| c ; | kk RIOR STRIKE Kk * Operators Stubbornly KK * Rebuff Conciliator Conciliation services of Mr. Reg Clements failed to weak the deadlock between the IWA Negotiating Com-; mittee and the Southern Interior operators when they met in Vancouver, August 9. The IWA negotiators re- ported subsequently that the employers had stubbornly adhered to their original position, disputing all clauses of the IWA proposed agreement, without making any coun- ter-proposals. Conciliation Officer Clements , will preside at a conference be- tween the IWA Negotiating Committee and the Northern In- teridr operators in Prince George, August 17. It is now considered inevitable that the dispute will be heard by a Conciliation Board, and IWA preparations are geared to this final phase of bargaining, and whatever consequences may en- ie, The view is held in [WA circles that the Interior operators are asking for a fight, and that they are likely to get it before many weeks elapse. The IWA spokes- men contend that the operators are not bargaining in good faith and bre showing every intention of attempting to bulldoze their employees into acceptance of present wages and conditions without any improvement. Battle Looms If strike action is necessary, strike action will be taken, it is asserted, as the prevailing con- ditions can no longer be tolerat- ed. If provoked to a test of eco- nomic strength, IWA officials claim that they are ready this year to battle to the bitter end for the establishment of Coast wage rates and conditions throughout the Interior. In the expectation that a show- down will come before the end of August, strike action plans will be considered at the forth- coming meeting of the District Executive Board. IWA WINS Re-instatement with back pay was quickly secured by agreement Tuesday for four employees of Western Pine Planing Mill Co. Ltd., Prince- ton, who had been discharg- ed, following application for IWA certification. Complaint of unfair labor practices was lodged with the Board, but when com- pany officials attended, they capitulated after some dis- cussion, and agreed to rec- tify matters. Appearing for the IWA were District President J. S. Alsbury, District Secretary- ‘Treasurer, George Mitchell, G. F. Lieberg, and IWA counsel Alex Macdonald. 12“ At Eddys Conciliation Board which heard the dispute between Lo- cal 1-367 IWA and the Eddy Match Co., Mission, last week, has unanimously recommended a wage increase of 1245 cents an hour and a cost of living bonus retroactive to July 1. Union nominee on the Board was District Secretary-Treas- urer George Mitchell. The em- ployees’ case was presented by Financial Secretary Neil Shaw, Local 1-367, and District Presi- dent J. Stewart Alsbury. : EDITORIAL Thank The IWA ‘VERY lumber worker under the IWA Coast master agreement now gains automatically a wage increase of ‘LOOMS : Long RKER Olid Patan om Intateialionad Waoduorharto] Armarlod sks oiuda cnastve Vol. XIX, No. 94 Aug. 16 1951 5e per copy Vancouver, B.C. a Victors Cheer At Lama Wood VICTORY was hailed by IWA Strike Committee at Lama Wood Products, Vancouver, when settle- ment was reached after seven weary weeks on the picket line, gaining for them their demand for wage scale established by the Coast master contract. Artows indicate the President and Secretary of the Committee, Fred Hanson and Miss Jessie (Robbie) Bateson. QUESNEL STRIKERS THREATENED Unwarranted interference with legitimate strike action by | management at Western Plywoods Ltd., Quesnel, was charged |law. They claimed for the strik- before the Labor Relations Board, Monday, by IWA District Offi- | ers the complete right to deter- cers, J. Stewart Alsbury and George Mitchell. Open clash occurred | mine who of their number should when the company pressed for a ruling under which strikers tak- jet on the picket line, and who ing temporary jobs would be disqualified for re-employment in | should be permitted to take other the future. employment. The IWA officials declared that aS te ess We Gone 11 cents an hour, commencing July.1, by reason of the cost-of-living bonus clause negotiated by the Union early in the year. the company’s threatening state- ments to strikers asking for their Unemployment Insurance books in order to seek temporary em- ployment constituted a breach of civil rights, and contravened the |sidered eligible for re-employ- |ment, no satisafctory basis of See STRIKERS Page 2 Tt is therefore timely that every lumber worker should be reminded of the extent to which he is indebted to the Union which acted with commendable foresight to protect his living standards in this degree against the wage cuts of rising prices. Any qualms that may have been entertained by some doubters in February will now be laid to rest by the weleome gain in earnings, made possible the agreement then reached. It is not sufficient to say merely that the base rate has now been raised to $1.40% by this “across the board” in - erease. The full monetary gain achieved by the settlement for an 18-months period should be realized, ‘The original 9-cent increase Len as from January 1 months prior to the termi nation date of the contract, The || gest and most aggressive bar- basic increase now in effect and paid during the first six months of the year, including the category increase, is the equivalent of an ayerage in- crease of 18 cents for the nor- mal 12-month period. It is now apparent that the bonus plus the other increases negotiated by the IWA has in- creased the average wage for the regular contract period in the logging section of the in- dustry by 32 cents, In the saw- mill section, the average in- crease approximates 29 cents, and in the plywood section it is 26 cents an hour. When it is considered that es were obtained ing strength in ne- at and without any ex- pensive industrial strife, the achievement of .the Union ap- pears all the more striking. Substantial increases such as these do not drop like manna from heaven, They were won by shrewd bargaining, which was backed up by a well-knit and determined Union member- ‘When the extra amount is written on the pay cheque, each IWA member should remember these facts, and acknowledge with appreciation the value of his membership in B.C.’s lar- ' REGISTERED FOR- WORK CLOTHING OF UNSTINTED MATERIALS DESIGN and WORKMANSHIP Illustrated is the Cruiser’s Stag of pure virgin wool in mackinaw or kersey. Mackinaw plaids are either red and black; green and black, or blue and black. Notice the four large pockets in front, and the large ack poeket in back, which opens at both sides... a Pesticea of both mackinaw and kersey garments. These are two of the many designs of “Pioneer Brand” clothing obtainable from your commissary or favorite dealer, Made in Vancouver, B, C., by Jones Tent & Awning Ltd., they are designed through careful study of the | ‘ needs and desires of B.C. workmen.