THE WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER THE WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER @ WORKER Published twice monthly as the official publication of the INTERNATIONAL WOODWORKERS OF AMERICA Western Canadian Regional Council No. 1 Affiliated with AFL-CIO-CLC 2859 Commercial Drive, Vancouver, B.C, Phone 874-5261 ‘Editor ~— Pat Kerr Business Manager — Fred Fieber Advertising Representatives — Elizabeth Spencer Associates ded to every member of the IWA in Westérn Canada in accordance with convention decisions. ies ang a Subscription rate for non-members $2.00 per year. c. ont 2° Authorized as Second Class Mail, Post.Office Department, and for payment of postage in cash. 38,000 copies printed in this issue. EDITORIALS [AVE trade unions in B.C. grown as too complacent about a grow- ing public hostility towards union- ism? How much longer can unions rely solely on a display of “muscle” and neglect public relations? Must a3 B.C. unions forever remain on the de- -- fensive — speaking out only after attack? Will the continued failure to tell the facts to the public help the organization of the unorganized, speed satisfactory negotiations, or secure the repeal of anti-labour leg- islation? Let’s face the facts! To many people including trade union members are influenced by press, radio and TV distortions. Governments rally the support of public opinion when contriving anti- union legislation. Management has adopted more sophisticated public relations meth- ods of rousing and crystallizing anti- union sentiment. A recent public opinion poll il- luminates the existing situation. The question was. “In your # opinion, which of the following will ____ be the greatest threat for the country in the future?” y The results were: a Canada U.S. Big Business _.___ 18% 12% _ BigLabour _.. 34% 26% : Big Government _... 23% 46% +. Can’t Say... 28% 16% Unions involved in bargaining for __ workers in the B.C. forest products industry would do well to study the second bold experiment of 10 unions __- representing 200,000 workers in the American electrical industry negotia- tions. A ten-union coalition has now set national bargaining goals designed to “dwarf” previous settlements with General Electric Co. and Westing- house Corp. The coalition involves new co- operation between the industry’s two _ biggest unions — The International _ Brothe of Electrical Workers and the rival independent Interna- tional Union of Electrical Workers. If se do well as allies, a merger is JOC _ The confrontation with large cor- 2orations will go beyond the contract ments, and prove a critical test f on bargaining in perelel LETS GET S COALITION BARGAI Thirty-four per cent of our fellow citizens believe that wage increases and strikes menace the economy. The Ontario Federation of Labour has acted to improve the climate of public opinion as well as inform the 600,000 members of its affiliates. The O.F.L. has mounted a $125,- 000 publicity campaign which in- cludes: ; —Kits outlining the facts for a special mailing list to reach public and school libraries. —Four TV spots shown in 63 Ontario centres. —Four full-page newspaper ads in areas where Labour Council sup- port is forthcoming. THERE SHE IS . . . DIDN’T | PROMISE YOU BOYS SOME GOOD HIGH STUFF ON YER NEW FALLIN’ CONTRACT? —Widely-distributed leaflets such as FINANCIAL TIMES SAYS: the “15 Telling Points” reproduced in this issue. The right to strike is defended. Organized labour’s activities on be- half of public welfare is stressed. The point is made that 95% of all -union-management agreements are reached peacefully. More time is lost through en- forced unemployment than through strikes. ; A five-year average shows that time lost in Canada through strikes is only 20 days for every 10,000 days worked. We ask the question: ‘Should not B.C. trade unions follow the example set by the Ontario Federation?” . — the courts under the provision of the Taft-Hartley Act. This form of bar- gaining has been approved by the Na- tional Labour Relations Board and the lower courts but is under appeal by the corporations involved. Two goals certain to arouse cor- poration opposition are a full cost-of- living escalator clause and the union shop. The president of the American Federation of Technical Engineers said: “This is our most compre- hensive display of solidarity. The day has passed when company giants can play one union against another.” The co-ordinated bargaining does not go beyond mutual co-operation at the bargaining table. It does not exclude the right of each unit to ne- gotiate its own contract. If the plan works again in the huge American electrical industry, should it not be explored in the B.C. forest products industry? MAIDENLY MODESTY UNBECOMING TO WELDWOOD While modesty may be be- coming to a maiden it is none- theless confusing to security analysis. A case in point is Weldwood of Canada Ltd. Last April when we chatted with Mr. Roger Montgomery, the presi- dent, in Vancouver, he told us that “earnings of $1 a share are reasonable.” Last week Mr. Montgomery reported that the plywood and lumber company had a magnificent profit of $6.4 mil- lion or $2.10 a share in 1968, almost triple the profit of $2.3 million or 76c a share in the previous year. Sales advanced to $130.4 million from $114 million. E Mr. Montgomery obviously was being very cautious about the outlook when he made the earlier forecast. The west coast forest industry was fac- ing a possible strike and ris- ing interest rates were playing havoe with building commit- ments. As hindsight now shows, a new labor contract was signed without a strike and activity in residential construction continued to strengthen in the second half. The problem is that Mr. Montgomery is again being very conservative about the immediate outlook. Wage costs have gone up, stumpage taxes levied by the B.C. government - have increased and heavier winter snows have curtailed production — all implying that profits may level off in 1969. “We are cautiously op- timistic that our performance in 1969 will closely parallel that the year just past, provid- ing that the inflationary trend in the economy can be kept under reasonable control and the buoyancy of the residen- tial construction industry in Canada and foreign markets is sustained. Is Mr. Montgomery being overly conservative again? Weldwood’s profits certainly will not grow as fast as last year but many analysts do expect some growth, if only because of the company’s proven management abilities and. the critical shortage of residential housing. From all this, we continue to like Weldwood shares, 74% owned by U.S. Plywood- Champion Papers Inc. and currently trading about $28 a share. Even though their price has almost tripled in the past. year, the shares are only priced at about 13 times 1968 earnings. This is not a stock to be modest about. —Financial Times SS IE LIGHTER SIDE The Fraser Valley lumber worker was a dollar short in his pay envelope and com- plained to the cashier. She checked the records and said, “Last week we over- paid you a dollar. You didn’t complain about the mistake then did you?” “An occasional mistake I ean overlook,” said the lum- ber worker, “But not two in a row!” * * * “Well, sonny,” said the kindly old man, “and do you have a fairy godfather?” “No, sir,” said little Luke, “but I do have an uncle we’re kinda suspicious of!” * * * “Willie, did you kick your little brother in the stomach?” “Well, it was his own fault. He turned around.”