The Tacoma times. [volume], August 27, 1941, Page 22, Image 20

About The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949

Image provided by: Washington State Library; Olympia, WA

                
22
City Home of Nation’s Largest Lumber Workers’ Council
Unions Insist
Morrissette Points
To Craftsmanship
That there can be much
more to a craft union than its
service merely in the field
of collective bargaining was
m out Wednesday by
Morrissette business man
ager of Local No. 76, International
Brotherhood of Electrical Workers,
and an active Jeader in the affairs
of the Jocal and state building
trades. :
“The electrical field is one of
the most technical and subject to
the most frequent changes due to
advancements in the science of
applied electricity,” Morrissette
said. .
“It is expected of our mem
bers that they keep fully in
step with the progress of their
trade, and they are obligated
a 8 well by public and union
law to perform their work ac
cording to the electrical code
for the safety of the public
and its property, and for their
own safety.
“Electricity acts instantly and
& man needs to make only one
mistake to jeopardize the life of
other human beings.
. Organization Strict
“The 1. B. E. W. accordingly
fa strict in maintenance of high
est standards among its members.
Prospactive members are kept on
probation for some time during
which they must demonstrate their
ability to work competently and
meet safety requirements.
. “We do mot bar anybody
~from joining when they are
found to qualify; as for heip
ers, we always select young
local men for preference.
*During this emergency we have
reduced our initiation fee to a
minimum, but on account of bene
fits to members, we can only re
duce this fee so much. Helpers
pay less than journeymen but re
ceive the same benefits, Men on
probation do not pay anything be
fore they are sent to work. -
“Benefits given members in
clude a pension of S4O per month,
and insurance; and they can be
under medical aid protection 24
hours & day by belonging to the
group. The insurance is provided
on a graduated basis: After the
tirst year, the payment is S3OO
with an increase each year there
after up to five years, after which
& death benefit of SI,OOO is paid.
“We have a number of classifi
eations in our Tacoma local cover
ing all branches of the electrical
industry. We only wish we could
put to work all those who are
interested in this field.
“Local 76 prides itself on
the fact that its members are
always ready to put their
shoulders to the wheel on any
community enterprise—llocal,
state or mational—and during
this emergency more than at
any other time, the union Is
100 per cent with our govern
ment te protect free men and
our great nation from slavery.
We can always be counted
upon to do our part In na
tional defense.
“Our relationships with our
employers are always satisfactory
to both parties, as are our rela
tions with all branches of govern
ment.
“We thank The Tacoma Times
for this opportunity to acquaint
the public of Tacoma with the
union's benefits and the coopera
tive spirit of our local officers and
international leaders in helping to
meet defense requirements.”
JPUUIINIRIOONIOOIONNOOEIRLAE BRI LIRSS 30 )
®
Perpetuating
AMERICAN
IDEALS OF
EAMLTURE
COLLEGE OF PUGET SOUND, founded
upon the principles that education is the
basis of true culture that America's
strength lies in a people desirous of and
capable of self-government—is dedicated
to the training of America's youth to a
higher appreciation of their heritage of
freedom—and a deep loyalty to all that is
best in our American way of life!
College of Puget Sound
Above: Trainload of Tacoma Lumber Bound East
Federal Grant of $200,000
Asked for County Hospital
Institution’s Facilities Overtaxed
Due to Soldiers and Defense Workers
Application for a $200,000 fed
eral grant for construction of al
new wing to the county houplul.}
a nurses’ dormitory and a gurage
was made Tuesday by Plerce coun
ty's commissioners,
The application was made to the
public works administration, which
has charge of a rpecial fund set up |
by congress for financing of pro-'
jects vital to the national defense. |
Accompanying the application |
were detailed plans of the con-;
struction projects. The plans, |
drawn by the Tacoma architectural ‘
firm of Mock and Morrison, call
for a four-story addition, plus
basement, to the hospital itself
and for a two-story nursing home
and a one-story garage.
It was pointed out in the
application that the influx of
soldiers at nearby army posts,
as well as the tremendous in
crease in Industrial workmen
has overtaxed the hospital's
facilities,
Both wsoldiers and workmen
have poured into Tacoma directly
As A result of the national defense
movement, the commissioners said
in the application, and have cre
ated a situation at the hospital
which likely will become worse
instead of better,
Included with the scommissioners’
caomments were those of Dr. Bur
ton Brown, superintendent of the
hospital. He said the presence of
the soldiers had greatly increased
the hospital's work, particularly in
the matter of emergency care re
sulting from traffic accidents.
It was admitted in the ap
plication that the project was
not born entirely as a result
of the defense emergency. It
was simply stated that the
emergency has made the com
pletion of such a project all
the more necessary.
On July 12, at a meeting of city
.‘J\hl‘.“%‘l* %Q
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You need work clothes .
that come to the defense nAY 4 ~
of your comfort and de- M J {
mands of your job, i ‘&')‘VJ
)|
BUY HZ« S
. ON CREDIT
e
& at THE HUB
1: \l No Interest or Carrying Charge
A i Famous Hyde Park
\ y SUITS and O'COATS
b'f‘ 3 Tailored to keep their good 1m\.1.l
'A R .
' 3 We Carry the Work Clothes
You Need for Any Job, in
). | eluding RUBBERIZED and
¥ REPELLENT RAIN WEAR.
T
. r 1118
HE @ H“B Pacifie
= - Avenue
€he Cacoma Times
Below: Boommen Handle Ammunition for Mills
Reports of Refugees Taking Jobs
Of Americans Called Propaganda
Rumors that certain stores or
industries in large American cit
jes are discharging their employes
and giving their jobs to refugees
are fifth column propaganda, it
was said by Frank Peterson,
deputy mayor of Los Angeles, in
a talk to a representative group
of Tacomans Tuesday afternoon
at Hotel Winthrop.
Stories also have been circulat
ed that millions of refugees Aare
coming to this country, that they
are undesirable and are replacing
Americans in industry or going on
relief, the speaker declared, but
these are untrue and are inspired
by interests who would create
racial hatred and dissension,
44,000 Others
Under the quota system estab
lished in the immigration laws of
the United States, only about
200,000 immigrants have come to
this country in the last eight
years, the Los Angeles official
county and state officials, with L.
R. Durkee, regional PWA super
visor, the county hospital project
was listed 11th among all local
defense projects in importance,
‘asserted. The number is restrict
‘ed to 153000 annually, and the
‘iquou for England and Ireland
is more than half the total, leav
ing only 44,000 annually. Most
~of them are trained in a profes
idon or a trade, and many of the
immigrants establish their own
businesses, creating an average of
three additional jobs for Ameri
cans, according to the govern
. ment statistics, Peterson said. If
ilny of them apply for relief, they
'are subject to deportation under
lthe immigration act.
| Lisbon and Shanghai are now
the principal embarkation points
for refugees, and more of them
are coming to Seattle and San
Francisco than to eastern ports,
the speaker continued. The four
principal refugees’' aid orxnn&n
tions have been assuming the re
| sponsibility for housing and feed
| ing them and conducting pro
| grams of Americanization, and
| this has been almost entirely fi
| nanced by Jewish business men,
although only half of the immi
grants are Jewish it was said.
Combats Propaganda
Those present included repre
| sentatives of racial groups, so
| cial agencies, service clube and
| others, and were asked by the
i\'int’m‘ official to assist in com
i bating fifth oolumn propaganda
by repeating the facts he related.
T'he... :
G. W. Paulson Co. |
is pleased to have been selected for ‘
important installations at Fort Lewis and !
McChord field furthering national i
defense. i
*% ¥ i
Distinctive |
® Carpets ©® Venetian Blinds !
® Broadlooms ® Draperies '
® Linoleums ® Curtains i
@ Shades ‘
748 ST. HELENS 3
Empl {6O Mill Operations Bel
To 13 Locals; Membership Tofals 4,800
.
013 Locals; Membership lofals 4,
Tacoma has a rating in industry as the Lumber Capital of America, but, further, it
8 the me of the largest single district council of Lumbse and Sawn Works
America
Today its 13 local unions perform the work in 60 mill operations and boast a paid up
membership of 4.800—a1l in Tacoma or Its immediate vicinity in Pierce county,
l'acoma council of the Lumber and Sawmill Workers has become a pattern { symilar
ouncils jj4"".»v',.pM,.Y-.,.,“:., ng centers
Its members today are enjoying the best working condi
tions ond the highest scale ever provided in the industry,
their leaders will tell you, becouse they have here a system
that works and which provides @ maximum of employment
and on adequate flow of skilled help to meet the industry's
requirements,
eoo oedh il osia kit
Tacoma is no ordinary mill
town; men and mills here do nnl'
just cut logs into lumber for local |
use, |
Tacoma i$ in fact one of the key
centers of manufactured wood
products for the entire nation and
it is largely Almost entirely g
through the efforts of Tacoma's|
Lumber and Sawmill Workers thu'
the wheels of this vast and im
mensely necessary industry are
kept turning. |
PRODUCE SURPLUSAGE |
Let us look at lumber production}
alone in this industry—and by m-l
dustry here, we mean the mills of
the northern “West Coast”--which |
now i 8 up to its ears in the job|
of filling national defense require
ments, ,
In a recent week, this industry
produced 185 million board feet of
lumber, or 26 million feet more
than the normal rated capacity of
the mill machinery-—a sheer sur
plusage of 16!y per cent. The pro
'duction rate has not been exceed-'
ed in 11 yvears, that week's report
of the industry asserted.
FILL DEFENSE NEED .
The report concluded with this
comment: “It represents unlimited
effort to bring into play every re-i
source and facility available to
comply with urgent requests from
the government to increase the
supply of defense lumber.” ]
A very considerable part of that
production was right here in!
Tacoma, and represented the extra |
toil and sweat of Tacoma's llhnr.i
which is intensely loyal to the
national defense policies of Ameri- |
can Federation of Labor.
Every plant facility in Tacoma
is operating virtually at maximum,
‘many beyond normal, and these
members of the Lumber and Saw
mill Workers unions are busy,
busy, busy. |
THEY SAW IT
Not all of Facoma's woodwork
ing production is within their
jurisdiction; logging operations |
are outside the Tacoma jurisdic- |
iuon. shingle manufacture and |
i!umitun industries are outnfle.’
'although within jurisdiction of the
parent brotherhood. .
" Mostly the Lumber and Sawmill|
' Workers are concerned with saw
ing and finishing of lumber of all
kinds produced from Douglas fir
'and other native woods; with the
' production of doors and sash and
'that most useful of all lumber
| products, plywood. A few rework
ing plants are operated by locals
of this district.
;HA\'E OWN COUNCIL
1 This year the Tacoma plantai
are turning out more than 500
| million board feet of lumber, :omoi
| § 000,000 doors, 200 million square
| feet or more of fir plywood; lbout}
| 250,000 squares of shingles; 10
million broom handles, and so on
|through an endless line of not only
| essential, but ornamental phases
| of woodworking.
‘ These 13 locals of the Lumber
{and Sawmill Workers, who repre
sent the labor side of the city's
basic industry, operate through
their council as a unit.
OPERATE AS UNIT
Except for one local, No. 2633
which represents a number of op
| erations large and small, all locals
are organized among the men of
Ixndn'idual plants, each local cov- |
| ering one mill. 1
| They operate as a unit in carry- |
| ing on negotiations on wages ands
| working conditions; the district
| counci] and the local unions jointly |
‘do the negotiating, and decisions
‘II’Q reached jointly, with concur
| rence of the local union, |
| KEarl Hartley, who is buliness"l
agent of Tacoma District council |
is also president of Puget Sound
District council, a similar body of |
| affiliated local councils which deals |
with affairs on a broader regional |
I basis.
'HISTORY GIVEN i
The Lumber and Sawmill Work- |
.orl obtained their start follow'mgi
the big strike of 1835 which tied
up practically the entire industry‘
in the Northwest, They began as a |
federal union, gradually ironed out|
the kinks and became an entity
‘-tmmed with the U. B. of C. & J.|
Since then they have thrived as a|
union, occupy their own qulrterst
in the Coliseum building at 13th
and Market sts. Julius C. Viancour |
is the council secretary. The 4,800
Ipnd up members constitute, he
says, the largest membership in|
| the union’s history, even when their |
| jurisdiction included the St. Paul |
mill operations,
'Bl?l‘ TRON LUNGS' ’
‘ The council recently presented to |
| Pierce County hospital two of the
lvery Jatest *“iron lungs” for use in
| combatting infantile paralysis and |
lmd additional S4OO cash to the,
Labor Bears lis Full Share of This
Community’s ‘Good Neighbor’ Work
A test of the efficiency of any |
community organization is the ex- |
tent to which it participates in
civic or charitable activities. The [
major charitable activity in Ta
coma is the Community Chest and |
Council, from the standpoint of |,
amount of money, scope of pro- |
gram and the number of volun
teer citizens necessary to its suc
cessful operation. l
The past two years has seen
a new and vigorous desire in l
the ranks of organized lahor
to participate in the formu- |
lation of policy and the execu- |
tion of the many and varied |
phases of the Community |
Chest program. ,
Organized labor is fully repre
sented on the board of trustees of
the Community Chest, its budget
committee, its executive commit-|
tee, the boards of its 26 agencies
and in its volunteer campaign so- |
liciting organization. |
This kind of democratic sharing |
of responsibility between employ-|
ers, labor, Catholics, Protestants ||
and Jews is inevitable in a great |
democracy. ‘
The working men and women of |
Tacoma, A&s in every city of the
: ~p
WE'VE FURNISHED THE 4 -.A
MATERIALS FOR THE o \ ]
OF YOUR 3 e |
Lo Y
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HEALT v
: -
For 36 Years 1905-1941
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Suf _, Soles Age S opysicion C
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Equipmer
* Magico Hearing Aid Surgica I <
and Elastic Hosiery for Men ond Women
(Factory Tralned Fitlers) ‘
hau Supply. Co. =
g ——
S C——
HENRY G. SHAW, President
755-757 Market St BRoadway 1277
orthopedic ward for the after care
of paralysis victims This gift
served as a marked indication of
the civic interest of the working
men of this industry.
Tacoma council not oniy has its
present competent leadership, but
has furnished other outstanding
leaders to the labor side of the in
dustry in the Northwest.
HANEY IS HEAD
Homer Haney, who was first
business agent and president of
Tacoma Union council, is now head
of the organization for the five
northwestern states, with head
quarters at Portland. Kenneth
Davie, who was secretary of the
‘Tacoma District, and later of Puget
:Snund District, is now Northwest
Elecretary at Portland.
. Davis, Hartley, Frank Hoyt, of
iCnlumbla River District and D. F.
Pearson, of Everett comprise the
§union membership on a joint em
ploye-employer wage board which
%funcuons for all the AFL mills of
. Washington and Oregon,
KEEZER TO REPORT
This board has at its disposal
the advise of President Dexter M.
! Keezer, of Reed collgge in Portland,
| who has headed research into the
ieconnmics of the lumber industry
in the last year or so under agree
ments growing out of federa] de
partment of labor conciliation
f work.
| This board meets quarterly and
|is authorized both by labor and
| employer to establish wage bases
iin accord with conditions in the
industry. The board's first report
and recommendation is due to come
down this September 1,
| Establishment of the hoard has
| been hailed as a solution to strikes,
| lockouts and other industry-crip
?pllng delays incident to wage dise
| agreements,
nation, are unalterably and funda
mentally generous in their make
up. This generosity will be espe
cially marked in a year when the
local chest campaign includes not
only an appeal for support of the
26 major health, welfare and rec
reational agencies of the chest,
but also for U. 8. O.
This new volunteer defense
agency is a banding together
of six national service organi
zations dedicated to filling the
need of the yvoung men, away
from home, in military or
naval training, who, when in
town on leave, are entitled to
an opportunity for wholesome
recreational outlets,
Two U. 8.0. centers are ahout
to begin operation in Tacoma.
These are temporary quarters at
10th and Pacific and 13th and
Pacific, to be operated pending
erection of permanent federal
buildings.
Labor recognizes and is fulfill
ing its responsibility to the major
legitimate, accredited welfare pro
gram of Tacoma by its partici
pation in, and financial support
of, Tacoma Community Chest.