By C. A. Saunders

we isthe prospect for the
postwar period? This is the
question foremost in the minds
of workers in war industry today.

Although we realize that the
War is not yet won and’ that con-
tinued and greater effort is de-
manded of all of us before com-
plete victory is realized, never-
theless, the prospect of early vic-
tory brings this question ever
more urgently to the fore.

It is not surprising that the
“hungry thirties” have left an
jodelible mark and that all of the
workers’ efforts and plans are
aimed at preventing any recur-
rence of that period of mass un-
employment and despair. Some
are seeking to solve their prob-
lem as individuals. Any day you
ean hear men talking in the ship-
yards about their intentions of
buying a chicken ranch; a fruit
or vegetable farm, or any little
business, from which they believe
they will be able to eke out at
least a living, come what may.

Such ideas would not be so pre-
valent, especially in the ship-
building industry, were it not
that many have little confidence
that our new war industries, ship-
building and aircraft construc-
tion in particular, will survive
the war. Yet there are tremen-
dous possibilities for postwar ex-
pansion of industry. The facts
show, for instance, that in spite
of higher wages and transporta-
tion costs, ships have been built
on the Coast $600,000 cheaper
than in eastern Canada.

‘The provincial government has
ennounced that it will help to
take up the slack during the
change-over from war to peace-
time production. However, it was
disappointing that no mention
Was made of the most important
question, that is, future perman-
ent industries.

Ww. HAVE been talking about
establishing a steel mill on
the Coast for a long time. Many
committees have been set up to
study the question. Ail evidence
points to the fact that nothing is
meeded but governmental stim-
ulus to ensure the establishment
of plants for the production of all
types of steel. Undoubtedly,
this is the key question for Brit-
ish Columbia and one that should
be taken up in a positive man-
ner by all citizens.

It can no longer be left to
Vancouver City Council commit-
tees or trade union committees
exclusively, but it must become
a demand -around which all sec-
tions can be rallied.

There is no doubt that this
will be one of the main questions
at the forthcoming Postwar and
Rehabilitation Conference spon-
sored by the shipyard unions of
B.C. This conference will have
the broadest representation. Ac-
eceptances irom municipalities,
boards of trade, religious and
fraternal organizations from all
parts of the province are in-
dicative of the faith of the people
in our Own provinces.

We know what the possibilities
are. Qne of the results of this
eonference will undoubtedly be
the setting up of a broad com-
mittee to forward the work.
This is the way, by working to-
gether, we shall ensure the estab-
lishment of new industries and
the retention of the great ship-
building industry we have
created. : >

_ will mobilize our

Continued

_ Miners

denced in the fact that our en-
tire deliberations were carried
out in the spirit of the Teheran
agreement,” declared
Murphy, union organizer.

“We voted against affiliation
to the CCF at this time, but we
reaffirmed the policy of our inter-
national union for political ac-
tion committees in all locals. We
entire mem-
bership to join with all and any
forces in the community for pro-
gressive political action and we
will support all candidates whose
program corresponds with the
aims and aspiration of organized
labor for allout production, jobs
and security ”

Again pledging the union to
a no-strike policy, the convention
urged the widest extension and
approval of labor-management
committees on a national and
provincial scale.

High enthusiasm felt by dele-
gates at formation of the district
union was registered in the re-
marks of delegates from locali-
ties where they had struggled
for years to get the union estab-
lished. :

“The members in Trail, long
the stronghold of discrimination
and company unionism will wel
come this conference as 4 guar-
antee of the continued strength
and resolve of the miners union
to better social conditions,” de-
clared Fred Henne, of Local 480.

Expressing keen interest in
the political action resolution,
S. B. Orser, of Local 656, Nickel
Plate Mine, Headiey, said: “Nev-
er in my 26 years as a hard rock
miner have | witnessed such a
desire for organization. It should
hot be long now before we are
able to make the miners’ basic
Wage rate eftective throughout
the province.”

Said F. G. Lindsay, secretary-
treasurer of the miners’ district
executive board from Britannia,
Local 663: “The outstanding
thing about our convention was
having a convention itself. We
are certainly going places and
have a correct policy.”

The miners sent greetings to
CIO President Phillip Murray,
congratulating him for his spien-
did qualities of leadership. An-
other was sent to President Reid
Robertson of the IUMMSW who
recently was elected as a dele-
gate to the world labor confer-
ence to be held at London in
June.

Six amendments to the Metal-
iferous Mines Act, which deals
with proper examinations to set
standards of efficiency and safety
appliances in all establishments,
were approved by delegates.

Following the convention, the
union’s legislative committee, ac-
companied by the international
representatives met with Mines
Minister EK. €.-Carson, who prom-
ised immediate consideration to
the revision of the Metaliferous
Mines Act.

Kusych Sues
Boilermakers

In a further attempt to dis-
rupt organization, Myron Kuzych,
expelled member of the Boiler-
makers Union, has commenced
action for reinstatement in the
union and for unstated damages.

Seemingly tireless in his ac-
tivities against the Union, Ku-
zych at the last union elections
which saw the leadership re-
turned with good majorities,
conducted a one-man campaign
in an attempt to discredit Presi-
dent William Stewart.

Persistency of his work against
the union has led many shipyard

-workers to think that open shop

and anti-labor interests are back-
ing him up in the present litiga-
tion against the union.

Harvey-

Continued

Housing

ever steps it feels are neces-
Sary to arouse public opinion
in this endeavor:

@ That pending erection of
new dwellings the committee
Stands instructed to press and
assist the authorities in pro-
viding temporary emergency
housing accommodation for
families in desperate need of
accommodation.

John Stanton, chairman of the
Labor-Progressive Party's city
committee, stated that Vancou-
ver Housing Association had
cited the need for 8,000 new
homes in 1939. As the
tion of the city had since grown
by some 30,000 the necessity for

additional housing units was
most urgent.
Although Ald. George Bus-

combe, who was present at the
conference, tried te evade the
issue by references to clauses
in the city charter which would
hamper the prospect, Stanton
countered by asking delegates,
“Are We going to be hamstrung
by a city charter?”

John McPeake, Consumers
Council chairman, told delegates
that action was particularly
needed now, since intensification
of the war in the Pacific would
bring thousands of people ito
British Columbia. :

MePeake was critical of the
attitude of Mayor Cornett to the
problem. On a recent American
tour, said McPeake, Mayor J. W.
Cornett had seen for himself re-
sults that could be achieved
when a realistic approach on the
housing problem is made by
municipalities. a

“But in his own backyard, it’s
a different story,’ said McPeake.
“The mayor and his council have
done little or nothing to solve
the problem here. This situa-
tion must be changed.”

Centinued

West Coast

While not fully satisfied with
the agreement, most of the union
leaders involved in the negotia-
tions considered that it brought
the unions considerably closer
to the objective of a closed shop.

The company has always had a
company union approach to its
labor-management relations and
while the unions concerned do
not agree with an agreement
differing from other yards they
do consider it as a definite for-
ward step for better union deal-
ings with the West Coast and
Hamilton Bridge managements
in the future.

Only the patience of the union
leaders and the shipyard work-
ers in their efforts to convince
the company of the necessity for
proper labor management rela-
tions On a uniform basis for the

industry has prevented strike
action.

“This yard has enjoyed -the
benefits of advances made~-in

other yards, both in wages and
production,” said Lawrence And-
erson, Shipwright’s business
agent, “but so long as no ad-
vances were made with the com-
pany in negotiations for better
relations the yard remained as
a potential bulwark of company
unionism and a threat to the
conditions of other yards.

“While the new labor code has
had a bearing on the question,
and will have still more bear-
ing in the future, the persever-
ance and patience of the unions
and their representatives have
made some impression in infiu-
enecing the company to accept
collective bargaining and union
recognition.

popula- ~
~ stop

Continued from Page I

New Labor Cod

Replaces ICA Ac

a move which is a distinet gain
for labor and a forward step
in strengthening the war effort.

Acceptance of the federal ord-
er to cover the entire industry
of the province will simplify the
question of jurisdiction in labor
negotiations and centralizes all
British Columbia labor problems

-ander the provincial department

of labor. It removes the fear of
*‘buck passing” - between govern-
ment departments and will help
lengthy and drawn out
multiplication and overlapping of
authority which has so often re-
sulted in delayed arbitration and
negotiation on labor problems.
It strengthens the labor move-
ment throughout the Dominion
in pressing other provineal gov-
ernments to follow the example
of British Columbia and accept
the provisions of the new labor
code in full. :
Already Ontario’s Labor Min-
ister Daley has indicated that

the federal code will be extend-

ed by provincial legislation to
cover all labor relations within
the jurisdiction of the province.
The fact that two important in-
dustrial provinces are willing to
Sserap their own Jegislation and
aecept the federal order is a long
step towards a uniform federal
labor policy which has long
been a ‘demand of organized
labor.

Neither the ICA Act nor the
new labor code that has now
supplanted it are wholly satis-
factory to labor. There are loop-
holes in them which corporation
lawyers will not be slow to seize
upon. Labor may have to press
for ~suitable amendments. Nev-
ertheless the adoption of the
federal order is ‘a victory for
the labor movement.

Application of the code to
British Columbia will eliminate
the three objectionable features
of the ICA Act which have been
protested by labor. The three
months membership required
for certification are now wiped
out. The continuous struggle in
labor disputes to prove that col-
lective bargaining includes the
Signing of union agreements will
be an issue of importance no
longer. The code also cuts down
the period of notice from 21
days to 10 days for commence-
ment of negotiations.

Importance of centralizing ad-
ministration in one department
Was seen in the remarks of La-
bor Minister Pearson who point-

ed out that 65 percent of
ers in the main industries ©
province are covered by th
eral order leaying only 3:

cent covered by the IGA #

“We would have two at
British Columbia,” he said,
this government has _ cont
that it is wiser to ask the fi
government to extend the
visions of its order to insur
the greatest possible meast
authority be given the proy
minister of labor and leav
ministration to his hands.”

The application of the fe
code to British Columbia
give thousands of new
union members bargaining 1

“In the International
workers of America alone,”

Nigel Morgan, interna
board member, “it would
vide for the certification

mediately of 5,000 new mer
of the union without havyii
wait for two -or three mo:
Other labor leaders haye
ed general approval of the
vincial governments’ action.
In Trail, B.C., where the
months certification ciaus
utilized by the managemey
prevent proper recognitio
the union, adoption of the
eral order should aid the 1
in establishing its case
Strengthen labor relations.
Wider avenues are now |
ed up for a firmer form oa
bor-management cooperatic
improve production met
and rates of pay and better
ditions to take our province
the postwar period with a
mum of straim and stress.
The provincial governm
action may ‘also be interp
as a sign that the govern
is not unwilling to coop
with labor to solve some of
most pressing problems.
Adoption by the provi
governments of the federal ¢
in full will draw closer the
eral and provincial governn
and the labor movement. It
narrow the sectional differe
between province with prov
And it provides a basis for c
working unity of the two e
lished trade union centers.

ec

'WAND STUDI
i “Anything With a Camer
{' E. Hastings St PAcific 7

VANCOUVER, B.C.

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SUNDAY,

FABABRAAARABUARUARAABAUABABAAEBEBBABEBEBUBBAUEBEEET

PUBLIC MEETING

FERGUS McKEAN

Provincial Leader, Labor-Progressive Party.

will speak on

A PEOPLE’S PROGRAM
FOR BRITISH COLUMBIA

VICTORY HALL

939 Homer Street

MARCH 5

§:00 P.M.

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