JIM Buss PHILP i - STAGE SET FOR INTERIOR BATTLE COAST TERMS - - OR ied iP D.M, RITCHIE / rd ‘oft Pebtiation of the International Wooduorhers of America wi. viewer Conc No.1. Negotiations RKER Vol. XIX, No. 90 a June 21, 1951 5c per copy Vancouver, B.C. Plywood Revisions Presented To F.I.R. Hopes of Coast plywood workers for improved wage classi- fications, seniority provisions, and other conditions were raised last week, when on June 12, IWA District Officers and Inter- ational Representative Joe Miyazawa submitted their fi ve ‘major proposals to Forest Industrial Relations Ltd., and secured the promise of consultation with the operators concerned. It was stipulated by the Union's spokesman that all the points should be considered as inter-related, and as comprising in toto a program of re- vision that would climinate causes of serious dissatisfaction among plywood workers, Forest Industrial Relations under- took to give full consideration to a de- tailed memorandum prepared by the IWA. Mr. John Billings assured the IWA officers that the operators, if agreement were reached to open the contract for revision, would consider each item, and listen to the Union's arguments, Plywood Conference ‘This action followed preparations which were approved at a conference of delegates ee all coast plywood plants in the Steelworkers Hall, Van- couver, June 3. BURKE CHRISTIE, President, IWA District No. 9, Plywood Workers, who addressed Plywood Conference, Vancouver, June 3. werent officer was District 2nd Vice-President Stuart M. Hodgson. International Representative Joe Miya- zawe acted as Secretary, In opening the conference, the Chairman explain- its purposes and outlined the pre- ry work that had been accom- by a special committee which ade a survey of conditions in all ~_ the2plywood plants. vavnv> oyal Bank B 9691 “ON Sage Qaivd 39v1isod YALSNINLSSM MAN 1205 R 1-424 Board Under Way Proceedings of the Con- ciliation Board to hear the dispute between Local 1-424, IWA, and Western Plywoods Ltd., Quesnel, opened in Van- couyer, Tuesday. E Chairman is Mr. W. T. Moody. District President . Stewart Alsbury is the IWA nominee on the Board. Case for the IWA was submitted by the District \ Officers. 1-217 Strikes Two Plants Strike action was taken by Local 1-217, IWA, in two Van- cover plants last Tuesday morning, June 19. Pickets en- circled the plant of Chrom-O- Craft at 7:30 a.m., and similar action followed at the plant of Lama Woods Products Ltd. at 11 a.m. : Operations in both plants were brought to a complete standstill as picket lines were efficiently organized. At Chrom-O-Craft, 1921 West 4th Ave., the employees had rejected the recommenda- tions of a Conci ‘ion Board, which failed to give them the wage rates prevailing in other Vancouver furniture plants. Wages as low as 60 cents an hour for women and 80 cents an hour for men were being - paid. 3 The strike vote, taken in the plant, approved strike action four to two. The Local Union is appealing for assistance to maintain the picket line and to finance the strikers. Lama Wood Products Efforts to secure a settle- ment were continued until the strike deadline by the Local Union at’ Lama Wood Products. When these failed the pickets took their stations as planned. The company had rejected the majority award of a Con- ciliation Board, recommending prevailing wages in plywood plants. The employees accept- ed the award, and yoon advice of the company’s stubborn atti- tude, yoted for strike action 19 to 4, The militancy of the workers was further aroused by the fact that the Conciliation Board recommendation gave effect to a promise made by the company two years ago. ‘They were assured then that upon the installation of mod- ‘inery, now in opera- em tion, the increased rates would | be paid. In Kelowna _ July 6, Pr. George, July 10 Bargaining to settle the terms of the IWA master agreements in the Northern and Southern Interior dis- tricts of the province for the year commencing September 1, will formally open in Kelowna, July 6, and in Prince George, July 10. On the dates mentioned representa- tives of the IWA District Policy Com- mittee will present the Interior lumber operators with the demands formulated at the Cranbrook Wages and Contract conference, which, if accepted, will give Interior Jumber workers the same advantages in wages and conditions as have now been established in the Coast area, Preliminary. discussions which it was hoped would provide the opportunity for an carly settlement by mutual agreement, as at the Coast this year, proved futile. The usual sixty days’ y| notice was therefore given by the SPECIAL PLYWOOD COMMITTEE meets to prepare results of suryey made of conditions in Coast plywood plants for presentation to conference of plywood delegates. (Left) International Board Member Tom MacKenzie, District 2nd Vice-President Stuart M. Hodgson, and International Representative Joe Miyazawa. $2.00 ASSESSMENT VOTE ‘YES’ [WA members are now being supplied by their Local Unions with ballots for the referendum on the $2.00 ‘yearly assess- ment for 195] yecommended by the District Convention. : They are reminded that the delegates from the Local Unions at the convention regarded the assessment as being the most satisfactory method of solving the: financial problems of an expanded District. program. They are urged to vote and to vote “Yes” in order that a number of important projects demanded by the membership ¢ carried to a successful conclusion, Chief among these projects which depend on approval of the ment are: Improvement of administration to service a membership, doubled since 1948, with special attention for the Interior. Organizational’ support for the Interior negotiations this year. ; Appointment of a full-time Safety Director, to promote and co-ordinate safety work in all operations. Maintenance of a Chinese organizer by the District to com- plete the organization of Chinese workers in the industry. Promotion of a District trade union educational program. Provision to meet the rising costs of supplies, maintenance, and staff in the District Office. The members of the District Executive Board consider that approval of the proposed amendment will indicate that IWA members desire the District organization to strengthen its program for future progress and any ‘emergencies. ass IWA, requiring the prescribed proce- dures of collective bargaining for a revised contract. Coast Terms Demanded Demands advanced on behalf of the Interior workers include: base rate of $1.29Y2 plus accumulated cost, of liv- ing bonus, Union security, 40-hour week, with time and a half for Satur- day and Sunday production workyim- proved vacation clauses, and other provisions included in the Coast mas- ter agreement. No Contract; No Work The IWA negotiators are determined that bargaining shall be short and de- cisive. If conciliation procedures “are necessary, these must be concluded well before September 1; it is urged. Interior IWA members have declared that, “On September 1, no contract, no work.” It must therefore be made clear, they contend, whether any basis for an amicable settlement is possible well before the date set for decisive action. Disquieting complications have arisen by reason of the action taken by some employers in offering a tem- porary cost of living bonus in disre- gard of the Union's bargaining author- ity. These violations of the existing contract provisions have been drawn to.the attention of the Labor Relations Board, requesting the right to prose- cute. i Organization Drive District Secretary-Treasuirer George Mitchell is spending the present week in the Kelowna area, to undertake See ‘Coast Terms’ Page 3 The Ouly GENUINE \DRY-BAK’ ASK FQR IT BY NAME AT YOUR COMMISSARY OR LEADING STORES The treatment by which canvas is made water repellent to produce “DRY-BAK”’ is a development and exclusive process of Jones Tent & Awning Ltd., and is entirely processed in our own plant. You should, therefore, look for the name ‘‘DRY-BAK’”’. on every garment as your guarantee of obtaining the finest water repellent can- vas clothing obtainable. Ask for it with or without inferlining.