6

"WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER

,

Withdrawal

Of Bill 42

Sought In Fed. Brief

By {WA Legislative Reporter

VICTORIA—Brief submitted

by a delegation representing the

B.C. Federation of Labour, and affiliated Local Unions to the

Minister of Labour on March 16

urged that Bill 42 be withdrawn

from consideration at the present session of the Legislature.

In dealing with Clauses affecting negotiations the brief said in part:

Organized labour has a great deal at stake in the terms of this Statute. Whether the law deals fairly or un- fairly with trade unions, is a matter which vitally affects their ability to safeguard the living standards of their members. |

We believe, that in dealing with legislation of this type, all points of view should be openly heard by the members of the Legislature. We claim the right to be heard before the Standing Committee on Labour. We may cite many precedents for such a procedure. At the present Session, the representatives of other organizations have been heard and questioned by the appropriate com~ mittees. We fail to understand why the trade unions, representing a large section of the population, should be denied this customary access to de- mocratic consideration of their re- quirements. :

Our claim in this regard bears special emphasis. We are charged with responsibility to seek lawful ways and means for the maintenance of industrial- peace.

Trade Union Responsibilities

Trade unions are expected to rely

on methods of conciliation and media- tion for the settlement of industrial disputes. It is of great importance, therefore, .that the procedures re- quired by the Labour Relations Act should be generally understood and command confidence. _ The trade unions should be enabled to meet the employers as far as pos- sible, on the basis of equality at the bargaining table. The powers ex- ercised by government agencies, should be administered in a manner that insures even-handed justice. For these reasons we urge that conditions of industrial peace will be furthered by consultation with organized labour. We believe that the record of the trade unions in this Province de- serves such consultation.

New Party Pins Now

Available

Over 60,000 NEW PARTY pins have already been distributed across Canada for use in connection with the NEW PARTY FOUNDING FUND. It is expected that before long 100,000 will be embellishing coa lapels. :

The basic design shows a gold maple leaf outlined in royal blue. The symbols emblazoned represent the three basic groups who are co-opera- ting in the formation of the NEW PARTY. A wrench for the industrial worker; a pitchfork for the farmer; a pen for the white collar workers and the “liberal-minded”

oN

Unions are engaged in a “buck-a- member” campaign. Everyone con- tributing a dollar is entitled to a NEW PARTY pin.

The NEW PARTY pin has proved so popular that its use is now being extended to promoting membership in NEW PARTY Clubs. Member- ship ina NEW PARTY Club is One

Dollar. Payment of an additional dol- lar covers the pin.

NEW PARTY pins are available trom the NEW PARTY FOUND- ING FUND headquarters, 100 Argyle Avenue, Ottawa, from offices of pro-

vincial federations, from organizers |

and canvassers.

Conciliation Halted

A number of clauses in the amend- ing Bill provide, that a Conciliation Officer may recommend that no Con- ciliation Board be appointed and the Minister may so advise both parties to a dispute. As there does not appear to be any provision for cofitinuing conciliation, this evidently means an invitation to fight it out.

At this point, it appears that the employers are given all the advan- tages and allowed to impose their terms of settlement on the employ- ees. The prohibition against any change in rates and conditions now in the Act, ends at this point. There is no suggestion in the Bill, that with such a recommendation a membership vote can be taken on any outcome of the conciliation conducted to that point. It is presumed, that the union concerned, will have. no alternative but to ask for a strike vote, seeking authorization of strike action because of rejection of the original demands. Thus, the effort of a union to bargain conscientiously and in good faith goes out the win- dow.

Collective Bargaining Negated

Clause 34, which may require a membership vote on any offer dur- ing a strike or lock-out, negates the principles of collective bargaining. Until this Clause is given effect, the union is the recognized legal bar- gaining agent for the employees. If such a vote is taken on any offer the employers may choose te make, without negotiation with the duly elected and responsible committee, the union is set aside.

e recognize this provision as a strike-breaking device. It has long been requested by ploy for no other reason, than that they might use their economic strength to de- termine that might is right and to disrupt trade union support.

Bargaining Frustrated

When such provision destroys all incentive to engage in genuine bar- gaining, it places in the hands of employers a weapon to prevent ef- fective bargaining. If written into the Labour Relations Act, it makes a farce of the bargaining procedure which previous sections of the Statute require.

We regard Clause 34 as a back- door method of preventing effective strike action. If trade unions are de- prived of the right to take effective and lawful strike action, they are denied a basic civil right and are forced to submit to the terms of the employers. We are unalterably op- posed to such laws as they reduce workers to the status which prevails in all of the dictatorships.

That any Government in Canada should contemplate enacting such legislation is unbelievable. We con- sider that another clause in the amending Bill, Clause 17, extends the principle of compulsory arbitra- tion to’ matters which should be dealt with in general negotiations.

Employers Guilty We believe too, Mr. Minister, that the Act in its present form is very much biased in favour of employers. A study of the Labour Relations Board decision from 1957 to 1960, reveals that of sixty-nine (69) orders made by the Board, sixty-five (65) were directed against employers, whose tactics of coercing and in- timidating employees during organi-

IWA REGIONAL Research and Education Director,

Joe Miyazawa, explains to the deleg

hae

ates the financial data of the lumber

and wood products industries, during the Wages & Contract Conference February 25, in Vancouver.

zational campaigns and other of- fences against the Act, indicate they were using the legislation exclusively to gain their own ends.

No penalties other than “cease and desist orders” were ordered by the Board for these infractions. To fur- ther load this legislaton in favour of employers, at the employer’s re- quest, is not we submit the act of a government acting as a fair or wise umpire in this already unequal re- lationship.

In conclusion, we renew our re- quest for a hearing before the Select Standing Committee on Labour and for a full and frank discussion by all concerned, of those matters which vitally affect the welfare of our people, and indeed of all British Columbians. Important negotiations now in progress are proceeding in an atmosphere of uncertainty and foreboding. This legislation is bound to bring confusion and misunder- standing.

Abandon Prejudice

We earnestly ask the Govern- ment to abandon its present at- titude of prejudice against the trade union movement. Exper- ience has shown over the last fifty years, that fair treatment of trade unions and reasonable pro- tection of collective bargaining rights, have resulted in a greater understanding of the problems involved and the orderly trans- action of business arising from labour- management relations. One inescapable condition of in- dustrial peace for the Province, is that the Government should act with complete impartiality and establish an atmosphere in which industrial workers may seek just redress through fully democratic means. When media- tion is required, the mediator must have the confidence of both parties in any conflict, if we are going to promote and advance better labour-management rela- tions in British Columbia. This and this alone we submit should be the objective of government in its approach to labour legisla- tion. Bill 42 will not accomplish these objectives. In fact, we be- lieve, it will have exactly the op- posite effect.

But Not — Knot-Heads

The doctrine of African racialism has spread widely and has appar- ently turned the bone marrow of many in metropolitan countries to jelly.

SIR ROY WELENSKY

Westminster

CREDIT UNION DIRECTORY IWA Credit Unions and other Credit Unions supported by IWA Local Unions in B.C.

Alberni District Credit Union, 209 Argyle Street, Port Alberni IWA 1-217 Savings, Broadway & Quebec Streets, Vancouver 10 IWA (N.W.) Credit Union, Room 21, 774 Columbia Street, New

Local 1-118, IWA (Victoria), 904 Gordon Street, Victoria Chemainus & District Credit Union, Box 229, Chemainus

Lake Cowichan and District Credit Union, Lake Cowichan, B.C, Courtenay Credit Union, Box 952, Courtenay

Duncan & District Credit Union, Box 1717, Duncan

Prince George & District, 1046 - 4th Avenue, Prince George Nanaimo & District Credit Union, 499 Wallace St., Nanaimo Ladysmith & District Credit Union, Box 154, Ladysmith, B.C. United Labour Credit Union, 1475 East 43rd, Vancouver Salmon Arm Credit Union, Shuswap Ave., Salmon Arm, B.C.

Jack Holst was re-elected Presi- ent of Local 1-424, IWA, Prince George, and Howard Webb was re- elected as Financial Secretary in the final tabulation of the recent member- ship voting.

Following is the full list of officers elected:

, J. Holst, President; R. Inglis,

Qa.

JACK HOLST.

Holst, Webb Re-elected In 1-424 Elections

Ist Vice-President; M. Ross, 2nd Vice-President; S. Spicer, 3rd Vice-President; C. H. Webb,

Financial Secretary; R. Tweedie, Recording Secretary; W. Rom- mel, Conductor; W. Koshman, Warden; P. Bracken, 6-Year Trustee. a

HOWARD WEBB

THE BEST THINGS IN LIFE COME IN PAIRS —

WHICH INCLUDES BOOTS OF WHICH THE BEST ARE MADE RIGHT HERE IN B.C.

BY

‘Pierre Paris & Sons 51 West Hastings St.

Vancouver 3, B.C.

Made in B.C. by the same family for over fitty years UNION - MADE