THE WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER AUTHORIZED AS SECOND CLASS MAIL, POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, OTTAWA, AND FOR PAYMENT OF POSTAGE IN CASH. Vol. XXXVI, No. 11 VANCOUVER, B.C. 5c PER COPY CS First Issue June, 1968 ELECT THE NDP 4, BEST QUALIFIED ’% MEMBERS REQUESTED TO REMAIN ON JOB At press time, talks were continuing between the IWA Negotiating Committee and Forest Industrial Relations, in the coast forest industry contract dispute. ' Although the present con- tract expired midnight June 14, the agreement provides for continuation of the terms while negotiations continue. The Negotiating Committee unanimously recommended on June 12 that all members re- main on the job until notified otherwise. Following is the telegram sent to the nine coast Local Unions by Jack Moore, Regional President. nenstalippnsteiuaieaiay The IWA Coast Negotiating Committee requests all Local Unions involved in present negotiations that they mail the 48-hour strike notice as required by law to all client - companies of Forest Industrial Relations Ltd. and other com- panies where “no-board” re- ports have been filed. “Members of the IWA are requested by the IWA Nego- tiating Committee to remain on the job until the Negotiat- ing Committee authorizes strike action. “The Committee is desirous of a settlement and negotia- tions are continuing. “Your Negotiating Commit- tee will authorize strike ac- tion only when all hope of negotiating a proper settle- ment has been lost.” If the operators make an offer which is, in the opinion of the Negotiating Committee, acceptable to the membership, it will be submitted as quickly as possible to a referendum vote, In the meantime the neces- sary strike preparations are being completed in the event that no acceptable settlement proposals are made and talks break off. “VOTE JUNE 25TH FOR | A WORKERS’ PROGRAMME” By JACK MacKENZIE IWA Regional 1st Vice-President Chairman, B.C. Federation of Labour Political Education Committee \VA/E are many, they are few.” This was the cry of the workers when they first acted politically against their oppressors. It is as true today. The work- ers form the majority of the electors. In the past too many workers have sup- ported political parties who, when in_ power, have betrayed them. The question for us in this election is, “Shall we, the workers of this country, | — continue to elect to po- | | litical office those who | 7) legislate against us?” ie In this election, we have the right and the opportunity to ex- ercise our political strength on the side of economic justice for the common people. Liberals and Tories alike have again refused full disclosure of the sources pro- viding them each with an estimated $10 million for campaigning. This clearly in- dicates that the minority power elite will be in the saddle if either Liberals or Con- servatives are returned. to power. The workers will again be victimized that the rich may grow richer. — We are engaged in a desperate struggle to raise our living ‘standards. Yet, Liberals and Tories have urged re- straint on wage increases without pro- posing restraint on prices and profits. Liberals recently declared that wage re- straint is necessary to lower interest rates. We ask, “How will a wage freeze remedy the situation in which the cost of mortgage money and the speculator- boosted land prices have risen to the point that only a family with annual in- come of over $8,100 can now build or acqujre a home. Shortage of housing has caused vicious rent-gouging. All the while, the money-lenders report an all- time high in profits. F In 1965 — just three years ago— the interest rates on housing stood at 6%. Today the interest rate has increased to 9%. In 1965 an $18,000 home with a 20- year mortgage bearing 6.25% interest resulted in monthly payments of $130.74 per month. This same $18,000 home, with a 20-year mortgage, in the year 1968, with payments at the increased interest rate of 9.25% increases the monthly payments to $160:06 per month, an increase of $29.34 per month in in- terest rates alone, not one penny of which is applied to the principal. Is this not usury of the worst kind? We may well ask, “What contribution are these money-lenders making to the economy of this country that entitles them to put their hands in the pockets of people struggling to buy homes to the tune of an extra $30 a month, and often much more?” We can vote for the NDP clear-cut alternative — funds to lower the cost of land and servicing, reduced costs of mortgage money, rent subsidies to pro- vide houses for low-income families, etc. In no other way can we resolve the hous- ing crisis of such vital concern to workers’ employment and family accommodation. High living costs today are a direct result of profit inflation. Wages have lagged behind rising prices, “managed” or fixed by monopoly interests. The wage re- straint proposed by Liberals and Tories can only worsen the situation. The consumer protection urged by the NDP is urgently needed by all workers. We need the NDP program of testing con- sumer products, honest labelling and packaging, and a drastic probe of un- justified price increases, and also low- cost credit. Deflationary measures must be directed against the profit-makers, not the workers now caught in the wage- price squeeze. On all matters affecting the worka- day lives of our people, the NDP, led by Tommy Douglas, is challenging “The Smug Minority,” the well-heeled power elite financing the Liberals and Tories to dodge the “gut” issues in this election campaign. We, “the majority,” whose labour produces the nation’s wealth, should grasp the opportunity offered by the full slate of NDP candidates to vote on our own behalf, to vote on June 25th for clear-cut policies long demanded by or- ganized labour to protect their present economic struggle. Vote for the workers’ program, up- held only by the NDP in this election.