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ARY, 1971

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THE WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER

- ALEX MacDONALD

REPORTS FROM. THE LEGISLATURE

By ALEX MacDONALD M.L.A.

The 1971 session of the Legislature opened here in Victoria with a bang. But all the fireworks were in the corridors outside of the Assembly; there was certainly no fireworks in the Throne Speech, which is supposed to set out the Government’s program. This speech was one of the shortest, dullest, and emptiest in the 100 years of British Columbia’s history.

WHY VIOLENCE? Although Premier Bennett and Attorney-General Peterson were quick to pin the rioting on the NDP and the B.C. Federation of Labour, this was just political shafting on

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ALEX MacDONALD

their part. The B.C. Federation of Labour did organize a huge protest rally on unem- ployment, but it was a few young Yippies and Maoists who caused the ruckus. How can you prevent these people tagging onto a legitimate protest demonstration, and grabbing the headlines by breaking windows, assaulting police officers, and using filthy language? Must the vast majority give up the right of peaceful protest? I certainly hope they won't. FRUSTRATION AND DESPAIR

Many of the 1200 who protested are building trades employees who haven't worked for almost a year. Their UIC has run out, many are on the macaroni welfare dole, the children are going without shoes, clothes, or nutritious food. Although houses are badly needed, lumber mills lay off men, and housing starts

have been away down for the past two years. How much of . - this deep anger can a

democracy take without a

blow-up?

POOR GET POORER High prices and_ high unemployment produce an explosive mix. According to

‘the Economic Council of Canada, one out of five of our

non-farm families earn less than $3,000 a year. In other words, they are well below the poverty level. From these families, only one child out of eight gets better than highschool training. It is quite

UNITED FARM WORKERS SUE > TEAMSTERS' LOCAL FOR $10,000,000

The United Farm Workers’ Union has filed a $10,000,000 punitive damage action suit against a local of the Team- ster’s Union in California,

‘charging that the local con-

spired with the employers to prevent farm workers being represented by their own union.

The U.F.W.O.C. is also seeking actual damages for each striking farm worker.

The charges of conspiracy are based on allegations that

the Teamster’s local 890 in 1963, loaned $1,000,000 from its pension fund to the Bud Antle Farm which is one of the largest lettuce growers in California.

The U.F.W.O.C. states that the company still owes the Teamsters $500,000 of the original money loaned.

The Farm Workers charge that the Teamsters suffer from a conflict of interest and can not legally claim to represent the employees of a company in which it has a financial in-

Worker in January.

in B.C

NOTICE TO READERS

Inquiries have been made as to why no mention was given to the Union’s Prairie Local Unions, in the special edition on the history of the IWA published in the Lumber

The special edition was the IWA’s contribution to British Columbia’s Centennial. For this reason, the history centred on the development and growth of the organization

At a future date the Lumber Worker will feature the history of the [WA Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba Local Unions as well as report their present day activities.

common to hear mothers on welfare talk about shoplifting for food or clothes for their children — just to survive. So you have lots of flash-points.

B.C.’"S WELFARE BREAKDOWN

In this province, one out of 20 depends on welfare cheques. Of these, one-half are children; one-third are mothers who are deserted, separated, or divorced; about one-tenth are the employable-unemployed. There are very few free- loaders on Welfare — most- ly they are the children, the mothers with young families, the physically or mentally handicapped. They are largely crowded together in welfare ghettoes, which makes it harder to break out or get jobs or training. Thus Welfare becomes a_ vicious cycle passing on from parents to children and grandchildren.

WAR ON POVERTY

No sane person wants violence. But its root causes are to be found in poverty and despair. We have to bridge the gap between those who have too much and those who have too little. We have to open the doors of opportunity to families who are sinking without jobs, decent homes, or good food on the table. The Yippies and Maoists are just the froth on the surface. The real challenge facing democracy is to root out poverty amidst potential plenty for all.

NDP REBUKES OWN MEMBER

For the first time in the history, of the New Democratic Party in B.C., a_ sitting member of the Party has been soundly rebuked by the NDP Provincial Executive for at- tacking the reputation of the Secretary of . the’ B.C. Federation of Labour.

Frank Calder NDP-MLA during a recent session of the provincial Legislature accused Secretary Ray Haynes of in- stigating the brawl which disrupted the official opening of the House, January 21.

The NDP Provincial Executive following a meeting January 30, released the following statement.

“While the New Democratic Party Provincial Executive affirms the right of any elected member to speak his mind on current issues, nevertheless, this Executive regrets the unwarranted attack on the B,C. Federation of Labour and the labour movement of B.C. in general, by the use of inac- curate statements by Frank Calder, NDP-MLA for Atlin.”’

ART STARK NEW PRESIDENT

Local 1-367 Haney reports that as a result of certain resignations and appointments of officers in the Local Union, the following is the new slate of officers:

President — R. Art Stark

Ist Vice-President — Larry Crouch

2nd Vice-President— C. G. Godfrey

Financial Secretary

— Erik Wood Conductor — Ralph Funk Warden — Gordon Claypool

vestment

The Teamsters claim to represent the 1000 farm workers on the Bud Antle Ranch.

On July 28, 1970, Teamsters local 890 announced that they had signed contracts for farm workers with Antle and ap-

proximately 190 other vegetable growers in California.

The farm union claims the contracts were signed secretly and the farm workers were not given the opportunity to vote on whether or not they wanted the Teamsters to be their union.

The contractors provide an hourly wage increase of 2c; 4 unpaid holidays per year; No ban on 2, 4-D, 2,4,5-T, DDT, ALDRIN and other hard pesticides; No end to child labour; No sanitary facilities; No grievance procedures; No job security. These contracts are 5 year agreements. There is a Teamster union dues charge of $1.30 per week from each worker.

On August 24, 1970 Antle’s workers and 5000 other lettuce workers struck to protest the Teamster contract and to demand representation by the United Farm Workers’ Organizing Committee.

B. C. FED LIFTS ‘HOT’ BAN ON CRANE

Following reached in the Crane dispute, the B.C. Federation of Labour has lifted its ‘‘hot’’ declaration. At the same time, the Federation has referred the recent actions of Local 303 of the Potters Union during the dispute to the next Executive Council meeting of the Federation.

Secretary-Treasurer Ray Haynes stated: ‘‘The recent

settlements

action of the Potters Union in violating Federation policy in the Crane dispute has been referred to the next Executive Council meeting for action. In the meantime, the Federation, having been advised by the Retail, Wholesale & Depart- ment Store Union that they have reached a settlement with Crane, has notified all af- filiated unions that all Crane products have now been declared “‘fair’’.

CREDIT UNION MOVES INTO HOUSING FIELD LENDING

A big credit union owned by federal employees in Ottawa has been given authority to move into a lending field ex- clusively for banks. _

The 36,000-member Civil Service Co-operative Credit Society has been designated as an approved instalment credit agency under the National

Housing Act. This means it can use some of its $36 million assets to make long-term home improvement loans under the NHA

Until now, only chartered banks were in this field, and the credit union was limited to a four-year term on its home improvement loans.

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