B.C. LUMBER WORKER June 21, 1951 PRESIDENT’S COLUMN By J. Stewart Alsbury Support For Plywoods "THROUGH the co-operation of the plant committees in the six major plywood plants on the Coast, and the delegates in attendance at the recent plywood_ conference, it has been possible for the District Officers to open discussions with Forest Industrial Relations Ltd. on a which represents the views of workers, The special committee appoint- | ed by the District Executive Board, Brothers Tom “MacKenzie, Stuart M. Hodgson and Joe Miya- zawa, deserves praise for the painstaking study made of conditions in all plants, in consul- _ tation with plant committees. — , Their compara- ° J» tive tabulation of — categories, rates ‘ iy & and _ operations o give a clear picture of con= ditions in the plywood section of the industry, and has proved in- valuable in preparation of the brief for the plywood workers, Burke Christie Helped ee We were fortunate to have at ||| the plywood conference Brother Burke Christie, President of Dis- trict No. 9, Plywood, Box, Shook and Door Division, Olympia, Wash. We are in his debt for valuable advice based on the ex- perience of plywood workers across the line in solving the problems now to the fore in the B.C. district. The plywood workers were given assurance at the confer- ence that the District organiza- tion would stand behind them in their efforts to solve outstanding and vexatious problems and get a better deal. Forest Industrial Relations did not make any commitment be- yond stating that the various points would all be considered and discussed on the basis of the Union’s submission, with the operators concerned. The IWA will be given further opportuni- ties to confer with the operators’ representatives in the matter. However, I may report that a painstaking effort has been made on behalf of the plywood workers in line with the undertaking given them earlier in the year. We are confident that the ‘case as presented will be found de- serving of favorable considera- tion by the operators. Engineers’ Grievances Similarly, I may report that five-point program of revision the majority of the plywood action is under way to deal as effectively as possible with the complaint of the engineers in re- gard to the spread between the various classes of certification. District officers have fami- liarized themselves with the problem and are continuing to press for the adjustments re- quested. We hope to be in a position to make an announce- ment in this respect at an early date. ry Sigs a 109. SRE © 1951 Gree Samurre “I know we're members of the same union, but can’t you stop calling me ‘Brother’?” “Daughter, that fellow who walks with you through the park doesn’t look very polished.” “Well, Ul admit he’s a little yough around the hedges.” ees of Skyline Manufacturing Co. are E\apply in other Vancouver plywood §|Hammond Furniture Co., the employ- LOCAL 1-217 JONES TENT BACKS DOWN ON OFFER Cheque for $260 back pay was secured by one employee at Lions Gate Lumber Co. when the officers of Local 1-217 IWA discovered that the night shift differential was not being paid to engineers and fireman, as stipulated in the IWA contract, Retroactive payments ranged from $46 upwards. Negotiations by the Local Union for the 1951-52 contract on behalf of Vancouver furniture workers are well under way. Local Union officers have already conferred with management representatives at Hammond Furniture Co., Restmore Manufacturing Co., and presented the employees’ demands. These are; a 25 cent an hour increase, cost of living bonus at one cent per point rise in the index, 9 paid statu- tory holidays, and a health and wel- face plan. Next bargaining conference is set for June 27. Skyline Manufacturing Additional to demands already form- ulated for furniture workers, employ- demanding the same rates as now plants, Although their plywood oper- ations are housed on the premises of €es are insistent that no plywood worker should be discriminated against in the matter of wages. Negotiations with Skyline Manufac- turing have been opened by the Local Union. Jones Tent and Awning Negotiations on behalf of the em- ployees in the Venetian Blind Division of Jones Tent and Awning received a setback due to a change of attitude on the part of management. Applica- tion has therefore been made for the services of a Conciliation Officer. The employees had voted to accept an offer made by the company for a 15 cent an ‘hour wage increase, cost of living bonus, 9 paid statutory holi- days, Union Shop, and two weeks va- GRAY AT SLOAN HEARINGS Secretary of the IWA District Safety Council, William Gray, will represent the Union during the final phase of the enquiry into Workmen’s Compensation under Chief Justice Sloan. In the next two weeks, the IWA representative will attend the hearings in Victoria, during the presentation of evidence and argu- ment on behalf of the employers and the Board. It is expected that the right to cross-examine witnesses will be accorded him, as on former occasions he was closely cross-examined by the employers’ counsel. cation after three years’ employment. When the agreement was presented for signing, the Local Union's officers received a tude shock, when they were informed that the offer had been with- drawn. A changed offer promised only a 10 cent an hour increase for the men, and nothing for the women. The second offer was rejected by the employees. Warning Heeded A recent near-fatality at Kashmir Lumber Co., due to a structural weak- ness in the plant, prompted the Local Union officials to demand a thorough investigation by safety inspectors of the Workmen's Compensation Board. Repairs are now being carried out. A new Safety Committee has been elected and charged by the employees with the duty of preventing any recurrence of needless accidents, * Safety Council Next meeting of the Local Union Safety Council will be held at 45 Kingsway, Sunday, June 24, at 7:30 p.m. All job safety committees are urged to send representatives. Annual Picnic Meeting of the Social Committee, PAcific 9645 Cornett Bros. (1950) Limited MEN'S QUALITY SHOES AT POPULAR PRICES 33 E. Hastings St., Vancouver, B.C, held June 15, elected the various sub- committees in charge of special arrangements for the Annual Picnic, Sunday, July 22. Convenors of these special committees are: Refreshments, Harry Bardsley; Sports, S. M: Hodg- son; Park, H. Whitehouse; Publicity, | Bert Fulljames. Plans for the 2nd Anoust Pic dA) July 22, provide many attractive fea- tures for the younger generation. Chil- dren will be entertained with pony rides, and treated to ice cream and pop. Coffee, tea and milk will be pro- vided for family basket picnic groups. ‘A varied and exciting sports program will hold the interest of both young and old. In anticipation of a bumper crowd, the Social Committee has arranged for the attendance of St. John’s Ambu- Jance First-aid men, Full information will be circulated throughout the plants. SAN FRANCISCO — TAILORS — LOAN MONEY ON Suits, Overcoats, etc. Loggers’ Boots, Sleeping Bags, Suitcases, Radios, . 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