‘in Enterests of Maximum Production

payments be lifted

production.”

The move is of extreme importance, in the opinion
tional representative of the union.

“Tis the first time in Canada that such a step has been taken,” he said. “It will
not only boost output of important metals, but will establish a precedent for workers in
other industries who desire to boost their actual wages, due to the rising cost of living,
without coming in conflict with present wage ceiling regulations.”

Since the IUMMSW signed with the company some weeks ago, agreements have
been signed granting overtime wages, holidays with pay, and payment of one-half shift
where men are called back on the job unexpectedly for extra work.

Joint Wage Application Made.

The first joint application by union and manageme
system of incentive wage payments was made this week t
Board by the International Union of Mine, Mill and Smelt
Consolidated Mining and Power Company.

The joint application, forwarded to Ottawa by the company and officers of
IUMMSW Local 649 of Copper Mountain, asks that the ceiling on existing bonus wage
“in the interests of maximum production.”

The application declares that “the present ceiling on bonus payments tends to
curtail maximum output per man, and its removal will remove all obstacles to higher

nt in Canada to institute a
o the National War Labor
er Workers and the Granby

of Harvey Murphy, interna-

Certify
TWA As
Agent

Twelve years after workers of
Fraser Mills, largest sawmill op-
eration in the British Empire,
struck work in a historic struggle
against the depression-wrought con-
ditions of the early thirties, only to
have their union smashed after
winning out in their demands,
Labor Minister G. S. Pearson this
week announced that Local 1-357,
International Woodworkers of Am-
erica, had been certified as sole
collective bargaining agency for all
employees of the big operation at
Maillardville.

Tt was in 1931 that-the big Fraser
Mills strike. occurred, an event that
was noted even by the labor move-
ment of the Soviet Union. One of
the leaders of the strike commit-
tee was a young shingle weaver.
Harold J. Pritchett Now Pritchett
is the leader of the union that has
finally brought organization to the
Circle F mill, and this time, say
the workers, the union is going to
remain.

Over a year ago the IWA took
the first steps to bring the plant
under the banner of the union.
By October of last year the work

-had progressed to the point where
negotiations were opened with the
company. Refusal of the manage-
ment to meet union representatives
resulted in their being taken to
court by the TWA District Council
for infractions of the ICA Act.
The union lost the case, but the re-
percussions of the defeat were far-
reaching. Protests by labor poured
in on Labor Minister Pearson, and
this, coupled with the adverse de-
cision of an arbitration board sit-
ting on the demand of union mem-
bers of BC Plywoods for the right
of collective bargaining, forced an
admission from Pearson that the
ICA Act as it was then constituted
had failed to meet the needs of the
time and laid the basis for com-
plete revision of the legislation in
March of 1943.

Since last March officers of Local

NEW LOW PRICE

THE. SOVIETS
EXPECTED If

By Anna Louise Strong

35 CENTS

*
UNIVERSAL NEWS

138 East Hastings Vancouver

—— |}

==

Canadians Ready for Attack

Here Canadian troops in Britain are shown on recent
manoeuvres, on a grander scale than any yet conducted.
When the second front in western Europe is opened—and
the growing crisis in the Axis camp has made it the oppor-
for victory in 1943—the main Canadian forces in

tunity
Britain are expected to form

the spearhead of the assault.

1-357 and the scores of shop stew-
ards in the big plant have been
working night and day to bring
the membership over the majority
required. Once that majority was
reached, it had to be maintained
during the three-month period re-
quired under the ICA Act before
application for certification could
be made, That the effort was suc-
cessful was good reason for the
celebration this week at Maillard-
ville.

There are more hurdles to cross.
The next move will come when the
local union’s negotiating committee,
headed by IWA President Prit-
chett, and including Stuart Als-
bury, George Mitchell, Business
Agent Perey Smith, Ray Eddie, and
District Secretary Bert Melsness,
meets the company.

What will follow will be decided
by the Fraser Mills management.
Whatever the move, the fact re-
mains that the key operation in the
province is now fully unionized.
And the thousands of unorganized

sawmill workers in the province
will take note of that and be heart-
ened in their own fight for union-
ism.

Showler To Act
For Woodworkers

Officers ot the International
Woodworkers of America an-
nounced this week that Birt Showl-
er, president of the AFL Trades
and Labor Council, would repre-
sent Ladysmith TWA Sub-Local
1-80 on the board of arbitration to
inquire into the dispute between
the union and the Comox Logging
and Railway Company over signing
of a union agreement. Negotiations
with the company, opened last
week, broke down when the com-
pany agreed to recognize the union
but refused to sign an agreement.

Showler’s choice as employees’
representative on the board was
approved by last week's trades
council meeting. As head of the
AFL movement in Vancouver, his
acceptance of the IWA invitation
sets a precedent in some respects,
since the TWA is a CIO affiliate.

Declared Nigel Morgan, IWA in-
ternational board member:

“Birt Showler’s readiness to act
on the arbitration board is indica-
tive of the growing unity and confi-
dence in eath other evidenced by

Labor News on the background

bership in the fascist unions

membership meetings, enforced payment of union du

‘stale treasury, and abolished the
workers’ factory councils. In elec-
tions to these factory councils the
previous year. representatives of
the fascist unions had been over-
whelmingly defeated. While the,
law permitted the “continued ex-
istence” of other unions, it pro-
hibited them from conducting wage
negotiations and signing any agree-
ments with employers, and forced
them to hand over all their mem-
bership lists to the fascist secret
police. !
Against a background of rising
unemployment, food shortage and
wage cuts of 25 percent to 50 per-
cent, these restrictions did not pre-
vent workers from organizing. Con-
sequently, in November, 1926, storm
froopers raided the national and
local officers of the General Con-
federation of Labor, suppressed
Battaglia Sindicali, GCL organ, de-
clared the Communist Party illegal
and arrested 37 of its leaders.
Shortly afterwards the Liberal, So-
cialist, Reformist and Democratic
parties were also suppressed.

Continuing his policy of accept

ing the cooperation, whenever of
fered, of © conservatively - minded
labor leaders, within a few weeks
Mussolini reinstated the executive
committee of the General Confed-
eration of Labor—on condition that
it abolish itseli. On January 4,
1927, the GCL executive passed this
resolution:
“Considering that the ‘de facto’
organization of trade unionism pro-
vided for under Article 12 of the
Law of April 3. 1926, has proved
useiess under the other articles re-
lating to police control, and that
the distribution of membership
eards for 1927 is impossible. the
executive committee orders the
dissolution of the GCL.”

Reactions of labor leaders to the
abolition of the GCL were varied.
One group, headed by GCL Secre-
tary D’Aragona and GCI. leaders
Maglione, Rema, Rigloa, Azimonti,
Calada and Colombino, went over
to the fascist unions. “We should
not be true to our principles if we
were against the corporative state
and-the labor charter which the
Fascist government intends to es-

statement. “One has only to refer
to our past decisions and plans to
come to the conclusion that we
are duty bound te contribute to the
success of ihe fascist experiment.”
Offering their services to Musso-
lini, they described themselves as
“men who threugh many years cf
labor struggles have acquired a
special capacity to understand
social problems, make contact with
the masses, and resolve class an-
tagonisms.”’ '

A second group, led by GCL ex-
ecutive committee members Buozzi

Unions, Labor Organizations !
take advantage af

SEYMOUR PARK

Across 2nd Narrows Bridge
for your

PICNICS
PRIVATE PARTIES

Dance Pavilion, Kitchen,
Cooking Utensils, Dishes.

trade unions of all affiliations.”

Labor Quislin;
Aided Miussolin

This is the second in a series of articles prepared by |

HE basis for Mussolini’s Fascist Labor Charter of
1927, was set by the “compulsory labor law” of Ap

This law made it illegal for employers “to deal with any h

fascist trade unions,” abolished the right to strike, ma

tablish,’ tney declared in a signed |

Public Address System
available.
PHONE - - £4HAst. 4090

of the Italian labor m

compulsory, prohibi

and Sardelli, fled to PB
there set up a GCL Bure:
ile. “The executive of th
realized that by remaining”
it encouraged the hideous
farce, the pretense that
liberty exists in Italy,” this
announced. “Therefore, it ty |
moved abroad under the
the Amsterdam (Second)
tional.” At the same tim
in Italy was urged “to
tivities.” :

A third group, centered |
in the Woodworkers, Re
and Hotel Workers, Rai
and CGlerical Work
called upon Italian wi
continue resistance against
fascist regime. On Februar
1927, this group organized
ference in Milan, at
delegates were presen
Principal labor organiz;
Italy, including the metal,
building trades workers and
dressers unions. The confe:
voted to restore the GCE ;
underground organization,
stitute factory councils and %
Labor Bureaus (abolished bh
previous GCL _ executive), §
undertake illegal publicati
Battaglia Sindicali. 2
The success of this third gr
rebuilding the GCL and org: &
resistance against fascism W
dicated by Missolini himseij
speech before the Italian Gh
on May 26, 1927.

“The fascist trades unio}
getting on all right,” Mu
said. ‘Nevertheless, one |
not indulge in excessive il! |
in regard to the so-called
proletariat. It still keeps awa —
our unions to a great exte)
although it is not as hostile
was some time ago; it is coi
ous by its absence. It is € !
that we must depend for h
the inevitable laws of life.
generation of those who can
led, of those who fail to unde
Fascism, will be eliminates
certain moment by the law |
ture. The young will aris
workers and peasant whom
cruit among the Ballita (€-
Pioneers) and among the |/
youth.’” 3)

Mussolini’s “inevitable la
life” were slow in coming
rescue, however. As unem’
passed the one million ma -
rents and food prices soared,
broke out in Milan, Turin, t
Cremona, Isola, Megnago!and.
industrial centres. By the &
1927 the circulation of ¢
of Battaglia Sindicali was
000. Warning further ~ agaiit
dangers of the “so-called urba |
letariat *’ Mussolini sal
account must Rome, the

)

Established Over 40 ¥
45 East Hastings — Vi