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WHAT DO YOU

Opinions contained in these columns are strictly those of the writers. We welcome correspondence, but ask that letters be held to 300 words.

LTR

QC]! Dispute

Mike Freylinger, Camp A-35, Queen Charlotte City, B.C., writes: Besse one of the men directly

concerned in the QCI logging dispute, I would like to make a brief comment on the decision of the conciliation board, and of the attitude the logging operators have chosen to take.

It is, of course, in defiance of the laws of a democratic country when a group of employers band together and continuously sidestep an issue which has been under dispute for over two vears. Indeed, at this crit- ical time, when we should all put forth our utmost efforts to defeat fascism, the bosses still find lots of time to quibble about such things as signed agreements and union recognition. We should have en- joyed the benefits of these progres- sive ideas a long time ago.

There is no doubt that many of the men concerned are getting tired and disgusted at the tactics em- ployed by these unscrupulous ex- ploiters of humanity. Many

are quitting their jobs and are con-}

tinually moving from camp to camp in search of better

Taking into consideration that many man hours are lost in this vital industry due to the failure of the logging with the decision of the arbitration

board which recommended that loggers should have signed agree- ments and union recognition, I can

only say that the logging operators | are committing an act of sabotage | is time their action |

and that it should be regarded as such.

The workers in the QCI have been very patient and conscienti- ous in their work and action so as to put forth a maximum war effort. But it is high time that some of the principles our boys are fighting to preserve were put Into effect at home. .

So far as I can see (and I see plenty every day around this camp) the operators seem to spend more time and effort fighting the work- ers working for them than they do in trying to increase or even main- tain production.

I think the time has come for the governments who are respon- sible to the Canadian people to see that these logging operators who are continuously sabotaging the war effort are made aware of their re- sponsibility to our democracy, so thai we may all work in harmony and unity to defeat fascism in the shortest possible time.

THE PEOPLE

Published every Friday by The People Publishing Co, Rm. 104, Shelly Bldg.. 119 West Pender St, Vancouver, B.C. Tele. MAr. 6929.

Editor - - - Hal Griffin Managing Editor - Al Parkin Business Mer. - Minerva Cooper

Six Months: $1.00 One Year: $2.00 Printed at Broadway Printers Ltd.,

men | pamper

conditions | which, needless to say, do not exist. |

operators to comply |

THINK ?

LETTERS from OUR READERS

TUT

Reply To Winch

Vera A. Parsons, Nanaimo, BC, writes: ;

AROLD WINCH'S fantastic charge that Tim Buck has be- trayed the workers seems to me to display the true feelings of many of the CCF leaders towards any other party or persons caring to question the CCF policy in any way, shape or form, They just can- not see beyond the end of their noses that in strengthening nation- al unity today we are but building for the future of tomorrow, for that better world to come. If we lose sight of the main issues we cease to be participants in the fight against fascism, and out of sheer ignorance or complacency—or be- cause we put our own narrow con- siderations first—we open the way for Hitler’s propagandists.

Having watched Harold Winch’s somewhat meteoric climb to politi- cal heights over the past few years, I sometimes find myself looking back and wonder if he ever looks back at the way he has come too. Does he remember, not so long ago, when he was on his first tour of interior towns speaking on the CCF platform, that in town after town his reception was very cool and distant? And does he recall a certain tewn where he was switched to a nearby mill site, much to his annoyance, because he was considered much too “left” at the time, and it was thought he might offend some of the would-be adherents of the CCF? Does he re- leall efter that meeting in that |little town no one bothered much jwith him until a member of the

him, asking if any arrangements had been made by his ¢lub for ac- commodation for him? When he re- plied hostilely, “No,” he was of- fered a bed and given breakfast in a Communist home, for no one else bother about him then. He wasn't an MLA then, much less leader of the CCF Opposition in the legislature, and some CCF leaders of that time were a little afraid of his opinions. They need not have been, Harold Winch has proved himself adept at playing polities. His last speech (vigorous, some papers called it, I term vi- cious) was certainly not in keep- ing with the spirit of unity needed in the world today, and twice need- ed among working people. It answered no needs of the working

| people.

End Sweatshops

S. Lopedes, general United Garment Workers o erica, Toronto, writes:

organizer, Am-

ILLIONS of Canadian people buy work shirts, overalls, trousers and windbreakers.

But how many look for the union label when purchasing these clothes?

Those who don’t first look for the union label before buying con- tribute towards low wages and de- plorable conditions in the work clothing industry. The annual gov- ernment report on Wages and Hours of Labor for 1941 shows that female sewing machine operators on shirts generally earn 26c per hour, working 48 to 50 hours per week (some rates are as low as

18e per hour).

| Communist party got in touch with 1

Low wages are reflected in poor

| SESE ee een ees

ooks and People by Kay Gregory

aaniiaaneeasuianaae’ Spee! ois as ais

SURE Et

as yet appeared, This is ascribed by

BE ‘i a Se MANY excellent books have been written about phases ) of the war that it seems strange no good ‘war’ films have

Walter Wanger, one of Hollywood's

| most progressive producers, to the handicap placed on the film industry by lack of cooperation from various branches of the

militray service.

Wanger asserts that American ; audiences have seen very few real war films, most of them ~being ‘nothing more than westérn and gangster plots, dressed up in: army | uniforms.”

“Because of a lack of knowledge and help from those who have had experience in modern war, many of Hollywood's war pictures have been of a necessity imaginative ... based on warfare as conducted in the last war,” Wanger says.

Meanwhile, exploits which would make good dramatic material are

held “secret” by Washington, al- though they are known to the enemy. Some incidents he fears,

may be lost to films for the dura- tion because of departmental cen- sorship.

As Wanger sees it, the film indus- try could be a much more im- portant adjunct to the government, acting as a liaison of information between Washington and the peo- ple, not only of the United States but of the whole world.

Wanger is now producing “Gung Ho.” based on the Makin Island attack by the Second Marine Raider Battalion, and in this he is getting some help from the Marine Corps.

Another film which should not suffer from lack of military tech- nical advice is that based on “Ten Seconds Over Tokio.” Captain Ted Lawson, whose story the book is,

has personally been in Hollywood

151 East 8th Ave., Vancouver, B.C.

as technical advisor for this film.

(CONTRASTING the lack of gov- ernment and military coopera- tion in film technique in the United States is the assistance given

| Soviet film producers in their work

to portray the magnificent exploits of the Red army, air force and navy. The whole facilities of the

country are placed at the producer's disposal and every citizen who can five any information cooperates to ensure a true portrayal of character and event. When Soviet actresses undertake a role, they receive let- ters from people all over the coun- iry explaining how such a character acts in real life.

Consider, for instance, “The Siege of Leningrad” and several other films shown here recently, which have pictured life and con- ditions in the Soviet Union today and stirred audiences everywhere.

Soviet film director Mikhail Kalo- tozov, who produced “Siege of Len- ingrad’” and also the earlier film, ‘Wings of Victory,” biography of the Soviet flier, Valeri Chkalovy, is now in Hollywood as a representa- tive of the Russian film industry. His mission is to promote a closer artistic and commercial relation- ship between the film industries of the Soviet Union and the United States. He will also study American production methods and serve as consultant on pictures concerning the Soviets.

a large proportion of women, low earnings coupled with long work- ing hours and speed-up have es- pecially serious implications for the whole community.

Our union, the United Garment Workers of America, has made rapid progress in the past five years in the organization of the work clothing and utility garment industries, and has, we believe, a proud record of constructive achievements.

We are always prepared to assist the unorganized workers in the in- dustry to organize in order to raise the standard of wages and work- ing conditions in the shirt and work garment industry.

Every working man and woman ean assist in this work of abolish- ing sweatshops by looking for the genuine union label when buying shirts, overalls and windbreakers.

Resolutions

H. A. Erickson, financial secre- tary, IWA Sub-Local 1-80, writes:

HAVE been instructed by the

_above local to introduce these resolutions to members of parlia- ment at Ottawa and members of the legislature at Victoria:

Whereas: An arbitration beard has heard the dispute between the Queen Charlotte Islands loggers and the operators of the industry there ard handed down an award in favor of the loggers.

And whereas: The action of the operators in refusing to comply with the majority award, is a di- rect challenge to our democratic form of government, and serves only to disrupt and demoralize Can- ada’s war effort.

And whereas: Organized labor throughout Canada has pledged it- self to all-out production and re- gards the attainment of victory over fascism as overriding all other con- siderations.

Therefore be it resolved: That we, the members of the Interna- tional Woodworkers of America, CIO, of Sub-Local 1-80, Chemainus, petition the federal government, and urge it to enforce the law, and make it compulsory for the op- erators to sign collective bargain- ing agreements, so as to avert a stoppage in production of spruce which is so vitally needed in this time.

Whereas: The passage of the amendments to the Industrial Con- ciliation and Arbitration Act great- ly improved the position of trade unions in bargaining collectively.

And whereas: Certain employers are today demonstrating their dis- approval to the ICA Act by refus- ing to sign agreements with the unions, causing untold harm to Canada’s war effort.

And whereas: The Canadian Man- ufacturers’ Association, and other powerful employers’ organizations, failing in their efforts to dictate to Labor Minister Pearson the kind of labor laws they would approve of, are now challenging the act.

Therefore be it resolved: That we, the members of the Interna- tional Woodworkers of America, CIO, Sub-Local 1-80, Chemainus, urge Labor Minister Pearson to protect the ICA Aet, and make it compulsory for the- operators to sign collective bargaining agree-

health. In an industry employing }

Short Jabs

——by OC E The New Pa

OW that the new p given itself a name we | and write about it, not as s substantial, dream-like f something in real, cont

Of course, there are whose hearts and minds i tions and accomplishm Communist party have bitt who will not like the name Progressive party,” but i work the new party does ing to change the world t eount. The party will he of and looked upon as munist party. Already the Ontario CCF leader, to have informed the Can: ple that the new party i Communist party under name. ~ ;

In Vancouver today, | Progressive party has es actively laving the base istic political work. Each % will be identifed with the of its constituency. Some ¥ encies have more than on | and this accounts for the although there. are only £ eral riding there are nine! of the party. :

These branches intend to part of the life of their c ties. At present they are gaged in efforts to secur quarters and clubrooms as for their activities. Alreai of themselves have est themselves.

The South Vancouver b located in the old Norqu, munity hall, at ingsway @ endon. Hastings East bra secured premises in the 24 on Hastings East. The W branch is also in a settl room at 1325 Davie. Mour ant branch will open up al Main after September. j branch has an eye on a sirable place on Granville i The other branches are hunting.”

Maintaining the clubroo mean that a portion of the ties will be of a social c. which, at the same time, ¥ a political significance.

: The first of these socia is by the West End brane elubroom-oen Davie. Tt will

on August 30. It will be . gether and some of the B. gates to the national cor are expected to be presen Mount Pueosant braneh i. tising a wist drive and dant Foresters’ hall, 365 Broadw on Tuesday, August 31. Tic this affair will cost 50 ce twenty-four dollars worth ¢ will be given away. On Se: 4 members of the South Va branch will be hosts at a flo by Barney’s Entertainers. # er” is also involved in thi We have showers for marrit| showers for births, so why 1 a shower for the new br equip it for its work. Ac will be 50 cents plus two SE two knives or-two forks or

“and saucer at the door. ¥ orities is partly responsible shower. If the branch gets of these tools we may see 4

served up there that will

Vancouver Hotel to shame:

Every supporter and sym of the Labor-Progressive

ments.

should turn out to see these