B.C. LUMBER WORKER January 18, 1951 _ DISTRICT OFFICERS’ Achievements Listed RECORD of a year’s activity packed with concrete achieve- ments in the improvement of contract terms, and conditions on the job, is story told in submission to week. “The report deals with the strategy employed in the 1950 contract negotiations; and the outcome described as “generally acceptable, and of greater value than the results of any previous negotiations.” Appreciation is expressed with regard to the militancy and loyalty of the [WA members who remained steadfast up to the strike deadline on June 15. Contract Enforcement Following the signing of the 1950-51 contract, numerous steps to police the contract resulted in further benefits for workers in the lumber industry. A dispute with regard to the terms of vacation pay was taken to arbitration before Chief Jus- tice Sloan, and resulted in a favorable award, which placed many thousands of dollars in the pockets of those affected. Interior ‘A detailed report on the cam- paign conducted throughout the Interior of the province in sup- port of negotiations for the Northern and Southern districts will be made available to the convention. Solidarity of mem- bers in the Interior resulted in an improved contract, after some delays; but which in addition to inereased benefits, laid the basis for more satisfactory terms in the future. The District Officers hold the opinion that in the near future, the Interior master contracts will approximate the terms now in- corporated in the Coast contract. Furniture In the furniture section of the industry the story told parallels developments in negotiations with the Coast lumber operators. Dif- ficulties were encountered be- cause of the obstinate attitude of the employers, but when a strike appeared imminent, sanctioned by an overwhelming strike vote, they conceded terms which were accepted. The District Officers extend praise to officers of Local 1-217, Lloyd Whalen, William Gray and Harry Bardsley, for the part they played in achieving a settlement. A similar victory was won at the Victoria Pacific Furni- ture Plant, for which credit is asigned to Financial Secretary Roy Whittle, Local 1-118, IWA. Educational Program An excellent start was made during 1950 toward the develop- ment of a trade union educational program. Resources did not per- the the mit the completion of plans out-| lined at the 1950 convention but the further promotion of these activities is promised for 1951. IWA members took a promi- nent part in the educational classes conducted by the Greater Vancouver and Lower Mainland Labor Council, and will partici- pate in classes now being or- ganized for the spring months. Important features of the edu- cational program were the pres- entation of film programs, the Green Gold radio program, and educational features in the B.C. Lumber Worker. Safety Efforts of the District Safety Council to promote a eh sec cational program recei' raise at_ the Rants of the District Officers. It was considered that where the program had been ven adequate support by em- 8 and workers, the reduc- in accident frequency rates was striking. The resentation of material in the B.C. Lumber IWA District Convention in Victoria this REPORT the District Officers’ report for a brief, supported by evidence, before Commissioner Sloan, ap- pointed to enquire into the ad- ministration of the Workmen’s Compensation Act. The carefully considered recommendations sub- mitted, which were approved by the IWA made an obvious im- pression, especially on the subject of accident prevention. Women’s Auxiliaries “ The formation of a number of Women’s Auxiliaries during the year was noted in the report and high praise expressed for the| manner in which the Auxiliary | affairs have been conducted. The, growing strength of the Women’s Auxiliaries is weleomed as of significant importance to the Union. The hospital visiting commit- tees of the Auxiliaries were singled out for their faithful at- tention to the needs of sick and injured brothers and as an out- standing and vitally important contribution to the purposes of the Union. Fraternal delegates from the Auxiliaries will be welcomed by the District Convention when it assembles in Victoria. Minimum Wage A special project undertaken | by the District Officers was the presentation of a brief to the Board of Industrial Relations supporting the demand of engi- neers for an increase of their minimum wage. Numerous enterprises conduct- ed by the Union were dealt with in the report which in sum pre- sented an impressive array of facts to prove that the [WA was constantly battling during 1950 to safeguard the interests of the organized lumber workers. JAMES BURY, re-elected by acclamation Secretary of the| Greater Vancouver and Lower Mainland Labor Council. Bad Teeth + Common OTTAWA. (CPA) —A recent dental survey among children in separate schools in London, On- tario, reveals that an average of 68.7 of the children have defec- tive teeth. In some schools in the city the rate is as high as 80 percent, Dr. W. Harley Mason, who con- ducted the survey, the first of its kind among separate schools in London, estimated that 11 per- cent of the pupils are urgent cases, “which is very high”. Free dental care is not pro- vided in the separate schools, as is done in public schools, but some work is financed by the board where parents cannot afford the expense. Dr. Mason recommended to the ‘separate school board that a simi- Royal City IWA Assets $55,000; Workers’ Interests Guarded ‘Twenty-two delegates who will speak for Local 1-357, IWA, at the District Convention in Victoria this week will represent a membership which increased by over 1,000 during 1950 to approximately 5,500. Membership at the beginning of the year approximated 4,500, Greatest pride of the Royal City IWA members is their pos- session with clear title of their own quarters at 533 Clarkson St., New Westminster. The interior of the hall was given extensive re-decoration during the past year, and a new heating system was installed. A reserve of $15,000 has now been placed in the building fund of Local 1-357 IWA Building Society, formed under the Socie- ties Act, and inclusive of all Local Union members. This legal device gives the membership property-holding rights as a group. ‘The assets held by the Society now total $40,000, and when com- bined with the liquid resources of the Union, the aggregate assets of IWA members in New West- minster are $55,000. 1950 Strikes Arbitration local employers was carried to arbitration during the year. Al- though one award was favorable to the Union, and the second one the contract was made in the end, and the employees concerned satisfied. Other activities worthy of men- tion were, the first Christmas Party of the Local Union, which was staged on December 17; the re-activization of the local PAC committee in support of Law- | rence Vandale’s candidacy in the | New Westminster civic elections; | the appearance of Harold Pritch- ett as an employee in an IWA- certified operation under the Local Union’s jurisdiction. Women’s Auxiliary | The re-organization of the Two matters of dispute with]: lost, the net result was that the | point regarding interpretation of | Most exciting events of the| Women’s Auxiliary was under- past year in New Westminster | taken successfully during the for the IWA were three work| year. Yeoman service was given stoppages. Most famous was the| by the Auxiliary members in the one which: occurred at Pacific| promotion of the Christmas Veneer and which faced the Local! Party. Regular social evenings Union with the possibility of, are staged, and faithful hospital complete de-certification. | visiting is undertaken. Job action in protest against | neglected grievances was taken at Ace Industries and at Mac- Nair’s Shingle Co. In each in: stance the Local Union swung into action to secure satisfactory settlements. The incidents are today regarded with equanimity, as indicating the militant ‘atti- tude of the membership and in the case of Pacific Veneer as one which broke the ice for 2 more satisfactory deal for ply wood workers in the province. Grievances Prize settlement of a grievance during the past year was the re- troactive wage adjustment secured for engineers at Pacific Veneer who had been required to work on permits, while awaiting qualification, at rates lower than established for the jobs on which they were certificated. Largest sum secured for any individual in this respect was $1,300. The volume of work passing through the Local Union office increased last year to an extent which justified the employment of a second business agent, Presi- General Activity Local 1-357 seats 15 delegates on the Vancouver Labor Council ard has claimed active represen- tation in the B.C. Federation of ;Labor. Financial Secretary | Lawrence Vandale was the lone ‘IWA delegate from British Columbia to attend the CIO con- Lawrence Vandale, Local 1-357. | Union is the AFL, whose raiding tactics on engineers has caused | constant trouble, and has been steadily battled by the IWA officers. | Latest crusade has been launched against the practice of jealling injured men back to work @ ‘before approval by medical authority. Health and Welfare Steps are now being taken by , the employees of Alaska Pine to | secure a more generous sick bene- ‘ft plan. The matter is under | discussion, with hopeful pros- pects, and is being supported by the Local Union. Latest incident in the Local Union’s program of vigilant pro- tection of working conditions was the lodging of a complaint with the Industrial Relations Board against Timberland Lumber Co. The. management failed to post the lunch periods, and allegedly een tiae | was jockeying the periods to the i“SActive interest is taken in’ S@tious inconvenience of the men. | community service activities, with The regulations were finally en- the result that the IWA stands forced through the Union’s high in public favor in New @¢tion. Westminster. | Rae Eddie was EPEC aS, elected Director of the Commu-' Wi a nity Chest and the Red Cross; orld Income immy Abrams serves on the istributi i i Bararutive Board of the YMCA, ,qPuryeation of gold income i and President Andy Smith is on: survey, that it ranges from $50 'the Board of the Blood Donors’ per person a year to $1450. eeeernne Gees ae In effect, one-tenth of the en- kee i € pos-' tire world’ population gets half sible through the ingenuity of’ of the ocldanincoase while one- Financial Secretary Vandale en- half get one-tenth of the total. ables the Local Union to operate; Qf" 70 countries. surveyed in vention in Chicago during the year. Ten delegates were sent to the annual CCL convention and | 15 to the IWA International Con- its own mailing system, for Local Union circulars, the “Buzzsaw”, j and the B.C. Lumber Worker. dent Andy) Smith: | All committee members are sup- Outstanding success has been plied with copi SH comme ny Heng, Siaitin Sin CEOS ae pe CRUEL OS A Fhe ment of claims against the Work-| and CCL Labor. Thorny Problems Thorn inthe side of the Local CIO News | men’s Compensation Board. In i one instance the compensation was doubled, and the applicant 1949, the USA leads with an in- come per person of about $1450 —away ahead of all other coun- tries. In the “high income” bracket between $700 and $900 are Ca- nada, the United Kingdom, Aus- tralia, Denmark, New Zealand and Switzerland. placed on work which he could perform. Unemployment Insurance claims are dealt with by Finan-; cial Secretary Lawrence Vandale, ! and general job problems are the assignment of Business Agent, THE LONG AND THE SHORT OF IT... Rae Eddie. ‘As a result of consistent or- ganization effort two new and important certifications were secured in 1950—Creo-Dipt Ltd. and Vancouver Cedar Products. Education Most important educational activity on the part of Local 1-357 was the development of what is now regarded by the National Film Board as the big- gest supplementary film circuit in the country. Over the months, officers of the Local Union have been steadily presenting 30 film programs a month to lumber workers on the job, to drive home lessons of unionism, and safety. A projector has now been pur- chased. A large delegation of IWA members from the Local Union attended the week-end Institute of the Vancouver Labor Council at Orlomah Beach. Enrollment is now under way for students to attend the educational classes of the Council in New Westminster commencing in February. Full backing is given educa- tional activity by the Local Union because of the belief that an en- lightened membership makes for ee ee trade union strength. For over 50 years we have sold Union- Made Clothing, consisting of Branded Lines of national repute, and our Friendly Service has brought us not only customers, but friends through: out among. ~Whet—he ted fo wll you o Sait thet woods, Eki ft? Change yoor store, my be ed try THE HUB CONVE: 45 EAST HASTINGS STRE) CREDIT the A HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR AND BEST WISHES FOR A SUCCESSFUL CONVENIENT and particularly in the Province, the men who work INTION ET VANCOUVER, B.C. TERMS