CONTENTdm
[The Labour Statesman]
BC Historical Newspapers
application/pdf
m^m ^ OWNED BY THE VANCOUVER AND DISTRICT LABOUR COUNCIL Number 694—Eight Pages VANCOUVER, JU.NE 28, 1958 ■a Established 1924 SMOKE SCREEN LIFTED Public Given Tru^ On B.C. Indus* al Unrest Labour Mourns Those Who Died Members of 158 unions affiliated with Vancouver and District Labour Council this month joined in extending sym-x pathy to families and relatives of workers who lost their lives in the Second Narrows bridge tragedy of June 17. Of the 18 killed or missing, 1& were members of unions affiliated with the central labor council. Members of Ironworkers Local 97 were: Carter, Walter H., age 52, Surrey, initiated Dec. 29, 1936. Survived by wife, four sons, ■» rusch, Joseph, 33, Vancouver, initiated Calgary local Oct. 1, 1956, transferred to Vancouver Dec. 1, 1957. Survived by wife and four children. Duggan, Kevin, 18, Vancouver,' joined as apprentice Jan. 10, 1957. Survived by parents and thjjee" brothers. Gartley, Stanley, 30, Coquitlam, initiated Nov. 12, 1952. Survived by wife and two children. Hicklenton, Prank, 51, Vancouver, initiated Dec. 11, 1946. Survived by wife and one daughter. *• Joyal, Leo, 32, Vancouver, originally initiated" Toronto, May 17, 1951, transferred here July 1952. Survived by wife and one daughter. McPherson, Allan, 29, Vancouver, initiated July 27, 1956. Survived by wife, parents and brothers. Mayo, Richard, Vancouver, (missing) initiated July 24, 1957. Survived by wife and one daughter. Moffatt, Percy, 30, Vancouver, initiated June 20, 1956. Survived by wife and one son. Smith, Roderick I., 28, Fernie, initiated Aug. 21, 1948. Survived by wife, two children. Stewart, Allan, 28, Vancouver, initiated Oct. 9, 1957, apprentice. Survived by wife. Thompson, John, 63, Vancouver, reinstated October 1953. Survived by wife and five children. Warswick, Thomas, Vancouver, originally initiated Oct. 16, 1927, reinstated June 30, 1947. Survived by wife. Wright, John A., New Westminster, initiated Oct. 10, 1951, Survived by wife and four children. Members-of Painters Union Local 138: Hoelzl, Rudolph, 25, Vancouver. In Canada two yeiirs, mother in Austria. BEAUTY AND THE BUSINESS MANAGER posed at the provincial convention of Hospital Workers in Penticton this month. Left to right surrounding Bill Black were Phyllis Battiste, Penticton; A. M. Short, Chilliwack; Maralyn Ellison, NakuSp; A. RawMngs, Quesnel, and Vi Blatchford, Vancouver. Okanagan Workers inniiwyn-**' Fight Nine-Hour Day Vancouver trade unionists have backed Okanagan fruit workers in their protest against a government exemption of the fresh fruit industry from protection of the Hours of Work Act. Charge that the Board of Industrial Relations has "evaded the issues involved" has been lodged by Federa- tion of Fruit and Vegetable Workers' Unions in Penticton. Vancouver Labour Council this month backed objections to a nine-hour work day at straight time during a six-month period of the year. A. L. Kanester and Murdo MacKenzie of the fruit workers' unions declared in an open letter to the BIR: "We are astounded that the board should see fit to re-enact regulation 21 which prevents workers in the fresh fruit and vegetable industry from enjoying protection of the Hours of Work Act." The board indicated at a May hearing that no decision would be made on regulation 21 until further data was received from employers, but since has declared it is not prepared to amend a minimum wage order which permits employers to work their employees nine hours at straight time for a six-month period. Unions were not given a further opportunity of replying. "These orders allow the unorganized employer to gain an unfair advantage over both his employees and over employers covered by fair union contracts," the fruit unions protested. "In the' face of the present grave unemployment situation and the complete lack of evidence that such a blanket exemption is necessary, the board's action beyond comprehension." Next meeting of Vancouver Labour Council is Tuesday, July. 15. Under its summer schedule, council cancelled first meetings of each month during June, July and August. • • • FACES — Seated at the June meeting of labor council were H. S. Cranna, Plumbers 170; D. J. Engh, ITU 226; 'and F. E. McKin- ney, Boilermakers 359. James Mead was elected president of Sheet Metal- Workers Local 280 on Thursday in annual elections. Business agent Alex McGee and assistant business agent Stan (Continued on Page 2) Facts Behind Disputes Told In Special Flyer B.C. labor groups this week took the offensive again to give the public the true facts behind current industrial disputes which are rocking the province. In a second publication, a four-page flyer distributed on city streets Friday, the smoke screen of employer propaganda was stripped from the CPR ship tie-up and lockouts of plumbers and electricians. The flyer was issued jointly by Vancouver and District Labour Council, the regional office of the Canadian Labour Congress, the B.C. Federation of Labour and Vancouver and New Westminster District Building Trades Council. It followed earlier publication of a 12-page tabloid newspaper, "B.C. Labour" (see story Page 8) as organized labor in the province hit back at the anti- labor smear campaign. "Let's get out from behind tha, Smoke SErSen^tne latest labor flyer urged B.C. "Let's examine the facts." "Is it only a question of wages and working conditions (in the CPR strike and plumber-electrician lockouts) or is it an attempt to weaken the Canadian Labour Movement? "Is it an attack by the Canadian Manufacturers' Association against Canadian living standards?" Reviewing the facts in each dispute^ these main points emerge: • Seamen have been negotiating with the CPR for improvements in sub-standard wages ($1.31 to $1.35 per hour) since June 15, 1957—over a year. Even the company representative on a (Continued on Page 2) In The News ■ if ii it TORY BUDGET . . . Page 4 ir *& ir IWA AND SIU The Whole Story .. . Page 7 DISASTER FUND For Families . . . Page 6 NOTE Affiliated unions have been urged to inform Vancouver Labor Council of contracts awarded to firms outside B.C. which have been detrimental to local employment. Council requested information following information from Vancouver Converters' Local 433 that envelope contracts were awarded to eastern firms by B.C. Electric, B.C.' Power Commission, Canadian Legion Vets, Vancouver city hall and Vancouver School Board. is MEMBER TAXICAB LOCAL 151 LOOK! FOR THIS LABEL ON THE TAXICAB WINDOW *■_-______. --• ^y^-^-.). ndf-fMifmfr wjOTfrrr ££ -mm-mmi 2 The Labor Statesman TRUE PICTURE (Continued from Poge 1) June 28, 1958 &£ willing to. continue work under the terms of the old agreement until a new wage rate was negotiated? government-appointed conciliation board recommended double the 8 percent offered by the CPR. • The union is still prepared to negotiate on the basis of the federally - appointed conciliation board chairman's recommenda tion. • The 'company refuses to budge, forcing the strike which has disrupted normal life of Vancouver Island residents. • The construction tie-up at the peak of construction season is not caused by strikes but by employers' lockouts. • In the case of plumbers, contractors charge from $5.25 to $6.25 per hour. Plumbers who do the work ask $2.94 of that amount. • Electricians were locked out "despite an agreement that there would be neither strike nor lockout. The union at no time threatened strike action. • All member-unions of the Vancouver, New Westminster and District Building Trades Council fully support the employees on strike and locked out. "Why did the contractors lock out the plumbers from public institutions such as the Vancouver General Hospital, St. Mary's Hospital, Deas Island Tunnel, homes for the aged and many other projects of public concern such as the PNE, when plumbers were "The plumbing wholesale firms have been approached and requested to refrain from supplying materials to fair plumbing contractors who have signed a new agreement. Is this free enterprise?" the flyer asks. —."The plumbing contractors are not issuing the true statements of the plumbers' lockout, to the press. By falsifying and exagger ating the plumbers' request for higher wages, the contractors feel they can sway public opinion." - The electrical contractors applied for a conciliation officer even before sitting down to meet the union this year, the publication points out. "During negotiations, R. K. Gervin, contractors' representative, adamantly refused to name the contractors' committee; reveal what cost items may or may not be considered; discuss or read the Union's draft agreement; reveal what parts of the draft agreement the employers have rejected." Thi3 is bargaining? A young man entered the court clerk's office and asked for a marriage license. The clerk said: "Where is the bride elect?" "What do you mean, bride elect?" huffed the young man. "There was no election. She just appointed herself." HEADLINER (Continued from Page 1) Crosson were both re-elected. Other officers named were: Harold Lowry, vice-president; Ralph Danbert, recording secretary; Robert Hpurston, conductor; and Ed MacLean, warden. Mead, Danbert and McGee were elected by acclamation. First Di: In Nine Years At City Block Building Service Employees Local 244 is faced with its first conciliation in nine years at a downtown office building — now that new owners have taken over. Union business agent Ben Morley said the Williams Building, Hastings and Granville, was bought by United Kingdom Properties Ltd. "* He said "discussions were held with the new owners and we were under the impression that a settlement had been reached. "But a few days later, the union was notified that they wanted to renew the present agreement for another year, and the employer appeared before a conciliation officer with a well- known city lawyer." The lawyer would not agree to any union proposals, even after suggested compromises, Morley said. GULP — Many union meetings in Teamsters hall this hot spring have been sipping on long, cold drinks, courtesy of Stubby Products Ltd. The union soft- drink firm did the pouring to acquaint union members with their product. Para Van Services, 669 Main, the firm which is owned by a paraplegic and employs two paraplegics, is looking for any work of a "nuisance" nature. They are prepared to "give, anything a try." So far, the firm has produced a limited amount of special hand controls for paraplegics' cars and a special type of toilet seat for crippled persons. Yes, CU. & C. provides group health coverage to small industries, shops and offices , with as'few as half a dozen employees. No group is too large or too small. . Lit' _ - 1 Why not talk it over with your fellow employees, and then telephone C U. & C Health Services Society 96 EAST BROADAY, VANCOUVER, B.C. EMerald 5521 B.C.'s second largest non-profit medical care plan . . . providing health insurance ot cost—the co-operative way. Simmons & McBride Ltd. Directors of Funeral Service PHONE BA 4151 1995 WEST BROADWAY "Canada's Finest Mortuary" BRITISH COLUMBIA TRADE UNION DIRECTORY AMALGAMATED MEAT CUTTERS AND B. W., Local 212—Represen- * tative, Oeo. Johnston, 203 Labor Temple; EM. 5735. AOTO -WORKERS* UNION, Lodge No. 1857, I.A. of M. —. Business Agents,. Jack Chapman, Walter Penny, 2414 Main St.; EM. 4104-5. BAKERY AND CONFECTIONERY WORKERS,. Local 468—Secretary, Melvtn J. Kemmis, 337 W. Broadway; DL 9520. BAKERY SALESMEN, Local 189, I. B. T. C. and W. — Business Agent, A. Wylie, 490 E. Broadway; DI. 3411. BARBERS — INTERNATIONAL JOURNEYMEN OP AMERICA, No. 120—115 Labor Temple; EM. 0641. B.C. ELECTRIC OFFICE EMPLOYEES' ASSOCIATION — Business Manager Bill Swanson, 949 Hornby; phone MU. 3-6134. BEVERAGE DISPENSERS' UNION, No. 676—Business Manager, Robt G. Beddome, 440 W. Pender St.; MU. 3-3923 and MU. 3-4948. BREWERY WORKERS UNION, Local 300 — Secretary, J. S. Peden, 256 E. 22nd Ave., phone DI. 5594. BEVERAGE DISPENSERS (New Westminster) Local 835—Business Agent, J. F. Tomson, 70 - 8th 8t. New Westminster;' phone LA. 2-7410. BOILERMAKERS, IRON SHIPBUILDERS, BLACKSMITHS, DROP FORGERS AND HELPERS, Local 359—Financial Secretary, M. H. Hadley, 111 Dunsmuir; MU 4-1047. BRICKLAYERS & MASONS INTERNATIONAL UNION, Local No. 1— Secretary Cyril T. Ingham, 4286 Balkan, Vancouver; DI. 4038. BUILDING MATERIAL & FUEL, TRUCK DRIVERS' UNION, Local , 213—Business Agents, A. Medley, L. Janze and E. M. Lawson; Secretary, J. Whiteford, 490 E. Broadway, DI. 8411. BUILDING SERVICE! EMPLOYEES INTERNATIONAL, Local 24* — Business Agent and .Secretary, Ben A. R. Morley, Room 216, 603 W. Hastings; MU 5-9452. CARPENTERS' UNION (Courtenay), No. 1638 — John Hansen, Pres.; Robert Hamilton, Sec; Box 515, Courtenay. CEMENT MASONS, Local 919. O.P. & CM.—R. R. Baker, 271 Beta; GL. 0067-R, secretary; Office, Room 101, 119 West Pender, Dispatcher, MU.~ 4-6814. CIVIC EMPLOYEES UNION, Local 407—R. Coello, President, 2567 East Fifth, HA 6910R CLUB CABARET, CONSTRUCTION CAMP CULINARY AND SERVICE EMPLOYEES, Local 740—Business Agent, G. W. Faulkner, 402 W. Pender; MU. 6-9828. DENTAL TECHNICIANS, Local No. 1543 — Secretary George Hygh, 4007 Dunbar. DISTILLERY WORKERS UNION Local 69—Financial Secretary and Business Agent, Russell A. Cyr, 1890 2nd St., New Westminster, LA. 2-5011. DISTILLERY WORKERS* UNION, No. 92 — Secretary H. MacDougall, 120 Harvey, New Westminster. ELECTRICAL WORKERS' UNION Local 213—Business Manager, John Waplington, 111 Dunsmulr St., MU. 1-7381 - 2. ELEVATOR CONSTRUCTORS, Local 82—Sec., H. C. MacKichan, 4633 Elmwood St., Burnaby; DE. 5689-L. ENGINEERS, HOISTING AND PORTABLE, Local 115. — Business Agent, A. W. Scott, 5804 Fraser; FR. 6395. ENGINEERS, SCHOOL AND CARETAKERS, Local 963—Secretary, G. J. Schultz, 2825 West Thirteenth; BA. 3000. ENGINEERS' UNION (Stationary Operating), Local No. 882—Business Agent, Harry Berger, Room 8, 2414 Main; EM. 2429. FIRE FIGHTERS (Burnaby), Local 323 — Secretary-Treasurer, H. D. Anderson, 38 N. Fell Ate., phone GL 3831M. FIRE FIGHTERS, Vancouver, Local 18—President, Hector Wright, 4149 Marguerite; CH. 4146. Secty., Frank Bain, 4559 Belmont; AL. 0516Y. BUILDING TRADES COUNCIL — Secretary, Harold Taft,. 110 Labor Temple, EX. 1210. CARPENTERS' UNION, No. 452 — Business Agent, R. Buchanan; Financial Secretary, P. J. Deplissy, Labor Temple; DL 2720 or EM. 1212. . i CARPENTERS (New Westminster) Local 1251 •*- Business Agent, H. Taft, office 732 Royal Ave., New "Westminster; phone LA. 1-0526; residence phone, LA. 2-9037. FLOORLAYER8" UNION, U.B. qf C.J., Loeal No. 1541 — Room No. 108, Labor Temple, Business Agent, Bruce Robson, 3238 E. 29th; DE. 7297M. HOSPITAL EMPLOYEES' UNION, No. 180—Business Manager, W. M. Black, 116 Lafi jr Temple; EM. 5822. HOTEL AND RESTAURANT EMPLOYEES, Local 28—Sec. A. E. Morgan, Room 406, 402 W. Pender. INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF HEAT AND FROST INSULATORS, AND ASBESTOS WORKERS—1356 Seymour; MU. 1-7616. INTERNATIONAL LADIES' GARMENT WORKERS, Locals 276 and 287—Business Agent, Anne Marshall, 119 W. Pender; MU. 4-5514; home, HA. 5961M. INTERNATIONAL WOODWORKERS OF AMERICA, Local 1-217— President, Lloyd Whalen; Secretary, S. M. Hodgson, No. 6, 45 Kingsway; DI. 0274. GLAZIERS AND GLASSWORKERS, Local 1527 — Recording Secretary, A. Allen, 510 East Sth, DI. 6193; Business Agent, John Leeson, DI. 7535. GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES' ASSOCIATION (B.CJ—E. P. O'Connor, Gen Sec.; A. C. Bennett, Asst Gen. Sec.; 2090 West 4th; BA. 6361- 5362-5363. GRAIN WORKERS UNION, Local 333 — Recording Secretary, Gordon H. Greeley, 1575 Dansey Ave., New Westminster. IRONWORKERS SHOPMEN'S, Local Union 712—Business Agent, V. E. Steers, 222 W. Broadway; DI. 5611. IRONWORKERS, Local 97 — Pres. Robt Knox; Vice-pres. Victor Morell; Fin. Sec, Geo. Sinclair; Bus. Agent, Norman Eddison, 222 W. Broadway; DI. 8232. JEWELRY WORKERS' INTERNATIONAL, Local 42 — Office, 339 West Pender; President, G. H. Brown, 1608 W. 57th Ave.; Secretary, Richard MacLean, 2458 Yale, HA. 4064M. LABORERS CONSTRUCTION AND GENERAL, Local 602—Secretary, C. H. Savage, Room 204, 307 W. Broadway; DL 9233. LAUNDRY WORKERS, No. 292— Business Agent, J. H. Irving, 490 E. Broadway; EM. 4543. MACHINISTS, INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION, Lodge 692—Business representatives, D. H. Chapman and George S. Wenlock, Room 17, 2414 Main; EM. 7035; DL 0513. MARINE WORKERS & BOILERMAKERS' INDUSTRIAL UNION. Local 1 — President, 8. Jenkins; Secretary, W. Stewart, 339 W. Pender St.; MU. 1-9481. MILK SALE8DRIVERS & DAIRY EMPLOYEES UNION, Local 464— No. 107, 490 E. Broadway; Business Representatives, Ben McCrone and George Shaw; DL 8411. MOLDERS' UNION, Local 281 — Business Agent, M. Bjornson, 119 Labor Temple; EM. 5920. MOTION PICTURE PROJECTIONISTS, Local 348—President A. E. McManus; Secretary, D. Calladine; Business Agent, L. Walker, 1366 Seymour; MU. 4-7024. MUSICIANS' UNION, Local 146 — Business Manager, 402 W. Pender, Room 808; MU. 4-1664. OFFICE 'EMPLOYEES' INTERNATIONAL UNION, Local 15—Room 1, 337 West Broadway; DL 3516. Pat Landsley, Business Agent and Secretary-Treasurer. *. OIL, CHEMICAL & ATOMIC WORKERS' INTERNATIONAL UNION, Local 16-601. President, C. L. Barber; Financial Corresponding Secretary, R. G. Burns, 4737 E. Hastings, North Burnaby; GL. 2121. ■■—-—* _._—_«. PAINTERS UNION, Local 138 — Business Agent, Herb Macaulay; Secretary, John Hines, 337 W. Broadway; EM. 6033. PAINT AND VARNISH WORKERS. Local 1650—Secretary, Bruce Parkin, 3629 McEwan Ave., North Vancouver; YU. 7-4383. PATTERNMAKERS' ASSOCIATION —Secretary, E. Westmoreland, 4504 Mountain Highway, North Vancouver; YU. 8-8966. PILE DRIVERS AND WOODEN BRIDGEMEN, Local 2404 — Business Agent, S. Allen, Room 105, 307 West Broadway; DI. 7817. PLASTERERS' UNION, No. 779 — Secretary, W. E. McMynn, Room 202, 490 East Broadway. PLUMBERS & PIPEFITTERS, Local 170—Bus. Mgr., J. R. St. Eloi; Asst. Bus. Mgrs., James Barton and J. L. Fisher, 116 Labor Temple; EX. 1428. PRINCE GEORGE AND DISTRICT LABOR COUNCIL — Room 17, 1331 4th Ave., Prince George; phone 191L2. PRINTING PRESSMEN. Local 69— Sec. A. Milne, 2049 West 30th; AL. 3506L. PULP AND- SULPHITE (Convert, ers) UNION, Local 433—Business Agent, O. Braaten, 525 W. Pender, Suite 1; MU. 3-8284. < PULP AND SULPHITE WORKERS, Local 312, Ocean Falls, B.C.—Secretary, George Meldrum, Drawer 190, Ocean Falls, B.C. PULP & SULPHITE WORKERS, Local 708,* Watson Island—President A. MacPhee; Secrotary, E. P. O'Neal, P.O. Box 294, Prince Rupert, B.C. PULP, SULPHITE AND PAPER- MILL WORKERS — International office, 315-816 Crown Bldg. H. L. Hansen, International rep.; MU. 4-3858. REFRIGERATION WORKERS UNION, Local 516 — Sec, L. R. Wintle, 187 W. 40th; FR. 4409; FR. 8611. RETAIL GROCERY AND FOOD CLERKS, Local No. 1518—Sec. W. W. Wells, 337 West Broadway; EM. 3348. SCHOOL BOARD EMPLOYEES' FEDERAL UNION (Burnaby), Local 379—Secretary,. G. J. Mc- Crae, 3309 Lane, S. Burnaby. SEAFARERS' INTERNATIONAL UNION — Secretary, Norman Cun- nigham, 298 Main; MU. 1-3468. SHEET METAL WORKERS, Local 280 — Bus. Manager, Alex McGee, 207 Labor Temple; DI. 8020. SHINGLE WEAVERS! UNION, Local No. 2802—Secretary, J. E. Hird, 1£2< W. BKlh; Km. 44S8I- I SHIPWRIGHTS, BOATBUILDERS, JOINERS AND CAULKERS, Local No. 606 — Business Agent, J. T. Best, Room 402-3, The Shelley Building, 119 W. Pender; MU. 4-3725. SIGN AND PICTORIAL PAINTERS, Local 726—Sec, J. A. Mlddleton, 6339 Kitchener, N. Burnaby; Bus. Agent, John Leeson, 2465 East 46th Ave.; HE. 1-2061. *V STREET RAILWAYMEN'S UNION, Div. 101 — Business Agent, C. Stewart, Street Rly. Bldg., 126 E. 8th; DI. 2010. STREET RAILWAYMEN'S UNION. No. 134—Bus. Agent, R. C. Lawrence, Room 22, 774 Columbia, New Westminster. Phone LA. 1-7330. TAXI DRIVERS, Local 161—Secretary, C. Gower, 490 E. Broadway; DL -84U. THEATRE EMPLOYEES, Local B-72—Secretary, Mrs. F. FoBter, No. 6, 1004 Wolfe Ave.; CE. 6253. TILE SETTERS, Local No. 3—Recording Secretary, D. P. Ewan, 4116 Dominion, North Burnaby. TRUCK DRIVERS' UNION, Local No. 31—Business Agents, Reg Lenfesty and C. Solem, 490 E. Broadway; DI. 3411. TUNNEL & ROCK WORKERS, Local 168—337 W. Broadway, Secretary, H. Croft; phono EX. 8231. TYPOGRAPHICAL UNION, Local 226—Secretary, P. Campbell, 212 Labor Temple; EM. 6810. UNION LABEL TRADES COUNCIL —Secretary, Mrs. A. E. Hallock, day phone DI. 0827, evenings, DL 8748. UNITED GARMENT WORKERS'. UNION, No. 282—Secretary, Mar- veen Stewart, 7190 Lougheed Hwy., R.R. No. 8, New Westminster, UNITED GARMENT WORKERS, Local 190 — Recording Secretary, Annie Fast, 1288 East 63rd; EL. 2007. UNITET> STEELWORKERS OF AMERICA, Local 6688 — Sec, Wm. Giesbrecht, 33 East Broadway. UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA EMPLOYEES' UNION, Local 116—Secretary, A. Leathern, 618 Bast 8th St, North Vancouver. WATER AND SEWER BOARD EMPLOYEES, Local 393 — Secretary, R. Skinner, 671 W. 22nd Ave. EM. 9041. ' WOOD, WIRE & METAL LATHERS Local 207—Secretary, J. May, office 1295 Kingsway; EM. 1223. ! ' —• - - ■ TWOWINNERS MAKE GOOD AT UBC Two students who won Vancouver and District Labour Ccfaicil-s initial university entrance scholarships last year made a good showing in their first year at UBC. UBC's Dean Walter Gage told the council this month that both students had made a "fine showing" and successfully completed the year's work, Koit Teng made a first class overall standing in his first-year engineering. Out of 475 students, he ranked sixth. Miss Lindsay Elizabeth Cook obtained an overall standing of 72 percent which put her in the top 16 or 20 percent of the 1900 students in first year'Art3 and Science. They were each awarded a $250 scholarship sponsored by the council. The scholarships have been renewed this year and recipients will be announced this fall. Rae Eddie of IWA Local 1-357 has been recommended for appointment to the Unemployment Insurance Commission board of referees in New Westminster. UNION LABEL girl of the month is actress Yvette Vickers, who shows off latest in waist gaps. INFORMATION PLACARDS Hyde Park Dispute Wins Local Support *flilSS>^S«*M**feS*^'*^WW,-'-. <:■ ■ B •' ..... -. '. .... r ■... ■. Information pickets have been placed on two Vancouver department stores which handle garments made by antiunion Hyde Park Clothes of Montreal About 350 workers at the Montreal plant, members of Amalgamated Clothing Workers, have been locked out for more than three months. Information placards were placed on Hudson's Bay and Eaton stores here to inform the public of the dispute. Hyde Park clothes also are handled by Simpsons-Sears and Charlton-Morgan in this area. The Montreal clothing manufacturer has refused to grant employees ar legal election and blocked efforts of workers to gain union certification in the plant by an injunction restraining the Quebec Labor Board from taking a vote. Since that time, the company sent a letter to all retailers saying the "strike" (as they termed it) was over. What they did, was hire a large group of inexperienced immigrant workers recently arrived in this country in attempts to intimidate locked-out employees. Said Amalgamated Clothing Workers: "Canadian law gives people the right to a,free and secret ballot for union election and we shall make every effort to see that this right is not denied to Hyde Park employees." Workers in Hyde Park were paid $1.10 an hour. Other union clothiers in Montreal pay an average wage of $1.50 and additional benefits of union shop, employer- paid welfare and pension plan and other provisions. Be sure and demand the union label when buying a suit. You will be sure of getting one produced under fair wages and conditions. Teamsters 351 In Conciliation Teamsters Miscellaneous Workers Local 351 are taking disputes with Western Vinegars, Vancouver Mounties Holdings and Izens Cleaners to conciliation boards. A strike vote will be taken in dispute with Lucky Lager Bottling. , CO-OP SERVICE STATION BACKED BY COUNCIL'S $100 The Co-Op Gas Station slated for Broadway and Quebec has won "in principle" support from Vancouver Labour Council—and some financial backing with purchase of one share at $100. *' The service station with complete facilities, parking lot, fleet servicing and home fuel oil delivery is sponsored by Greater Vancouver Co-operative Association. It is seeking $100,000 in share capital for the venture. The Labor Statesman June 28, 1958 3 We Pay Big Cost For 'Privilege' Of Private Phone Ownership... It's up to B.C. Telephone to supply service at rates compar-- able to those which would be charged i£„,lb« .company, wew., publicly owned. That statement was made be fore the Board of Transport Com missioners for Canada when Brother E. A. Jamieson, general secretary of the Vancouver and District Labour Council appeared before the board this month to protest the pj^one company 's-ap* plication for higher rates. "The political climate in this province is rapidly reaching a point where public ownership will be restored to. in defence against rates which do not reflect true telephone service costs," he warned. Speaking for the Council's 158 member-unions and over 75,000 working men and women, Brother Jamieson continued: "The private monopoly operation of utility service is tolerated on the assumption that these extra costs (of a private versus public ownership) can be compensated for by more efficient operation. "Using them as explanation for higher rates admits to failure." The company had given as one of its major reasons for higher phone rates in B.C. the expense involved in private ownership as opposed to public ownership. "In effect then," Brother Jamieson replied, "present telephone subscribers are paying higher rates than necessary for the dubious benefit of private ownership." The Council brief pointed out that B.C. telephone rates are already high when compared with other centres of similar population, and that the rate increase sought would be totally unreasonable. "We pay among the highest rates in Canada, even compared to cities of equal or greater- size. "We object to paying rates which cover not only present ■telephone-*** c-peraltftmc<jsts;—UuT which also provide a surplus large enough to pay the large costs of financing private equity investment." Ordinary family budgets in B.C. have been severely squeezed, Brother Jamieson told the board, and any further increase in telephone rates would inflict increas- British Columbia's two largest utilities—both privately owned — are seeking rate boosts. This month, Vancouver Labour Council joined With others in protesting an increase in either telephone or electricity charges. Here* is a summary of Council's presentation to commissions hearing argument on B.C. Telephone and B.C. Electric applications. ed hardship on many families. Telephone service ha3 become a necessity through custom in our society, thus making a rate increase more serious than if it were a dispensable service. Brother Jamieson suggested the board should investigate the advisability of the company using bonds as a financial expedient at this time. Bonds would partially eliminate the need for large surplus requirements needed as an attraction for equity -investment. A bond issue would be justifiable in view of the great improvement in the company's financial condition in recent years. The stockholders' interest in the business at the end of 1952 was .61 of the creditors' interest, whereas at the end of 1957 it was 1.8 times the creditors' interest. Refilyfflg.. J« ..-fchj^ .ftxcuse ..that. ~., higher wages are a factor in the company's need for higher rates. Brother Jamieson pointed to the increased productivity of the wage earners. There has been a 170 percent increase in the number of telephones in service since 1952, reflecting a* large increase iuth*£L__ number of telephones per employee—from 55.2 in 1952 to 70.0 . in 1957. The estimated increase of 40,- 500 telephones in service for 1958 will also reflect this increase in productivity, and the recent 10 i percent wage increase for em-} ployees is not enough to counteract the increased revenue from additional telephones in service. Operating revenue from each telephone has increased from $80.11 in 1952 to $91.42 in 1957, or an absolute increase of $11.31 per telephone in five yea/s, while the increase in operating expanses per telephone was only $7.48. The corresponding increase in payroll was only $1.58 per phone in the five-year period. The Council urged the board, in the event that some increase might be found necessary, to confine it to toll rates and business measured rate3 and leave domestic exchange rates untouched. That, at least, would adhere to the principle of payment being made in ratio to benefit received. Because telephones are a necessity and , because the compa enjoys a monopoly position, the flat exchange rate is comparable, to a head tax and carries with it all the inequities of compulsion and regression in distribution of burden, long ago rejected in our taxation system. ... And Asked To Shell Out Higher To Dangle BCE Investors' Carrot' Present electricity rates in the Vancouver area are among the highest in Canadian and U.S. coast cities, indicating excessive or unreasonable charges. They definitely shouldn't be increased further. This was the major point made this month when The Vancouver and District Labour Council appeared before the Public Utilities Commission to oppose B.C. Elec- tric's current rate boost application. The brief, presented by VLC's general secretary-treasurer E. A. Jamieson, summarized a well- documented case against the utility company's application this way: * 1. The company's rate of return as presently computed is no measure of its reasonableness because capital cost allowance is included as an operating expense, and because capital investment not yet producing full revenue is included in the rate base. 2. Actual operating cost ratios have shown improvement in recent years. 3. Present Vancouver rates, being among the highest in the U.S. and Canada, indicate excessive or unreasonable charges to consumers. 4. The economic consequences of a general cost increase to pro ducers, wholesalers, retailers and householders, at this time, would cause further and multiplied hardship for the ultimate consumer. In a plea to the PUC to follow the precedent set by the federal government, Brother Jamieson stressed that to a large measure, the control of prices in Vancouver rests on the commission's decision. This is no time for an inflationary boost, he said. "The residential user would not only bear his own increased charge but the further burden of costs shifted from other classes of users," Brother Jamieson told the hearing. BCE is seeking a general rate increase on the Lower Mainland.' One of the reasons higher rates are needed, the company has argued, is that the annual rate of return has declined, affecting the company's credit rating. Said Brother Jamieson: "If prospective investors are downgrading the company's securities because of an apparent decline in earnings position, as indicated by the annual rate of return, then we suggest the action to be taken is not to raise electricity rates, but to readjust the elements of the rate of return to give a more realistic picture of earnings." The very presence of the regulatory authority (PUC) practically guarantees dividends and bond interest to investors in the BCE—though-such is not its purpose, Brother Jamieson said. In terms of dollars, he pointed out, one average week's pay in Vancouver would just about meet the average annual electricity bill in 1939, whereas in 1957 the week's pay fell about $20 short of the year's average light bill. In 1939, with average weekly earnings in Vancouver at $25.07 the average annual residential electric bill was $25.31; by 1952 the average wage was $55.77 but the average light bill was $64.80; last year, with average weekly earnings of $71.20 the average home in Vancouver paid $91.83 for a year's electricity. "During this paradoxical period of unemployment in the face of rising costs, it is the Council's opinion that an inflationary price increase (by the BCE) would have serious consequences for the householder," Brother Jamieson said. "The Federal Government has set the precedent in the effort to control prices at this time, and circumstances in the Vancouver area warrant the same treatment." 'M ■ y I j 4 The Labor Statesman June 28, 1958 THE LABOR STATESMAN Published last week of each month at Labor Temple, 307 West Broadway, Vancouver 10, B.C. Authorized as second class mail, Post Office Department, Ottawa The Labor Statesman is owned by fhe Vancouver and District Labour . * Council and supported by 153 local unions "To each union member the political party of his choice" TRADE UNION FOIBLES "Build Strong Unions for Social Security" E. A. JAMIESON, Secretary AL COLEMAN, Chairman, Public Relations Committee Subscription Rates: $1-60 per year; to Unions, 6c per copy Vancouver, June 28, 1958 — Tb Tory Budget If there was anything progressive about Canada's first Progressive-Conservative budget, it. was its size. In every other respect it was conservative in the Toriest sense of the word. Measured against the promises on which John Diefenbaker swept into office last June, Mr. Fleming's is surely the greatest disappointment of any budget in modern history. For labor, for the yast majority of Canadian families, the Conservatives offered nothing. Less than nothing ■*•— for in its sly insinuation of reactionary, protectionist policies, there is the prospect of less rather than more purchasing power accruing to low and moderate-income groups. The Tory claim that the budget does provide tax cuts is, of course, farcical. The insignificance of its cuts is indicated in the example of a taxpayer whose income tax amounts to $500 per year. . Mr. Fleming's budget, percentage-wise, reduces such a tax bill by 13 cents! 7 Yet this is the government that came to power promising to cut taxes by $100 per family. -. At the Winnipeg CLC convention, President Claude Jodoin made Canadian labor's expectations clear. Outlining the need for tax cuts to aid the economic downtrend, he said: "Tax cuts put money in consumers' pockets and so help to reduce unemployment. One tax which might well be cut is the sales tax which is not based on ability to pay and thus hits the poor man harder than the rich. Cutting the sales tax in half would put about $450,000,000 more in consumers' pockets, and particularly those of poorer "You mustn't hoard this check new. The administration says that spending creates confidence in the country!* "I finally discovered that your union doesn't meet three nifjhts a week, but now you can stay out without that excuse! * FROM THIS ANGLE consumers. On other labor suggestions, he pointed out that raising income tax exemptions to $1,500 for single and $3,000 for married people, and raising family allowances as proposed by the CLC's founding convention, would' put another $577,- 000,000 in consumers' pockets. And allowing deduction of all medical expenses from taxable income would add another $15,000,000 to $25,000,000 to consumers' spending power. . Mr. Diefenbaker did none of these things, unless the reduced sales tax on cut flowers can be counted his compliance. \ Safely in office with the largest caucus in Canadian history, he answered labor's arguments for more purchasing power with silence. To say that he has disappointed labor is an understatement. Watch For That Label No matter how small your purchase may be, be sure always to look for union label goods, to patronize union services and firms which employ union help. *•'-■■> It's a very small chore for each person, but the combined effect pays off. It ensures that more dollars are earned under union contracts, more jobs have the security and protection of good working conditions. Huge Savings A Mirage "Buy." That exhortation from the "sit-tight" school of economists is predicated on the oft- repeated argument that if families can be convinced to spend their bulging savings, the recession will be cured. But where are all these savings the bank presidents and insurance company executives talk about? How much in spendable personal savings do consumers actually have on tap? We haven't seen a detailed breakdown of the alleged savings stockpile in Canada. But on the assumption that the Canadian economy and that of the U.S. are reasonably similar —if anything the averages in Canada would be lower—let's take a look at the savings pic- * ture there. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission last month reported total savings had reached $484 billion at the end of 1957. What did that total include ' though? How and where are those billions distributed? APL-ClO's Department of Research, after analysis, concluded the overflowing' reservoir of savings pictured by SEC was a "statistical mirage." In reality, AFL-CIO research showed, the average skilled and semi-skilled worker early in 1957 had $212 in liquid savings and 26 percent had none at all. The average for unskilled or service workers was $6, with 49.5 percent having no personal savings at all. Furthermore, one-tenth of all families in the U.S. own about two-thirds of all liquid personal savings. And the most optimistic "sit- tighter" could hardly expect a big-buying spree from that one-tenth of the population. The AFL-CIO Economic Re-, vue pointed out: "In the first place it is precisely this small wealthiest segment of the population that has already largely met its basic need for homes, automobiles, TV sets, household equipment and yachts ... it is precisely this high-income minority, whose income already ' exceeds its daily needs, which currently is doing most of the saving." The SEC's total "savings" figure includes the following: • Billions of assets belonging to thousands of non-profit organizations and over three million unincorporated businesses; • $181 billions in government and private insurance and pension reserves and welfare funds; • $81 billions in cash and checking accounts, much of which is in the process of being spent to meet daily needs; • $44 billions of personally- owned marketable federal, state and local bonds held by the wealthiest segment of the population. Even worse than the SEC method of computing savings is the approach used by commerce department statistics. They figure if you are .meeting payments on your car, stove or fridge you bought two years ago and the money you borrowed after Christmas, you are "saving" even if you're dead broke after distributing your pay cheque. Setting aside these technical "savings", what is left in real spendable savings is held for the most part by a small i minority of families.. At the beginning of 1958, more than 14,000,000 of all U.S. families (about 57,000,000) had absolutely no savings at all. Another 10,000,000 families owned only $1 to $199, and still another 8,000,000 families had only from $200 to $499. When the value of, all spendable savings plus day-to-day checking accounts were tallied, it was found 10 percent of the families owned 66 percent of the total while 60 percent of the families owned only three percent of the total. "Surely, with millions of moderate and low-income families touched by unemployment and short work-weeks since the recession began last year,"' AFL- CIO declared, "it is not logical to assume that the ownership of these liquid assets has become more balanced." In addition, while spendable savings of millions of families are non-existent or shockingly small, the indebtedness of many of these same families has become a major problem. Obviously, falling back on the savings theory to check the recession is an outright stall \{ not disastrous. The answer, as the Economic Review suggested, lies in tax cuts for low and moderate-income families, extended and improved unemployment compensation benefits, public works, increased social security benefits and higher minimum wages. From The Prexy's Chair By LLOYD WHALEN Management's anti-labor campaign continues with vi- ious^ attacks on the men arid women of organized labor. Tfyat respectable citizens should be subjected to these unwarranted and unfair criticisms and that they should have to defend themselves against pointed accusations is an unfortunate situation, but, if defend we must, then defend we will. Recently a steering commit^ tee was set up comprising officers of the B.C. Federation of Labor, the Vancouver and District Labor Council, the Vancouver Building Trades Council, the Victoria Labor Council, the Vancouver Island Building Trades Council, and local representatives of the Canadian Labor Congress. This committee is undertaking to counteract the management anti-labor campaign by presenting the facts to the people of B.C. Napoleon said "the best defence is an offence" and there are plenty of opportunities for offence on the profit-fat management under-belly. There has been a lot of management noise lately about remedies for the recession. It is not surprising that none of these "remedies" has been designed to curb companies' profits. In fact, all these so-called "remedies" are simply designed to maintain company profits while cutting or holding wages. Holding wages in the face of constantly increasing prices is the i some as cutting* wages— the same amount of money for more expensive goods. During the recent boom years, prices raced ahead of wages making an ever increasing gap, known as the wage- price lag. Essentially.this lag, or gap, was profit — and a big profit as the gap widened.' These large profits represented savings for the saving classes — wealthy individuals, companies, and savings institutions. These profits were, in effect, drawn off the total money stream and either hoarded as saving or invested in capital projects. Either way, the money did not return to the money stream to be used for the consumption of goods. This oversaving during the boom period resulted in an unequal distribution of income— too much of the total pie went to permanent saving and not enough was distributed in the ■form of wages to provide for increased consumption. The result: not enough con- sumer spending, and therefore not enough demand for goods. Production fell off and the result was large-scale unemployment. The companies thought they could eat most of the pie and have it, too. Today, these same people, glutted on too much profit from the boom years, are unwilling to accept the lesson of the recession. They still want their big piece of pie and will not pass back into the consumption sector the required share of total income. They are determined to do just the opposite. They want, in effect, to cut consumption by cutting or holding Wages so that they can retain the same (Continued on Page 6) —— CROSS-SECTION Our Queer Birds Of Management: The Labor Statesman June 28, 1958 5 Broadway Typing & Mimeographing Service * Two Blocks East of Labor Temple 183 West Broadway - Office DI. 8011; Res. CE. 4469 Addressing and Mailing • Agreements - Circulars Correspondence • Reports V. lators The Blue-Billed Backslapper Characteristics: A friendly, warm-hearted bird, this species appears *to have a natural af^ finity for union men. It is frequently observed patting members of organized labor groups on the head, chanting: "I get along fine with unions." Of zoological interest is the fact the patting hand generally clutches a fair-sized club. Plumage: Lily-white. Song: "You can leave the security clause in my hands." ''- • • • The Winsome Grouse Characteristics: This bird re- ., • presents a zoological .rarity. Its temporal coorida'tes appear to be reversed, with the result that its mentality is tuned to a period referred to nostalgically as The Good Old Days. Continuous reference * will be noted to The Grave Situation, The Present Difficulties, All Pulling Together, The Crisis Facing The Company, etc. Plumage: Jaundice. flt|ong: "Reasonable .Pppro- Thanks to a Handy Dandy Field Guide on' "Management Types, Their Recognition and and Control", first published in ^Toronto's ANG paper, The New Lead, the general classification of Queer Birds on management bargaining teams has been broken down into five easily recognizable species. This condensed version is offered Labor Statesman subscribers at no extra cost, so that all—those on bargaining teams in particular — will benefit from the research represented. Double-Headed Hair-Splitter Characteristics: The diet of this unusual bird is composed entirely of subsections, subordinate clauses, and fine print. Frequently observed in the vicinity of molehills, manipulating a microscope-like eye which has come to be known as a mountain-maker. Plumage: Mauve. Song: "My hands are tied." • • • TIRfS^. BOURNE & WEIR LTD. NEW — USED — RECAPPING „ Buy them on easy Budget Planl 99 WEST 2nd AVE. PHONE: Dickens 9371 STERLING LAUNDRY LTD. 100 PER CENT UNION COMPLETE LAUNDRY AND DRY CLEANING 1460 West 7th Ave, Vancouver, B.C. CHSfr»7f91 The Fearsome Four-Flusher Characteristics: This type is given to sweeping statements, delivered with one wing folded across the breast in a reverent attitude. Remarkably, this species has its toes turned backwards, thus permitting it to move backwards with even greater rapidity than it moves forward. Plumage: Green. Song: "Strike and be damned!" The Red-Faced Squawk Characteristics: This species will be found at most negotiating meetings or other- low shrubbery. It will be easily recognized by its extraordinary bright red plumage and its strident voice. When any object new or unfamiliar is placed near this bird, it will be seen to swell to almost twice its normal size. It then customarily hops, first on one foot and then on the other, in what is known as itsT Dance of Dis^ approval. The species is especially sensitive in the pocket- book area. Plumage: Bright red, dotted, with beads of perspiration. Song: "What What What Whatwhatwhatwhat WHAT!" Will It Be Group Car Insurance Next? Labour Experiment Could Save IS To 30% An experiment which, will be Watched closely throughout Canada and the U.S. is under way in Oregon where the Multnomah Labor Council is testing a system of group auto insurance. ' Group life and heal th insurance, and group pension, plans, have become the fastest-growing types of family protection, producing savings of 15 to 30 percent from similar individual protection. The possibility of realizing the same nature of saving on auto insurance is one which workers in Vancouver and throughout B.C. will appreciate. Irt the Oregon experiment, six local unions have signed up their members for the trial plan. It is not yet true "group" insurance. The Oregon Insurance Commissioner is studying whether it may be classified as such and pay rebates -or dividends on a group basis. The plan tentatively has established rates 5 to 30 percent below standard, insurance rates for the' same coverage."if the "group" classification is permitted, additional dividends or rebates to the- groups would lower the premiums still further—depending on group accident records. The plan so far is described as "a wholesale low-cost method of writing individual auto insurance policies," The big saving is in the lower marketing and selling expense made possible by signing up a lot of people at a time. Another cost-cutter is the group traffic-safety program made possible by group enrollment. Lowering the group accident rate will increase the dividends. The Multnomah Council acted in an effort to restrain the wide ly known auto-insurance spiral. In the past eight years, they said, successive hikes have jumped car insurance premiums 56 percent on the average, while the price of new cars rose only 35 percent and repair costs 42 percent. The AAA figures that the average cost of $25,000/$50,000 liability insurance plus fire and comprehensive but no collision coverage now averages $117v a year on a nation-wide basis. One of the biggest values in the* new union experiment is that if successful, it would give policyholders a more effective voice in determining the rates they must pay and the kind of insurance they get. An insurance company or even an insurance commissioner may pay little attention to an individual, but v experience with Blue Cross, for example, has shown that groups can have a voice in fighting proposed increases in rates. Naturally the auto experiment in Oregon is running into heavy ppposition from insurance brokers and agents. The same opposition was encountered in every type of group insurance. But the car-owner is becoming conscious of marketing and administration costs which his premium covers — an average of 50 cents on the dollar. Thus if the actual cost of insuring a car goes up one dollar, insurance companies generally seek to raise premiums by two dollars. They justify the boost by showing an "underwriting loss", but don't count the profit made by* investing reserves provided by policyholders. The alternative to group car- insurance as a means of cutting the growing cost; of protection is government insurance, such as provided by the Saskatchewan government. For years, the suggestion has been made that the B.C. government should go into a similar insurance scheme. It has been a plank in the CCF Party's election platform. * Whichever way it comes, whether by union-developed group policies or government-insurance, car-owning workers in B.C. agree it can't come too fast. Hodge-Podge Of Jurisdictions Besets Nation-wide Negotiating Industries Of nation-wide scope should be brought under exclusive jurisdiction of federal labor Jaw, the CLC Winnipeg convention said. The convention noted this was done many years ago for grain elevators. But it pointed out the inconsistency in other industries like packing plants where national negotiations are carried on while the process is under jurisdiction of at least six different provincial labor codes. In the event of concilation or a strike, it becomes a complex mixup of higher mathematics, the convention said. W. J. Heads Boot Factory Ltd. Makers of the "HEADS SHOE" for Loggers, Miners, Cruisers, Surveyors, etc. Our Shoes are Hand-made - You'Ube Satisfied 21 East Hastings Street Vancouver 4, B.C. BUFTON'S FLOWER SHOP FLOWERS FOR ALL OCCASIONS "WE TELEGRAPH FLOWERS ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD" HA 0187 ■ HA 3432 1675 Commercial Drive Vancouver, B.C. UNION LABEL <0?t THE BIG FAMILY STORE 1409 KINGSWAY Try us for Value*—Estab. in 1910 _i Darlington, Haskin & Co. (1943) Limited TILES - MOSAICS - SLATE - TERRAZZO Phono: EXpress 1545 525 WEST EIGHTH VANCOUVER, B.C. f&aAav-i A* MEMORIAL CHAPEL 1235 East Hastings St. - Owned and Operated by a Trade Unionist Funerals for Trade Unionists at prices Trade Unionists can afford to pay. HA 6940 GEORGE A. MARTIN .fllTIEDV the finest in * * * p°cket km'ves V™ ■ ----l» ■ hunting knives, shears, clippers ELECTRIC CLIPPERS, VIBRATORS, SHAVERS B.C. Barber Supply & Sundries Ltd. 736 RICHARDS VANCOUVER, B.C. ■fttarran Sim Ifaritrii "British Columbia's Finest Funeral Service" . CHAPEL OF CHIMES 65 E. 10th Ave. EMerald 8877 GRANDVIEW CHAPEL 1349 Commercial Dr. HA 0083 FUNERAL DIRECTORS 3412 wnww£AK CD&Jur"sB6i Hove your cor serviced ot the station of motoring satisfaction specializing in service, courtesy, and cleanliness. Complete Auto Repairs— Motor Tune-Up — Brake Re-Line — Tim — Batteries & Accsssorin, Etc. CAROLINA TEXACO SERVICE 615 EAST BROADWAY Dickens 0612 VANCOUVER, B.C. ■W.I-: r;-'v.v ,.».iiiin ~!ii.,.- 6 The Labor Statesman June 28, 1958 ■';'. . ■ DISASTER FUND Donations Sought For Bridge' Families Vancouver Labour Council has set up a "disaster fund^to aid families and dependents of fellow workers killed or injured in the Second Narrows bridge tragedy. An appeal has gone out to all affiliated unions for donations. The fund is being handled through Royal Trust Company. Eighteen men lost their lives when two spans of the hew bridge collapsed into the swift tidal waters of Second Narrows at 3:40 p.m. on June 17. Fourteen of those killed ahd 20 of the injured were members of Ironworkers Local 97. One member of Painters Local 138 was killed and six were injured. The council fund is co-operating with one started by the Vancouver Province. Donations from affiliated unions and members of these unions will be made through the labor council and will be turned over directly from council to Royal Trust as labor's donation. Cheques should be made payable to the secretary- treasurer of Vancouver & District Labour Council and marked "Disaster Fund". Council secretary Ted Jamieson, in announcing the disaster fund said: "At the request of several affiliated unions, a majority of the executive board of this council decided to create a fund comprising donations from affiliates. "Subsequently, on an approach to the Vancouver Province by the president and myself for an announcement regarding inauguration of the council's fund, officials of the Province suggested that it would be more advantageous to the dependents and relations if only one large campaign to raise funds was conducted. "With this in mind, it was proposed by them that President Whalen and myself act on a committee which will assist and advise the Royal Trust in the disbursement of such funds." ..,-wt&i)i*m&^ Council has urged all unions to request their members to participate in the fund, remitting donations through their locals to the council. The council will be requested to make a donation to the fund at the next meeting. Union Label Work Gloves PARKER GLOVE CO. 278 East 10th Avenue Vancouver, B.C. i EM 6811 PREXY S CHAIR (Contiwuod from Poge 4) J level of profit. This is impossible, of course, because consumption makes demands which, in turn, makes production and more total income. In short, a more equitable distribution of income is needed more for consumption, less for saving. Wage rates, at the very least should be raised to keep pace with the steadily increasing cost-of-living, as well as the increase needed to raise living standards. More important, though, is the need for better redistribution of income to provide more consumption. * Wage increases now will not break the companies, but only reduce huge profits, increase consumption, increase demand and production,; so boost employment and eventually prosperity and company profits, too. ' ■*-«**■ •"' Mt. Pleasant Undertaking Co. Ltd. KINGSWAY at ELEVENTH AVENUE Kindliness - Understanding - Dependability. LADY ATTENDANT Phones: EMerald 2161 and 2162 E. A. TED JAMIESON ... To Help Families Night Courts I Urged Here A drive has been launched to establish night sittings of traffic courts in Vancouver. Vancouver Labour Couhcil will petition city council for night sittings following protests from Vancouver Printing Pressmen that workers "on many occasions are unable to appear in traffic court without loss of wages. "They are forced to pay fines whether justified or otherwise." Pressmen's secretary A. Milne said "our union feels strongly about this problem. "Owing to the number of traffic tickets being handed out by city police, the time has come for night courts so that a wage earner would have a chance to defend his case and not be penalized both ways." Label Promotion Plans PNE Parade Exhibit Union label promotion will appear in this year's bigger than ever PNE parade. Vancouver Union Label Trades Council will have an entry, but as yet the decision on whether to produce a ffoaCor enter bannered cars, has not been made. The union label booth at the exhibition this year is No. 2 on the lower floor of the Manufacturers' Building. Some unions, including Bakery Workers and Brewery Workers, have agreed to take over one day of the booth activities to give special displays in their trade. Vancouver Labour Council is expected to handle the booth for an ^"information day", ready to answer all enquiries on labor matters. Again this year, there will be a jackpot of prizes given away to visitors to the union label booth. » PENDER AUDITORIUM 339 West Pender Street MUtual 1-9481 • Vancouver 3, B.C. HALLS AVAILABLE FOR EVERY OCCASION. SPECIAL RATES FOR UNION MEETINGS. Our spacious auditorium seating over 1,000 is one of the most beautiful in the city. PATRONIZE A UNION HALL! ■ Tha (^rli7igBrmerie8(B.C.)Umited(f<ymerly Vancouver Breweries Ltd.) This advertisement is not published or displayed by the Liquor Control Board or by the Government of British Columbia « « tsWAis^wsatuqu a^Km^nsntsnjHt* <n.iir«'.«H-jk«!*ni*|..r<i,i(,«iM The Labor Statesman June 28, 1958 7 STORY BEHIND TWO MAJOR DISPUTES • • • • • • IWA: Conciliation a Farce - SIU: Why CPR Stalling? International .Woodworkers have taken a vote. Here is the story by President Joe Mo wis: Woodworkers up and down the B.C. coast have voted more than 2 to 1 for strike action. The government supervised vote conducted Friday gave International Woodworkers District Council No. 1 full backing in the drive against a wage freeze this year. Majority report of a conciliation board signed by the chairman and employer's representative recommended that no wage increase be granted this year. In his report to IWA members, District President Joe Morris outlined the latest developments: "The conciliation board majority report has ignored nearly all of the union's demands and has paid greater attention to some of the employers' demands which they know to be highly objectionable to the membership. "Bob Smeal, the union's member on the board, has signed a minority report, in which he chal- - -lenges the very obvious bias of the majority report and describes it as an employers' report from start to finish." (Smeal said "the terms of the majority report are harsh and provocative. In effect, the majority report tells 28,000 lumber workers >e will .give, you nothing this year In the way of an improved contract'.") Morris said the district policy committee unanimously agreed the majority report "has not dealt fairly with the interest of the lumber workers . . . and in effect states employers are completely y" ^r^Tight and the workers in the in- Bett's Shell Service Broadway & Arbutus GAS - OIL - TIRES BATTERIES • ACCESSORIES LUBRICATION & REPAIRS UNION SHOP CEdar 4712 OON! Free Swim Classes! Soon Tha Son's famous FREE Swim Claties for children will start . . . ond there'll bo one YOUR children can attend. Watch Tha Sun for locations and opening dates! Phono MU 4-7141 for Information dustry are completely wrong in daring to "ask for any improvements this year; ' :v Morris noted that conciliation must be an effort to achieve a reasonable and mutually acceptable compromise but "in this instance, no such effort was made. "The majority of the members on the board dealt with the dispute as though they were judges on the bench who felt that the law jfor^their guidance had been written by the employers. "We can reach no other conclusion than this report is designed to provoke strife, rather than to conciliate and achieve an amicable settlement." Meetings of local unions earlier rejected the majority report by a strong majority. Morris went on to say: "I must make it clear to all IWA members that unless we prepare to fight, the employers will stick to their original intention to give us nothing. "Reasons given by the majority of the board for recommending that the union should sigh a contract making the present wage rates effective for the contract year which end3 June 14, 1959, are largely quotations from the employers' submission to the board . . . rising cost of living, and increased productivity in the industry are not denied, but it is coldly stated that all these factors which form the usual basis for wage rate determination must be set aside until the employers decide that -thtey -have (thei means to pay any wage increase." He said the majority, report "has gone to fantastic lengths to build a case against the union." On refusal of a wage increase, Burnaby Hours Labour Opposes . Strong opposition by Vancouver Labour Council and Retail Food and Drug Clerks Union has helped delay a new six-day shopping week bylaw in Burnaby. Burnaby council held its decision for a week after representations last Monday opposed the new bylaw. Retail Merchants Association also bucked the change from the present half-day closing on Mondays, declaring the extension of hours will not create more business, that vast majority of Burnaby retailers oppose the move which was sponsored by Simp- sons:Sears and a handful of independent retailers, and that longer hours would force hiring of extra staff which would reflect in higher prices. he said: "The facts still remain with Our members that living costs have-'risen- to- the.'^raisst- where wage increases have been wiped out; productivity is up to the point where a reduced working force is producing 20 percent more, and the same employers have given our companion union in the other major section of the ^forest products industry — pulp and sulphite workers — a base rate for July next of $1.89 compared to the present base rate for lumber workers of $1.72.M The majority report was termed "insulting in its barefaced and callous treatment of the human factors involved. "It is unthinkable," said Morris, "that the group of workers who produce the greater part of the province's wealth should how bear the brunt of the employers' plan to freeze wages." Seafarers' International Union Agent Norm Cunningham reports on the Coast Steamship Strike: For six weeks the travelling public of B.C., and the tourist folk have been inconvenienced by lack of transportation due to a Seamen's strike of the Canadian Pacific Coastwise fleet. Business people on Vancouver Island have suffered a loss of revenue in this centennial year which should have been a peak year for those catering to tourists. This strike could have* been avoided by using recommendations of an impartial government appointee, if the Canadian Pacific had seen fit to accept their responsibility to their employees and the citizens of B.C. Shortly after this strike began, Ottawa appointed Dr. Eric G. Taylor to inquire into and report on the problems involved in the dispute and to attempt to bring about a settlement. Dr. Taylor is an extremely capable and highly respected conciliator, his record in this regard is second to none. But Dr. Taylor's efforts were frustrated completely by an absolute lack of co-operation from the Canadian .Pacific. Their arbitrary action of refusing to negotiate above the eight percent increase (rejected by the employees last August) "come hell or high water" left little reason for the mediator to believe a settlement could be made; Since that time a very interested and unbiased group , of MLA's and one cabinet minister, all representatives of the B.C. public, attempted to work out a formula for settlement. After many long hours they found what they believed was the only practical basis for settling the strike. The SIU and the company were then called into separ ate meetings. . i While the SIU representatives Were not in a position1 to make a firm committment they were receptive to the ideas projected by the MLA's and believed they had come up with a practical solution. The union pointed out that if the CPR were just as receptive, the ships could be running very soon. , But again, the Canadian Pacific refused to cooperate with the representatives of the Island public. Now, where does the responsibility lie? Seamen's wage scale averages under $230 a month basic wages (under $1.34 per hour). Seamen are on the job actually twenty-four hours a day to put in eight hours work, and this eight hours -is spread over a period of 16 hours before any overtime is paid. Then, when overtime is paid it is at the rate of $1.35 per hour. This makes it cheaper for the Company to hire one man and work him sixteen hours per day (with eight hours at the overtime rate) than it is to hire two men at the straight time rate! The onus is on the CPR to answer: When will the ships run again? At the same time you might ask other questions such as: What is the Canadian Pacific's motive for not negotiating in good faith to end the strike ? Why have they refused to cooperate with the federal government mediator and a committee of MLA's? What happened to profits of past years and the depreciation money for the five depreciated ships which should show on their books as written off or at $1? What percentage of CPR profit actually stays in Canada (if any) and how much of it goes to the United Kingdom and the United States? . . .. As inability to pay is the sole argument of CPR, is the -fact that their profits go to foreign countries the major factor in this argument? Ask the CPR officials and the people who have criticized the Seafarers' stand—could you keep your family on an average take home pay of $40.00 per week ? done and gone! ■ McGavin's Bakery products are barely out of the ovens when they're gone . . . whisked direct to your door, or to , your" grocery store. That's why, when you buy McGavin's, you get home-quality baking ... fragrant, fresh, delicious. Whatever your pleasure - cakes, sweet goods, family loaves or specialty breads - you'll find it's good eating if it's McGavin's. McGavin BAKERIES LIMITED Serving western Canada with fine bakery products since Kit HON BUTTONS RUBBER STAMPS SUPERIOR STAMP & STENCIL COMPANY LIMITED 1618 East Hastings St. HA 8601 or 8602 NAME PLATES, SEALS, CONVENTION RIBBONS, ETC. NICHOLS STENOGRAPHIC SERVICE 333 West Broadway—next door to the Labor Temple—EM 1946 Res. KE 7916-R ADDRESSING AND MAILING^ GENERAL STENOGRAPHY, DUPLICATING, CORRESPONDENCE, ETC. RICHMOND TRANSFER DAILY FREIGHT SERVICE—LULU ISLAND, SEA ISLAND, STEVESTON. LIGHT AND HEAVY HAULING Phone MUtual 1-2101-2 425 Alexander Street PATRONIZE UNION SERVICE STATIONS (Please clip for future reference) VANCOUVER B.A. Station — 3545 Lougheed Highway Betts Service Station — 2103 Weat Broadway Carolina Texaco Service — 615 Eaat .Broadway Chevron BAP Service — 3290 Eaat Broadway Johnston Motor Co. Ltd. — 7th and Main Sherwood Motor* — 898 Burrard Street / Vancouver. Motor* Ltd. — 990 Seymour Street Volkswagen Pacific Sale* — 8377 Granville Street Whibs Service — 452 East Broadway Wolfe Chevrolet Old* — 2860 East Hastings NORTH VANCOUVER Everett Motor* Ltd. — 303 Lonsdale Ave. NEW WESTMINSTER McLennan Motor* Ltd. — 161 • 12th Street Jack Marshall Motors Ltd. — 132 • 12th Street Moody Park Service — 8th St. & 6th Ave. Trapp Motor* Ltd. — 891 Columbia Street HANEY Haney Oarage Ltd. (Mussalems) Hubb Motor* Limited «'■ Modern Motor* Limited TEAMSTERS' MISCELLANEOUS UNION, LOCAL 351 B.C. AUTO WORKERS LODGE 1857 i -• -..(Sjrwwii nm «*mj.y?«j-^_ imsaiivaia*. .KW kS-V-WS-***1***^ Si"* ! 1 (-vsa'msiM mtyHrr'.-ai 8 The Labor Statesman June 28, 1958 Hi The Fight Against Employer Smears <*■ . *;"''.■" ... Unions Publish 'Paper Of Facts Organized labor in B.C. this month effectively struck back at the determined anti-union smear campaign gripping Canada and theU.S. ;. In a major co-operative- effort, Vancouver and District Labour Council, other councils throughout the province, labor leaders, working through B.C. Federation of Labour, published a factual 12-page tabloid-type newspaper. A series of reasoned editorials and articles, the labor publication set forth a factual reply to the multi-million dollar campaign by which certain employer groups are attempting to condition public opinion against unions. "War Against Unions: What's It All About?", B.C. Labour asked. The publication was the first of its kind in Canada and its reception was being carefully assessed by the Canadian Labour Congress and federations in other provinces. The special committee handling its preparation and distribution reported that 100,000 copies were circulated throughout the province, some 40,000 in the metropolitan Vancouver area. "B.C. Labour" made it clear that in a propaganda war, unions could not compete with the resources at management's disposal. For that reason, the publication stressed a straight-forward presentation of facts — facts which workers throughout B.C. feel are an effective weapon even against the heavy artillery of expensive propaganda pieces with which management is inundating the mails. The story, carried through in sequence, identified the nationwide labor family; factually described the unemployment crisis and the long-range tendencies towards automation which are Seasonal Employment Conference Conference of labor, business and government officials will be held in Ottawa July 14 and 15 to discuss winter unemployment. The conference was called by federal Labor Minister Starr. It seeks "practical ways of ret ducing seasonal unemployment in winter, in Canada." v Three main items on the agenda will be: extent and causes of the annual winter decline in employment in Canada; action that has been taken to increase winter employment opportunities; practical proposals for further action by all interested groups on local, provincial and national levels. Labor representatives will be from the CLC and Cathplfc,jQp,nr federation. ■ Vulliamy & Brownell CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS 15 - 515 GRANVILLE ST. PHONE MUtual 5-8629 VANCOUVER, B.C. increasing unemployment. It outlined organized labor's aims, showing how far they are from being "selfish" or "con- titteer^Sm^BSSF groups try to imply. Supported by no less an authority than the Gordon Royal Commission, it thoroughly repudiated management insinuations that Canadian labor is controlled by U.S. unions headquarters. Not so by any means, Mr. Gordon found. Dealing with labor legislation, "B.C. Labour" told simply the rigid laws now governing Canadian unions; analyzed the Canadian strike record as* proof that the strike is used sparingly in relation to the large number^'af agreements negotiated each year. Management campaigns for binding arbitration and so-called "right to work" laws were analyzed, with comments from religious leaders of all faiths printed as non-labor, unbiased judgments on the distorted aims of these campaigns. In &_ two-page spread, the newspaper published a series of MARRIED DOLLS ELIGIBLE AS QUEEN DEADLINE EXTENDED Deadline for entries in the queen contest to reign over Union Buying Week this year has been extended a month. Mrs. Josephine Hallock, secretary of Vancouver and District Union Label Trades Council, said entries will be accepted up to July 20. And to encourage more entries, rules for entrants in the union label queen contest have been broadened. Married women are now eligible. Earlier rules which restricted entries to single girls have been changed. A canvass of unions to urge them to sponsor entries is still underway. Entry forms, rules and other information are available from the union label council office in the Labor Temple. \ The queen would reign during the Sept. 1 to 6 buying week promotional campaign and any other events during the remainder of the year. Kiddies' Camp Children's Jubilee Slimmer Camp Association is still taking applications for summer camp sessions at Orlomah Beach. Registration is open at 111 Dunsmuir on Monday, Wednesday and Friday of each week, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Rate per child is $17.50 including insurance and boat fare. Age limit is 7 to 12 years. Camp sessions for boys are June 30 to July 11 and July 28 to Aug. 8. Girls' camps are July 14 to 25 and August 12 to 23. Council Studies Label Grant "Union Buying Week" promotion will probably get a $250 donation from Vancouver Labour Council. Notice of motion to donate to Vancouver Union Label Trades Council in it3 1958 label promotion, especially the PNE display, has been given delegates and will be voted on at the next meeting. a WATCH FOR THESE OUTSTANDING ATTRACTIONS ■ S SOFIA LOREN \H ■ ° "MILLER'S BEAUTIFUL WIFE" i EJ . PIUS ■ ■ Rex Harrison in "The Constant Husband" ~ „ g "7 Brides For 7 Brothers" ■ ■ -• and "Anchors A weigh" ■ ■ THE STUDIO THEATRE : ■ Granville at Smythe MUtual 3-1511 Good Teeth Mean Better Health and Better Appearance MARK HAMILTON U. W. (BILL) HAMILTON Hamilton JMnrfaanj ICtiX FUNERAL ADMINISTRATORS ELgin 3311 Fraser St. at 38th Are. Vancouver 15, B.C. charts and comments on "Profits, Wages and Prices; Who Takes the.Lion's Share?" ■r^e^~lE&p^''.'^z^vfiJcs: rwere also, provided oh organized labor's history, why unions were formed, the importance of the union shop. "We have published to give you the facts," a summary said. "Special interests, through the power of ownership, have . . . control over the economy of the nation. They will resist with all the means at their disposal-*—and their means are frighteningly great—the right of any group or of society itself to question their exercise of that enormous power. "Only through the organized labor movement can their power be challenged. "That is why they have declared war on the unions." aSJMes MUtual 5-8181 TOWING • 24-HR. SERVICE • RADIO CONTROLLED • FULLY INSURED • BONDED DRIVERS BUSTER'S Auto Towing Service Ltd. 376 E. HASTINGS ST. Exclusive AAA Contract Vancouver DR. FRANK HALL DENTIST 680 ROBSON ST. MUtual 1-7631 J^LitincU(j£ . . . ^junziaL *-3j EXULCZ S. BOWELL & SONS LTD. Phone LA 2-1671 66 Sixth Street, New Westminster, B.C. Cloverdale, B.C. Phone Cloverdale 3-7331 The best gift you can give your children is good health. Good teeth are a first requisite for good health. See dentist every 6 months. Freshness Guaranteed REACH FOR-.'. SUNBEAM BREAD! Ii , . .ENERGY PACKED
Title changes in chronological order: The Labor Statesman (1924-04-25 to 1965-03), The Labour Statesman (1965-05 to 1969-09). From 1924-04-25 to 1965-03 The Labour Statesman was owned and published by the Vancouver and District Labour Council. From 1965-05 to 1967-07 it was published jointly by the B.C. Federation of Labour and the Vancouver and District Labour Council. From 1967-08 to 1969-09 it was published by the B.C. Federation of Labour.
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