having already worked eight hours at straight time, they shall be paid double time for all time worked in excess of such five hours. Time and one-half will be paid for all work done on Sundays, holidays and Saturday afternoons.

REPORTING TIME.

Section 24 (f) :-This subsection to be eliminated entirely.

RECOGNITION OF ASSOCIATION.

Section 3:-This section to be amended by adding the following:

Shop and barn men, however, not to attain seniority rank until three months have elapsed from date of entering employ.

LEAVE OF ABSENCE.

Section 8 (a):-This subsection to be amended by adding the following:

Upon application to the official in charge.

CONCESSIONS.

Section 14 (e) :-This subsection to be amended by adding the following:

Except on District 3, where they will not be good on Sundays and holidays.

OVERTIME.

Section 117:-This section to be amended to read as follows:

All overtime to be paid for at rate of time and one-half, except that when men are required to work more than five hours overtime, after having already worked eight hours at straight time, they shall be paid double time for all time worked in excess of such five hours. If called out before regular time of starting in the morning, to receive time and one-half until such regular time of starting. Time and one half will be paid for all work done on Sundays, holidays and Saturday afternoons.

ONE-MAN CARS.

In the event of the Company operating one-man cars on any part of their system, we recommend that the men so operating them be paid at schedule rates plus ten per cent (10%). We make this

Re Board of Conciliation British
Columbia Electric Ry. Co., vs.
Employees.

I must dissent from the decision reached by the other two members of the Board.

Simply because the employees of the British Columbia Electric Railway Co. Ltd., were driven to strike, in sheer desperation, through the increased cost of living, in 1918, and compelled to plead these grounds as the primary reason for so doing, in no way establishes the principle that because men can live for less they should work for less.

But even if that hypothesis were accepted, which I do not admit, the purchasing power of wages received in prewar days as compared with today, according to Labour Gazette statistics, is so infinitesimal that there is no warrant or foundation for such a sweeping reduction as proposed by the Company or that conceded by the other members of

the Board. It is merely a question of viewpoint. However sincere (and this is conceded) the Chairman, it must be remembered that his life viewpoint and environment has been that of an employer.

To speak of supply and demand when discussing what wages should be is to at once associate human beings with such commodities as rails, electric equipment, track-grease or junk.

To suggest that wages are higher in Vancouver than elsewhere, for similar classes of work, is nothing new. It has always been so.

To compare the employees of the British Columbia Electric Railway Co. Ltd., with employees' wage-cuts in other industries of the Province is grossly unfair.

Most of the other industries mentioned have either closed down altogether or in part. There is no business. Not so, however, with the British Columbia Electric Railway Co. Ltd. During the stress of war-times this Company secured increased fares, eliminated the jitney, has prevented even the City itself introducing an omnibus system, and,

in short, has secured a complete monopoly of a continuous business, a bigger and better business than it had in 1918. All other commodities have been reduced in price. But the Company demands more, even at the expense of lowering the standard of living of its employees.

Assuming, for the sake of argument, that increased cost of living preceded increased wages and that, per se, decreased cost of living should be followed by decreased wages, it should, at least, be in the same inverse ratio, and, on the law of averages, the most the Company should hope to secure under such circumstances would be a five per cent (5%) reduction.

This, with the revised working conditions would mean a total reduction of around twelve per cent (12%). That would have been an ample reduction for the Board to make at this time.

With this conclusion the Chairman does not agree. I therefore cannot be a party to the majority report.

Respectfully submitted,

(Sgd.) R. P. PETTIPIECE.

The Board of Conciliation in this matter, as authorized by you, held meetings at Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, to investigate the matters in dispute between the International Transit Company, and certain of its employees. The Board are very happy to report that the best of feeling, throughout, existed between the men and their employers, and the Board were called upon to act as a Board of Conciliation, rather than a Board of Arbitration. The Board are pleased to report that an amicable agreement was arrived at through the offices of the Board, without the Board having to make any definite ruling on any of the points involved, and you will find attached to this report a copy of the agreement, as signed by the Company, and by the representative of the employees, which is perfectly satisfactory to all parties concerned, and which agreement the Board is pleased to approve.

We have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your obedient servants,

(Sgd.) Rev. Father JAMES BRENNAN, Chairman.

(Sgd.) E. V. MCMILLAN,

Representative of Employees.

(Sgd.) J. L. O'FLYNN,

Representative of the Company.

THIS AGREEMENT MADE BETWEEN THE INTERNATIONAL TRANSIT COMPANY AND THEIR EMPLOYEES, BEING MEMBERS OF DIVISION NO. 850, AMALGAMATED ASSOCIATION OF STREET AND ELECTRIC RAILWAY EMPLOYEES OF AMERICA.

The following wage schedule and working conditions shall be effective and binding on the

parties, from the 1st of October, 1921, and thereafter from year to year. If either party to this agreement desires any change, they shall give notice in writing not less than thirty (30) days prior to the 30th of September in each year, and on receipt of this notice the desired changes shall be open for discussion:

(A) That the Company agree to recognize the above Union and that the standing of any employee will not be affected by reason of his membership in the organization.

(B) The Company to meet and treat, through the properly accredited officers of the Association, upon all questions and differences that may arise during the time of this agreement.

In order to discuss matters affecting operation and promote better co-operation between all parties, a meeting will be held on the first Saturday following the 20th of each month between the Company's officers and the executive officers of the Union, the latter to be allowed full pay for time attending such meeting.

or

(C) Employees who are members of any committee, or officers of the Association, delegates to the convention of the Association, shall be entitled to leave of absence for the purpose of attending conventions or doing such committee work without the loss of seniority rights or other privileges.

(D) Any employee against whom charges may be received shall report to the Superintendent when off duty. His case shall then be dealt with according to the rules and regulations of the Company, but any employee shall have the right of appeal to the General Manager or VicePresident of the Company, with a committee of the Association if he so desires. In case any member of the Association is suspended or discharged for any cause whatsoever, and upon investigation it is found the member was not at fault, he shall be reinstated to his former position and paid for all time lost. No employee under sixty (60) days in the service is covered by this clause.

(E) Nine hours shall constitute a day's work for all employees, and no employee will be compelled to work beyond his regular hours unless he is agreeable to do so.

(F) The Company will list all conductors and motormen in order of seniority. Conductors and motormen will have the right to choose the runs they prefer, in order of seniority, the choosing of runs to take place every three (3) months.

(G) Caps, badges and buttons, shall be supplied by the Company free of charge, and are to be returned by the employee on leaving the service.

(H) Heaters will be placed in the vestibule of all cars, and stools will be supplied for the use of the motormen while on duty.

ONE NE strike, involving 150 workpeople, was reported as having commenced during December. There were in existence at some time or other during the month 17 strikes, involving approximately 2,883 employees and a total time loss estimated at 64,733 working days, as compared with 18 strikes, 3,950 workpeople and 98,099 working days in November, 1921; and 14 strikes, 1,822 workpeople and 20,324 working days in December, 1920. The time loss. OCcasioned by the one strike which began in December was 900 working days, while a loss of 63,833 days is charged to the 16 strikes that commenced prior to December. One of the strikes commenc

ing prior to November was reported as having terminated during the month. The following 16 strikes, involving 2,458 workpeople, were on record on December 31: employees of steel and coal companies, Sydney; panies, Sydney; gauge men, Sydney; coal miners, Drumheller; compositors, Montreal; compositors, etc., Vancouver; photo engravers, Montreal; gravers, Ottawa; printers, Montreal; printers, Ottawa; printers, Toronto; printers, Winnipeg; printers, bookbinders and pressmen, Halifax; typesetters, pressmen and bookbinders, Hamilton; garment workers, Montreal; cigarmakers, Vancouver; and shoeworkers at Toronto.

The following is a review of the disputes by industries in the order in which they appear in the statistical table. A brief summary is given of the more important strikes.

MINES, SMELTERS, QUARRIES, CLAY PRODUCTS, ETC.-Following a wage reduction of 25 per cent put into effect on December 21 by one coal mining company in the Drumheller field, 150 mine workers went on strike on December 24,

photo en

on the ground that this act constituted a violation of an agreement which does not expire until March. The company claimed that it was not a party to the agreement between the Western Canada Coal Operators' Association and the United Mine Workers of America. The latest information indicated that the mine was picketed and that officials of the union had gone to the scene to protest against the wage reduction and