4 B.C. LUMBER WORKER

EDITORIAL ;

He Asked For It

NE effective answer to the unwarranted statement

made by Labour Minister Wicks, wrongly accusing the IWA of neglecting safety to engage in “political maneuverings,” is found in the nature of the legislative proposals recently placed before the Provincial Govern- ment by the B.C. Federation of Labour.

Regional and Local Union officials have already fur- nished indisputable evidence to prove that in no single instance has the selection of safety representatives been influenced by “political” considerations. No change in safety personnel has occurred at the Regional level and the composition of Local Union Safety Councils and job committees has been determined exclusively by the vote

of the members concerned.

It is absurd to suggest that “politics” has in any way

. influenced the three-way co-operation of labour, manage- ment, and the Workmen’s Compensation Board upon which the success of the industry's safety program rests.

In the broader aspect, the exact nature of the Union's aims in the political field have been frankly expressed through the medium of the submission made to the Cabinet by the B.C. Federation of Labour.

The only form of direct political action at present available to the Union has been taken in concert with affiliated unions — a “cap-in-hand” appearance before the Premier and his Ministers politely requesting considera- tion.

All legislative proposals presented to the Cabinet are those regarded as necessary for the welfare of the workers in the province by the affiliated membership of the B.C.

Federation of Labour in convention.

All the legislative proposals are of such a nature that, if accepted, the standards of living for all the people of the province would be enormously enhanced.

At no stage has it ever been suggested that the IWA should act independently in the political field. Although it is the largest single union in the province and Western Canada, it has scrupulously shared in, and conformed to, majority opinion as expressed by the provincial and national trade union movement.

An analysis of the Federation’s presentation indicates that virtually all requests of organized labour for im- proved legislation, repeated over a period of years, have been callously ignored by the Social Credit Government.

The fact is that, with few exceptions, the action taken by the Social Credit Government on labour matters has been in direct opposition to organized labour’s pro- posals, and has been usually designed to handicap legitimate trade union activities.

Far greater attention has been given to the anti- union designs of the organized employers, with a resulting intensification of industrial strife.

Trade union political action limited to the ‘“‘cap-in- hand” technique, as tried again this year, has been con- clusively demonstrated to be a failure. The political influence exercised by the organized employers, based on campaign fund “arrangements” has dominated the enact- ment of laws directly affecting trade unions.

The inevitable result of the policies pursued by the Social Credit Government in regard to organized labour

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4

A Grim Reminder of a Job To Be Done

has been that an increasing number of workers in the province are convinced that their interests have been betrayed by the party in power. The higher living stand-- ards made possible by increased productive capacity are being destroyed by this betrayal:

Venomous and unprecedented anti-union measures, such as Bills 43, and 123, have caused an increasing num- ber of industrial workers to distrust the Social Credit Government. Their very natural reaction is to seek its defeat, and replacement by a “government of the people, for the people, by the people.”

If these are the political consequences toward which Hon. Mr. Wicks expresses such a great dislike, they are political consequences of which he has been the chief

architect.

As the Federation’s Council reminded the Premier, “the trade union movement is here to stay.” The only political aspirations which motivate the IWA are (1) the preservation of freedoms incorporated in established organizational and bargaining rights, and, (2) the highest degree of social and economic security for all the people made possible by the resources at the command of the

province.

To Be Revised

The consumer price index is going to be overhauled. The work of revising the cost-of- living indicator has been going on for some time and trade and commerce officials here hope it will be ready for a com- plete change in 1960.

The new price chart will include a wide range of items that have become popular since the last con- sumer price index was drafted in

1949,

The index measures final or re- tail price changes in goods and services purchased by a large sec- tion of the community, urban fam- ilies with incomes ranging from $1,650 to $4,505 per year.

Weights are given to various items according to the relative amounts spent by each family. For example food is “weighted” at about 30 per cent of the total. Thus an increase in the price of food will have a greater effect on the total price index than will an

increase in shoelaces.

The income range of the new index is expected to be higher and the weight assigned each item will be re-examined in the light of changes in buying habits.

The new price indicator will

include such items as frozen foads, automatic washers and dryers, dishwashers, television sets, small ‘ the

‘compact” cars. These items were

new

cars and

European

not ‘bought by middle-income families in 1949 and are not in- cluded in the present cost-of- living index.

Holst Pays Tribute To Shaw

In memoriam of the late E. S. Shaw, former Secretary of the Prince George & District Labour Council, the Council, at its last | meeting on January 6th ex- pressed appreciation of the services of the former Secretary by presenting a scroll and monies collected from the affili-.

ated unions, to Mrs. E. S. Shaw.

Jacob Holst, President of the Labour Council, on making the presentation, expressed apprecia~ tion on hehalf of the Council and its affiliates, saying that the con tributions and efforts of the late i brother would always be remem- bered.

Mr. Holst further paid tribute !to the late brother by comment- ing on his substantial contribution to the Labour Council, and his un- selfish efforts in his belief for a better way of life for the work- ing man.

The sudden death of Mr, Shaw shocked the trade union move- ment in this area, and his Joss is keenly felt.

A good citizen lives so that in- stead of being a part of the world’s problem, he is a part of the answer.

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