FURNITURE STRIKE LOOMS et y) JORKER ttt Pebtiation of te Inhonnational Woodworkers of America wt. vinsia coved No.1. Vol. XIX, No. 74 <>» Oct. 19, 1950 5e per copy Vancouver, B.C. Price Controls, Low-Rent Homes Urged By IWA Price ceilings at least no higher than the levels of June, 1950, were demanded unanimously by 70 delegates in attendance at the quar- terly meeting of the IWA B. C. District Council, in the Arcadian Hall, Vancouver, Oct. 14-15. Companion resolutions urged the Local Unions to support the protest of the Vancouver Labor Council against arbitrary deci- sions of the B.C, Labor Relations Board in discrimination against CCL unions, and the CCL demand for a low-rent public housing pro- gram. A. strenuous two-day session dealt with a wide range of Union problems affecting administration of union affairs in relation to wages and working conditions. The delegates were mainly en- gaged with the following matters. They,— Reviewed audited financial: statements and officers’ reports which revealed a membership strength surpassing all previ- ous records, and an improved financial position for the Dis- trict Council and the “B.C. Lumber Worker”. Heard with approval, Inter- national Director of Organiza- tion Adolph Germer outline or- ganization plans for British Co- See PRICES page 3 WHAT’S INSIDE Sloan Ruling Backs IWA Claim On Holiday Pay Interpretation given by Chief Justice Gordon M. Sloan to the IWA contract provision regarding vacations with pay, released to the IWA District Office, Oct. 16, will re- store holiday pay according to the custom formerly established for the industry. The Chief Justice acted as arbitrator at the joint re- quest of the IWA and Forest Industrial Relations Ltd. Conferences have been arranged between both parties to establish procedure in the light of this ruling. ‘ District and Local Union offi- cials hailed the ruling with pleas- ure as likely to wipe out a griev- ance among lumber workers which has become acute since the 1950 amendments to the Annual Holidays Act resulting in the payment of holiday pay at the rate of 2 percent of the earnings during-the working year. Text of Interpretation The full text of His Lordship’s ruling follows: “At the joint request of both parties to the Forest Industries 1950 Master Contract I have been asked to interpret Article XII of the said Contract. That interpretation involves the determination of the follow- ing question submitted by the Union: “Has the Company, under Article XII, Vacations with Pay, the right to pay the em- ployee at the rate of 2% of his total wages and salary earned by the employee for the period of his employment in a _work- ing year, if in so doing the em- ployee would receive less favor- able conditions than had been established over a period of years by the custom of paying the employee the amount he would earn had he been work- ing instead of taking a yaca- tion.” Section I of Article WMT reads as follows: “A vacation with pay will be granted to employees in accordance with the provisions of the Annual Holidays Act, being Chapter 13 of the Statutes of British Columbia, 1948, and any amendments thereto.” Section 4 of the Annual Holi- days Act, as amended 1950, reads in relevant part as follows: "4 (1) Subject to the provisions of this Act, every employer shall give to every one of his employees an annual holiday of at least one week with pay for every working-year of bis employment, "(5) The amount of pay for the vacation given to an employee in respect of each working-year under this section shall be an amount equal to two per centum of the total wages and salary earned by the employee for the period of his employment in the working year.” The Union contends that a cus- tom has been established in the industry over a period of years See HOLIDAYS page 3 MAJORITY AWARD REJECTED; GOVERNMENT VOTE ASKED IWA members employed by Hammond Furniture Co., Restmore Manufacturing Co. and Skyline Manufacturing Co. on a ballot conducted this week by Local 1-217 IWA, voted by a 87.2% majority to reject the majority award of the Conciliation Board and 89.5% in favor of strike action. Application was made immediately for a government- supervised strike vote, and steps were taken to set up strike action machinery. Full support for the furni- ture workers in their militant stand was pledged by the dele- gates attending the quarterly meeting of the B.C. District Council, IWA, Oct. 14-15. The decisions of the IWA District Policy Committee were ap- proved. The issues at stake were thor- oughly discussed at a meeting held Oct. 12, and attended by I- WA members not on shift work, as well as Local Union and Dis- trict officers. The meeting de- cided by a 9 to 1 majority on a secret ballot to recommend a union vote in the three plants, and request rejection of the award’and strike authorization. These developments followed closely on the heels of a Concilia- tion Board majority award which rejected the major demands of the furniture workers, and recom- mend a wage increase of only 8 cents an hour, Majority Award The majority award of the Con- ciliation Board also referred the question of rest periods to a con- ference between the Union and management, and rejected the demand for a June 15 termina- tion date for the contract. Mem- bership of maintenance was ap- See FURNITURE page 3 Shingle Mills To Close Advice was received at the time of going to press of the intention of a number of shingle manufacturing firms to close down for two weeks be- cause of a drop in the price of shingles on the American mar- ket. THE THINGS YOU SHOULD LOOK FOR IN WATERPROOF CANVAS CLOTHI @ STANDARD COAT Note the “tailored” de- sign, giving ‘maximum comfort and freedom; the cape and sleeves all’ one iece, and seams only un- ler-arm. Note also the more generous use of ma- tefials with interlining away down at back, (Also made without interlining.) STANDARD PANTS See the extra depth of double | thickness, froat and back, and interlining down entire front, Lots of pockets, too. "(Also sade without interlining.) ‘DRY-B & YOU WILL FIND IN HAT You will find that it is substantial and waterproof s+ a feal hat... but pet Bust and light BUY ONLY GENUINE “PIONEER BRAND” “DRY - BAK’? AK’ CRUISER’S COAT Notice how it is moulded to fit with comfort and freedom. Double thick- ‘ness over shoulders, chest, back and sleeves.” Look at the four roomy out- side pockets and pencil jocket, and see the inside Breast''map pocket, then Took at the back and see the large pack pocket with openings both sides. (This design of coat comes in featherweight “Yukon Cloth’, too.) FALLER'S SHIRT ‘The fallers’ and buckers* shire is an original “Pio- neer Brand” design, built to give full freedom with extra protection where needed, and with extra Jong skirt at back, (This also comes in feachec- weight “Yukon Cloth’, too.) From Your Local Dealer or Commissary IT IS MADE IN VANCOUVER, B.C., BY JONES TENT & AWNING LTD.