Redwood Stand Against Coercion

By Kenneth Smith, President Cqlilornio Redwood Associotion, Son Francisco

The longest major str:ike in California's history is the big story about Redwood for 1946. Starting |anuary 14, it is in its eleventh month as this is written.

It is a sorry story in the sense that it should never have happened to us-or to you-and it did happen to you who are our friends and our contact with the consuming public which has sorely needed the Red'lvood we could not supply.

It is a cheering story in its disclosure of the solid oldfashioned American manhood that captains the Redr,r'ood industry.

The strike was called to force the Redwood operators to coerce fellow Americans into carrying a union card whether they wished to or not-to deny them freedom of choiceto deprive them of the right to '"vork unless they first paid a toll called an initiation {ee-and continued thereaftqr to pay tribute called dues-to a private organization. BIG LABOR, grown arrogant under a subservient government, demanded of the little Redwood industry, as it had of many larger, that it knuckle under to the union shop demand as a condition precedent to discussing their other demands.

Nine plants were closed for six months unable even to negotiate because of that adamant "or else" demand. They were helpless under an unequal law that forces management to stand always ready to negotiate but puts no responsibility upon labor leaders.

Unable longer to sit idle with maximum costs going on, the operators offered in the middle of July to arbitrate all issues-including the union shop demand-to pay the same 20c increase which had been granted in the Northwest and make any additional award retroactive. Union leaders summarily rejected the offer. The operators than offered to abide by a secret vote of the union members and pay half the cost of taking the vote. This offer also was summarily rejected.

The struck companies then had three options.

One: They could knuckle under and buy from these leaders the dubious privilege of theoretically running the businesses they owned. The price was to agree to drive their workers, including returned veterans who had fought all over the world to dethrone dictatorship and preserve freedom, into a slavery that could be escaped only by leaving the area or the industry. I have fervently given thanks, and I do here again, that I am privileged to work for men who refused peace at such a price.

Two: They could board up their plants, cut fixed costs to the bone, and quit. They are not quitters.

Three: They could open their plants and run them behind picket lines. This had, in the past decade, become a practically obsolete practice but they did it.

All nine struck companies are running. They are not fully manned yet. They are not profitable. But THEY ARE RUNNING.

Now the "Brotherhood" is attempting to keep veterans from using Redwood to build homes and you from selling it by running a secondary boycott in open and contemptuous violation of the law of California. Where they have closed shops and can tell workers what they can and cannot do irrespective of the wishes or instructions of owners-as they aspire to be able to do to Redwood production workers-they are getting away with it.

So far, all the Redwood that the operators can make is being shipped out to buyers willing and eager to take it. So mrich so that it is not possible yet to keep enough to re-establish the drying cycle necessary to ensure maximum production of worked uppers and particularly the fine siding you so badly need.

The operators are more unhappy than you can be at not being able to serve the public in this time of need but however much you may be inconvenienced, you will be patient, I am sure, and encourage and applaud these stalwart men who refused the easy way of appeasement-who refused to coerce free men-who have stood and made the fight long overdue in our industry and in our country.

They are not alone. All over America men have begun taking the fighting chance they still have to arrest the march toward a coercive state and restore government by 1311,, but it took high courage for the leaders of so small an industry as Redwood to stand and fight against such odds.

Appointed General Mcncrger

Don McCaughey has been appointed general manager and secretary of the Arizona Sash, Door & Glass Co., Phoenix and Tucson, Ar\zona, succeeding the late Mr. G' E. Engstrom.

Mr. McCaughey assumes his new duties with a wellrounded background ol 12 years' experience with the com' pany, the past seven years of which he served as nianager of the cgmpany's Tucson branch.

Mcry the blessings of this Christmas, Be yours, our friends, todoy. And touch your hecrt with glcdness, In some sort of speciol woy.

Moy the echo of soft corols

Bring cr song of joy to you, The loughter of a million kids, Moke your Christmqs brighter too.

Moy you find crmong your gifts

A greot prosperity, Peqce oneorth good will toword men, In our lond of liberty.

Merry, Merry Christmos, Moy Christmos olwcrys bringA new success ond hoppinessAnd the best of everythingl

Decontrol To Mean Better Quality Veterans' Homes

Increased production of scarce building products resulting from removal of price ceilings will permit substantial improvement in the quality of veterans' homes and other buildings constructed from now on, Andrew L. Harris, executive secretary of the Producers' Council, national organization of building product manufacturers, declares.

"Because of materials shortages, builders and contractors have been forced in many instances to use inadecluate substitutes and to use a minimum of materials in order to get homes and other structures completed," Mr. Harris said.

"Moreover, since the most serious shortages were in the low-priced lines which now are coming onto the market in increasing quantities, it will be possible to build a considerably greater number of low-cost homes. The disappearance of black markets and more prompt arrival of materials on the construction site also will help to reduce the cost of building.

"In addition, the greater availability of materials will make it possible to shorten the time required to complete new homes, rvhich had risen from a pre-war average of about four months to as high as seven and one-half to eight morths and more."

CPA Head Resigns

John D. Small, Civilian Production Administrator, resigned December 5. The resignation became effective December 6.

More Rooms Per Home ls Remodeling Need

A timely hint for builders is contained in the results of a survey recently conducted by Ponderosa Pine Woodwork among those who are eligible to undertake major home remodeling projects. The survey shows that more than half of those r";ho plan to remodel wish to do so for the purpose of creating additional rooms in existing homes.

This survey shows that of all those eligible to undertake major remodeling, more than half are planning to build more rooms in their homes. The survey indicates that attic and basement space will be increasingly utilized, and that, in many cases, over-large rooms will be converted into two or more smaller ones.

The survey provides additional evidence of the growing trend torvard increased partitioning in American homes. The extremely modern open plan home-in which most of the rooms are thrown together, or separated only by curtains and movable partitions-apparently finds little favor. The average American family still prefers the well-partitioned home with sturdy doors rvhich can be closed to assure privacy.

Crossett Appoints New Forestry Hecrd

Sulo V. Sihvonen has been appointed head of the Forestry Division of Crossett, Arkansas Companies, P. F. Watzek, vice nresident and general manager of the company announced on October 15. He fills a post made vacant recently by the resignation of N. P. Worthington, rvho has joined the United Forest Service in Washington, D. C.