10 THE WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER

2nd Issue February, 1964

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9

“Union Political Action Vital To Protect Workers’ Rights”

that grievously handicaps collective bargaining and strike activity. Court injunctions may be freely used to shackle union activity. Every strike situation opens the way to expensive litigation. A strict pro- hibition is placed upon the use of union dues for political purposes not- withstanding membership approval. Employer-inspired measures are contrived to circumvent trade union efforts to raise wage standards.

A deadly blow against the IWA was delivered by the Provincial Government of Newfoundland after the IWA succeeded in organizing the loggers of that island. Premier “Joey” Smallwood placed every conceivable legal obstacle in the way of the Union’s organizational campaign and its recognition under the laws of the province. A strike occured in 1959, when the employers refused the award of a Concilia- tion Board which recommended the reduction of a 60-hour week to 54 hours and a five-cent an hour wage increase for 12,000 workers.

Court injunctions, endorsed by provincial and federal police, formed part of a deliberate campaign of intimidation. The Premier publicly demanded that the IWA be driven out of the province as “foreign gangsters.” Although 98 per cent of the loggers supported the strike, the Premier used all the power of his government to break it, and form a government-sponsored company union. The IWA was finally de-certified by an extraordinary Act of the Legislature. Legis- lation enacted in Newfoundland now makes trade union organization and action extremely difficult and even perilous.

The Canadian parliamentary system provides the opportunity for the election of representatives from a working-class political party. Formed in 1933, the Cooperative Commonwealth Federation (CCF) accepted labor's legislative aims in its program and was known as the political arm of labor.

Members elected on this party’s platform became the official op- position in British Columbia and has almost continuously included in- fluential IWA members. IWA members also sit in the Canadian House of Commons. IWA legislative demands developed in cooperation with the Canadian Labor Congress were thus voiced on the floor of the legislative bodies every session with important results.

Later, the Canadian Labor Congress entered into an agreement with the CCF to form a new party, the New Democratic Party, on a broad national basis to express the needs of the workers, farmers and progressive-minded people. This party which includes a large section of organized labor, and presents many trade union candidates at every election, has compelled greater public attention to labor's needs. IWA membership support of this party is on a voluntary basis, but

electoral results in areas with a high concentration of woodworkers indicate a growing support from among IWA members. Trade union delegates at conventions of this political party have always succeeded in the incorporation of trade union aims in the party’s platform. The other political parties in Canada have been dominated by the em- ploying interests who provide the bulk of their campaign funds.

Both the American and the Canadian experience makes it clear that trade union political action is still in its infancy. Every worker should vote according to his convictions and no attempt has ever been made by the IWA fo deliver a block of votes fo any political party. No attempt has been made by the IWA to join in the organization of a political party formed exclusively of industrial workers. The Union has patiently promoted a program of political enlightment in the hope that workers would use their ballots to sustain their economic needs. Political action is now a bread and butter “must” for the workers.

Pending elections in both the United States and Canada will bring vital decisions of consequence to woodworkers, it is pointed out by the IWA. In recent years steps have been taken by the Union to ac- celerate political action as a necessary supplement to its highly de- veloped economic activities. The declared. legislative intentions of the NAM, with its 22,000 member firms, have given cause for alarm in IWA ranks. Trade union basic rights are at stake.

Unless these rights are preserved under the law of the land, wages will be depressed and unemployment will mount still further, the Union feels. As the workers form the bulk of the population, it is their wage-spending that keeps the cash registers ringing. The Union has consistently advocated more vigorous government leadership in a national campaign for full employment. This demand must be ex-

pressed at the polls, says the IWA.

The immediate consequences of rapid technological change, caus- ing an accelerated rate of displacement of workers, demands labor- management-government action. Automation will prove a curse and not a blessing unless public action requires that the workers gain a legitimate share of the increased volume of goods and services as well

as greater leisure time. For these and many other reasons the IWA is asking every union member to demand favorable consideration of labor's needs during

political campaigns and action in the legislative bodies of the nations which will advance the democratic purposes of free trade unionism.

(TO BE CONTINUED)

~

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

"Why Flood My Land?”

INSTRUCTOR AND SPEAKERS at the recent Canadian Labour Congress Labour Education Conference held in Parks- ville February 17-20. Group left, Harry Jacks, Director of Education, Canadian Brotherhood of Railway Transport & General Workers Union; Bill Gauld, CLC Representative; Dan Radford, CLC Director of Education for B.C.; Joe Morris, CLC Executive Vice-President; Allen Schroeder, Director of Education, United Auto Workers; Max Swerdlow, CLC Director of Education.

Canard Slurs iMorabers

—Moore

At a io conference, following the recent IWA Wages and Contract Conference, reports from the dailies, TV and radio stations heard Regional President Jack Moore declare that no rift exists in the IWA as the Union

prepares for negotiations.

The IWA President was emphatic in this statement, and was immediately supported by his fellow-officers and all Local Union officials.

All agreed that the canard invented by the employers was an unwarranted slur on the delegates who had ex- pressed membership opinion regarding this year’s de-

The following letter reprint- ed from the Nelson Daily News was written by Abel E. Guen- ard, a member of Local 1-405, IWA, whose home along with hundreds of others will be flooded out when the High Arrow dam is built.

Sir — After reading the editorial of Jan. 23rd which stated that Mr. Herridge is against Columbia develop- ment. For your information, neither Mr. Herridge nor the NDP party are against Co- lumbia development but are opposed to the present treaty which includes the High Ar-

row dam.

Mr. Herridge has always been in favor of the Mc- Naughton plan which is def- initely the best plan for Can- ada. There is not much sense in flooding the valuable land along the Arrow Lakes to give the USA flood control and irrigation water when

the McNaughton plan would give us on the Arrow Lakes

flood control as well as water for our Canadian prairies when needed. Surely our country is as important as California.

I agree with Mr. L. W. Chatham of Nelson on the

waste of our natural re- sources.

This present treaty re- minds me of a cow with its head in Canada and its udder end in the US with the Ca- nadian feeding it and the American getting the milk from the udder end.

In closing I would like to

point out that the. people on =~

the Arrow Lakes haven’t given in and accepted this atrocious treaty as some Socred spokesmen are spreading around.

It seems like (Social Credit keeps one uninform- ed) doesn’t it?

SS icn nS a

“A . Pe, » Ages, . . Far ae S Be

a) NA

Conference held in Parksville February 17-21. Approximatel =

bers attended the week-long session in the Island Hall Hotel, Parkeville” git fie rie included Labour Laws and The Work Force and its Problems. These two courses sr to full time Business Agents and Representatives. Stewards and delegates were phe ae

vanced courses on Collective Bargaining, Shop Steward Duties and Union A

dministration.

i

the Canadian Labour Congress Education iE