Issue_
‘ov., 1960

WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER

~

From Page 1

‘Course’

necessary to combat unemploy-
ment. This campaign is to be
conducted in co-operation with
the Canadian Labour Congress,
with full employment as _ the
national goal.

@ Re-affirmation of the con-
viction that public ownership of
all facilities to provide electric
service is essential for the pros-
perity of the province.

@ Commitment of ‘the Federa-
tion to consideration of plans for
the publication at regular inter-
vals of a labour paper, and the
development af a weekly televi-
ae program

@ Sharp Eee: to the Pro-
vincial Government that long
over-due amendments to labour
legislation will be insisted upon,
and supported by trade union
action.

@ Open support of negotia-
tions to secure reduced hours of
work as a means to spread ayail-
able employment.

As the convention moved in
an orderly and business-like man-
ner from decision to decision,
attention was rivetted on those
matters which clearly had pri-
ority. Personal antagonisms, and
splintering tactics got short
shrift.

As after adjournment, the dele-
gates filed out of the Canadian
Legion gym, one of them summed
it up, “This organization knows
where it is going, and it’s getting
there. Its got a fighting policy,
in which lies our only hope. The
line has been drawn, separating
the men from the boys. He who
is not for us is against us.”

New Attitude Needed

Morris Warns Labour
On Unemployment

“Organized labour must
now cultivate a new public
attitude toward unemploy-
ment”. IWA Regional Presi-
dent Joe Morris sounded this
warning in a statement made
to the 5th Annual Convention
of the B.C. Federation of La-
bour on behalf of its officers.

President Morris reported on
decisions made by the Executive
Council of the Canadian Labour
Congress a few weeks earlier. He
urged support of the proposed
campaign to combat unemploy-
ment.

The speaker would not accept
the conclusion that employed
workers are at present indifferent
to the unemployment crisis. He
pointed to the dangers as they
affect everyone.

Fresh Threats

“Every group lay-off, is a fresh
threat to the security of those re-
maining on the job. It means a re-
duction of the demand for the
goods and services produced”.

“Unemployment is now the con-
cern of the whole community, and
not merely the workers who must
queue up for jobs or aid. Every
section of the community feels the
pinch as the volume of business
declines.’

‘The IWA official ari an answer
for critics who had claimed that
the country was financially unable
to meet the demands, made by
Congress.

He said, “Our critics do not dis-

cuss the ugly alternative to their
policy of inaction. The ugly alter-
native is now evident. When peo-
ple are forced into compulsory
idleness, and finally exhaust all
other sources of income, they must
seek some form of subsistence
from the community at large. Peo-
ple will not consent to starve, nor
can governments escape measures
to prevent outright destitution.
. We have reason to be dismayed
at the number of employable work-
ers who must now ask for social
assistance. The number is increas-
ing. If we allow this to continue,
we will have, as in 1934, one and
one half million on direct relief.
In that depression, the financial
strain was almost too great for our
governments. Recoyery came
when we discovered that we could
raise the money for a war emer-
gency, that we had refused to
make available for a peacetime
emergency.

“The simple fact is that it is
better economics to invest in mea-
sures to stimulate normal employ-
ment than it is to finance measures
to provide bare subsistence for an
army of unemployed.’

e must do all we can to
sot Are program, first to our af-
filiated members, and then to the
public in all our communities ...
Canada has the resources, if we
have the will, to free all our homes
from the want and insecurity
which unemployment has brought
into their homes.”

_B, FEDERATION of Labour

President, Robert Smeal, during the epanina

Federation's meres: oy ak Annual Convention in in Vancouver, October

a Satie Seer See

retary and to the right
seen sais oo metas of the Federation

NEWLY ELECTED Officers and Council Members of the B.C. Federation of Labour seated, left: Russ St.
Eloi, 2nd Vice-president; Joe) Morris, Ist Vice-president; Robert R. Smeal, President; E. Pat O'Neal, Secretary-
Treasurer; Ray Haynes, 4th Vice-president; Mel Kemmis, 3rd Vice-president. Council Members standing left:
Charlie Stewart; Jacob Holst; Robert Bryce; Pen Baskin; Jack MacKenzie; Bill Symington; E. T. Staley; Lloyd
Wisheart; Chris Crombie. Missing from picture is R.Greayes.

American Railroad Trainmen Sue Industry
For 510 Million In Lost Wages

New York—The Railroad Trainmen, challenging the legality of the rail industry’s strike i insurance
program, have sued in federal court here for $10 million in lost wages and expenses arising out of the
Tecent 26-day strike against the Long Island Railroa

he union charged in its brief that a tentative pre-strike settlement was deliberately scuttled by
management at the instigation of other railroads and as a result of the strike insurance program, which
paid the LIRR $50,000 a day during the walkout.

RT attorneys said the strike insurance represented an illegal pooling of railroad revenues in
violation of Interestate Commerce Commission regulations.

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