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THE PEOPLE

Published every Wednesday by The People Publishing Co., Room 104, Shelly Building,
119 West Pender Street, Vancouver, B.C. Telephone: MAnne 6929.

Epiror
Manacinc Eprror

Hat GRIFFIN
arisen Seen At PARKIN
Busnness MANAGER MINERVA COOPER

Six Months—$1.00 One Year—$2.00
Printed at Broadway Printers Limited, 151 Esst 8th Arenue, Vancouver, B.C.

‘All Labor Supports Them -

Eee final act in the three months old court dispute over
the affairs of the Boilermakers Union was played out
this week and now the issue will be solved at its logical source
—among the men in the shipyards.

Much credit is due the membership of the union and their
shop stewards’ committee for their handling of fhe situation
to date. Over their protests and against the best interests of
labor, the hangdog group that have been attempting for months
to subvert the basic principles of unionism—the right of demo-
cratic control by themselves—dragged the case before the
courts. A majority of the membership were convinced there
was nothing to be gained and much to be lost by such a step.
They were right on both counts. But because they were
sincere in their desire to straighten out the issue with a mini-
mum of dispute, they submitted to arbitration before the
courts. ®

As was expected, nothing was settled. Now the issue is
back before the membership for a decision.

“What that decision must be is as clear now as it was in
the beginning—that the Boilermakers’ Union must be allowed
to decide its own affairs democratically without interference
from outsiders. They want no more of McAuslane and his
little group of lieutenants. They want no more action before
the courts: They want to be left alone to elect their own lead-
ership, to conduct their own affairs, to get on with the job
of producing ships along with their brother unionists in the
yards. And they intend to do this if it means driving the
McAuslaneites completely out of the labor movement, where,
in fact, they already belong.

Actually, what will be decided within the next few days
will have its effect on the labor movement across Canada. For
the issue here is one of fundamental trade union rights. Suc-
cess will mean a sharp blow to all those anti-labor elements
both within and without the labor movement who are con-
stantly seeking to destroy the unity of the workers. And the
best wishes and full support of all honest unionists will go to
the Boilermakers in whatever move they may make.

Continued

Living Costs And Wages

Second, full study by the trade unions of the system
of incentive wages based on an over-all increase in pro-
duction throughout industry as a whole, with a view to
developing a campaign to bring the incentive wage sys-
tem into effect. This would have the double effect of,
first, greatly increasing production, as it has already done
in Britain, and second, of meeting rising living costs.

Such moves would not be out of line with labor’s po-
sition under the wage-freezing regulations and its genuine
desire to let nothing stand in the way of full support of
the war. Labor accepted the principle of wage-freezing
only where it could be shown that wages were high enough
to maintain a decent standard of living, and because it
was assured that prices would also remain stationary.
Here in Vancouver the latter is far from the case. To the
average worker, it would seem that “ceilings” have applied

only to wages—that prices have been allowed to seek any
level.

Labor is fully justified, then, in demanding higher pay,
both in the form of cost-of-living bonuses and incentive

wages. To fail to take such action will be to hinde® the
battle for production.

Because logs are not brought to tidewater, or ships
launched in the sea, by men who can’t afford to eat the
necessary foods, or who are worrying because their fam-

uUies are not getting the right kind of nourishment.
gee

Rationing and the W ar |

By AL PARKIN

A FEW days ago national war services officials announced
a plan to transfer men now in the armed forces back
into the logging industry of BC to partially overcome a very
serious drop in lumber production. On almost the same day
in another government department at Ottawa, outlines of the
new meat rationing regulations were announced.

Wow the officials of these two
departments may not have known
it, but there was a very strong
connection between the two
moves. For if the Rationing
Board fails to amend their de-
cision to allow only two pounds
of meat per week to eyery Ca-
nadian, regardless of the type of
work being performed, the re-
sultant drop in production in all
industries will more than offset
any move to recruit more men
for war work.

The logging industry has been
specifically referred to because of
all industries in Canada, logging
as carried on here at the Coast
demands the greatest physical ef-
fort. For those who have worked
in the woods—and the writer is
one—there can be no argument on
that statement. That is why the
news of the two pounds per week
ration was greeted with such con-
sternation by working logger and
employer alike.

Their reaction was summed up
by Nigel Morgan, executive board
member of the International
Woodworkers of America, just re-
turned this week from Vancouver
Island, where he attended union
meetings in nine of the major
logging operations.

Declared Morgan: “The meat
rationing question has provoked
intense resentment among log-
gers. They insist that again the
absence of any labor representa-
tion on such government boards
has allowed some Ottawa official,
completely ignorant of industrial
problems, to take a step that
will result in sharply curtailing
production.” <

He referred to the fact that the
latest slogan in the camps is “no
meat—no production.” This did
not mean, he said, that the log-
gers will refuse to work unless
the meat ration is increased. It
simply meant that it will be im-
possible for them to carry on their
arduous occupation without an
adequate supply of this energy
food.

“We feel very strongly about
these absurd proposals and will
meet with local Wartime Prices
and Trade Board officials immedi-
ately to lodge a protest similar to
that already made by the BC Log-
gers Association, whose stand we
endorse. There are Many jobs in
the woods so physically arduous

that meat is a prime necessity.
In most camps meat is served at
all three meals. Officials of the
rationing board must be made to
see this—must be made to see
that special allowance will have
to be made for certain industrial
categories. If they fail to heed, we
warn them now that a situation
will result that will critically slow
up production of vital timber
products.”

What applies to logging applies
almost equally as seriously to a
whole number of other important
war industries in Canada. It is

patently absurd to expect that -

workers in heavy occupations,
such as shipbuilding, steel] manu-
facturing, or mining, can get
along with the same food ration
as, for example, a stenographer
doing the lightest of work.

This fact has already been rec-
ognized- by other countries. Great
Britain has for years allowed
workers in certain industries
extra rations. So has the Soviet
Union and United States. Just
last week the US government
granted loggers in Washington
and Oregon special food allow-
ance, with particular reference
to meat. Assurances were given
that “adequate allowances” would
be made for the more arduous oc-
cupations. Eyen Hitler Germany
grants special rations to its war
workers, has done in fact since
before the war.

Ration Board officials take
refuge behind their so-called nu-
trition experts, who are supposed
to have declared that two pounds
of meat per week is adequate in
all cases. There are many work-
ers in ‘Vancouver today who
would like to put those same “ex-
perts” to work for eight hours
on the end of a bucking saw, or
hanging onto a pounding rivet
gun. They believe from that
there would be some hasty revi-
sions of nutrition lists.

The governing consideration-in
such a question should be, of
course, the effect it will have on
war production. There is over-
whelming evidence that the pro-
posed rationing system will be
definitely harmful to production.
Since that is the case, fovern-
ment officials would be well ad-
vised to make the needed changes
now, before the actual effect of
the proposals creates further ob-
stacles to an all-out war effort.

Give Blood and Sweat

Members of the International Fur and Leather Workers
Union (CIO) continue to give blood to save lives of men
on the batilefield. Above, union member Jack Schneider
signs up as other members of his union await their turn.

royal assent. For some pe

who made the amendments

~SHORT
JABS”

by OV Bill

Change 3
HE effects of the amendn
to the ICA Act are begin’
to show already—were alr)
showing in fact before the
had become law by receiving

they have acted like quick —
ing poison. They are the br

cessary.

The outstanding change to ~
has taken place at Trail w
the show-window company u
has been functioning nicely
the Consolidated for a quarte
a century. Sweet and hon
words about- loyal and ur
standing workers and plea
relations, etc., etc., were br
east from the office of the ~
solidated during these twe
five years and they may 7
fooled some of the bosses
they did not fool many worl

The grave is generally not
until the corpse is ready tr
placed in it, but the ICA |
first dug the grave and the cc
was provided after—though
much after in this case.

Obituary! .

N the 23rd of March,

same day on which Sir
ward Beatty, the best dre
bachelor in Canada, passed in
chips, notices posted at Trail
nounced the passing of the w
men’s Cooperative have

The death may not have

graceful but there was no
dying kick, which accordin:
the story books is supposei
accompany the death throes.

If there is any angle of
death that should bring reg
to the Trail workers, it is
memory of the death of Gi
Goodwin, shot and killed !
birelinge of the Canadian bo
Ginger organized the Trail ¥.
ers into the Mine, Mill and S$
ter Workers’ Union during
last war.

All the forces of the Cor
dated were organized to sr
that union and they succe
in the strike of 1917. It was ~
that that was their purpose
when the union was wrecked
granted the demands of the s
ers—the 8hour day for the
chanics and the chain gane

Old-timers in the labor m
ment know that the killin:
Ginger Goodwin was a direct
come of the strike, vengeanc
the CMA, for daring to show
Trail workers how to better »
standard of life.

There is a monument to
memory today in Cumber
There should be another on
hill at Trail. Let us hope ¢
will be soon. There may be
the company union, with the
amendment, has been snuffec
and the star of a real unic
rising. ~

Placed!
EVERAL workers were
ing with one of their gai
his hotel bedroom.

Their topic was the state ¢
fairs in the local shipyards.
individual who had been ca
a great deal of disruption ir
of the unions was mentione
name.

“What do you know about
bird?” asked one of the boys.
of the others answered: “W
don’t know much about him
sSonally, except that he was i:
out of the Communist party

“That’s enough for me,”
the questioner, “That places |