3

ly Unions

Action of Labor Miunister
forge Pearson in recognizing
voice of united labor by
sing amendments to the In-
"2G trial Conciliation and Arbi-
. 4 ton Act despite constant op-
4} tion from industrialists was
“aly commended by labor
““giers, who concluded their
sth Goessful lobby in Victoria
‘Yrsday night.

Wmended by labor leaders as
left on Wednesday's boat for
oria to hear the ICA debate.

ipresentatives of the Canadian
#ufacturers’ Association

if’s to the cabinet during the
jt few weeks, expressing alarm
their interests may be jeopar-
ii by the new amendments giv-
jlabor its right to bargain ¢ol-
UVES rely.

ncij bor has pointed out, and it has
a recognized by Labor Minister
ni

son, that majority of the dis-
5 in the province -have been
to lack of proper recognition of
fundamental right. Adoption of
| proposed amendments, labor
“irs declared, would have tre-
ylous effect upon BC’s war ef-
4 releasing labor energy pre-
dy immobilized by reluctance
How workers full expression
igh unions of their own
2.

= fact that all labor in the
mee united in presenting its
mds tothe provincial cabinet
mendment to the act undoubt-
made an impression both on
Overnment and employers, and
sreposed changes introduced
sarson last week were hailed
yr § Por's representatives as a vic-
for unity, an example of what
i Jabor can achieve.

* delegation now in Victoria
ses the united labor commit-
2. @ aich has met regularly to con-
minor changes in the amend-
3 and representatives from
tcally every union in the city.
2s also joined by representa-
‘from Victoria unions.
business, as was expected,
an@ Tepresentatives lobbying dur-
[ine debate in an effort to
se the amendments.
dustry is alarmed at the na-
Sf the amendments proposed,”
- Tobin, BC chairman of the
told the cabinet last week,
ticularly disturbing to big
€SS was the amendment which
mted companies from domin-
or interfering with the for-
in of any organization of em-
es. This gave the impression,
*MA delegation declared, that
*yers were “venal, if not actu-
| }@iminal.” But this clause was
?d by labor as helping to pre-
ste® the formation of company
e US, Or at least employer dom-
z@n by financial control.
arestS represented by various
yer’ delegations to the gov-
. ¥2nt included the Consolidated
d

<1.

Fn

¥)

& and Smelting Company, Ga-
n Western Lumber company,
& Logging and Railway Go.,
umber and Shingle Manufac-
¥ Association, BC Loggers’
Biiation, and the Canadian
gi@facturers’ Association, which
#elf represents 80 percent of
idustrial Payroll of the proy-
# Accompanying these delega-
Was an imposing array of
talent, not the least being
40or J. W. deB. Farris and
. Locke, KC, who has been
W#inent in many arbitration

“Labor unity won .. .

“Changes in the ICA act to pro-
vide for collective bargaining by
law,. barring unfair labor practices
and speeding up process of arbitra-
tion will do much to promote in-
dustrial peace and contribute ereat-
ly to the welfare of our province,”
Stated Birt Showler, Vancouver
Trades and Labor Council head.
“We feel that the fact that both
labor councils backed the amend-
ments had a great deal to do with
the fact that the labor minister
Saw fit to give them his approval.
“While the amendments as pro-
posed by Labor Minister Pearson
do not embody all of labor’s re-
quirements, they do constitute a
great advance over the present leg-
islation, and should have the sup-
port of all having the interests of
labor at heart.”

Foreman Fined
In Assault Case

A fine of $15 was levied in
Fraser Mills municipal court this
week against Elmer McKellar,
former Fraser Mills foreman
charged by a female employee of
the company with common assault,
Sidney Wyatt Smith appeared for
the prosecution.

Maximum penalty for this of-
fense is a $20 fine. McKellar was
laid off by the company, it is
stated.

The woman charged that .Mc-
Kellar had made insulting remarks
to her niece, also a Fraser Mills
employee, and when the older
woman approached him to remon-
strate, struck her across the face.
Fraser Mills, New Westminster and
B.C. provincial refused to take
the charge against the foreman,
she stated, causing her to place

lost to labor.

the charges through her lawyer.

“Labor Minister Pearson and |

the provincial government are
to be commended for the in-
telligent and progressive lead-
ership given in passing the
amendments to the ICA Act,”
Nigel Morgan, international
board member, IWA, told The
People Thursday, Shortly after
Labor Minister Pearson announced
his decision.

AS many as twenty-nine opera-
tions are now preparing for ne-
gotiations for recognition of the
IWA, he pointed out, with 8,000
to 10,000 workers involved, and
adoption of the amendments will
facilitate quick settlement of these
negotiations.

“We will reopen negotiations on
operations such as B.C. Plywoods,
Where unfavorable decisions were
reached,” added Morgan.

Gther labor leaders expressed
Similar sentiments in earlier inter-
views with The People, as follows:

William Burgess, secretary, Unit-
ed Fishermen’s Federal Union:

“Labor Minister George Pearson
and the provincial cabinet are to
be commended for their proposals
to amend the ICA act, in line with
suggestions put forward in a brief
submitted by a united labor dele-
gation that visited the capital some
time ago.

“We are confident that the
amendments proposed will do much
to improve morale and thereby
boost production because of the
greater feeling of security among
the working people of the prov-
ince.”

William Turner, recording secre-
tary, Aeronautical Lodge 756, IAM:

“Labor has for some time been
askine for union recognition as a
matter of law. The amendments
proposed by Labor Minister Pear-
Son are a step forward insofar as
they guarantee labor's right to or-
fanize, and the right of the union
to bargain for its members.

“The unity achieved by labor in
BC around amendment of the IGA
act should set an example to the
rest of Canada. Such legislation
is long overdue, and only a& united
labor movement will secure labor’s
rights.”

Malcolm McLeod, business agent,
Boilermakers and Iron Shipbuild-
ers, Local i:

“Legislation to improve labor’s
position is certainly needed, and
the amendments brought before
the government by Hon. George
Pearson, minister of labor, would
seem to be a step in the right
direction. The guarantee of union
recognition is very important to
labor, and will without a doubt
prove of value in organizing worlk-
ers presently unorganized.’

Jack Greenall, TWA organizer:

“Labor has kept an eye on Vic-
toria for some time, and now that
the ICA Act amendments have
come before the legislature the en-
tire labor movement is anxious
that nothing should stand in the
way of their adoption. Our union
members have always felt that
Changes in the act were essential
to make possible better relations
between labor and Management,
and every sawmill worker agrees
with me when I say that if the
amendments are passed the road
will be opened to higher morale
on the production front, and, there-
fore, inereased production.”

AFL-CCL Leaders Praise
Unity On ICA Amendments

...a victory for labor!”

“Labor will do all in its power
to assist the government in its
steps to amend the IGA Act,” said

E. E. Leary, president of Vancou-
ver Labor Council.

“Our delegation which presented
a brief to the government asking
amendment of the IGA Act repre-
sented upwards of 60,000 organized
workers in the province. We con-
Sider our requests should have the
support of every progressive.

“Although the goyernment’s pro-
posals are not exactly in line with
labor’s brief, they are undoubtedly
a forward step in labor legislation
in the province, and we consider
they will be of greater benefit to
labor than any existing legislation
in Canada. We are pleased with
the proposed amendments and will
support them with the same united
representation of organized labor
that drew up our brief.”

Fish Cannery
Unionists Meet

Approximately 65 credentialled
delegates, along with many union
members, will attend the second
annual convention of United Fish

Cannery and Reduction Plant
Workers Union, Local 89, which
opens Sunday, March 14, at union
headquarters here.

The convention call, which went
out early last week, states: ‘We
must do everything in our power
to produce during 1943 the utmost
that it is possible for our industry
to produce. With this as the fore-
most object in our minds we must
work toward the greatest degree of
unity and co-operation among all
sections within our industry.”

Delegates are expected to have a
very busy time, according to Bill
Gateman, general secretary of the
Union.

“One of our main jobs at the
convention will be the drafting of
a program for 100 percent organ-
ization of the industry, and con-
sideration will be given to closer
co-operation between the Cannery
Workers, United Fishermen’s
Union, and Native Brotherhood,”
he stated this week.

Ontario :
Demands

Labor Bill

While labor leaders from all
parts of British Columbia
gathered at Victoria to keep
watch during legislative ses-
sions considering amendments
to the ICA Act, hundreds of
Ontario trade unionists and
private citizens stormed To-
ronto—where ian Ontario gov-
ernment committee is conducting
hearings to consider adoption of a
Similar labor bill—with urgent de-
mands that its members bring down
collective bargaining legislation
necessary for total war.

In Ontario, as in Victoria, every
Organization which believes the
winning of the war to be of prime
importance eagerly awaits govern-
ment approval of a labor “Bill of
Rights.” There, too, the provincial
minister of labor is in accord with
labor’s demands.

And in Ontario’s Queens Park, as
in Victoria provincial building,
conspicuously present at hearings
are legal representatives of some
of the biggest corporations in the
country, ‘watching carefully for
straws to see which way the wind
is blowing, listening attentively, in
fear that the government may
heed labor’s appeal for the weapon
to fight slowed-down production—
legislation guaranteeing collective
bargaining.

Labor Minister Heenan, opening
hearings of the committee March
2, outlined the need for a labor
bill, and warned that industrial dis-
putes were on the increase. He
also gave proof of his support by
appearing at an emergency con-
ference of 250 AFI unionists last
Sunday in the Toronto Labor Tem-
ple.

“Labor has never asked for any-
thing outrageous, or anything it
hasn’t deserved,’ he told the as-
sembled ABIL delegates. “T wish
you all the luck in the world.”

Pat Sullivan, vice-president of the
Ontario Trades Congress, appearing
before the government with Cana-
dian Congress of Labor President
A. R. Mosher, told the Legislative
committee that:

“The organized workers whom fT
represent, and I believe the public
at large, welcome the manifesta-
tion by the government of Ontario
of its intention to bring down and
enact a collective bargaining bill
during the present session of the
legislature.

“We view its enactment as an in-
dispensable spur to the strength-
ening of our democracy in these
Stern days of war...

“A collective bargaining bill at
this time will evoke enthusiasm
and lift the hearts of our workers
at a very psychological moment, at
a time when our military leaders
are on the verge of beginning a
great push for final victory.”

The Trades Congress brief pre-
sented to the Ontario legislature
emphasized that the bill should
outlaw all types of company unios,
yellow dog contracts, and coercion
against workers, The basis of the
bill would have to be the straicht-
forward guarantee of rights of free
association and collective bargain-
ing.”

Thirteen Ontario cities and town-
ships have already written the com-
mittee urging immediate passage
of the bill. :

“We have received so many let-
ters and wires,” stated committee
chairman J. Clarke on the first day
of the hearings, “that it is impos-
sible to read them all to members
of the committee.”