of its Econ- omic Policy Committee that urged government action (or “interfer-

ence”), “Our Government must re- double its efforts to expand

exports, to increase public invest- ment, to fill the gap left by the fall in private investment, and to raise consumer purchasing power. It must reduce taxes still further; it must raise unemployment in- surance, old age security, family allowances and public assistance. It must set to work to bring our social capital — schools, universi- ties, hospitals, streets, roads, water supply, sewage disposal and so forth — up to the standards the times demand and the Canadian people deserve, It must be will- ing to budget for deficits, and sub- stantial deficits, as long as the re- cession lasts,”

Delegates also said that con- sumer spending cannot logically be increased while unemployment is so serious. Anticipating the P.M.’s argument that the banks are loaded with savings, speakers from the floor pointed out that 699% of the workers of Canada

earned less than $3,000 a year and these workers’ savings are negli- gible.

Congress policy rebuffs Dief’s policy by calling for

1) more government action

2) wage increases: instead of “restraint”, to increase purchas- ing power

3) full employment as the only basis for genuine confi- dence.

ICFTU

School Opens

BRUSSELS (CPA)—Details of the 1958 International School of the International Confedera- tion of Free Trade Unions have been announced here. The School opened April 27 at the residential college of the German trade union federation at Ober- ursel, near Frankfurt,

The school will discuss the value of all types of trade union educa- tin conducted by the ICFTU at all levels. On May 10 the students will travel to Brussels to visit the world exhibition and continue dis- cussion at ICFTU headquarters there. Emphasis in the second part of the course will be placed on the relationship between organiza- tional and educational activities.

Since its formation, the ICFTU has held International Schools in Finland, France, India, Ghana, Mexico and Canada, with a total of 421 trade unionists from many

nations participating.

CLOTHES LTD.

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Delegates Display Loyalty

WINNIPEG (CPA) — Dele- gates to the Second Constitu- tional Convention of the Cana- dian Labor Congress here twice demonstrated militant solidarity in dealing with anti-union em- ployers.

On the opening day the con- vention proceedings were inter- rupted as delegate Neil LeRoy of the Canadian Council of Auth- ors and Artists called on presi- dent Jodoin to have the call letters of anti-union radio station CKY removed from a podium micro- phone. Delegates cheered approv- al as the offending letters were removed. In support of LeRoy, Walter Murdoch of the American Federation of Musicians, Toronto, charged that the anti-union sta- tion was a “glorified juke box” and that its disc jockeys were “parasites.”

After an appeal by Jacob Clay- man of the Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America on behalf of locked-out employees of Hyde Park Clothing, Montreal, delegates at lunch hour on Thursday peace- fully picketed the men’s depart- ment of the Hudson’s Bay store here, carrying placards protesting the store’s handling of Hyde Park clothing.

Finances Reported Solvent

WINNIPEG (CPA) — Can- adian Labor Congress finances are “relatively satisfactory now, secretary - treasurer Donald MacDonald told delegates to the CLC convention here dur- ing his presentation of the Con- gress financial report.

‘At December 31, 1957, the Con- gress was in the black by $52,- 079.55 — a position which Mr. MacDonald termed “more com- fortable” than that of one year previously, but yet “just four per cent of revenue.”

“Both departmental and general budgets were met,” he said. He praised affiliates for co-operation in submitting membership levies promptly.

At the end of 1956, the Congress showed an excess in return of ex- penditure of only $4,715.04.

New Demands

The position expected for the year 1958, secretary - treasurer MacDonald told the delegates, was not as good as the 1957 one. With rising Congress expenses, trans- fers of chartered locals to affili- ates (offset to some degrees by new organization), and, most im- portant, a loss attributable to the unemployment situation, the out- look was not at all happy.

The surplus budgeted for 1958 is $11,000, he said. No increase in per capita levies of seven cents per member per month is contem- plated,

However, the Congress planned to start several trades departments within the next year, and this would require funds.

MacDonald considered a limit of 10 cents per member per month might be sufficient to fin- ance the new Congress activities.

The united Congress, he said, is far more “economical and ef- fective than the two old bodies,”

ATTEND YOUR UNION MEETINGS

REGULARLY /

We

Joe Morris CLC Regional Vice-President

Representing B.C.

Ed. O’Connor CLC Regional Vice-President

From Page 1

with business arising from. the 440-odd resolutions, and 141-page Executive Council report, time was taken to hear some noted world labor leaders, and the Can- adian Prime Minister. P.M. Heard

“Despite some press reports which appeared at the coast the Prime Minister was received with every courtesy. He made it the occasion for some important an-

nouncements affecting employ- ment in Canada.

“Fraternal visitors included, a representative of the

President of the ICFTU, Arne Gieger, together with Sir Alfred Roberts, and W. B. Beard of the British Trade Union Congress, both members of the TUC Gen- eral Council, Joseph Beirne, a vice-president of the AFL-CIO, represented that body at Winni- peg. These speakers forcibly re- minded us of the international character of the labour movement, and the importance of our inter- national affiliations and objectives. Unemployment

“Unemployment was declared to be the Number One problem fac- ing Canada today. Considerable emphasis was given the resolution dealing with this “bread and but- ter” question.

“The convention called on the Federal Government to implement a comprehensive public works pro- gram as an emergency measure to steam a threatening economic re- cession, This program, to be worked out with provinces and municipalities, should, in the opin- jon of the convention, provide work at union rates and under union conditions, to aid in the development of our natural re- sources, to provide our children with adequate school accommoda- tion, to provide needed hospitals, roads, streets, sewage disposal plants, and other public facilities urgently needed. All this, it was urged should be conducted as to help restore and maintain full em- ployment throughout the year.

Wage Boosts Approved

“The Congress convention de- clared its solid support of affili- ates asking wage increases in cur- rent negotiations, as such boosts are needed to aid consumer pur- chasing power, and counteract recessionary trends,

“As one research director stated, ‘the year 1957 was a year in which the gross national product reached an all-time high, but was also the period in which unemployment started its rise to a very high level. It was also a year in which Canada experienced a decline in per capita consumption of goods and services. Many authorities — and these include leaders like President Eisenhower — and lead- ing economists have been urging the consumer to spend more. The

“Morris’

way to achieve that objective is to put more money into people’s pockets and to cut prices.”

“The convention expressed sup- port of the Brotherhood of Loco- motive Firemen and Enginemen in the following terms, ‘to support the BLFE in this vital question, in a manner and to an extent to be determined by the Executive Council or Executive Committee, and in consultation with the un- ions representing operating and non-operating railway employees.’

Two Unions Expelled

“Two affiliates were expelled for raiding. Charges under the Constitution’s no-raiding section were brought against the 1,000- member American Federation of Technical Engineers, and the 13,000-member International Un- ion of Operating Engineers. The vote in favor of expelling the Op- erating Engineers was a 999-239 count.

Wrecking Censured

“An employers’ organization created to promote union-wreck- ing ‘right to work’ legislation in Canada, and called the Commit- tee for Economic Rights and Freedom was officially condemned by the convention. The resolution called on the incoming officers to investigate the anti-labour union activities of the group and take

any action that they might deem necessary, including publicity and representations to the Federal Government.

“The convention adopted recommendations by the Commit- tee on International Affairs calling for a minimum contribution to the ICFTU International Solidarity Fund of $100 thousand dollars in the three-year period ending De- cember 31, 1960, The amount will be raised by voluntary per capita contributions from CLC affiliates in much the same manner as now adopted by almost all LWA Local Unions in this province.

Economic Aid Urged

“The delegates urged an effect- ive ban on the testing and pro- duction of existing stockpiles; ef- fective international control and inspection to implement this pol- icy, an international agreement on the regulation and control of outer space, and disarmament in the field of conventional weapons, It was also proposed that Canada should spend at least two hundred million dollars a year as our con- tribution to the Colombo Plan, UN Technical Assistance, and other economic development pro- jects of the United Nations,

“I suggest to my fellow trade unionists in this province, that they give careful consideration to the decisions reached at this convention, for they hold the key to pressing problems of the

day.