THE WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER MUNRO TELLS ACCOUNTANTS 11 RIGHT TO STRIKE NECESSARY IN COLLECTIVE BARGAINING In an address to the Indus- trial Accountants of B.C., IWA Regional 3rd Vice-Presi- dent Jack Munro advocated an effort to create a better at- mosphere for the main princi- ples of collective bargaining as already established. “Tt enables accommodation between disputing parties and is an instrument and the only instrument presently available for the advancement of indus- trial peace. “The proof of this lies in the fact that 97% of all dis- putes are now resolved at the bargaining table.” He described the right to strike as a necessary and in- dispensable factor in collective bargaining. “Bargaining is not realistic, as mediators agree, unless unions are free to negotiate with a club within handy reach in case of necessity. Only the right to strike when necessary places work- ers on an approximate footing of equality with the employ- ers, otherwise union negotia- tors would be helpless when confronted with unscrupulous abe grasping employers, he said. For these reasons, he said, trade unions hotly oppose © compulsory arbitration as sounding the doom of collec- tive bargaining. He quoted- President Kennedy, “Those who would make peaceful revolution impossible, make violent revolution inevitable.” The Regional Officer stress- ed the benefits gained by Can- adian workers and the public through unionization. - At first, English legal pre- cedents placed a ban on union organization in Canada. This ban was lifted in 1872 by the Trade Union Act, though seri- ous restrictions on trade union activities were retained. The top wage at Confedera- tion was $8.00 a week. The 72- hour week was common. Wo- men and children were cruel- ly exploited in Canadian in- dustry. JACK MUNRO Regional 3rd Vice-President All attempts to suppress la- bour resulted in a series of long and bitter strikes princi- pally on wages and hours of work. The employers spent millions on “open shop” cam- paigns. ; William Howard Taft, dur- ing the Pullman strike, said, “Tt will be necessary for the military to kill more of the mob — they have only killed six — as yet this is hardly enough to make an impres- sion.” Railway magnate Jay Gould said, “I can hire one half of the workers to kill the other half.” The turning point came with the enactment of the Wagner Act as part of President Roosevelt’s New Deal. Collec- tive bargaining was made law in order to stabilize trade and commerce. Since that time or- der emerged from chaos with the great majority of all dis- putes settled at the bargaining table. “Those who advocate compulsory arbitration or a ban on strikes would turn back the clock to the days when the law of the jungle prevailed,” he said. The speaker paid tribute to the courage and determina- tion of those who were killed or imprisoned to gain justice for organized labour. Jack Munro advocated that we resolve jointly to make collactive bargaining work more effectively, rather than to plot its destruction. Its de- struction would merely pro- voke open revolt. The speaker advocated greater attention to the prob- lems of adjustment to techno- logical change. He stressed the necessity of greater oppor- tunity for workers to upgrade their skills as a condition of job security. He defended the trade un- ion record as one that has never impaired public pros- perity and progress. The in- crease in the distribution of wage income has greatly stim- ulated business activity, he said. It is still necessary, he said, that care be taken to accom- plish a fair distribution of the rewards of increased produc- tivity resulting from techno- logical advances. FOR LABOUR The re-election of veteran Local 1-85 IWA member Tom Barnett to the House of Com- mons in the recent by-election in Comox-Alberni, has been hailed as a victory for both the NDP and the labour movement. First elected in 1953, Tom has been re-elected six times since then to represent the riding. Tom ‘is noted in the House for his defence of the working people of his area and has fought time and time again to gain better tax consessions for the loggers. He was born in Alberta in 1909, and was educated in Alberta and in B.C., includ- ing the University of British Columbia, He was an alderman in Port Alberni, from 1959 to 1962 after he was defeated in the general election of 1958. He was elected in 1953, 1957, 1962, 1963, and 1965, and now again in the by-election, NEED FOR EXCITEMENT REASON FOR STRIKES? An industrial psychologist from the U.S. has come up with this answer: “The real cause of a strike is the need to stir up some excitement to make life bearable.” Dr. Scott Myers, manage- ment research consultant of a Texas company, said workers are often caught in a self- imposed imprisonment, ines- capable except by breaking the monotony — so they go on strike. Addressing the Ontario Public School Trustees Asso- ciation, he said the team fac- tor was another hidden cause of strikes, with labor forming one team and management the other. “A strike is reactive beha- viour, a symptom that people feel a sense of oppression. They cannot put this feeling into words and many strikers are unable to say really why they are on strike... .” Dr. Myers also suggested 4 BIG REASONS to stay at the BLACKSTONE MOTOR HOTEL ® 132 Rooms com- pletely modern- ized. © New dining lounge facilities. © Plenty of FREE parking. © Low rates: Single without bath $4.50 With bath or shower, T.V. $5.50 to $7.50 Write or Phone for weekly rates. 1176 Granville Street Vancouver, B.C. Telephone: 681-7541 CAA Member that a company which encour- ages workers to think for themselves, increases the pro- ductivity of its employees. He said the theory behind this assumption was that it is natural for a person to enjoy work. A company which accepts this theory will consult its employees to implement cer- tain goals and will encourage responsibility among workers. Companies which assume that people are lazy and need supervision during every step of production discourage inde- pendence and workers look upon these companies as the enemy, using various means to outwit management, he said. ON THE LIGHTER SIDE Pouce Coupe Pete says that everybody likes to see a broad smile — especially if it’s at him! Ke Kk xk Chokerman Charlie says the modern gal’s mini dress is getting so skimpy that as far as some of them are con- cerned he’s seen more cotton in the top of an aspirin bottle. OK on Ist Logger: “What would you call a guy who has been lucky in love?” 2nd Logger: “A bachelor.” KOK OK Pouce Coupe Pete knows a logger who’s getting a divorce because of flat feet. The logg- er’s feet, says Pete, were in the wrong flat! The hillbilly was watching a store clerk open a package of gaily colored men’s pyja- mae, “What’s them?” he ask- ed. “Pyjamas.” “Pyjamas,” echoed the hill- billy, “What they for?” “Why you wear them nights,” the clerk explained. “Want to buy a pair?” “Not me,” the hillbilly said. “I don’t go nowhere nights except to bed!’ kk The Vancouver forest in- dustry executive was com- plaining that a steno in his office wore a mini skirt so short that it interfered with her breathing. “... and mine too,” he add- ed. Big thirst? Quench it quick... = ioe Give Yourself e LUCKY break BGS Give Yourself'e : \ WeKy BREAK /. This advertisement is not published or displayed by the Liquor Control Board or by the Government of British Columbia.