8 ; THE WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER THE WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER Published twice monthly as the official publication of the INTERNATIONAL WOQDWORKERS OF AMERICA Western Canadian Regional Council No. 1 Affiliated with AFL-CIO-CLC , B.C. Phone 874-5261 Editor — Pat Kerr Business Manager — hal Fieber Advertising Representatives — Elizabeth Spencer Associates Forwarded to every memrer of the IWA in Western Canada in accordance with convention decisions. peekiption rate for non-members $2.00 per year 38,000 copies printed in this issue. jal Drive, \ Authorized as Second elie Mail, Post.Office Department, and for payment of postage in cash. eS? EDITORIAL "FIGHT FOR JUSTICE" ies California grape workers’ fight for social justice is a valiant battle waged against almost impossible odds. For the past thirty-four months, nearly 400,000 migrant farm workers, sup- ported by the United Farm Workers Union, have been on strike against the powerful grape corporations to gain the right to bargain collectively, and to live and work with dignity in the State of California. The grape corporations — whose an- nual sales are five billion dollars — have worked tooth and nail to prevent this happening. In collusion with govern- ment, court and police officials, they have so far succeeded. How well they have succeeded is shown by the fact that the exploited grape workers are employed only four to eight months a year and are paid from $1.00 to $1.40 an hour. To earn this money they work from sun-up to sun- down in heat up to 115 degrees. They are guarded by armed guards in their primitive shacks and when transported supervision or schooling of the workers’ children who are left behind in the camps to fend for themselves under the worst . sanitary conditions possible. Determined to rectify these conditions and force the employers to the bargain- ing table, the United Farm Workers called for a nation-wide boycott of California table grapes. This boycott has met with instant success. Labour, religious and consumer groups as well as civic officials in cities in United States and Canada have endorsed the campaign. Even such noted political figures as U.S. Vice-President Hubert Humphrey and Democratic presidential candidate Sena- tor Eugene McCarthy, have thrown their support behind the boycott. McCarthy in backing the boycott stated: “A boycott in many instances may not be a legitimate tactic. But this one is be- cause the tactics of. the grape growers . - . coupled with governmental failures at both the State and Federal levels have ONE OF TH’ FASTEST RETURNS FROM TH’ DUMPIN’ GROUNDS | SEEN, SON... AN’ WHO’S BRINGIN’ YER TRAILER? by trucks to the vineyards. Because of the atrocious wages mar- ried couples are forced to work together to eke out a bare subsistance. No provi- sion is made by the grape owners for made an effective strike impossible.” As trade ynionists |IWA members can do no less than support the striking farm workers’ fight for justice by REFUSING TO BUY CALIFORNIA TABLE GRAPES. FOR UNSKILLED WORKER “JUST WAGE" $6,000 A YEAR By GILBERT LEVINE Research Director, CUPE The cost of living is an oft discussed subject at the bar- gaining table. It’s an argu- ment that’s always used as justification for wage increas- es. Now, more than ever be- fore, it’s a meaningful argu- ment that should be pressed. The figures, regardless of where they come from, show that the cost of living is rising at a staggering rate. The United States Depart- ment of Labour states that in late 1966 it required $9,191 a year to maintain a four-per- son city worker’s family at a moderate standard of living. This moderate standard is described as, “The estimated dollar cost required to main- tain this family at a level of adequate living — to satisfy prevailing standards of what is necessary for health, effi- ciency, the nurture of chil- dren and for participation in community activities. This is not a “substance” budget nor is it a “luxury” budget; it is an attempt to describe and measure a modest but ade- quate standard of living.” The Montreal Diet Dispen- sary states that a family of four requires $3,923 a year and a family of five requires $4, 028 per annum for a bare minimum of standard of liv- ing. No allowances are made in this budget for medical or dental care, drugs, furnish- ings, insurance, repayment of debt, telephone, gifts, vaca- tions, income tax, union fees or pension contributions. Need $6,000 a Year Rev. Michael T. Ryan of St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Seminary in London, Ontario, recently stated that a “just wage” for an able-bodied, un- skilled worker should be $6,- 000 a year. He states that such an amount is required to support a man and his fam- ily at a level above mere sub- sistence. In Metro Toronto it would require $6,376 in gross an- nual income to maintain a typical family at a modest standard of living. his is the conclusion drawn from an April 1967 repricing of the Guides For Family Budgeting and just published by the Social Plan- ning Council of Metropolitan Toronto. The Council, which works closely with the United Appeal fund, coordinates the services of health and wel- fare agencies in Toronto. The amount of $6,376 is not a statement of what every family needs. It is a sum re- quired for a typical family of four: a man and non-working wife (of moderate activity levels), a boy aged 13 and a girl aged 8 Since this family has only one breadwinner his hourly earnings, based on a 40-hour work week, must be $3.06 to maintain this modest standard of living. According to the report prepared for the use of social and health agencies of Metro Toronto, the guide is meant to reflect the costs of a family “sufficiently above the subsis- tance-survival level as to be consistent with the mainten- ance of good health and a sense of self-respect, yet con- siderably below any level of living that could be called luxurious.” The guide is not intended to establish either an ideal standard of living or a mini- mum. budget. ON THE LIGHTER SIDE The Sheik summoned all of his 35 wives to a meeting in his luxurious banquet hall. “Girls,” he confessed. “I’m leaving you. I’ve fallen in love with another harem.” *k Pouce Coupe Pete says that the logger who thinks by the inch and talks by the yard should be dealt with by the foot. * * * And then there was the sad case of the two red corpuscles who loved in yeu . Chokerman Charlies says a guy never knows if he likes bathing beauties until he’s bathed one. * * “Look at it this way,” said the doctor as he ushered the Vancouver Island logger out of his office, “You’re in fine shape for a man of 65. All you have to do is forget you are only 52. * Kamloops Katie told us about the couple in the nudist club who stopped going to- gether — they thought they were seeing too much of each other! 9 * * 1st Logger’s Wife: “My hus- band has been unusually nice to me lately.” 2nd Logger’s Wife: “Whom do you BUSpeCE?” Ist iogaeart ‘What outfit you working for now?” 2nd logger: “Same people— wife and five kids!” * * * Kamloops Katie says she’s got a friend the guys call Turnpike — not a curve in sight! CONFESS. . that’s why we at KLM say: THE KLM GUIDE wish-you-were-here country . Aren’t you Just a little tired of being on the receiving end of postcards from Europe? Isn't it your turn to send a few? This summer. After all, you probably haven't had a real holiday for years — just the two of you. And This year we wish you were here. In Europe. Enjoying life. KLM as gone all out to make it easier than ever for you to be in Europe this summer, For '68 we've put together the grandest array of European holidays in history. All unforgettable. But all very affordable. Because every KLM vacation package Is selected with a definite budget In mind. A budget like yours. SO, NOW THAT WE’VE GOT YOU THINKING EUROPE See Your Travel Agent AND ASK FOR KLM’s 1968 VACATION GUIDE KLM ROYAL DUTCH AIRLINES Vancouver 682-4606