Page 2

B.C. LUMBER WORKER

In Sask.

WAGES
DOUBLED

In three years, a run-down
box factory in Regina, Sask.,
employing about 50 people, has
grown into a highly efficient
sawmill with 125 employees
whose wages have doubled—
under government manage-
ment.

It is the’ Saskatchewan Box
Factory at Prince Albert, run
by John Harrop, manager of
the Crown Corporation.

Sales in 1950 were $513,500,
compared to $254,000 in 1947,
while production rose from 3,-
715,000 board feet of lumber
sawed in 1947 to 6,500,000 in
1950, the second largest output
of any sawmill in the province.

The factory was expropriated
by the Saskatchewan government
at the end of 1945 after a long
history of anti-labor activity and
defiance of both federal and pro-
vincial labor laws by the previous
management.

Defied Law

While the factory was still in
private hands, representatives
named by a CCL union were ap-
pointed the bargaining agents of
the employees under the old fed-
eral regulations, PC 1003. The
manager, however, refused to ne-
gotiate with these bargaining
agents and for more than a year
defied all attempts by the fed-
erally appointed Labor Relations
Board to make him bargain in
accordance with the law.

Early in 1945 the Saskatche-
wan Trade Union Act came into
force and the box factory came
under the jurisdiction of the new
provincial Labor Relations Board.
The management of the factory
still refused to bargain with the
union representing its employees
and for six ‘months defied the
provincial board in the same way
as it had previously defied the
federal board.

Technical Dodge

The provincial board then rec-
ommended to the government
that a controller should be ap-
pointed to run the factory until
the management was prepared to
obey the law. The government
notified the manager that it had
received this recommendation and
invited him to meet with the gov-
ernment, if he wished, to present
his side of the story.

The manager accepted this in-
vitation but asked for a post-
ponement of the date of the
meeting. He then took advantage
of the postponement to make a
technical change in the ownership
of the factory, which made the
appointment of a controller legal-
ly impossible. Thereupon, the
government expropriated the fac-
tory under the Saskatchewan
Crown Corporations Act.

First-Class Now

What the government took
over was a run-down factory em-
ploying about 50 people. It has
now built it into a highly efficient
sawmill with 125 employees
whose wage rates are about dou-
ble those paid by the old manage-
ment.

As the factory uses much sal-
vaged timber which would other-
wise be wasted, it fits well into
the forest management program
of the Department of Natural
Resources. Re-arrangement of
the plant and installation of a
new re-saw machine were credit-
ed by Mr. Harrop for production
increases. Further expansion is
being considered.

Labor Gains

Municipal elections in New
Zealand show that the Labor
party there is making 2 come-
back after its defeat in the re-
cent’ federal elections when they
lost control of the House of
Commons.

In Christchurch, a Labor mayor
was elected and 12 out of 19
council seats were won.

As in Canada, the Labor party
fights municipal. elections- with
its normal campaign machinery
while the right wing parties are
organized in “non-partisan citi-
zen’s associations.”

OFFICERS’ REPORT, 1-217

Year-End Review Praises
Members; Set Sights For ’51

Officers’ report for 1950 of the largest Local in the Inter-
national, Local 1-217, Vancouver, demonstrates to the full the
great strides made in organization, administration, safety,
finances and other activities during the past year.

In October of 1950, the mem-
bership stood at an all-time high
of 6,273 members, as against
4,177 in the same month in 1949.
The average membership for the
first 11 months of the year was
5,054. In January, 1950, the
total membership was 3,778.

“A Good Year”

“very member,” says the re-
port, “should feel proud of his
or her part in the growth of our
Local Union.

“The increased membership, a
large number of them being
transient workers, is’ comparable
to the setting up of a new local
union. Problems of administra-
tion and service in connection
with this increase have been tem-
porary, and for the most part,
have been successfully ironed
out.”

“In looking back over 1950,” it
continues, “we have seen our
organization grow both in mem-
bership and prestige to heights
never before reached.” ~

The report then goes on to
summarize wages and contract
negotiations for 1950, which re-
sulted “in. one of the greatest
victories ever enjoyed by the
IWA.”

“Your officers point with pride
to Local 1-217, and the import-
ant role our membership played
in assisting the District in win- |
ning this victory.

All Set to Strike

“Shop stewards, plant commit-
tees were organized to their peak
and in every plant and in every
zone, the strike machine was
geared and ready for instant
motion.”

The Local points in passing to
the complete capitulation of the
WIUC, “the phony political ani-
mal of the Labor-Progressive
party.

The report records, the tre-
mendous victory in the furni-
ture industry. After breakdown
of negotiations, the member-
ship voted more than 87 per-
cent to go on strike, and at the
1ith hour the union was able to
negotiate a 10 cent wage in-
crease, four statutory holidays,
equal pay for equai work, 40
hour week, union security as
in the Coast agreement, and
rest periods, thus averting the
strike.

Solidarity Counts

“Again we must proudly point
to the solidarity of the member-
ship and thank the job stewards
and committee men for a job well
done. The furniture workers now
have one of the better contracts
enjoyed within the CCL.”

The report continues, “When
notified by the Board of Indus-
trial Relations that a hearing
was being held regarding the
minimum rates for engineers, Lo-
cal 1-217 started the ball rolling,
meetings were hele and a mini-
mum wage scale ranging: from
$1.51 to $1.81 was proposed.

a “We feel,” says the report,

that the original 60-cent mini-
mum is not realistic, is discri-
minatory and downright ridicu-
Jous, and trust that the enquiry
gaye favorable reaction to our
recommendation as submitted
by the District officers.”

Dealt, with, too, was the at-
tempt during the year to band
filers and fitters into an associa-
tion outside the IWA. This was
felt to be a direct threat to the
industrial set-up. One meeting
was held by the alleged associa-
tion, and as time progressed it
was apparent the craft move was
being made throughout the Dis-
trict.

Problems Admitted

No doubt, the report states,

there were problems, but the lo-

cal immediately accepted the
challenge, called meetings of the

filers’ committee to prepare

1

recomendations for acceptance or
rejection,

‘These recommendations will go
to the Wages and Contract Con-
ference of the district in March.

The attempted set-up of an
outside association is now a thing
of the past.

“Thus, once again,” state the
officers, “the Local has assisted
jn assuring the membership of
the District that strength lies in
one organization and not a dozen
small ones.”

Problems of workers in the
plywood industries were met in
the form of a conference where a
plan was drawn up, and it is felt
the results of this conference
will later be enjoyed by all work-
ers concerned.

71 Contracts

Nine additional certifications
were gained in 1950. Contracts
have been signed with 71 plants
throughout the Local. Individual
contracts have been negotiated
with plants not represented by
Forest Industrial Relations and
gains made of Union Shop, paid
holidays, wage revisions.

“Our prestige, as well as pub-
lic support of the IWA has gone
up by leaps and bounds, and
workers in furniture plants, steel
plants, construction outfits, have
made representations to come into
the IWA,” it states.

“Those in the industry have
been accepted, and the others re-
ferred to the CCL organizations
in their respective fields.

“We have at times had to use
the services of the union lawyer
when employers have either run
out or gone broke and the men
have not received pay for their
work. In every case, these have
been settled to the satisfaction of
the membership.

Grievances Settled

“Grievances too numerous to be
mentioned have been settled.
Shop stewards have been elected
and appointed, grievance commit-
tee have been set up and on
many oceasions Local Union
officials have assisted. In all
cases, to, night shifts have been
organized.

“The officers, executive mem-
bers all join in expressing ap-
preciation for a job done this
past year by the shop stewards,
grievance and safety committee
members in working to make
the organization of Local 1-217
so effective.

Finances

Financially, Local 1-217 is in a
healthier position than ever be-
fore, and during the year was
able to send 19 delegates to the
District convention in Nanaimo,
10 to the CCL convention in Win-
nipeg, and 15 to the International
meeting in Minneapolis,

For the Army and Navy strik-
ers in New Westminster, $600
was obtained, $1,000 went to the
Weverhaeuser strikers, and many
other generous contributions
were made to strikers in other
industries throughout Canada and
the U.S. *

Fulltime officials and shop
stewards were loaned to assist
other Locals in organizing the
unorganized and the Local 1-217
paid both wages and expenses.

The report continues:

Many savings have been effect-
ed through the streamlining of
administrative methods, The first
of these was the introduction of
the fold-over work card. The
prime purpose of this card was
to facilitate for the membership
the obtaining of withdrawal cards
and to enable the Local office to
maintain correct addresses,

To this extent, the return ad-
dress cards have been successful.
The use of window envelopes for
mailing eliminates duplication
and the saving of many dollars
during the year.

More recently, a new dues-
record card was designed to eli-

minate re-typing every 2 years.
This card will serve for a period
of six years before it becomes |
necessary to replace 6,000 dues
record cards.

New Methods

1951 will see the introduction
of a new method of handling ap-
plications for membership. Pre-
viously temporary cards were is-
sued until such time as dues were
received from the employer. All
cards will now be typed and filed
upon receipt of the checkoff and
the applicant will receive his
membership card immediately.

“This will improve the service to
the membership and result in fur-
ther saving. Your officers are at
all times open to suggestions and
constructive criticism, and will
welcome any opinions which will
aid in our service to you.”

Social and Sports

The Social and Sports Commit-
tee this year has been one of the
more active committees in the
Local Union. In April a dance
was held at the Veterans’ Com-
munity Hall, with an exception-
ally large turn-out, and a good
time was had by all.

Following in the footsteps of
last year, the Local again spon-
sored a softball team, switching
from the Fairview Senior B Soft-
ball League to the Hastings East,
Senior A League. The ballteam
had a very good season, but we
feel that more active’ support
should be given to our team this
next year, It is our team, so let’s
support it, In appreciation of the
ball players’ participation under
the colors of the IWA, sweaters
were “presented to them at a
social gathering on December 28.

This year, also, we saw the in-
ception of what is to be an an-
nual IWA picnic. August 26th
marked the day ofthe first picnic,
where we saw members and their
families from all operations in
the Local attend. Although,
unfortunately, the weather start-
ed off very cloudy and windy in
the morning, towards afternoon it
cleared anda larger turnout ap-
peared. We feel, in summing up,
that next year the picnic should
be held earlier in the summer,
when better weather prevails.

To mark the beginning of the
festive season, Local 1-217’s 3rd
Annual Christmas party was held
with everyone remarking that
every year the party gets better
and- the crowds become larger.
The attendance was in the neigh:
borhood of 3,500, From all in
cations, a still larger hall will
be needed this coming year. Spe-
cial mention and appreciation
should be given to the Ladies’
Auxiliary for the assistance ren-

Negoti:
Chair Ltd., now being tte)
by Local 1-217, Vancouver, are
progressing favorably it was re-
ported this week by the Local
Union officers. k
‘The demands presented on be-
half of the employees are in the
same terms as won by other Van-
couver furniture plants in 1950,

dered to this committee in put-
ting on the social, picnic, and
Christmas Party.

Ladies’ Auxiliary

The Ladies’ Auxiliary this last
year sent five of their members
over to the District Convention
with the hopes of building up a
more solid relationship with the
other Ladies’ Auxiliaries within
the District. It’ is now a recog-
nized fact not only in our Local
Union, but in many of the out-
side Local Unions, that the 217
Auxiliary has been doing a fine
job with their hospital work,
Regular weekly visits have been
made to the General Hospital,
St. Paul’s Hospital, and Shaugh-
nessy Hospital, and cigarettes,
chocolate bars, matches, Lumber-
workers, etc. have all been hand-
ed out to the IWA_ members,
Other Locals Unions’ in recogni-
tion of this service to some of
their own members hospitalized]
through injury in Vancouver,
have sent contributions, both to
the Local and to the Auxiliary,
to aid us in our work.

The Auxiliary has held regular
monthly meetings, and many so-
cial meetings among the mem- ;
bers as well as participating
jointly with the Local Social
Committee, putting on the Local
Social, the first Annual Picnic,
and the Christmas Party. De-
cember 81, 1950, at the closing of ;
the Auxiliary books, found them
with a bank balance of $981.09,

MORE DUTY
ON UK CARS

Dumping duties are to be re-
imposed on British autos enter-
ing Canada after May 81.

This follows representations to
the government from Canadian
auto makers,

The duties were removed two
years ago to help Britain’s dollar

co ee ee ee

situation and make it easier for %
Canadian food to be purchased #
by the U.K. government, 4

The goyernment has stated the ¢
xeimposition of the duties “won't i

haye any significant effect,” but
it is worthy to note that Canadian
auto makers, worried about the
popularity of the cheap-to-run
British cars, haven't tried to
compete with the U.K.-type ve-
hicles.

tEAM

2 Oe

ATTEND YOUR UNION

MEETINGS
BOPONSNSLVNLLSLLSOSN LLNS

ADYSMITH BUSINESS GUIDE

AIRD — JEWELLER
'Phone 265 — LADYSMITH
Waich, Jewellery and Clock Re-
pairs, Watches, Diamonds,
Engagement and Wedding Rings,
etc.

The Ladysmith Chronicle

A Union Shop
Society and Commercial Printing
at Fair Prices

‘Phone 23. LADYSMITH, B.C,

DUNCAN BUS

WELCH’S
FOUNTAIN LUNCH

Home Cooking
That You Will Like

DUNCAN, B.C.

VOGUE CLEANERS

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Truck calls at COMPLIMENTS
Mesachie Lake, Cowichan Lake, -
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Hats Cleaned and Blocked
Press While U Wait Phone 11
Phone 360 DUNCAN, B.C, § Duncan British Columbia

INESS GUIDE

J. LINDSAY LOUTET
(C. Bradshaw & Co.)

INSURANCE
& REAL ESTATE

DUNCAN, 131 Jubilee Street
LAKE COWICHAN BRANCH: