IMPROVED FRINGE BENEFITS may become part of the Canadia. pattern if the UAW succeeds in its present plans to gain parity for its Cana- dian members with those working in American plants. One Canadian UAW goal is a $200-a-month pension this year. This is roughly what the U.S. workers get, including Social Security. The Canadian bargaining objectives also include pay and fringe benefits, reduced work week with the same take- home pay, company-paid medical and hospital benefits for retirees, drug prescription services, and improved sickness indemnity. *x * * MEDICAL CARE legislation now before the Saskatchewan Legislature is based on the report of a 13-member Commission. The annual cost of covering the entire population of 930,000 people is estimated at about $20 million with a per capita cost of $20.43. It will likely come into effect the middle of 1962. The Commission recommended an administrative com- mission of five to seven, payment to doctors on a fee-for-service basis, and financing through per capita taxes and general taxation. ¥ * * a TEN THOUSAND WORKERS were enrolled in six new building trades as a result of the two recent strikes in the Toronto construction industry. The strike-ending formula raised rates to $2.00 an hour for labourers, and $3.05 for skilled tradesmen. * * * FIFTY FARM LEADERS have identified themselves with the New Democratic Party in Ontario. Observers state that the farmers are dis- illusioned with the Diefenbaker policies, and look forward to the first farmer- labour government since the Drury Government in 1919. * % x CANADA HAS FAILED to ratify 96 out of 115 conventions of the Inter- national Labour Organization, it was stated recently in the House of Com- mons. By comparison Belgium has ratified 60 conventions, Italy 59, and the United Kingdom 58. Canada was a founding member of the ILO. * * * THE HOTEL AND RESTAURANT EMPLOYEES’ Union has won the right to prosecute the Royal York Hotel (CPR), Toronto, for violations of the province’s Jabour laws. The five-month squeeze on the Royal York has now caused large organizations to switch conventions to other cities. The 700 strikers hope to eliminafe the hotel from this year’s Grey Cup festivities. * * * BACK WAGES, amounting to $6,300 for 44 workers will now be paid by order of a Special ‘Arbitration Board formed after last summer’s big strike in Toronto’s construction industry. Employers have been warned against the practice of persuading immigrant workers to sign statements they are satisfied with the wages offered. * * * NEW BRUNSWICK FEDERATION of Labour’s 200 convention delegates endorsed the principles and policies of the New Democratic Party. It con- demned as “false and malicious” the statement of Newfoundland’s Liberal Premier Joe Smallwood implicating the IWA with the cause of forest fires in that province. Nanaimo River Gan Wins Safety Award , <5 “22, DELEGATES LOCAL 1-417, IWA, SALMON ARM Unemployment Top Issue At B.C. Federation Meet Unemployment, repeal of Bills 42 and 43, the New Democratic Party and co-ordination of trade union activities at the provincial level are pre- dicted to be the leading issues before the Annual Convention of the B.C. Federation of Labour, October 23-27. On account of structural changes in the Mount Pleasant Canadian Legion Hall, the Convention will be held in the Bayshore Inn, it is announced. Under the auspices of the convention, an Unemployment Conference will be held in the IWA Hall, October 22. On the same date, a Safety Conference will meet in the Street Railwaymen’s Auditorium. Workers Judge Morals Hungarian factory workers are sitting in judgment on their col- leagues on such moral issues as marital infidelity. Such jurisdiction is a new right given social courts which function in most large factories and offices. The courts include workers already empowered to try labour disciplin- ary offences. Le NN Riv ys) PEN by FRANK HOWARD, M.P. The crew of MacMillan, Bloedel & Powell River Limited, Nanaimo River Division (Local 1-80) were presented with a Safety Flag, awarded for reducing the accident frequency during last April, May and June to zero. The crew worked 280 accident- - free days to set this record. The award was presented to A.’ Dale, Chairman of the Safety Com- mittee at this Operation, by Waters and G. Burns, Safety Direc- tors of the B.C. Loggers’ Associa- tion. Also present at the presenta- tion were, J. Westerholm and H. Parker representing the Company and E. Marzinzik, Business Agent of Local 1-80. The presentation took place Sept. 28 at Northwest Bay. The Local Union wish to com- mend both the crew and manage- ment on the excellent job they have done and would like to see other operations maintain every effort to be accident free. bss pe ihe ea ee 2 kod 3 ew : CCF-MLA’s Rae Eddie, M.L.A. (left) and John Squire, M.L.A. (right) both members of the IWA, chat with the Hon. L. R. Peterson, Minister of Labour, during the recent IWA Regional Convention. “The Past Record Is Too Black And Dishonourable’ On November 17, 1960 this present session of Parliament opened. In the Speech from the Throne there was contained the following item regarding the Unemployment Insurance Act. “Amendments to the Unemploy- ment Insurance Act will be placed before you to safeguard the basic purpose of the Act, to strengthen the fund and to correct abuses which have developed in practice.” Ever since that time we have been waiting impatiently for these amend- ments to be presented. We have asked numerous questions in the House as to when we might expect the promise in the Speech from the Throne to be carried out. On May 9, 1961 the Minister of Labour told the House, as is shown on page 4550 of Hansard: “We will be bringing in these amendments, as we haye said, be- cause the state of the fund is of more. concern to the government than to any member of the opposi- tion.” A few days after Parliament re- cessed for the summer the Prime Minister, with his desire to run the affairs of Canada by way of Royal Commissions and study groups, announced that the matter of the Unemployment Insurance Act and Make saving the state of the fund would be re- ferred to a Commission of Inquiry. The welfare of thousands of our working class people was shunted .off into the hands of a discussion group. No Policies Why was this done? Are there any sensible reasons why the govern- ment has no policies or program for the unemployed? We expect that there will be a general election next year. By that time the results of this high paid study group into U.I.C. will be avail- able. The Tory Government, with its flair for histrionics, hokum, and headlines will then be able to wave the Commission’s report around and promise that it will be put into effect —right after election day. Immoral and Dishonest I for one, think that this sort of subterfuge is politically immoral and dishonest. The welfare of our work- ing people and of the unemployed in this Nation should never be kicked around in a political game. But, that is precisely what the present govern- ment is doing. Shame, shame and more shame. We have a government at the moment which has pushed its lavish election promises under the mat. We have a government which has never yet kept the promises which were contained in the various Speeches from the Throne. We have a govern- ment which has a number of Royal Commission reports tucked away in some dusty closet, probably unread. Record Too Black Can we expect that anything worthwhile will come from this latest unethical manipulation of the rights and welfare of people? I think that we cannot. The past record is too black and dishonourable. FLY B.C. AIR LINES. .“ THE LARGEST AIRLINE OPERATING ENTIRELY IN B.C. a_ habit with a SAVINGS - ACCOUNT at CANADIAN IMPERIAL BANK OF COMMERCE OVER 1240 BRANCHES TO SERVE YOU. It’s no accident that B.C. Air Lines enjoys the lowest possible air line insurance rate. Operating with unionized crews, B.C.A. flies over 50,000 revenue flights annually. Be sure of safety, service and satis- faction . . . next time fly B.C. Air Lines. MALLARDS * NORSEMAN ° BEAVERS ° CE CHARTER FLIGHT OR SCHEDULED SERVICE — a. 2 z a “Se lt Ai asc li 3 eee Ss ae Sittin. an me = ats, Rao esiNee ae) a Se a a ee ete