WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER Editorial Facts Please ci bees views stated by Chairman J. V. Clyne to MacMil- lan, Bloedel and Powell River shareholders recently only serve to stiffen the attitude of IWA negotiators. As a matter of fact, Mr. Clyne has strengthened the case of the IWA. His second press release, defending his position in face of a storm of criticism, explained nothing but his purpose. He evidently intends to block wage increases only because he has formed the personal opinion that wage increases are harmful to the general economic welfare. It is unreasonable to expect that the public should accept his views only because he has expressed them. Both state- ments lacked any basis in reason or evidence, f Mr. Clyne admits consideration of only one point of view. His yardstick to measure the economic welfare of the province is an unimpeded opportunity to make higher profits for Mac- Millan, Bloedel, and Powell River Ltd: He is not the first industrialist to make such a gross error. Astonishment is a mild description of public reaction fol- lowing Mr. Clyne’s statement on wages and economic condi- tions. Astonishment arises because of his startling departure from principles he upheld when on the Bench. A presiding Judge invariably requires that all statements be established in evidence. It is a sound rule of law. On this occasion, as prosecuting attorney before the bar of public opinion, Mr. Clyne argued that high wages in British Colum- bia had resulted in the highest unemployment in Canada. He was one hundred per cent wrong on two counts. Brit- ish Columbia has not had the worst experience of chronic unemployment. Low wages have contributed to high chronic unemployment. The evidence which refutes the accuracy of Mr. Clyne’s statements is found in the monthly reports of the Dominion Bureau of Statistics and the Federal Department of Labour, A Judge will always reprimand and sometimes punish per- sons who make public utterances likely to prejudice the, rights of the parties in court proceedings. In law, such acts are described as sub judice. In an important sense conciliation proceedings assume a judicial nature. Conciliation in the dis- pute between the IWA and the company which Mr. Clyne heads had just commenced at the time he had issued his state- ment. He is one of the principals in these proceedings. The pro- priety of a public statement which questions the motives of the other party is open to question. We know that Mr. Clyne would be the first to condemn vigorously any statement by the IWA in the style of an ultimatum, or expressing a “take it or leave it” attitude at the commencement of conciliation. The error made by Mr. Clyne in his analysis of economic conditions discloses that he is not infallible. The onus now rests upon him and his associates to show in evidence that (1) the employers are financially unable to deal more gen- erously with their employees, and (2) that an improved con- tract in the lumber industry will harm the economy. Evi- dence, apart from opinion, is required, for the pertinent rea- son that Mr. Clyne and his associates have made predictions in the past which subsequent events proved to be incorrect. The IWA is presenting evidence to show that the leading companies are in an excellent position to concede the IWA demands. Net value of assets has expanded enormously. The rate of return on investment has been one of the highest on record. Surplus earnings and profits have been maintained at a high level. 3 : Sales volume increased in 1960 with the result that pro- duction broke all. previous records. There was no trouble about selling all that was produced. This is confirmed by present low inventories. It cannot be said that marketing prospects are poor. All the factors are present which indicate an expanding market in both the United States and the United Kingdom. We may legitimately ask why one story is told to the in- vestors, and an entirely different story told to the workers. No real obstacle appears which will prevent the industry pro- ducing to capacity, with better wages and working condi- tions, as well as with substantial profits. Better wages and legitimate profits are not incompatible in the lumber industry. The IWA has shown a deep concern for the general pros- perity of the province. It is for this reason that emphasis has been placed on the value of increased wage rates as a stim- ulus to business activity. . The more the workers are able to spend, the greater the demand on our production, and the less danger of unemploy- ment due to a drop in production. The more the workers are able to spend, the better able the people of the province will be to buy imported goods, with which our customers abroad must pay for our exports. Another gross error appears in Mr. Clyne’s calculations. He fails to admit that a smaller work force is required to FREE ENTERPRISE TEM RULE No.1: DON'T GET CAUGHT !! produce a thousand board feet of lumber than a few years ago. He has been able to lower his labour costs for every unit of output. _ The displacement of workers due to technological change is an important factor in the present unemployment. If Mr. Clyne has his way, and freezes wages while further reducing the total wage bill, more unemployment is inevitable. Fewer people will be able to buy the goods we can produce in increasing abundance. Mr. -Clyne’s statements generate more heat than light in the present situation. Publication date of the next’ issue of the WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER is May 4th. Deadline for ad copy is April 21st, and fo news copy April 28th. A BARA ' JHE WESTERN CANADIAN UL : PUBLISHED TWICE MONTHLY ON THE FIRST AND THIRD THURSDAYS BY International Woodworkers of America aa (AFL-CIO-CLC) Regional- Council No. 1 de These items were gleaned from the files of the B.C. Lumber Worker’s April 2nd issue, 1951. | Most vigorous political action | yet known in the history of the j B.C. trade union movement re-/ sulted in the presentation to the/ Legislature, April 16, of a mam-4 moth petition signed by 206,000 persons, demanding the with- drawal of Hospital Insurance a- mendments or the resignation of the Government. * * * After a struggle of many years, organized labour in Canada has at last succeeded in having union dues made deductible for income tax purposes. * * * Safety programme of the IWA was praised in the B.C. Legisla- ture, when Opposition Leader Harold Winch urged upon the Government acceptance of the IWA proposal for establishment of a representative advisory coun- cil for industry, which would more effectively co-ordinate all accident prevention work. * * William Green, Philip Murray, Walter Reuther and George Meany are organized labour’s representatives on President Tru- man’s new National Advisory Board on Mobilization. Labour agreed to nominate representa- tives in the belief that they would report directly to the President and not through mobilization chief Charles E. Wilson, who is board chairman. * * * Top-heavy incomes of lawyers, doctors and dentists, away above the general public standard, have been revealed in a survey by the Dominion Bureau of Statistics. In 1948 only 4.69 percent of all Canadians paying income tax had incomes of over $5,000, but in: 1946, 47.2 percent of all doctors earned between $5,000 and $20,000. Book Paper Crumbling The pulp and paper industry has been shocked by a scientific demonstration which proves that books now being printed will crumble into dust within fifty years. The paper in books printed five hundred years ago is still good. The culprit is increased acid- ity, in the acid sizin Valuable books, printed to-day will require preservative treat- ment, if they are to be used by future generations. 705,000 Still Out The first ray of hope in nearly a year came when the March un- employment statistics were re- leased. They showed a drop of 14,000 from the February peak of 719,000 out of work. In mid-March 705,000 were job- less — 11.1 per cent of the labour force, compared to 9.8 per cent in March, 1960. There was a wide variation in un- employment rates. In the first three months of the year the national aver- The The Union The Editor, May I use your columns to exp my appreciation of the loyalty devotion of the officers and membei of Local 1-423 of the 1.W.A. On August 16, 1960, I was dis. _ charged without just cause by S. & K Plywoods of Kelowna and the same Orchids Ford day filed a grievance with the shop steward, Mr. W, Schumaker. Prior to working for S. & K. T ha always been self employed, and had never been a Union member. Like most people who have not been mem-~ bers of any Union, I had a vague notion of the purposes of Unions, My _ opinions were formed from what T — read in the newspapers. and maga- “se zines, and from what I heard from _ the radio and newspapers. I thought Unions were necessary, and of bene. fit in a general way to the working man, but had no thought that it would be of any personal use to a fellow who had always looked after his own affairs. I was not a good Union member. I attended one meeting in two years and ‘suddenly I found that the only earthly help for a workman unfairly treated is his Union. I wish, through the medium of your paper, to thank Brothers Schumaker, Heitt, S. A, Muir, D. Welder and Brother Walls, and all my fellow workers who were witnesses for me before the Arbitra- tion Board, for their fine work. To those Union members who thought as I did, may I say this: You may need your Union to-morrow. Your Union needs you today. Attend all Union meetings. If you have criticisms, voice them at a meeting, not in the washroom. The fact that I am back at work and was paid back wages for lost time is ample proof that the I.W.A. through its devoted and loyal representatives, is there to back you up 100% when you need it. ack Spencer. age was 11 per cent, yet 33 per cent of all labourers were without jobs, as were 30 per cent of construction workers. Only 3.5 per cent of pro- fessional and office workers were out of work. * ° Labatfs ‘the one Pilsener beer worth asking for by Labatts brewed light to please you hame! PNeO-lol_ This advertisement is not published or displayed by the | Liquor Control Board or by the Government of British Columbia.