aur soe : THE - ~ re ra ’ Fae i ee ie tad ee a ~~ a af Werte a & WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER AUTHORIZED AS SECOND CLASS MAIL, POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, OTTAWA, AND FOR PAYMENT OF POSTAGE IN CASH. WORKER Vol. XXXVI, No. 12 VANCOUVER, B.C. 5c PER COPY 2nd Issue June, 1967 THE !WA CAMERA covers a service trip of Local 1-71's cruiser “Green Gold” as she visits a number of the Local’s operations, see pages 6 - 7. AN EXAMPLE of the Social Credit government’s conser- vation policy. For full story see pages 8 , 9, 10. PORTABLE MSA COVERAGE By BEN THOMPSON Ist Vice-President, Local 1-71 Portable Group Medical Coverage was one of the con- tract demands raised by IWA members. This major demand was gained on the B.C. Coast in 1961, in the North and South Interior in 1962. Lay- off coverage was also an im- portant part of this gain for the membership. There still remains the member who does not have the required seniority for layoff coverage or the member whose medical coverage ceases when he quits or is discharged. This mem- ber must obtain his own medi- eal coverage to protect him- new policy by MSA is a effective July Ist, 1967, MSA will also provide for its members medical coverage to individuals and their depend- ents while they have lost their group coverage and are in be- tween jobs. The monthly rates this conversion cover- are comparable to the wn the Province at: lowest ye a ee cana dependent $10.00 ore depend. $12.50 = : mg ne fact there is con- Du : lay before MSA siderate by. the employer his group coverage is termin- ated. Members, who leave an op- eration where they have been enrolled in MSA, are advised that, to obtain this continuous medical protection, they should contact MSA, 2025 West Broadway, Vancouver, B.C., or phone 733-8141. a | 4 BOB SCHLOSSER 1-417 ELECTION It has been learned at press time that Bob Schlosser, president of Local 1-417 Sal- mon Arm, has been re-elect- ed in the referendum ballot just concluded in the Local Union. The Lumber Worker will carry a full report on the elections in the next issue. t uae INTERIOR CONTRACT TALKS BREAK DOWN UNION NEGOTIATING COMMITTEES APPLY FOR CONCILIATION OFFICER By STAFF REPORTER Preliminary bargaining talks between the IWA and the Northern Interior Lum- bermen’s Association which commenced at Prince George June 16th have foundered on the question of parity. Appli- cation has now been made for the service of a conciliation officer. The IWA Southern Interior Negotiating Committee has also concluded talks which were initiated in Kelowna June 15th without progress and has also applied for the appointment of a conciliation officer. Unlike the Northern Interior employers, the In- terior Horest Labour Kela- tions representing the South- ern Interior employers Assoc- iation, tabled ten major coun- ter-proposals. A representa- tive of Celgar Ltd. attended, but announced the intention - to bargain independently. In a special report to the members of Local 1-424 IWA, Negotiating Committee mem- bers J. MacKenzie, J. R. Ing- lis, G. Hurlbert and T. Mog- ensen said: “Your Negotiating Commit- tee reports that the required bargaining talks have now been held with representa- tives of the Northern Interior Lumbermen’s Association SUSPENSIONS PROTESTED The IWA Regional execu- tive board approved a resolu- tion June 15 protesting the suspensions of four of its Local Unions from the B.C. Federation of Labour. The four Locals under sus- pension are 1-80 Duncan, 1-118 Victoria, 1-217 Vancou- ver, and 1-288 the Lumber Inspectors. The endorsed resolution stated: “The executive board un- animously agreed that the IWA protest the suspensions of four IWA Local Unions from the B.C. Federation of Labour. “The Canadian Labour Congress and the Internation- al Union will be asked to as- sist in resolving the dispute. “The IWA. is also deeply concerned with the effect of publicity regarding this mat- ter on the labour movement in this province, and has adopted a policy not to make public any further discussions until the matter has been set- tled. “We have requested all our Local Unions and.the B.C. Federation of Labour to carry out all future discussion around the council chambers rather than the press and radio.” without any satisfactory pro- gress in consideration of the Union’s demands. “To date, the employers have offered only an inade- quate wage increase of 20 cents an hour, spread over two years. JACK MOORE . . . Reports talks broken off, “The employers said that they will not accept our pro- posed job evaluation program nor will they consider the Un- ion’s demands on any of the other points necessary to pro- vide parity with the Coast contract. “Are you willing to accept only ten cents this year and ten cents next year instead of parity? See “INTERIOR” — Page 3 1-206 SEEKS GOV'T STRIKE VOTE IWA members employed by General Coach Works of Canada Ltd., Fort Macleod, on June 21 voted 81 to 3 to accept the majority award of the Conciliation Board ap- pointed to deal with the cur- rent dispute. The Company, whose representative had pre- sented a minority report, re- jected the majority award. Local 1-206 IWA has now requested a government- supervised strike vote. The vote for acceptance or rejec- tion was conducted by secret ballot under government supervision as required by the Alberta Board of Industrial Relations. Regional 1st Vice-President Jack MacKenzie, acting for the Negotiating Committee, protested the posting on com- pany premises of the minority report just prior to the vote and secured an apology from the Board. The majority report of the Conciliation Board has rec- ommended wage increases over the present wage scale for the four groups of cate- gories, ranging from 24 cents an hour to 64 cents an hour for the period January 1, 1967 to December 31, 1968. Important frin ge benefits also recommended by the Board included the union shop, seniority rights, three weeks vacation with pay after 10 years’ service, and nine paid statutory holidays. Production standards and an incentive or bonus plan demanded by the Company is to be negotiated in a separ- ate letter of understanding. The contract when signed will be the first negotiated with General Coach Works of Canada Ltd., formerly Este- van Industries Ltd. and now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Diveco - Wayne Corporation, manufacturer in Canada of mobile homes.