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The United Worker
February 1949 Page 1
Austerity
In the last six weeks many changes have taken place in the employment
picture in Ocean Falls. At time of writing the score stands as follows:
23 men from the mechanical crews on the mill side, 10 from the townsite
maintenance, 8 from General Store, and roughly 20 from production
departments. These people have all been offered the opportunity to
transfer into other departments of the mill where a chronic shortage of
help has prevailed in the past. In the majority of cases these people
have been obliged to accept work at base rate. A large number have left
rather than accept such work.
This serious curtailment of employment has had a very serious effect on
the moral of the workers. Lower wages have been accepted in return for
job security. Isolation has also been accepted for this same security.
It is only when events such as this come about that we realize how
completely dependant a person living in Ocean Falls is upon his
employer. When a job terminates, not only a new job, but also a new home
must be found, along with the enormous boat fare for family and
belongings to be moved.
It is reasonable to assume, therefore, that the orders for this major
austerity program must have come from the brain of someone who is
totally unfamiliar whit the conditions prevailing here. It would appear
that each employee represents a cipher in a book with so many ciphers
totaling so many dollars (American).
There is a bright side. We have been able in the past to produce paper
and show large profits at the end of each year. It is only reasonable to
assume that such a substantial wage increase will follow as a matter of
course and that the Manufacturers will not only be willing, but should
be anxious to get down to a 40 hour, 5 day week. Thus making for a
better way of life in Ocean Falls.
February 1949 Page 9
Mill Town Costs
Pacific Mills Limited Ocean Falls, BC - Hotel
Single rooms $24.00 - 25.00 - without bath
Double rooms $18.50 - 19.00 - 19.50 without bath
Double room with semi-private bath - $23.00 - 24.00
Single room with semi-private bath - $31.50 - 33.00
Board: Meal tickets $.57 per meal (including security tax), book of 20
$11.40, further portions extra. A la carte meals: average breakfast .65;
Lunch - .75; Dinner .85 to $1.25
1949 Officers of Paper Makers Local 360 are:
J.H. Torrance, President
S.T. Dolan, Vice-pres.
G.L. Weldridge, recording secretary
G. Pembleton, Treasurer
R.B. Vanatter, Financial-secretary
E.Buse and L. Gilchrist - guards
International Journal Correspondent - S.T. Dolan
February 1949 Page 12
Stork Club
January 8 - boy Mrs. Eldon Savage
January 19 - girl - Mrs. H. Gullet
January 21 - boy - Mrs. R.G. Hirst
January 23 - boy - Mrs. J. Tewnioin
January 24 - girl - Mrs. I. Todd
January 24 - girl - Mrs. H. Ostrowski
February 1 - girl - Dr. & Mrs. J.A. Virtue
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