Ottat Potties ot the International Woodworhers of America vt Diasia CousdtNe.L

Vol. XIX, No. 63

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April 27, 1950 5c per copy

Vancouver, B.C.

Cddlerial

TO IWA MEMBERS

Bargaining sessions with the
Coast operators’ representatives
have proved that the operators
have decided to offer only stub-
born opposition to the TWA de-
mand for the Union shop and a
17-cent an hour wage increase.

They offered nothing of advan-
tage to the lumber workers. Their
only consideration was the main-

Oui: of their continued high
rofits,

Instead, they revealed a deter-
mination to undermine the pro-
visions written into the existing
contract, and secured by our
Union by dint of hard struggle
through the years.

Rejection by the operators of
Union shop conditions was based
‘on a decision made prior to the

bargaining talks, and which
arises only from a distrust of
the IWA.

The proposed wage increase
was dismissed by them with
statements claiming gloomy lum-
her market prospects, which do
no coincide with the known facts
about a boom market, and their
expectation of greater profits for
the next year.

Faced with this adamant atti-
tude on the part of the operators,
we were all the more determined
not to surrender gains already
made by our Union.

We could not permit the work-

ers in the lumber industry to be
diyided into four sections for pur-
poses of bargaining on vital
points.
We would not consent to the
48-hour week, under conditions
that would work a hardship to
lumber workers at a later period
in terms of impaired health, un-
employment, and lowered living
standards.

We would not agree that board
rates should be increased in the
logging camps by any statistical
juggling.

We would not permit the Union

to be bonded against any viola-
tions of the contract, when denied
the right to function with full re-
sponsibility under Union shop
conditions.
We would not sign a contract
for two years under the condi-
tions which the operators desired
to impose.

Their conception of bargaining
to date is a one-way proposition
they take all, we give all.

The District Negotiating Com-

is continuing its work with

the determination to carry ont

the instructions of the member-

ship, and get a fair settlement or
yote before June 15.

;

9

WHAT'S
INSIDE

in Coast logging camps.

Immediate reaction was the un- }
animous decision of a large mass
meeting of loggers in the Engle-
wood camps “to maintain the 40-
hour week without change”.

This is typical of the opinion
expressed in the majority of log-
ging camps reporting to the IWA
nie Office and Local 1-71, I-
WA.

Resentment has flared because
of the operators’ suggestion to
pay overtime rates for an addi-
tional eight hours, while profe:
ing inability to increase the re;
lar wage rates, alleging precari-
ous export markets.

The Major Objections

Points made on this vital ques-
tion by the IWA Negotiating
Committee, and which have been
conveyed to IWA Local Unions
are: :

General recognition of the
basic 40-hour week has been
established in the lumber in-
dustry through years of strug-
gle by the Union, for sound
reasons of health and welfare.

Infringement of the 40-hour
work week clause in the con-
tract would lead to abuses by
unscrupulous operators at the
expense of the loggers’ health
and safety and pave the way
for the re-establishment of the
48-hour week at straight pay.

Temporary overtime pay is
not a satisfactory method of
raising the living standards for
the loggers. First considera-
tion should be given to the pro-
posed increase of the regular
wage rate.

Increased production now at
the cost of an extra day’s work
in the week on the part of the
loggers, would tend to increase
unemployment at a later period,
and would not, therefore, in-
crease the annual earnings of
the loggers.

In face of the threat of in-
creasing general unemploy-
it would be sounder policy to
spread the available work
among as many workers as pos-
sible.

It is grossly unfair to ask the
loggers to subsidize through
extra and risky effort the in-
creased profits to be derived
from increased production with-
out an increase in the regular
wage rate,

The Union has no guarantee
that when emergency needs are
met, that the 48-hour week will
be abandoned as required in the
interests of the loggers.

A 40-hour week would work
a hardship on many loggers
who provide their own trans-
portation daily to and from
work, while living at home.

If the industry is able to as-
sume additional overall labor
costs involved in overtime pay,
the industry is well able to
meet the cost of the wage in-
crease proposed by the IWA,

THREAT OF 48-HOUR WEEK
ANGERS COAST LOGGERS

Rejection by the IWA District Negotiating Committee
of the 48-hour week in logging operations proposed by
Coast lumber operators, has met with widespread approval

Vote “Yes”
On Assessment

IWA members now have the
oportunity to provide their
Union with more adequate fin-
ancial backing.

Ballots are now being dis-
tributed for the referendum on
a membership assessment of
$1.00 for 1950.

This $1.00 assessment, when
approved, will be the only as-
sessment for the year, as rec-
ommended by the District Con-
yention. It does not mean any
increase in the regular monthly
dues.

The referendum was ap-
proved by the District Con-
vention as the most practical
method to raise funds required
for an expanding program of
education and organization, and
to meet emergencies,

__Funds so voted will be div-
ided equally between the Local
Union and the District organ-
ization.

A person with an hour to kill
usually spends it with someone
who hasn’t.

Forest Industrial Relations
Ltd. speaking for the operators,
arbitrarily dismissed the IWA’s
two-point demand for the
Union shop and a 17 cent an
hour wage increase.

Operators’ counter-proposals
were rejected by the Union as
totally unacceptable and repre-
senting a backward step for
the 32,000 lumber workers rep-
resented.

No Gains Offered

At no stage during the bar-
gaining talks did the opera-
tors’ representatives show will-
ingness to incorporate any
gains for the workers in the
1950-51 master agreement.

Every. emphasis was placed
by them on extended hours of
work, without increases of reg-
ular wage rates and upon other
proposed revisions of contract
clauses which would undermine
the present tontract provisions.
The operators’ dismissal of the

Union shop proposal was accom-
panied by an announcement from
Forest Industrial Relations Ltd.,
that a prior poll of their clients
had established this attitude.

International President James
E, Fadling, chief spokesman for
the IWA Negotiating Committee
promptly charged a breach of
good faith in bargaining, as the
decision had been reached before
the Union’s arguments had been
heard.

The operators’ opposition to
the Union shop, on the ground
that confusion would result, was
without foundation, -he stated.
|Failure to grant full status to the
IWA as the legal bargaining
agency of the employees, was a
more definite cause of unstable
labor-management relations, he
contended.

| See DEADLOCK page 3

»adlock In Bargaining;
oneciliation Next Step

Ten days of bargaining between the IWA and
Coast lumber operators for the 1950-51 master con-
tract, ended in a complete deadlock April 24.

Both parties have now applied for a three-man
Conciliation Board to by-pass the usual conferences
with a Conciliation officer.

Wide cleayage between the IWA and the opera-
tors points to strike action as a definite possibility.

FORBES
JAILED

Sheriff’s officers arrested W-
IUC “National Secretary” John
Forbes, April 25, on charges
arising from his mishandling
of the funds of IWA members.

Supreme Court Judge Manson
ordered Forbes jailed, because he
is in contempt of court for not
obeying an order to pay $11,000
of IWA Local 1-80 funds into
court by March 23.

Forbes will go to jail and stay
there, till he or his fellow rene-
gades pay up.

In other financial matters
dealing with the move by the
Pritchett -Dalskog clique to
smash the IWA financially, as
no other way was possible, the
Court registrar has estimated
that IWA Local 1-217 has §15,-
603.66 due to it by former offi-
cials who joined the “Wooies”.

(This estimate still has to be
finalized by a judge.)

The claim of Local 1-71
against the renegades has now
ben calculated by IWA counsel
to stand at approximately $28,-
000, and the full rigors of the
law will be used to ensure that
the men who paid in the dues,
the men in the IWA, recover
their rightful monies from the
men who deserted them.

It is well to remember that two
other _“Wooies”, George Grafton
and Hjalmar Bergren, calmly ad-
mitted in court that between them
they had obtained the money as
alleged back pay, and used the
money to “pay debts” and “have

a good time”,

THE THINGS YOU SHOULD

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STANDARD COAT

Note the “tailored”? de-
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more generous use of ma-
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away down at back. (Also
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STANDARD PANTS

See the extra depth of
double | thickness, froat
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down entire front. Lots
of pockets, 00.” (Also
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IT IS MADE IN

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You will find that it is
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UY ONLY GENUINE
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“DRY - BAK”

ON JUNE 15.

Cel

CRUISER’S COAT
Notice how it is moulded
to fit with comfort and
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back and sleeves.’ Look
ar the four roomy out-
side pockets and pencil
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east “map pocket, then
look at’ the back and see
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(This design of coat
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FALLER’S SHIRT
‘The fallers’ and buckers*
shirt is an original “Pio-
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to.

From Your Local Dealer or Commissary
VANCOUVER, B.C., BY JONES TENT & AWNING LTD.

TRACT - NO WORK