the employees of Frolek Saw- mills Ltd. This certification indicated that the majority of the employees in the bargain- ing unit had democratically voted to select the IWA as the bargaining agency of their free choice. Immediately, the Union re- quested the opportunity to discuss the terms of a con- tract with the management of Frolek Sawmills Ltd. The Local Union representatives and the employees’ committee made repeated attempts to negotiate such a contract with the employer but were brushed aside. I ask you to note here that the law states, and I quote: “Where notice to com- mence collective bargaining has been given under Sec- tion 16, (a) the certified trade union and the em- ployer, or an employers’ or- ganization authorized by the employer, shall, boidiin five days after notice has been given, commence to bargain collectively, and shall make every reason- able effort to conclude an agreement.” This requirement of the law was totally ignored by the employer. Representa- tives of the Local Union con- tacted his office repeatedly asking for an interview. Any discussion of negotiating was abruptly dismissed. On one occasion, the Union’s Busi- ness Agent was ordered off the premises. The Union waited patiently for an opportunity to nego- tiate, but when this appeared hopeless, they applied to the Minister of Labour for the assistance of a Conciliation Officer. The Minister ap- pointed a Conciliation Officer, who also attempted to ar- range discussions between the employer and the Union’s representatives. Conciliation Impossible This resulted in one of the most amazing incidents in the history of industrial relations in this province. The Concil- iation Officer, appointed by the Minister, was denied by the employer the right to con- duct the usual conciliation proceedings. For this reason, he was compelled to make his report to the Minister, with- out any opportunity to hear both parties to the dispute. The Conciliation Officer re- commended that an agree- be signed, which extended to the employees of Frolek Saw- mills Ltd. the same wages and conditions as agreed upon with the employers in the Southern Interior Forest La- bour Relations Association. No action was taken to com- pel the employer in this in- stance to conform to the usual requirements of the Labour Relations Act and the regu- lations. Strike Provoked When denied all opportun- ity to even discuss matters with the employer, the em- ployees voted for strike ac- tion, and in this respect again complied with the law in every respect. The strike commenced September 23. Pickets have been stationed daily before the employers’ premises since that time. The strike is in every respect a legal strike. The Local Union is still prepared to discuss a settle- ment of the issues with the employer. Correspondence has been exchanged with the employers’ its to this end. The employers’ solicitors have advised that they de- sired postponement of ap- pointments made. Another Violation Contrary to the law, the employer has raised wages and altered working condi- tions while the dispute was subject to penalligtcn. The Labour Relations Board has granted the Union permission to prosecute the employer in the courts. We are reluctant to take the matter to the courts when the dispute could be so easily and sensibly settled under the usual pro- cedures provided in the Act. The employees have waited patiently for over four months for justice. They are deter- mined to remain on strike until justice is done. Their picket lines indicate to the people of Kamloops and Dis- trict that they have suffered a grave injustice. Their strike will be supported with all the resources of the Western Canadian Council of the IWA. We must now bring their case to the attention of the Minister of Labour and Mem- bers of the Legislature, as well as the public, requesting that the Sealirar as well as the Union be required to obey the law. On a recent occasion, the Honourable Mr. Gaglardi passed through this picket line and is therefore aware of its existence. We will ask him, as the member for the provincial riding, in which the strike is situated, to act on the side of justice and law observance.” THE WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER se ‘ii Ss dee 2 PLANERMEN’S CONFERENCE meeting in sine Board Room at Woodwork- ers’ House, Vancouver, January 29, to discuss steps to implement the agree- ment reached in the 1964 settlement to survey planermen’s rates and cate- gories. Regional President, Jack Moore headed the Conference which was attended by one officer and two planermen from each of the Coast Local Unions. LOGGERS PROTEST FIRINGS The dismisal of seven log- gers during IWA organization of the woods crews employed by Pooley Bros. Ltd., Merritt, recently led to a _ dispute which threatened to tie up lumbering operations in the vicinity of the Interior city. Application had been made for certification by the IWA on behalf of the employees of the logging contractor who supplies logs to Merritt mills. When the seven men were fired, the loggers rallied to their support and _ pickets were posted on the road lead- ing to logging operations. IWA members at Merritt-Dia- mind and Nicola Valley mills refused to handle Pooley logs. The Union announced that charges would be laid before the Labour Relations Board on the grounds that seven men had been fired for union activity. A conference promptly ar- ranged by International As- sistant Director of Organiza- tion, Clayton Walls, brought Pooley Bros. and the mills af- fected into agreement on settlement of the dispute. All employees who would normally have reported for work on the date of the dis- pute returned to work on their respective jobs. The company agreed that there would be no further re- placements in the logging work force until matters in dispute had been settled be- fore the Labour Relations Board. Terminations or layoffs will now be made on the basis of seniority. FISHER RECOMMENDS PLIB SETTLEMENT Terms of settlement recom- mended by E. P. Fisher, De- partment of Labour, in the dispute between Local 1-288 (lumber inspectors) and the Pacific Lumber Inspection Bureau, as indicated below, have been rejected by the members of the Local Union. Mr. Fisher was acting in the capacity of a mediator, after a strike vote had given a de- cisive majority in favor of strike action. Following are Mr. Fisher’s recommendations: “As directed by you, pur- suant to the Deputy Minist- er’s memorandum of Janu- ary 22, 1965, I have held a series of discussions with the above noted parties concern- ing the matters in dispute be- tween them. I am writing now to advise, regretfully, that it has not been possible to effect a settlement. In accordance with the requirements of Sec- tion 44 of the Labour Rela- tions Act, I am, therefore, submitting my recommenda- tions. OREGON'S com, FOR CHAIN SAW USERS... ‘POWER PLUS™“ A PRECISION-MATCHED TEAM OF SAW BAR, SAW CHAIN AND SPROCKET TO MAKE YOUR SAW CUT FASTER, SMOOTHER! ; to fo. 37% faster Race & pha Sl: easier. Now you can have precision- matched nts to as- It is recommended that the parties renew the current agreement for a period of two (2) years from June 15, 1964, with the following changes and additions: 1. ARTICLE X. WAGES. In trying to arrive at a fair recommendation I read the Conciliation Board reports, both majority and minority. The majority report recom- mends the same 28c general industry increase for inspect- ors, and there are strong ar- guments to support it. How- ever, after detailed discus- sions and consideration, it has become my opinion that some special increase is justified. For this reason I am recom- mending the wage increase proposed by the union mem- ber on the Conciliation Board in his minority report, $2.94 per hour during the first year and to $3.07 per hour in the second year. I recommend this increase be granted in the following manner: (a) 15c per hour (general in- dustry increase) effective June 15, 1964. (b) 12c per hour (special wage adjustment:) effec- tive Sept. 1, 1964. (c) 18c per hour (general industry increase) effec- tive June 15, 1965. 2. LICENSED GRADE STAMP This question arose because of the PLIB’s desire to pro- vide a grade stamping service in addition to its regular in- spection service, and the Un- ion opposition to it. It became clear that the main reason for Union opposition was a fear by inspectors, many of whom had been employed for many years, that they would lose their jobs asa result of the change. Although it is quite possible that this would never happen, I think there is a sincere con- cern on their part and some provision to allay this fear would be a fair thing to do. Accordingly, I am recom- mending the following clause, which would protect Inspect- or’s jobs and still not place the PLIB in an unfair posi- tion. “The Bureau undertakes, for the term of the agreement, that it will not license the. PLIB stamp to anyone pres- ently utilizing the inspection service of the Bureau, when the effect of such a contract - would be to end the employ- ment with the Bureau of employed inspectors.” 3. All matters that have previously been resolved be incorporated into the agree-. ment. In conclusion Mr. Minister, I would like to make the fol. lowing observation without it being construed as part of my recommendation. The PLIB Inspectors play a very vital part in our Lum- ber Industry and I am of the firm opinion that the best in- terests of all concerned would be greatly enhanced if the In- spectors’ Local 1-288 would join with other coast locals of the IWA in Industry-wide negotiations to work out prob- lems that are unique in this industry.”