THE B.C. LUMBER WORKER . April 8, 1946 Interior Activities FROM CRANBROOK, NELSON, PRINCETON, KELOWNA, KAMLOOPS AND PRINCE GEORGE - Worker's Death Brings Protest From Local 405 On February 19th a fatal accident occurred at the Sash and Door mill on Mineral Lake when George Webster, 58, was instantly killed by a falling log from a loaded truck. The deceased had just released the cinch from the wrapper when the log apparently became loosened from its bed and fell striking him on the head and causing unconsciousness which resulted in nearly instant death. Mr. Webster had come from Saskatchewan some two years ago and had been continuously employed by the Sash and Door Company since that time. During the war years it was necessary for logging crews to work short handed because help ‘was not available. Those days are gone now, but the companys still persist in working short handed, thus creating undue hazards and hardships on the rest of the crew. During the last nine months in this area there has been three fatal accidents occurring while unloading log trucks. Whether faulty loading was the cause of theze accidents or not the facts are that in not one of these in- Stances was a top loader employ- ed who could be held responsible for proper loading and every loading crew in this country is short of at least one mian and in the case of the Cranbrook Sash & Door is short two, thus putting all the work on three men where it should be divided among five, The Government bodies who are Supposed to be concerned about KYLE TAXI (NEXT B.C. CAFE) 242four Service Anywhere, Anytime Charter: Bus, Ambulance Phone 102 DUNCAN 16 EAST HASTINGS LEAN eo the unemploymyent situation should make this their business and have all crews at full strength, now that capable men are available. Negotiations In Vancouver On April 17th Arrangements are now being completed for the opening of in- dustry wide negotiations for the Interior of the province, coordin- ated with the present negotia- tions for the coast operations. The. Union’s District committee has requested a meeting with the operators and their repre- sentatives for Wednesday, April 1%, and is at the present time awaiting a reply. Mr. Jarhes Thomson, Chief Conciliation officer of the Provin- cial Department of Labor, who was recently appointed a concili- ation officer to inquire into the dispute between the IWA and the Interior Operators has been noti- fied of the arrangements and will take part in the negotiations. The operators are again trying to split certain sections of the industry away from the main ne- gotiations but the union has re- plied that it has no intention of allowing this to happen and have notified the operators to the ef- fect that these negotiations are for the entire area east of the Cascades. AULA ATULA AAMC LNCS 9 VANCOUVER, B.C. Below IWA Offices SOAR BODY AND FENDER REPAIRS, also COMPLETE: PAINT REFINISHING Quick Secvice First Olass Work Guaranteed WALSH’S BODY SHOP Phono 712 (Rear of Vanderslip’s Garage) Duncan PAcific 3855 EARL FLOEIST “Flowers For All Occasions’ 66 EAST HASTINGS Residence, MArine 3766 SYKES VANCOUVER, B.C. | Cranbrook Will Accept Award Of Gov't Board The long-awaited recommenda- tions of the Conciliation Board established in the dispute be- tween the Cranbrook Cartage and Transport Company Limited and IWA ‘Local 1-405, were received this week. The Board unanim- ously recommended that the com- pany and the union should sign the 1945 agreement as a temporary agreement, and further, should enter into negotiations immedi- ately on the union’s 1946 de- mands. The dispute has been in pro- gress for some 18 months, and arose originally over the refusal of the company to grant a 48- hour week. This issue was sub- sequently settled last fall when the government established the 48-hour week, for the interior woodworking industry by regu- lation under the Hours of Work Act. The company, however, maintained its position of no agreement, and the Board was finally established. The main point of difference on which the Board was requir- ed to recommend, was the term- ination date of the agreement. Members of the Board were Mr. C. J, Little, Chairman; Mr. Jack Falkin, employers’ member, and Mr. Harvey Murphy, union's member. The Local Union has signified its willingness to accept the award in its entirety, but re- cent word from the company and from Mr. J. H. Ruddock, Indus- trial Relations Officer of the In- terior Lumber Manufacturers As- sociation, is to the effect that the company refuses to accept the award. The Local Union has al- ready taken a strike ballot on the 1946 demands, and it is expected at the present time that no ac- tion will be taken until negotia- tions are completed on an indus- try basis for the interior. SSS GENUINE sa SKULLGARDS & High Fleck Bros. Safety Div. Vancouver, B.C. LOGGERS For a Good, Reliable TAXI Phone VERNON 190 Kal Taxi (Bob Carswell) 21 Highth St. Res. Phone 515 VERNON, B.C. At Prince George There is Long Logging in the Interior, just in case you didn't know, as is evidenced by the above picture taken at the McLean Operations at Shelly, B.C. in the Prince George area. Work does not stop when the snow flies either. under the most difficult conditions. The work carries on A very large majority of those present were veterans and con- siderable doubt was expressed that the company union contract offered any true measure of post- war security. It was pointed out that every major point in the agreement read, “To be left to the disecretion of the company.” It offered several concessions such as, a reduction in the pur chase price of lumber to the em- ployee, company paid hospital in- surance to a value of $16 a year after five years employment. It was agreed, however, that all these concessions did not com- pare with an adequate wage scale. William Langmead outlined the IWA 1946 program, and the sup- port it was receiving from Lum- berworkers throughout the entire Province, stating that the IWA was organizing behind a program that had been adopted and was being fought for by every major Oliver Sawmill Workers Become Union Members Meeting in the Elks Hall, Oliver, 30 employees of the Oliver Sawmills Ltd., heard William Langmead, IWA Org- anizer, and Mel Fulton, President of Local 423, outline the policy and program of the IWA. pointed out that it had formed the Keystone in the demands of the recent Labor Lobby at Vic- toria, which had received the un- conditional support of all or ganized labor and veterans’ or- ganizations in B.C, An indication pf the compari- son drawn between the IWA 1946 program, and the company union contract, was the unanimous de- cision of those present to join the IWA. An organizational committee of six was elected, in an effort to obtain 100 per cent signing of IWA application cards. A further meeting was arranged for early in April, when it was hoped that certification would be applied for. The high- light of the whole meeting was the fact of the six elected; five were recently returned veterans who indicated their willingness to continue to fight on the home front for the democratic prin- trade union .in Canada. Hel ciples of the Atlantic Charter, | HARVEY BOOT FACTORY LTD. I Serving the Loggers of B.C. for 45 Years | with CRUISERS and WORK BOOTS | W. CORDOVA ST. VANCOUVER, B.C. | WRITE FOR CATALOGUE SERVICE SAVINGS at YOUR WESTERN SHOPPING CENTRE VANCOUVER - - - B.C.