—_—wen THE WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER JACK MOORE Regional President Statement majority decisions of our organization. We will be entering into negotiations with the employ- ers very soon, I suggest that the membership and officers = of all Local Unions join together and provide a united | effort to the challenge that we face. We are proud of our democratic organization and re- = spect the right of any individual to express his views. At | the same time it is of utmost importance that any dis- = agreements we may have be kept within our own house. = Only by being united can we move forward and con- = tinue to improve the living standards of our members. sill 2 = : - = I regret that it has be- come necessary to dis- continue the feature “Viewpoint” in the Lum- ber Worker. My original intention was that this column ’ would provide a medium for Local Unions to bring their problems to the at- tention of other Locals and members of the IWA in our Regional Council. In reviewing the last two articles, I find that continuation of this col- umn would develop harmful controversy. The real purpose of the Lumber Worker must be to unite the membership around the i Victoria Local Members Donate $800 to Region An $800.00 donation made by Local 1-118, TWA, to the Regional Council for organ- izational purposes in the In- terior of B.C., was described by Regional Secretary- Treasurer Fred Fieber as “A breath of fresh air.” The donation recommended by the Local’s Executive was unanimously approved at the Annual Meeting November 24, in Victoria. The Executive in present- ing the recommendation to the members pointed out that the Regional Officers had been instructed by Conven- tion action to organize in the unorganized areas of the Re- gional Council but were denied adequate finances to carry out the job. They suggested a donation of this nature would assist the Regional Council and at the same time demonstrate the desire of the Local Union to see that the membership’s instructions on organization were carried out. The meeting, which was one of the largest on record, also approved three. other Executive recommendations which were: © To continue the one cent per capita payment to the ICFTU. © Endorse the political policies of the Canadian La- bour Congress, the B.C. Fed- eration of Labour, and the IWA Regional Council. e Request the Officers to circulate a petition in the plants and camps for volun- tary donations to the New Democratic Party. In a lively contest for office, the following were nominated and their names will appear on the referendum ballot: For President: M. Drew, A. Carle; 1st Vice-President: J. W. Hess; 2nd Vice-Presi- dent: J. Burt; 3rd Vice-Presi- dent: B. Thompson, R. Pon- tious; Financial Secretary: E. See “VICTORIA”—Page 6 Fee LAURIN MUNG ust MIU RDA etial ‘Aid Promised For Alberta Strikers A decision to seek financial help from the Local Unions to increase the strike assistance payments to the ‘Grande Prairie strikers, was unanimously approved by the Regional Executive Board. members of Local 1-207, IWA, have been on strike at the North Canadian Forest Products planer mill at Grande Prairie, Alberta, for over four months. The strikers are now receiving strike pay from the Regional Strike Fund but further financial assistance was deemed necessary because of the length of the strike and the severe winter conditions in effect. The Strike Fund policy set in Convention prevents Executive Board increasing the payments from the The strikers, 1 Unions are being asked to collectively con- ient money to raise the strike relief pay- additional $20.00 per week. Sail 004A TA NT IAM OO MUO UNO MTUTCTIUTUUMTUNTUUUTOTOUUUUOU REPORT ON ‘NEGOTIATIONS The IWA Wages and Contract Conference for the B.C. coast lumber industry will be held in Vancouver, February 20-21-22, 1964, it was decided at the recent meeting of the Regional Executive Board. The decision was also made to hold the Northern and Southern Interior Wages and Contract Conference in Kelowna, May 8-9, 1964. plete and up-to-date summary of statistics relating to the The Vancouver Confer- ence, comprised of delegates from all coast Local Unions, will formulate the Union’s negotiating demands for the renewal of the coast master contract which expires June 14. Terms for the renewal of the Northern and Southern Interior master contracts, ex- piring August 31, will be de- termined at the Kelowna Conference. All Local Unions have been requested to forward mem- bership proposals for contract amendments to the Regional office for submission to all the assembled delegates. A com- state of the lumber industry will be furnished the dele- gates by the Union’s Re- search Department. Because of the lively inter- est shown in the negotiations, which open on or about March 14, the CanapIAN LUMBER WORKER canvassed Regional Officers for their opinions on the out- look. Their comments were as follows: “It would be highly im- proper for any responsible officer or member to antici- pate the decisions of the cA ‘ et wm) =e WESTERN © > nN sal (oY ¥ i a {pa aS i stots | scheduled Wages and Con- tract Conference. This Con- ference is an occasion when the utmost care must be taken to secure an untram- meled expression of member- ship opinion. The considered opinion of our Union, as ex- pressed at Regional conven- tions, is that no attempt should be publicly made in advance to commit, influence or stampede delegates with responsibility to the entire membership. Our major concern at this time is that our Union should build its maximum bargain- See “NEGOTIATIONS”—Page 6 hae a) ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING OF LOCAL 1-288, IWA, NOV. 23, IN NANAIMO For Business Agent 1-288 Meeting Approves $3 Assessment Motion A recommendation to as- sess the members of Local 1-288, IWA, three dollars a month for a trial period of one year to provide for the expenses of a full-time Busi- ness Agent, was unanimously approved by the delegates at- tending the Local’s Annual Meeting November 23, in Nanaimo. T:ihe proposed assessment will be submitted to a refer- endum vote of the Local’s membership. In reporting on the need for a full time Business Agent, the Executive stated that it is becoming impossible for the officers to administer to the Local’s needs on a part time basis. The problems are growing to the point where more and more of their free time is given over to the Loeal’s business at the ex- pense of their health and families. Rod Beaton in his Presi- dent’s Report pointed out that the problems created by the introduction of Licenced Grade Stamping on the Coast will further complicate the administrative job in the Local. The only solution to protect the jobs of the mem- bers and adequately service the Local is to appoint a full- time Business Agent, he said. The guest speaker at the meeting was Bob Ross, Re- gional 3rd Vice-President and _ Safety Director who. also ad- dressed the delegates on the dangers of the new stamping system. The Regional Officers, he stated, are alarmed at the in- troduction by the PLIB of Licenced Grade Stamping on the Coast. “We fear,” he said, “that if the PLIB- has its way the jobs of PLIB In- spectors will be eliminated.” He pointed out that if the PLIB Inspectors were elim- inated, the respect now ac- corded the PLIB stamp would be lost along with overseas markets which would be tragic for the entire forest industry. ‘Tt is up to you,” he warned the delegates, “to pre- vent the employers from prostituting present lumber grades. Only in this manner can you protect your jobs.” In the election of Local of- ficers the following were elected: President, Rod Bea- ton; 1st Vice-President, Lloyd Lundquist; 2nd Vice-Presi- dent, Norm Cary; Financial Secretary, Ron Grant: Re- cording Secretary, Ernie Smith; Warden, Don McMa- hon; Safety Director, T. Brown. At the conclusion of the meeting, the delegates and their wives were treated to an exceptionally fine banquet which was later followed by a dance where a good time was had by all. Orion Bowman Strike Two Months Old Attempts of Local 1-367, IWA, to signa collective agreement at the _ strike- bound Orion Bowman & Sons Sawmill near Chilliwack, are proving futile, report Local Officers, and the strikers are settling down for a long seige. The Plant which employs approximately forty men was struck October 7, following the Company’s refusal to sign the standard Coast Agree- ment. The Local was awarded certification of the Company last spring after the crew, mostly new Canadians, ap- proached the Union to organ- ize them. At the time certifi- cation was applied for, the rates paid to the crew aver- aged $1.60 per hour and one man was paid $1.25 per hour. The Company has at- tempted to intimidate the em- ployees but with little suc- cess. Production is at a stand- still although there is some maintenance work being car- ried out. The Officers report that an employee of the Chil- liwack School Board who crossed the Union's picket line lost his job when the Board was notified of his ac- tion. The strikers are getting strike relief from the Re- gional Council’s Strike Fund and an appeal has been made to the other Local Unions by the Regional Executive Board for further financial assistance. :