Regional T - SEPTEMBER, 1977 THE WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER AT LOCAL 1-405 MEET DELEGATES PRESS FOR Delegates attending the 18th Annual Delegated Meeting of Local 1-405 IWA, May 14-15, in Nelson, approved overwhelm- ingly a resolution calling for a plan of accumulated time off with pay to be negotiated with the employers. Drafters of the plan proposed that employees be given eight additional hours of paid time off for each one feinined and sixty regular straight time hours worked. This would be subject to the following conditions: Earned time off may be accumulated and _ taken fogether or separately at a time or times mutually agreed upon between the employee and company or, in the event of sickness, at the need and discretion of the employee, if, and only if, he is not otherwise covered. Earned time off may be banked for a period not exceeding five years, during which time all accrued time off must be taken. The approximately 100 ‘delegates approved a number of other resolutions, dealt with an extensive Officers’ Report, elected delegates to the various conventions and con- ferences and heard from three ee eo aman a a a GUEST SPEAKERS Guest speakers were President Jack Munro, Bob Williams, former forest minister in the NDP provincial government and Bob Brisco, Conservative MP for the area. Munro gave a comprehens- ive report on the activities of the Regional Council and a general up-to-date report on negotiations. He stressed, like his fellow officers had done at the other Local Union meetings, that this year’s set of negotiations would be difficult but he had no hesitation in stating that a good settlement .-. was obtainable. He also said that the IWA was determined to have one master agreement in British Columbia and the Union in- ELECTED DELEGATES ~ tended to padouiolish this by hook or by crook. He then went on to speak about the PPWC raid on the IWA at Williams Lake. He informed the delegates that the IWA was going to retaliate if there were any further raiding attempts against IWA certifi- cations. Williams in a short address compared the forestry policy of the Social Credit with that of the previous NDP government. He contended that the Pearse Report would go down the drain because the government didn’t see eye to eye with the views submitted. He stated that if this did occur it would be tragic as Pearse was likely the most qualified person ever appointed to prepare a forestry Se = pos Following are the names of those elected to the various conventions and conferences: Delegates to Regional Con- vention: Don Davison, Maurice Eggie, John Paluck, Lyle Kristiansen, Jack Walker, Wood S. Tam, Don Sharp, Edith Beninger, Dennis Bannert, Klaus Offermann, ist UNION FIGHTING FOR PAST SERVICE CREDITS editor’s note: ey The following tables were prepared by the Regional Council’s Pension Director Jack Washburn to show IWA members why the Union’s Negotiating Committee is pressing the industry to give forest industry employees all past service credits under the Pen- sion Plan. Worker Retiring at 65 with 40 Years Service Under Present Plan Seniority Date — June 15, 1937 (Continuous Service anywhere in: _ the Fotest Industry in Western Canada) Past Service Credits. 11 years at $9.00 per year of past service equals $99.00 2years future service at $9.00 per year equals $18.00 _ 2years future service at $10.00 per year equals $20.00 _ Total pension per month under the normal form of pension equals $137.00. . Worker Retiring at 65 with 40 Years Service Under Proposed - Plan if IWA Demands are met# S Date — June 15, 1937 (Continuous Service anywhere in e Forest Industry in Western Canada) ast Service Credits years at $10.00 per year of past service equals $360.00 Ayears at $10. 00 per year of future service equals $40.00 pen: per month under the normal form of pension ‘The demands include additional funding beyond what is e the Reames ROS Dee: This additional funding, ; “Slog Swann ahead _ ACCUMULATED TIME OFF WITH PAY Alternate - Doedy Ryan, 2nd Alternate - Linda Ratcliffe, 3rd Alternate - Lorenz Fietz. Delegates to International Convention: Wayne Nowlin, Don Davidson, Maurice Eggie, John Paluck, Jack Walker, Lyle Kristiansen, Klaus Of- fermann, Don Sharp, Alonzo Stuart, Dennis Bannert, ist Alternate - Wood S: Tam, 2nd Alternate - Doedy Ryan, 3rd Alternate - Alex Rebalkin. Delegates to Regional Safety Conference: Doedy Ryan, Ken Swanson, Ralph Gerrard, 1st Alternate - Sharon Millner, 2nd - Alternate - Joe Diotte, 3rd Alternate - Jack Kinsey. Delegates to B.C. Federation of Labour Convention: Don Sharp, Wood S. Tam, Klaus Offermann; Lyle Kristiansen, Doedy Ryan, Edith Beninger, ist Alternate - Mike Earley, 2nd Alternate - Lornez Fietz, 3rd Alternate - David White. Delegates to the NDP Feder- al Convention were: Gian Virk, and Jim Wuori - Alternate. The Officers’ Report in covering the activities of the Local Union for the past year noted that with the member- ship increase, the financial picture had improved consid- erably. The Local during the year had a fair measure of success in organizing a number of new operations and negotiating improved wages and con- ditions for the employees. A highlight for the Local, the _ Report stated, was the comple- tion of its new building in Cran- brook. The building was con- structed in partnership with the Cranbrook Building Co-op and the Local Union formed a Mutual Holding Society to finance its half of the struc- ture. The Local has given a good deal of attention to education and ran three basic Shop Stewards Seminars during the year. The Report with consider- able pride noted that the Local had not had a single fatality in four years. There were, however, a number of serious accidents. On the Saturday evening the Local sponsored a dance for the delegates, wives, friends and visitors, which was en- joyed by all. OTTAWA — At the beginning of 1977, Labour Canada reported, union membership in Canada stood at 3,149,213, 3.5 percent above the figure of 3,042,272 at the beginning of 1976. The increase between 1975 and 1976 had been 5.5 per- cent. Union members in 1977 rep- resented 31.0 per cent of the total labour force and 38.2 per cent of non-agricultural paid workers. Both percentages are marginally highe er than the 1976 figures of = 6 per cent and 37.3 per cent respectively. IWA OFFICERS and | members were out in force when organized labour demonstrated in support of the Hotel Vancouver workers locked out after negotiations for a new contract broke down. Shown walking the picket line (centre) are Regional President Jack Munro, Local 1-85 President Earl Foxcroft (left) and Local 1-363 mresident. Lorne Scoit (right). REGIONAL 2nd VICE-PRESIDENT Bob Blanchard and Local 1-217 President Syd Thompson did a two-hour stint on the picket line. IWA INTERNATIONAL Ist Vice- President Fernie Viala and Wayne Nowlin, President of Local 1-405, were also prominent on the line. ALSO GIVING their full support to the strikers are John Brewin, B.C. Provincial President of the New Democratic Party, and Roger Lewis, President of Local 1-118.