An Editorial

Howe Must Explain

\\ ee any consultation with the unions concerned Vancouver ship- yards have begun to lay off hundreds of workers. The time for launchings has been extended from 60 to 80 days. Neither Hon. €. D .Howe, minister of munitions and supply, nor Austen Taylor of Wartime Mer- chant Shipping have offered any public explanation beyond these inadequate state- ments:

1. Production of cargo vessels must be slowed down because skilled workers are being diverted to alterations work on aircraft carriers. (The unions claim that this is unduly exaggerated.)

2. Increased absenteeism has actually lengthened scheduled 60-day launchings to 70 and 75 days.

3. Large-scale production elsewhere has lessened the need for ships produced in Vancouver shipyards.

These statements might have greater plausibility were it not for certain disturb- ing facts. Only a few weeks ago Vancou- ver shipyards were still appealing for more workers. What sudden changes of policy have brought about this wholesale dis- missal of workers? And if a new policy is being implemented as a result of recent decisions not yet revealed to the public, why have foremen in all the yards for weeks been spreading falsely optimistic re- ports that ships are not so urgently needed now? Is it because the mamagements want io return to six-day production? The eag- erness with which they seized upon the layoffs to reduce crews working on Sun- days would seem to bear this out.

There is no denying that absenteeism has been increasing in the shipyards. And it is, in a large measure, due to the manage- ments’ failure to accept labor-management production proposals made by the unions and the insidious campaign carried on by the foremen which has misled many work-

ers into believing that increased produc- tion is no longer as vital to the war effort as it was.

There are other indications that behind this policy is the belief among certain ship- building interests that the war is as good as won and that the competitive market is now the chief concern. The need of pro- duction for victory is to be replaced, from their highly optimistic view, by the need for low cost ships. And there is more than a hint that the objective of low-cost ships is to be achieved through a general campaign to weaken the shipyard unions, utilizing the conditions which are now being created through violation of existing agreements covering seven-day production without any consultation with the unions.

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aba war is not yet won. The Battle of Europe has still to be fought by the Allies and the Battle of the Pacific is only just beginning. Both will throw an increas- ing strain on shipping. Ships are still urg- ently needed. They will continue to be needed. Officials of the United States War Shipping Administration have stated un- equivocally that there is no such thing as a shipping surplus, despite greater produc- tion and fewer losses. If more shipping is now available it only enables the war to be carried to the enemy with greater in- tensity.

The only competitive market in which the Canadian people are interested at: this moment is the competition to out-produce the Axis and speed victory. The first cost to be considered is the cost in Canadian lives. Popular opinion will back the ship- yard unions in demanding from Hon. C. D. Howe an adequate explanation of why shipbuilding is being eurtailed and the in- dustry here dangerously disrupted at a time when the most critical battles of the war lie immediately ahead.

Unions Wire Churchill As —

Ship Production Slowed

Representatives of Vancouver shipyard unions inquired of Churchill if curtailment of the shipbuilding program on the west coast, by which launchings of ships will be extended from 60 to 80 days, is in accord with plans made at the Quebec

eonference.

At a conference of 30 delegates from 18 shipyard unions this week, a decision was made Minister Churchill:

to send this wire to Prime

“js the Quebec conference in- formed of and in accord with curtailment of ship production on the Pacific coast Shipbuild- ing workers pledged to all-out production in support of armed forces cannot approve present plans to curtail ship production at this critical time when the main battles are immediately ahead.”

A wire was also sent to Minister of Munitions and Supply CAD: Howe, asking whether the “present extension in launching time from 60 to 80 days means government eurtailment of shipbuilding on the Pacific coast or that maximum production is no longer necessary in this industry.”

The wire was signed by Bert Smith, who has been elected secre- tary of the conference of shipyard unions. Other members of the con- ference executive are Wiliam Stewart, president, Boilermakers union, Charles Saunders, president,

Dock and Shipyard Workers union, Frank Carlisle, secretary, Plumb- ers and Steamfitters, and Lawrence Anderson, business agent, Amal- gamated Building Workers of Can- ada.

In a press statement, comment- ing on current layoffs which are causing widespread dissatisfaction in the shipyards, the conference asserted:

‘We as trade unionists can see no reason for the stoppage. Ships are today just as vital to the war

program as they were a year ago, and the government has given no information to the con- trary. The Marine Shipping Com- mission in the United States is stepping up ship production... When it was a question of step- Ping up production here, the unions and the public were in- formed, and the unions appealed for cooperation ... We demand that the cards of the depart- ment of munitions and supply be placed on the table, and the public fully informed of the de- partment’s reasons, motives and plans ... While it is necessary to combat absenteeism, let us not replace it with a greater evil. The war is far from won, and any feeling of complacency may result in complete paralysis of our war industries at a time when the Quebec conference indi-

cates we are about to engage the enemy throughout the world.”

Prime Minister Winston

Unions

effect.

Signed a short while ago when ship- pbuilding was claimed to be the most vital war. industry, are be- ing systematically violated. Men in various departments are being told to take their regular day off on Sundays, leaying a negligible num- ber of men working the Sunday shift to preserve the illusion of seven-day continuous production.

This is not an isolated incident but part of the whole line being pursued by certain big industrial- ists both in Canada and thé United States who are convinced the end of the war is in sight and conclude that it is now time to turn their attention to their post-war busi- ness interests. The effect of this policy, if it is allowed to go un- challenged, will be disastrous to war production.

In the United States there is a eontroversy between Shipbiulding Controller William Gibbs, whose ideas inspired building of the Lib- erty ships which haye answered the wartime need for a big merchant fleet, and Rear Admiral Howard L. Vickery, who in the words of Time magazine, ‘“Yearns to see the US become a great maritime pow- er after the war—and gets sea- sick every time he thinks of the Liberty ships’ plodding, 12 knots speed.” In other words, to Vick- ery the necessity for building ves- sels suitable for post-war use overshadows the urgent need for ships to supply arms, food, and ammunition for the smashing blows at the Axis foreshadowed in the Quebec conference.

Local union officials interview- ing Austin Taylor, representative of Wartime Merchant Shipping in Vancouver, received a reply indi- cating that this policy appeals to some industrialists in Canada, too.

Taylor's viewpoint was that the expectation of entering the com- petitive market before long em- phasized the need for production of low cost ships. In the meantime, propaganda is being spread around the shipyards to create the impres- sion that there are now plenty of ships and fhat shipbuilding is no longer so important to the war effort.

The conference.is also demand- ing information as to what steps National Selective Service officials are taking to employ men laid off.

With no answer to these ques- tions as yet forthcoming, shipyard union officials are asking several others: If, as Wartime Merchant Shipping’s official statements on the situation maintains, absentee- ism is one of the main causes for the layoffs and the slowdown, why are not the union proposals for a sound labor-management produc- tion council put intot effect? These plans, submitted to shipyard man- agements some time ago were drawn up to lay the basis for sound production cooperation, and would, unionists are convinced, re- duce the absentee problem to a -minimum. Yet the carefully thought out plan for production councils has been absolutely ignored.

“The statements made so far by Wartime Merchant Shipping do not give a satisfactory explanation of the reasons for extending the launching time,’ stated Lawrence Anderson, business agent for Am- algamated Building Workers. “The drastic reduction in shipbuilding

Continued

Cohen

to its labor policy before any fur- ther disputed cases are heard be- fore the War Labor Board.”

Mosher and Bengough made joint representations to Labor Min- ister Mitchell for immediate re- lease of the reports.

Strong backing for Cohen’s stand came from J. B. Ward, chairman of the General Conference Com- mittee of Standard Raiway Labor Organizations, which represents 140,000 railway workers.

“Cohen has no doubt found him- self in the untenable position of being a member of a board created for the purpose of adjudicating upon labor problems, and finding the board limited in its scope to such an extent that full justice could not be given,” said Ward.

Carl Berg, secretary-treasurer of the Alberta Federation of Labor, expressed confidence in the labor board member, adding that he felt “Cohen’s action would only be prompted by a genuine desire to bring about a change in a situa- tion which has become intolerable to those whose interests he was

schedules is not justified.

Consultation

By CHARLES SAUNDERS

Representatives of all shipyard unions met in confer | this week to consider the policy now being pursued by} operators of laying off men and extending launching 7 from 60 to 80 days. This policy is already being put

Wan

| ee

Army spokesmen have exp

inishes the strain on shipping the contrary,

plies of material, food, and r cal aid must go overseas, as”

ments. Not only is there st shortage of shipping, but the end of the war will not transportation problems bec of the need for carrying food

countries of Europe. Yhe shipping program 4a

ada, Britain and the United £ calling for more tonnage in

year adds to the confusion rounding the present ~curtai policy now being pursued o Pacifie coast.

Suspicion is bred in the — of shipyard workers, who 2 fered no adequate explanatit this policy, and a general ¢

of present and pending layc the shipyards, National Selective Service cli have no knowledge of this and are not prepared to re-e these men in other war indu °Is it Wartime Merchant ping’s intent to create an ar surplus of labor as part of ai busting plan in line with the jective of low-cost productior ' joint union conference is de | ing an adequate answer fra department of munitions ani ply and Wartime Merchant ping. Why the sudden curta of shipbuilding on the } coast?

The unions and the publ entiied to an answer changes in working hours an ditions affecting union con are made. They will demz be consulted since any found necessary will vitally cern them and their part important war industry.

A charge of 50 cents for ez sertion of five lines or 1! made for notices appearing -

Notices

Canadian Aid to Russia — Auxiliary No. 1. Used cl of all kinds always urgently ed. 835 West Pender Sireet. MArine 2744.

Canadian Aid to Russia Auxiliary No. 1. Help in § and mending clothes is ur required at 835 West Pender : MArine 2744.

Labor Youth Federation | Friday, September 3, 9 p.m, East Hastings. Waltzes and Novelty prizes. Admission, 25

Room and board or one ¢ men. Write Box 10, The Pet

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‘CLASSIFIED |

A black camera, 6-16 Jens Left on grandstand at Conf tion Park, August 1. Will — please return to L. Andrews). ton PO, BC. :

appointed to protect and serve.”