CONTENTdm
[The Labour Statesman]
BC Historical Newspapers
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oH SUPPORTED W x. ., UNDRED AND FOUR LOCAL UNIONS TO EACH UNION MEMBER THE POLITICAL PARTY OF HIS CHOICE LABOR S OWNED BY THE VANCOUVER, NEW WESTMINSTER AND DISTRICT TRADES & LABOR COUNCIL VANCOUVER, CANADA, AUGUST, 1949 Established 1924 BUILD STRONG UNIONS FOR SOCIAL SECURITY Labor Day Edifio 1949 WHAT THEY SAID... "Lasting Prosperity" No business, big or small, can achieve lasting prosperity in an economy in which a large part of the population is depressed and exploited ... "Attempts to undermine the unity and bargaining, strength of labor are a disservice to the legitimate interests of management . . . r-William Green, in the "American Federationist". This Is a Scab "A scab is to his trade what a traitor is to his country. Though both may be 'useful' in troublesome times, they are detested by all when peace returns. , *"'" " "When help is needed the scab is the last to contribute assistance and the first to grasp the benefit he never labored to secure. He cares only for himself; he sees not beyond the extent of a day, and for a monetary appropriation he would betray his friends, family and country. "In short, he is a traitor on a small scale who first sells his journeymen and is afterward sold in turn by his employer, until at last he is despised by both and deserted by all. He is an enemy to himself, to present times and to all posterity."—Prosecuting attorney's definition in English, Conspiracy Trial. Going Forth To Do Battle "Communists must be met by united opposition. Communism is a movement .that makes a religion out of iron discipline amongst its members. Communists are always united. They know exactly what the orders are and are told exactly what means to use to obtain a given end. The totalitarian state leaves nothing for the individual to decide . . . ;___ ;:;|^!^S,i'^rr"'^'--::^ "A determined, united opposition can defeat the communists. It has been done in the past and will continue to be done. And no weapon is more effective againstthe communist doctrines than a free and progressive trade union movement." —William Green, "American Federationist". A "Strong" Opinion St. Laurent has a commanding position. He has more support than any other prime minister in the history of Canada. For nearly twenty years the Liberals have enjoyed uninterrupted power. No one can accuse Canada of having unstable government. Why our government.is so stable that it's beginning to smell that way! - -" .„.•.- . —"Halifax Citizen" Even Taft Admits It Robert Taft, Repblican Senator and an obstinate opponent of public enterprise: "While I am a great believer in free enterprise, housing happens to be a field where it has failed. ... There is no alternative to public, housing T6~provide homes for those with low incomes Under private enterprise the slum condition has continued without improvement. . . . Those opposed to public housing have done their own industry a disservice by their indiscriminate and unreasoning opposition." Politics The art of obtaining money from the rich, votes from the poor on the pretext of protecting each from the other. "The Good Old British Way" "Peaceful picketing is no more capable of real existence than would be peaceful war on unoppressive nations. Lockouts and strikes are both forms of warfare and neither are compatible with the good old British way of taking disputes to the courts."—(Mr. Justice A. M. Manson, of Vancouver, as reported in the Toronto Globe and Mail of 3rd June, 1949.) Freedom and Justice The labor movement of America is founded on justice and if we stick, together, work together as one solid unit, determined to fight for what is right, those who come after us will enjoy the blessings of freedom and justice. — Daniel J. Tobin, President, Teamsters Union! Cradle Song Fear not the atom is fission; The cradle will outwit the hearse; Man on this earth has a mission— To. survive and go on getting worse. ' *; —Samue.1 Hoffenstein. An Old Paradox Clarified The so-called weaker sex is usually the stronger sex because of the weakness of the stronger sex for those of the weaker sex. —Union Gazette. Trades Congress Executive Lashes Seamen's Union In an editorial appearing in the current issue of the Journal" of the T.L.C, President Percy B. Bengough strongly advises the members of all affiliated unions and organizations not to contribute funds to the Canadian Seamen's Union. At the moment the C. S. U. is making appeals for money in support of its activities throughout the world. Lashing at the C.S.U., the T.L.C. editorial declares: "The report of the Executive Council of Trades and Labor Congress of Canada dealing with thte suspension of the Canadian Seamen's Union sent out to all affiliated organizations and local unions contained the following paragraph: " 'After rendering all possible assistance to the Canadian Seamen's Union both prior to and since the beginning of the East Coast shipping strike, the executive council of the Trades and Labor Congress of Canada, following full and careful consideration of all the issues involved, are unanimously of the opinion that the continuation of the present strike can only result in the placing of this Congress and its affiliated unions in further embarrassing and untenable positions unquestionably not in the best interests of this or any other'bona fide trade union movement. The executive council has decided that the name of the Congress shall no longer be associated with that of the Canadian Seamen's Union while the union has its present leadership.' "Subsequent and current events particularly in Australia and Great Britain where, in both instances, Labor governments with many trade union members' as -ministers ?iave be- comc-ai «pe#!al -target f or%ttaCaV have more than justified these expressed opinions of the executive council and the position taken in dissociating the name of the Congress from the campaign of spreading the misery aimed to advance a cause far removed and diametrically opposed to the cause of organized labor. "The unauthorized strikes in the London docks carried on long enough would be more liable to starve the workers than the ship owners. In Britain the difficulty of getting sufficient food has been increased for many thousand not too well fed under prevailing conditions." N6 one can believe that by spreading all this misery among thousands of people in the British Isles the Canadian Seamen's Union is in any stronger position in getting re-established on Canadian ships. The same applies to some degree in Australia, now in the midst of a severe winter, where the preventing of unloading coal has tended more to embitter than to be helpful. "The Executive of this Congress did everything possible in supporting the membership of the Canadian Seamen's Union in the right to organize and bargain through their chosen representatives. However, when the very freedom valued and enjoyed in a democratic institution become skilfully used to advance the cause of Communism, some protective measures must be taken. "It cannot be contradicted that those in charge of the C.S.U. strike did not accept the unanimous findings of a properly constituted board, on which they had their representative. In not doing so they weakened their position materially. "The World Federation of Trade Unions, comprised of organizations entirely controlled and operated by Commuist governments, has now taken over the direction of the strike. It is a world-wide campaign to advance the cause of Communism by decreasing, as much as possible, the effectiveness of the Marshall Plan. "In the meantime the Canadian Seamen's Union is collecting funds to 'aid the dock workers' of Great Britain, funds are beig solicited in Britain to help the. Canadian SrHmen and .government-controlled unions inside i'ie iron curtain, such as the Polish T.anspnrt Union, have campaigns under way requesting resolutions and funds for 'the aid fund to Canadian sailors on strike.' "These appeals for financial assistance vary on the basis of what is the strongest appeal in the particular country in which it is being made. Under the circumstances and conscientiously believing that the funds so collected would not be used to advance the cause of the trade union movement all our affiliated unions are strongly advised not to contribute." Plumbers Reject Board Award; Union Authorizes Strike Vote At a well attended meeting, with over eight hundred members present, Local 170, Plumbers & Pipefitters re- jested the majority award of a board of which A. J. Cowan was chairman, J. P. MacKenzie represented the employers, and Jack Ross, Electrical Workers, represented the union. The union demands were for $1.75 per hour for Journeymen and $1.25 per hour for helpers; pay for all statutory holidays; holidays with pay based on 4% of the employees' earning, and employers to supply all tools. In the award, the chairman and union representative recommended 4% of earnings or two weeks' holidays with pay after one year's service. The chairman and employer's representative rejected all other demands. The union rejected the award and authorized the taking of a strike vote. The union's case, prepared by Bro. John W. Bruce, general representative, in part contained the following arguments: "A wage rate of $1.75 cannot be considered as an unjustifiable wage or out of relation to the respective wage rates paid other mechanics in the industry, and in our judgment would not inflict any hardship or retard the progress of the construction. In such cities as Toronto and Windsor Plumbers and Steamfltters now. receive this rate of wages. In the United States in cities of comparative size and importance they receive wage rates from $2.50 to $2.75 per hour and despite what may be said respecting our wage economy there is no justification for this extreme differential nor has it retarded building operations. In Canada we have a building programme in 1949 in excess of 1948, and evidently our needs are sufficient to maintain a degree of building activity that will not be retarded because of fractional increases in wages. Our mechanics and helpers are as competent as any workers in the country and under these circumstances an increase of wages to a basic wage of $1.75 per hour for Journeymen and $1.25 for. helpers will not unnecessarily cripple the industry. ' $1.00 Worth Only 65c "Our opposition to the use of the cost of living statistics is due to the fact that they do not truly or equitably represent our real cost of living, when reputable persons like Graham Towers, Governor of the Batik of Canada, makes a statement before the House of Commons Co.mmittee that our dollar is worth f>5c as com- (Continued on Page 4). pared with the dollar of 1939. We believe it is less. The justification of our request for $1.75 per hour is easily sustained '.... Human fieeda Cannot Be Measured bv Figures "One regrettable—feature in the first advanced the idea of a special Dominion of Canada is that no constructive efforts have been adopted by the Government to adopt a standard of living and probably with all of the efforts now being made we might arrive at some more equitable basis than slide-rule methods to measure our social needs and commodity values.. While figures can be made impressive, human needs cannot be measured by figures, and so we base our requests on what we believe is required in our income to buy the necessary commodities we need to mainain us in decency and comfort, and in our own deliberations we determined that we required at least $1.76 per hour. "Over the years our aggregate earnings do not nearly reach the amount that reputable social agencies who have been struggling with this problem have forecast as a standard of living for the average Canadian citizen. "When discussing the cost of living figures one must realize that all it takes into account are the bare ne- The History of Labor Day Labor Day rightly belongs to the holiday honoring labor^ before^the American workers who toil diligently day after day to contribute their share to the greatness of this nation. Long before Labor Day became a legal public holiday it was celebrated by workers as a day of festive activity and rest from their daily tasks. It was the creation of laborers, not of politicians. It was the brainchild of a union carpenter 12 years before Labor Day was proclaimed a national holiday by act of Congress. Peter J. HcGuire, a native of New York City who joined the ranks of America's toilers while still a child, was the father of the observance in honor of the country's working people In May of 1882, he stood before the newly organized Central Labor Union of New York City and proposed that one day of the year he set aside as a general holiday for the working masses. HcGuire suggested that the holiday be known as Labor Day and that it be set for the first Monday in September, which would put it midway between two national holidays — the Fourth of July and Thanksgiving. Other delegates to the meeting enthusiastically embraced the idea. A committee was named and soon preparations were under way for the initial celebration of Labor Day. . Approximately two years after this first Labor Day, the 26 delegates to the fourth annual convention of the American Federation of Labor held in Chicago adopted the following resolution: "Resolved, that the first Monday in September of each year be set apart as a laborers' national holiday, and fltatt .^wc'vf^k^uWMe^rd^ ItB"' observance by all wage workers, irrespective of sex, calling or nationality." ( During the next few years organized labor devoted its attention to securing state legislation making Labor Day a legal holiday. As early as 1887, Oregon enacted the first state law, but this measure designated the first Saturday in June as Labor Day. This was changed to the first Monday in September in 1893. Ultimately, 23 states proclaimed Labor Day a legal holiday. The Labor Committee of the House of Representatives, in May of 1894, presented a favorable report on a bill making Labor Day a legal public holiday. By June 26 of that year Congressional action on the bill had been completed and two days later the measure was signed by President Grover Cleveland. The pen used by the President was turned over to Representative Amos J. Cummings of New York City, who sponsored the bill in the House. Cummings then sent the pen on to President Samuel Gompers of the American Federation of Labor. Thus, a dozen years after McGuire Trade Union Philosophy "An old man going a lone highway Came at the evening, cold and gray To a chasm vast and deep and wide. The old man crossed at twilight dim— The sullen stream had no fear for him. But he turned when safe on the other side. Tnd built a bridge to stem the tide. 'Old Man,' said a fellow pilgrim near, 'You are wasting your time with building here. Your journey will end with the closing day, You have crossed the chasm deep and wide; You never again will pass this way- Why build you this bridge at evening tide?' The builder lifted his old grey head, 'Good friend, in the way I have come, he said, iiikcs iiiik account arc in.- oaro net* 'There followeth after me today cesities of life in minimum amounts A youth, whose feet must pass this and at maximum costs. All other factors are ignored, and so the needs of the family and all of its dependents such as sickness, medical attention, unemployment, and the need of rest and recreation, are not taken into consideration and these are the lac- tors we are concerned about that enter into the family budget and make our living costs high. "Our big problem is an attempt to determine an accurate method of measuring the amount of wage increases that are due. In the past there have been ho accurate or useful methods Shown. Those used were based entirely on increases in the cost of living. However, there are certain precautions which must be taken in using this method. We are opposed to the principle being established that wages should be geared entirely to the cost of living. This would nave the effect of freezing the standard of living for the workers, a principle entirely unacceptable to the labor movement. A Minimum or Adequate Standard? "The question is, do we want to live on a minimum standard or on an „ . way; This stream that has been as naught to me, To the fair-haired youth might a pitfall be; He, too, must cross in the twilight dim; Good friend, I am building the bridge for him.'" Central Labor Union of New York City, the proposal had the approval of the American people, expressed through their elected representatives at Washington. Over the years since 1882 much has been said concerning the significance of Labor Day. One of the best statements was made by Samuel Gompers, president of the American Federation of Labor, in an editorial written 46 years ago for the 4n»*ri- can Federationist While the reference to the 19th Century is remote, Gompers' remarks are timeless in point. He wrote: "No day in the calendar is a greater fixture, one which is more truly regarded as a real holiday, or one which is so surely destined to endure for all time, than the first Monday in September of each recurring year, Labor Day. , "Labor Day differs in every essential from the other holidays of the year of any country. All other holidays are, in a more or less degree, connected with conflicts and battles, of man's prowess over man, of strife and discord for greed or power, of glories achieved by one nation over another. "Labor Day, on the other hand, marks a new epoch in the annals of human history. It is at once a manifestation of reverence for the struggles of the masses against tyranny and injustice from time immemorial; an impetus to battle for the right in our day for the men, women and children of our time and gives hope and encouragement for the attainment of the aspirations.for the future,. *f-Mie: rn^ri'fflmf^ "It is devoted to no man, living or dead; to no sect, sex, race or nation. , It is founded upon the highest principles of humanity, is as broad In its scope as the universe. "It was not given to but conquered by labor, and established as a holiday before any legislature, state or national, enacted it into law. "The marching toilers in the Labor Day demonstrations signalize no martial glory, brutal domination, conquests or warlike pomp. They are, in their essence, the manifestations of the growing intelligence of the workers who recognize that peace is as essential to successful industry and real progress as air is to lung-breathing animals; that justice to the toilers has too long been denied; that in.the. midst of the civilization at 'the cto'sV' * of the 19th Century, wrongs too gross, widespread and well known to require mention here, still abound; that if man is to be free in the time to come, eternal vigilance must be exercised, organization of the workers proclaimed, maintained and extended; education of the educated at well as of the masses be furthered and nurtured, and agitation of labor's wrongs endured and rights denied undertaken, with all the zest and energy begotten by devotion to a cause which is at once holy, noble, pure, lofty, just, wise and humane. Newspaper accounts have preserved for us the color attendant upon the celebration of the first Labor Day in New York City when American labor, led by Peter J. McGuire, paraded in orderly fashion through the streets of the city. •' Of the picnic in Elm Park following the parade, one newspaper said: "It had been arranged that each union would have a certain portion of the grounds marked out for itself, and this facilitated a greater fraternizing than otherwise could have been observed. "As it was, fellow-workers and their families sat together, joked together and caroused together . . . Americans and English, Irish and Germans, they all hobnobbed and seemed on a friendly footing, as though the common cause had established a sense of closer brotherhood." From mid-afternoon to nightfall there was speechmaking. One of the best-received speakers, of course, was McGuire himself. With evening came a still larger crowd, for only a fraction of the city's employers had decreed a holiday, and the Central Labor Union had advised all whose employers desired them to work to do so. Fireworks and dancing both had important parts in the after dark portion of the festival. 1 Int. Bro. T. C W. and R, Local No. 151 wish to advise Organized Labor WE DO NOT PATRONIZE ApproT«d by Vanconv.r, ST.w Wsstmlnstsr ana District Iradsa and labor Council SUBURBAN GABS LTD. * MARPOLE TAXI KERRISDALE TAXI . McKENZIE HEIGHTS TAXI teamsters; label / Page Two '. 'I-' I- THE"LABOR STATESMAN August, 1949 Biltmore Construction >-.—v. GENERAL CONTRACTORS N. M. Neilson, President Phone: KE. 3967 7441 Granville Street . Vancouver, B. C. Whitsell Construction Co. Ltd. Phone: DE. 1640 2119-Kingsway Vancouver, B.C. OFFICE: (480 MARINE DRIVE C - Phone: WEST 831 Morris Construction Finest Homes Built to Your Specifications ifaji^.swisj Phone: West I9I5-L2 3355 MATHERS AVENUE, WEST VANCOUVER, B.C. Louis Yellowlees BUILDING CONTRACTOR Phone: CH. 0535 4262 Granville Street Vancouver, B. C. H. Jantz PLASTERING CONTRACTOR Phone: FR. 4269 280 East Sixty-first Avenue, Vancouver, B.C. to He K. Harrison LATHING CONTRACTOR Phone: FR. 2675 _ 2261 East Thirty-ninth Avenue, Vancouver, B. C. LEO. KENNEDY HOUSE RAISING AND CEMENT WORK Phone: MA. 4394 __:__ 1260 DAVIE STREET VANCOUVER, B.C. KRKPATRICK CONSTRUCTION LTD. Phone: FA. 2370 305 WEST SIXTEENTH AVE. VANCOUVER. B.C. W. G. Jenner PLASTERING CONTRACTOR Phone: FR. 3792 4654 LINWOOD, BURNABY, B.C. NICHOLAS C0SC0, Contractor " Phone: CH. 8545 970 WEST EIGHTH AVENUE VANCOUVER, B. C. •wmsumi>***m-1 ■;7~t-^ BRITISH COLUMBIA PROJECTIONISTS LOCAL No. 348,1. A. T. S. E. and M. P. M. O. (Organized March 30, 1908) ORGANIZED THEATRES IN BRITISH COLUMBIA FAMOUS PLAYERS CANADIAN COUP. LTD. Orphans Dominion Strand Alma Broadway atltsllano Hollywood Orandvl.w Stanley Mfnt aterrladalo Windsor Victoria International Capitol Cinema TOM PARKIN Member Fishermen's Union and Executive Member T. & L. C. =* But Most Liberals Are 'Stay-at-HomeV Here is part of a letter received from a former resident of Canada who now lives in London, England: "Personally, when I was in Canada I voted Liberal, but after J got back here under the Labor government I realize how little was done for the people in Canada. I shall never vote anything but Labor again. I'm sure you'd like our government. Bob^says the same thing. The social security is really something here now, and means such a lot if you're sick or out of work. It was funny when the new health scheme started, none of the doctors (all Conservatives) wanted to be in it. They objected to being 'nationalized'. But now it's a different story. They realize they're better off than they ever were, and they're forever praising it now." Don't Want Our Oil? "Ottawa—How rapidly will protectionist sentiment spread in the United States? What will it mean to expansion of future exports from Canada in a vital commodity like Alberta oil? "Those are the important questions in our trade with U.S. currently being pondered here. "They're thrown into sharp focus by congresional action in Washington last week aimed at restoring the two centpound tariff on copper. "This is looked upon here as a disturbing foretaste of the rising protectionist sentiment in the U.S. to protect this and other industries where employment and profits are threatened. ... "Last year, imports of crude oil and products into U.S. averaged 513,000 barrels daily. The peak was reached in December, 1948, of 646,000 barrels a day. Although imports have been reduced about 20 per cent from* that peak level they are still going into U.S. at a rate which, it is contended, threatens the stability of the crude oil market.... "What may be ahead by the time Canadian oil starts to flow freely toward the head of the Lakes is one of the most important questions facing not only the Canadian west but the whole Canadian economy from the overall dollar-shortage viewpoint. "This country may be forced to adopt the more costly and less preferable alternative of using Alberta oil entirely within Canadian borders." —Kenneth'R Wilson in the "Finan- June 18. . f— Columbia, New Weatmlnater Strand, Nanaimo Capitol, Nanaimo Strand, Trail Capitol, Vernon Empress, Tenon Capitol, Nelson Civic, Nelson Capitol, Prince Xnpert Capitol, Pentlcton Capitol, Xoaaland Capitol, Port Albernl Port, Port Albernl Uasf, Albernl Edison, Slew Weatmlnater Paramount, Chilliwack Paramount, Xelowna BUSINESS MANAGER MArine 3043 P.O. BOX 345 ODEON THEATRES OP CANADA LIMITED Voeue Odeon, Basting-a Plain tux Cirole Dunbar Bio Oak Paradise Park . Fraser King-sway Olympla Vanity Marpole Camble Odeon. Bew Westminster ■Metro, Bew Weatmlnater Sapperton, New Westminster Odeon, Bonn Vanoonver Lonsdale, Bonn Vancouver Odeon, Weat Vancouver Odeon, Abbotalord Odeon, Haner Odeon, Mlaalon Odeon, Trail INDEPENDENT THEATRES State York Music Bo Studio Cascade, Drive-in Lout-need. Drive-in Okar.ag.-in, Drive-in, Pentloton Boyd, Drive-in, Bntland Park, White Book N. Holly burn, Weat Vanoonver Sam's, MalllardvUle Castle, Caatleg-ar Community, Salmon Aim Community, Osoyoos Stent, Steveeton Lulu, Brie/house Clova, Cloverdale Port, Cognitlam Moody, Pon Moody Lndner, Ladner Village, Quallcnm Affiliations VANCOUVER, TRADES AND LABOR CONGRESS OP CANADA AMERICAN FEDERATION OP LABOR NEW WESTMINSTER AND DISTRICT TRADES AND LABOR COUNCIL cial Post^' i Can't Fool People All The Time "The complex health insurance situation was muddled rather than clarified by recent election promises and accusations, but three salient facts stand out. "One is that, if it had wanted to, Ottawa could have financed its share of a national health insurance scheme at any time in the last two years. "Another is that.public opinion in favor of health insurance is growing steadily. ... "Why . . . hasn't Ottawa gone ahead with health insurance? "The main reason given is that there is no guarantee that Ontario and Quebec will not invade the personal income tax field, and will not boost provincial corporation and death tax rates—all to the detriment of the federal treasury. "Many people think Ottawa should have enacted health insurance for tbe seven provinces which signed tax agreements a couple of years ago. But the government shied away. It realized that discrimination against Ontario and Quebec, and particularly while using taxes collected in those provinces to provide benefits for the other seven, would boomerang politically. "And then, too, some people vehemently don't want it. A good many doctors, including some leaders of the medical profession, are frightened by the bogey of state medicine, British style: "Neverthelss, it's clear that health insurance is on the way, It's only a matter of time—until public opinion is more emphatic and until the politicians have won all the elections they can on the mere promise, and have to produce the goods." * —Gerald Waring and Robt. MrKcown in Montreal Standard, July 16. "I don't wonder at some poor wives having to help themselves out of their husband's pockets," said Mrs. Jones to Mrs. Green, as the two ladies were holding a confab on the troubles of husbands. "I can't say I like them underhand ways myself," replied Mrs. Green. "I just turn my man's breeches upside down and help myself off the carpet" Trades and Labor Congress of Canada The recognized head of the organized labor movement of the Dominion is the Trades and Labor Congress of Canada, a body which is especially representative of international trade unionism, the greater part of its affiliated membership being derived, from international organizations operating on the North American Continent The Trades and Labor Congress dates its origin from the year 1873, when a convention of trade union representatives was held in Toronto. The Canadian Labor Union, as it was then called, met in Ottawa in 1874, and through the courtesy of the then premier, the Right Hon. Sir John A. Macdonald, the sessions were held in what was known as Room 16 of the House of Commons. At this meeting the name was changed to the Canadian Congress. In 1875 the congress met in the city of St. Catherines. Although Toronto was chosen as the meeting place for 1876, there was no session held that year, not until seven years afterwards, when a convention was held in Toronto on December 26, 1883, with 47 delegates present, 33 of whom represented trade unions, 12 represented the Knigts of Labor assemblies and two represented the Toronto Trades and Labor Council, under whose auspices the conference was called. The next meeting, which was attended by 109 delegates, was also held in Toronto, the opening session taking place on September 14, 1886, and from which time tbe congress has met regularly each year, the last convention being recorded as the forty-fourth. The present title of the organization was decided upon at the convention held in London in 1895. In 1902 the Trades Congress amended its constitution so as to exclude from the affiliation Knights of Labor assemblies as well as national unions where internationals of the same craft existed. From the time of this amendment being made to the constitution the membership of the congress has been drawn mainly from international organizations. In 1920 the executive council of the congress purchased a property in Ottawa, which is now its headquarters, and which is valued at $35,000. COMPLIMENTS OF INTERNATIONAL BROTHERHOOD OF BOOKBINDERS LOCAL 105 Affiliated with Trades and Labor Council, the American Federation of Labor Allied Printing Trades Council UNION LABEL OFFICES Broadway Printers Campbell & Smith Ltd. Dunsmuir Printing Co. General Printers journal of Commerce Mitchell-Foley Ltd. News-Herald Ltd. Nicholson Ltd. Lumberman Printing Co. Ltd. North Shore Press Pacific Printers The Review, North Van. Seymour Press Sun Publishing Co. Ward & Phillips WilLson Stationery Co. Ltd. Wrigley Printing Co. Ltd. President. FRANK S. ALLEN Recording Secretary. MRS. W. LEAK Vice-President, GEORGE LORIMER Financial Secretary, FRANK MILNE Gist and Jest ALL GUILTY When Mayor LaGuardia first took office in New York City, bis-hobby was presiding: in police court. One day, in a winter of widespread destitution, he faced a jobless man arrested for stealing bread. The prisoner's sole defence was that his family was hungry. "I've grot to punish you," said LaGuardia, "since the law makes no exceptions. Therefore I sentence you to a fine of |10.00." Fiorello then reached into his pocket and added: "Here is the money for your fine. And I remit sentence. But ..." LaGuardia took his familiar sombrero and tossed a (10 bill into it, ". . . but I'm going to fine every person in this room 50 cents for living in s community where a man has to steal bread to eat!" The bailiff took the hat, passed it through the courtroom and dumped the heap of jingling coins into the hands of a surprised but grateful defendant.—Tales of Hoffman. International Union of Operating Engineers LOCAL No. 115 ENGINEERS: ROAD BUILDING AND ALL HOISTING, PORTABLE AND POWER SHOVEL CONSTRUCTION WORK; COMPETENT President. F. L HUNT Vice-President, D. HODGES Recording Secretary, W. REID Financial Secretary end Business Agent, A. W. SCOTT Affiliated with VANCOUVER TRADES AND LABOR COUNCIL VANCOUVER BUILDING TRADES COUNCIL Phons: MArine 2849 Office: 217, 193 EAST HASTINGS ST. "THE WHOLE TRUTH . . ." Woman protesting to Fulham Rent Tribunal recently that her landlord had not told the truth: "The Tribunal ought to have evidence on the Bible." The chairman: "I often think it makes them lie all the more."—The Evening Standard. Wished to Shan Hie Detigbt One night at a theatre a man who had dined rattier too well stood up in his seat and cried: "Is there a doctor in the house?" The actors faltered slightly, but the play went bravely on. A moment later, the same man, still standing, repeated his question. _ At this second call another man rose and said: "Yes, I'm a doctor," whereupon the other nearly finished off the performance by asking in a tone of great good nature: "How do you like the show, Doc?" Bert Summers. Bulldozing and Excavating ' Phone: CH. 5225 3255 WEST TENTH AVENUE, VANCOUVER, B.C. St Compliments of Vancouver Secondary School Teachers' Association Affiliated with: Vancouver Trades and Labor Council British Columbia Teachers' Federation President, DAVE TODD Sec-Tree.., WM. ALSBURY Compliments of Vancouver Printing Pressmen's and Assistants' Union No. 69 Subordinate to the International Printing Pressmen's and Assistants' Union of North America Preiident. R. A. SCOTT Vice-President, L. AINSWORTH Recording Secretery, H. YOUNG Sec.-Tree»., THOS. S. EZART Executive Committee: ' G. Paone, J. Scott. F. Bowles, M. Hill, A. CunlifTo. J. NssffiuV, J. Kruger. i. ?■■ August, 1949 THE LABOR STATESMAN Page Three L- He Nequs BUILDING CONTRACTOR Phone: West. 370-L1 3297 Mathers Avenue, West Vancouver, B. C. Halse-Martin Construction "•"'"--fa Ltd. Phone: CE. 4181 1898 WEST FIRST AVENUE VANCOUVER, B.C. Evoy & Hollo way Wood, Wire and Metal Lathing Contractors Phone: FA. 6435 203 SIXTH AVENUE EAST VANCOUVER, B.C. C. Fulljames LATHING CONTRACTOR Phone: HA. 1929-R 2957 East Fourth Avenue Vancouver, B. C. Foster & Thompson PLASTERING CONTRACTORS Clyde D. Foster 2780 East Forty-fourth Ave. Phone: DE. 3595-L W. Thompson 2585 Blenheim J. G. MOFFATT BUILDING CONTRACTORS Phone: CH. 9334 2525 CORNWALL VANCOUVER, B. C. "*■■" ' ".r— A. Hirtle Electric Sewer Cleaning and Contracting Phons: CH. 2420 . ',-. v 3031 West Broadway Vancouver, B.C. T. Davies PLUMBING CONTRACTOR Phons: GL 1626 3642 Eton Street Vancouver, B.C. J. T. DEVLIN & CO. PAINTING CONTRACTORS Phone: FA. 3953 924 East Twelfth Avenue Vancouver, B. C. JOHN BRUCE International Representative Plumbing and Pipe-fitting; Industry. Brother John W. Bruce, General Representative of the Plumbers and SteaVifitters, has been an active trade unionist for 55 years. He joined the trade union movement in Australia in 1893, and has been an international officer for 40 years, a record in Canada. Bro. Bruce was in South Africa during the Boer War and later came to Canada where he has been an ac- tice officer and member of the trade union movement ever since. Bro. Bruce appeared before u recent arbitration board representing Local 170 of the Plumbers and Pipefitters Union. The plumbers have attempted to secure wage increases to $1.76 per hour and statutory holidays with pay. "We are bitterly opposed to the cost of living being made the yardstick," declares Bro. Bruce. "This would free the standard of living of workers, a principle we cannot accept. We want an adequate, not a minimum, standard." Bro. Bruce points out that considerable progress has been made in securing two weeks' holiday with pay. There are now five cities in the Do- FRANK CARLISLE Business Agent, Plumbing and Pipe. Fitting Union, Local No. 170; Vice' President, Building Trades Council Beverage Dispensers 100 Per Cent Organized In so far as agreements within the city of Vancouver and surrounding jurisdictions are concerned, Local No. 676 holds certification 100%. The present officers are: J. S. Jackson, president. J. Morrison, vice-president. H. Pedrini, recording secretary. 'George Kourke, trustee. George Addison, trustee. Mike McCarthy, Inspector. E. Mc- Hugh, inside guard. L. Logan, outside guard. Dave Kenny, chaplain. F. W. Mills, financial secretary and business agent. minion of Canada who are paying either 4% of earnings or two weeks' holiday with pay. Recently he negotiated a very geod agreement for his union in the oil fields controlling a considerable measure of oil distributing piping and at the present time there are three refineries being built in which his union controls all of the work. How Labor Negotiations Work in Great Britain By T. E. M. McKITTERICK Less than three hours for each wage-earner in Britain have been lost by strikes and stoppages during the whole of the last three years. If in such a period after a great war each worker loses less than an hour a year through disputes, the machinery of industrial negotiation must be well devised and in good working order. Now and again an industrial dispute catches the attention of the Press and public. Ordinary negotiation between employers and employed has failed and something that may not have been of much importance originally leads perhaps to a strike. Such breakdowns however own much of their news value to their rarity. For every set of negotiations that fails ther are thousands of others going on all the time, succeeding in producing agreement, and of which the public never hears. These successful negotiations may cover almost anything from the cleaning of a yash-house to a new wage structure for a whole industry. They may involve half a dozen men in a single shop, or several hundred thousand on a Nation-wide scale. But because they are the commonplaces of industrial life, they often pass almost unnoticed. The machinery of these negotiations is as diverse as Britain's industry itself. Most of it.has been set up by agreement and only in a few cases (chiefly those where workers' organization was especially difficult) has the State stepped in to provide negotiating machinery by law. The simplest form of negotiation is at the place of work, where perhaps only a few workers are concerned. In most trade unions these negotiations are carried out by and elected official called a shop-steward. On a small question the shop-steward approaches the foreman, manager or employer direct and settles the issue with him. If it is more difficult, or if it involves a principle of importance to other workers elsewhere, he will refer it to his union branch, to the local shop-stewards' committee, or perhaps to the nearest full time official of the union. The question may then be discussed at a higher level— with the factory manager, for example. In the vast majority of cases this local procedure works, and nothing more is heard of the discussion. Moral Binding Force Only local questions can, of course, be settled in this way. For many years the trade union movement has been striving to secure that the vital issues of wages, hours and minimum working'conditions should be treated on a National or at least a regional scale. In most industries this is now the case. Generally agreements provide a machinery and procedure for these important negotiations. About 70% of all wage earners in Britain are covered by voluntary machinery of one sort or another. The machinery and procedure in use varies widely. Broadly speaking, discussion takes place between representatives of the National executive committee of. the trade union concerned and representatives of the employers' organizations. Where more than one union is affected, a joint policy is agreed on, and each may send its own representative, or may consent to being represented by one of the other unions. Agreements arrived at by this means nave no legal endorsement. Their only binding force is moral, though of course each side will watch closely to see that the other observes them, and it is seldom that an agreement is afterwards broken by either side. If agreement cannot be reached, the present procedure is usually to submit the question either to an arbitrator whose award is binding or to a special committee of inquiry appointed by the Minister of Labor with powers of reconsideration only. During the war submission to arbitration was made complsory in some cases, and this war-time provision is still in force. There are a. few cases in which negotiations over wages and hours are carried out by bodies established by law, and with the power to make compulsory awards. Among these are the catering industry and agriculture; until the nationalization of the industry road transport was also covered. These statutory bodies (known as "Wages Councils" or "Wages Boards") consist of representatives of each side of the industry with an independent chairman and sometimes other independent members. Their decisions are enforced by order of the Ministry of Labor, or sometimes even by a special Act of Parliament Unions' Independence Some industries, covering in 1947 a total of 4% million workers, have Joint Industrial Councils—popularly known as Whitley Councils from the name- of the- chairman of the committee which recommended their establishment in 1917. Whitley Councils are both National and local, and may deal with anything from wage-fixing to suggestions for improving technical efficiency. The most Important employer using the Whitley machinery is probably the Government itself. The nationalized industries are in a special position. There, on the National level, the unions meet representatives of the National board of the industry which is compelled by a clause in each of the nationalization Acts to recognize them. Special agreements have been or are being negotiated to lay down the procedure for each case. Lower down there is contact between the administrative side of the industry and the unions at regional and district level. At the lowest level there is local provision for joint committees to be set up in the individual place of work — pit, Sower station, gasworks or garage. ibviously public ownership should facilitate the fullest contact and confidence between the two sides. In effect, the vast majority of the workers in Britain are covered by one form of negotiating machinery or another. On the worker's side, the chief negotiating body is the trade union at all its levels, presenting his case to the employers and using its organized strength to protect him. At the topmost level of all, the General Council of the Trades Union Congress deals with,the Government direct, and is always active in seeing that the worker's interests and his standard of living are defended. The unions jealously guard their independence from Government control. In the last resort of all, if negotiations fail completely, the unions will fall back on strike action. But the best proof of the effectiveness of the varied negotiating machinery is to be found in the rarity of disputes which lead to strikes. Teacher: "How many bones do yon have 111 your body?" Willie: "About a thousand." Teacher: "That's a great many more than I have." Willie: "Well, I had sardines for lunch." YOUNG & BOYD, Paint Supplies • 853 Howe Street — Phone: TA. 5735 CONTRACT PAINTING — MA. 9405 337 GORE AVENUE VANCOUVER, B.C. Compliments of ■'?'■ United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry LOCAL UNION No. 170 Local Officers: President, JACK A DILLABOUGH Vice-President. ROBERT WATSON Treasurer. T. G. ATHERTON Recording Secy- JAMES R. BARTON Business Agent and Financial Sec'y., FRANK CARLISLE Office: 109 Labor Temple 307 West Broadway Ave. Phone: FAirmont 9766 * Ace Insulco limited Acme Plumbing & Heating Service Barr and Anderson Limited B. Boe Limited B. C_ Plumbing & HeatlneLQo... Ltd. „ _.,., ' Ben's Plumbing Shop A. H. Bourdon Plumbing & Heating Burrard Dry Dock Company" Limited Stan Code H. S. Crombie Limited OeBrincat Plumbing & Sheet Metal Dillabough Plumbing Company Limited George Downton Fred Errington Limited Fenk Plumbing ft Heating Filbey'i Plumbing ft Heating Fleck Bros. Limited Fourth Avenue Heating ft Plumbing General Plumbing ft Heating Company Goue Plumbing Grinned Company of Canada Limited Sydney Hall F. N. Hamilton Hodgson Limited Irvine and Reeves Limited Johnson Temperature Regulating Com. pany of Canada Limited Keith Plumbing ft Heating Kitsilano General Repair ft Hardware Gordon Latham Limited Lawrence Plumbing Service H. D. Layfield Company Limited Leak and Company Limited Lockerbie and Hole Limited Mallory Plumbing and Heating H. E. McConaghv Limited D. A. McDonald Company Limited O. S. McMorran Plumbing ft Heating Mitchell Brothers Limited H. Orre ft Son Pacific Drydock Company Limited Page ft Harper Premium Oilburner Sales and Service Limited San-O-Heet Limited H. W. Scott Plumbing ft Heating Summerfield's Limited Vancouver Pipe Works Limited Vencouver Plumbing Company Viking Automatic Sprinkler Co. (B.C.) Ltd. Walsh Construction Limited Weab and Company Limited Fred Welsh ft Son George Wilkie ft Company Limited Henry Wilson Plumbing ft Heating Demand the Union Button when calling your Plumber, etc. Beverage Dispensers' Union LOCAL No. 676 Organized 100 Per Cent A - Telephones: MA. 4948 _ MA, 3923 Office: 68 Wast Hastings Street Every licensed beer parlor in Vancouver employs members of Local No. 676 President, J. S. JACKSON Inside Guard. E. HUGH Vico-Praildent, J. MORRISON Outside Guard. L LOGAN Trustees: GEORGE ROURKE, GEORGE ADDISON Inspector, MIKE McCARTHEY Financial Secretary and Business Agent, F. W. MILLS VANCOUVER, NEW WESTMINSTER AND DISTRICT SHINGLERS'AND ROOFERS'UNION LOCAL 2346 United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America; Affiliated with all City, District and Provincial Councils RECORDING SECRETARY, J. A. OILDBMEESTER. 2053 Cypresa Street. CEdar 2975 FINANCIAL SECRETARY. A. TYCK080N The following contractor! are all members of Local 2346 and pledged to employ ONLY competent and responsible union men. For your requirementi in any type of roofing they are at your service. sTasHsia A. GIIJDEJCEESTEB, aOTl Tew Street CEdar Salt • -CBdar 2975 afOBABCB KOOriBTG CO. BASSET OVBKS, MM Baet ruth Avsnne HA. 2839-H ME LEWIS, 1733 East 12th Avenue ., .MA. 0978-B I. TO*BAHCB, 1343 Maple Street. .....—.. : CEdar sose A. TYOEOSOB and W. aSeXaMB, 4244 Prince Albeit St. TA. 3773-* St TABOO, MB *»ll»m»a Street JM, 0811 TAOOABT fe EaXGL, 79 W. 20th. , TPItt. 8S78 - TAir. 2482-Y NEW WESTMIBSTEB 3. HaXL and n. FB.ABEB, 670 18th Avsnne BT.e SOY OLUBTD, 1*33 IXmdon Street at. Office Employees International Union. Local 15 Phone 307 West Broadway FAirmont 4343 Vancouver, B.C. Affiliated with: Trie American Federation of Labor The Trades and Labor Congress of Canada The Vancouver, New Westminster and District Trades and Labor Council Union Label Trades Council President, Anne Bengough Financial Secretary, Bsrnadette Goufhro HAVE THE UNION LABEL ON YOUR TYPING, MIMEOGRAPHING, ETC. FOR PUBLIC STENOGRAPHY : CATHERINE PEDDEN. MArlne 5800 BESSIE LAIDLAW. PAcific 4920 Compliments of BOWMAN'S APRON AND UNIFORM CO. LTD. PAcific 1941 810 Granville Street Vancouver, B.C. "
s fishing industry last year contributed an estimated $70,000,000 to our ever
ALL TYPES OF FURNACES REPAIRED OR REBUILT
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