EPIC YEAR AHEAD

ACHIEVEMENTS OF 1951
RATED SPECTACULAR

Largest and most representative District Convention in
the history of the IWA in British Columbia will assemble
in the Hotel Vancouver on the morning of January 29th.
Spectacular growth of membership in 1951 throughout all

\ Ni
NIZE Ny S
Olticat Pebtiation of tte International Woodworkers of America

NAINA
NI ZAIN
45 Z4,\

Diserct Cosel Nob

Vol. XX, No. 4 E> =

Jan, 17, 1952

5c per copy

Vancouver, B.C.

Interior Firms
Break Faith,

lot Sign

The refusal of a number of
Interior operators to honor the
agreement negotiated for them
by their Association represent-
atives has compelled the IWA
to consider recourse to the La-
sbor Relations Board for en-
forcement of the Jaw in respect
of bargaining and the signing
of agreements. If the operators
concerned ignore the establish-
ed procedure, drastic job action
may be undertaken, it is hinted.

Interior IWA representatives
advised the District Office that
Grand Forks Sawmills and Pat-
chett Planing Mill, Quesnel, as
well as a number of other small
peer: had refused to accept
the terms of the master agree-
ment reached with the Associa-
tions through which they had
bargained, Employees were de-
nied wage increases, cost-of-li
ing bonus, and retroactive adjust-
ments.

Break of Faith

In a statement to the B.C.
LUMBER WORKER, District
Secretary George Mitchell point-
ed out that the agreement had
been reached after prolonged ne-
gotiations to which these firms
subscribed.

He stated, “Non-compliance
with the terms of the agreement
reached in good faith by the Un-
ion’s committee and the opera-
tors’ representatives is a serious
breach in the pra oyelieuiploves
relations now made possible. The
majority of the operators have
signed the agreements. This
small minority of mavericks have
broken faith, and forfeited the re-
spect of their business associates
and employees.” They are main-

taining their former unsavory |;

reputation,

Penalties Pending

_ “The law requires bargaining
in good faith and the implemen-
tation of bargaining decisions by
means of a signed agreement,
The IWA will bring these viola-
tions to the attention of the La-
bor Relations Board and ask for
the necessary action.

“If the Board is helpless ‘to
deal with the situation, the Union
must take all necessary steps,
however drastic, to secure recog-
nition of the rights of workers.”

WHAT’S
INSIDE

HARTUNG
CONFIRMED

Meeting of the Interna- |
tional Executive Board in
Portland, January 4-8, com-
pleted and certified the offi-
cial re-check of the. Tabulat- +
ing Committee’s report on
the election of International
Officers.

The election of A. L. Har-
tung as International Presi-
dent, which had been in
doubt, was confirmed, and
the installation of the officers |
was conducted as premature- j
ly announced in this publica- j
tion. . |

District Ist Vice-president |
Joe Morris and 2nd Vice-
president S. M. Hodgson
were in attendance as official
observers for the B.C. Dis- j
trict Council. i

Grcmomeressrmnevevesoenuy

NORTH - WEST DEMANDS
SOUNDER HEALTH PLAN

Increased employer contribution to the IWA Health
and Welfare scheme in the Pacific Northwest States
formed one of the principal demands of the 200 delegates
attending the Regional Wages and Contract.Conference in

This development followed a
; thorough-going analysis of the
past year’s operations by the offi-
cials of the insurance carrier and
the International Officers.

Other contract demands were:

A substantial across-the-
board wage increase, amount
to be determined by the North-
west Regional Negotiating
Committee.

Three additional paid statu-
tory holidays.

Revision of the Vacation Ar-
ticle to provide two weeks after
three years’ service and three
weeks after five years.

Travel time at regular or
overtime rates as may be ap-
plicable.

Two daily 15-minute rest
periods.

Shift differential of 10 cents
for swing shift and 15 cents for
graveyard shift.

Revision of leave of absence
Article.

See “N. WEST” Page 3

—

Local Unions will qualify with credentials, more delegates

than have yet gathered under the District auspices.

From the moment that the in-
vocation is pronounced by the
Rev. L. A. Hobson of St. An-
thony’s Church, West Vancouver,
and the delegates are welcomed
by President Frank Howard of
the Loggers’ Local, 1-71, the pro-
ceedings will demand attention to
issues of grave import to British
Columbia’s premier Union. s

The officers’ reports for consi-
deration of the membership in
convention will display a record
of remarkable achievement dur-
ing the past convention year. The
growing strength and prestige of
the Union will offer high encour-
agement for the planning of still
greater progress in 1952.

Major Decisions

Major decisions of the conven-
tion are expected to centre
around the negotiation of a mas-
ter agreement for the contract
year of 1952-53. Despite the sub-
stantial gains made, both at the
Coast and in the Interior, lum-
ber workers may be expected to
demand the better contract terms
which they consider justified by
rising living costs and operators’
profits.

With a membership now rapid-
ly exceeding the high mark of
33,000 in 1951, and a firmly estab-
lished bargaining strength on an
industry-wide basis, the contract
strategy will be outlined with
confidence.

Safety Program

The District Safety Conference,
will be held on the preceding day,

Issues of direct interest to
trade unions before the B.C.
Legislature, now scheduled to
open February 19, are charged
with political dynamite likely
to split the Coalition and ex-
plode in a general provincial
election, it is predicted by in-
formed political observers.

The developing clash between
employers and trade unions,
which will centre around the ICA
Act and the Workmen’s Compen-

sation Act, will be one of the ma-
jor. questions before the conven-
tion of the B.C. Federation of
Labor, February 2-3. In the pub-
lic controversy over the B.C.
Hospital Insurance Scheme, trade
unionists find themselves ranged
against the administration, and
! ready to do battle for subsidized
hospitalization.

Statements issued by the
i Premier and the Minister of Fi-

POLITICAL DYNAMITE IN VICTORIA

nance reveal that they are under
continued pressure from their re-
spective parties to abandon Coali-
tion and seek power independ-
ently. The political forecasters
agree that the timing of an elec-
tion will depend on their ability
to snatch political advantages for
their parties from the issues of
immediate concern to trade
unionists.

See “DYNAMITE” Page 2

may be expected to place before
the convention the outline of a
more vigorous campaign for acci-
dent prevention. The 1951 statis-
tics, while showing a reduction in
the accident frequency rate, re-
vealed a larger actual number of
fatalities and time-loss injuries
than in the previous year.

The prominence to be given
trade union issues during the ap-
proaching session of the Legis-
lature or during an early election,
will in all probability, provoke
debate on ways and means of
scoring for trade union aims on
the political field. The threat to
the 40-hour week, a cherished
feature of the IWA master con-
tract, will focus antagonism
against the Labor Relations
Board.

‘Workmen’s Compensation is a
subject close to the hearts of
workers who bear the greatest
burden of industrial accidents.

Report of the Commissioner,
Chief Justice Sloan, will be sub-
mitted to the Legislature this
year, an event which will require
preparatory work by IWA dele-
gates.

Hospital Insurance

The prominent part played by
the IWA in the monster petition

See EPIC YEAR Page 3

New Deal
At Quesnel

Conferences between IWA
District Officers and manage-
ment of Western Plywoods
were scheduled this week to fix
the new contract terms for
employees of that firm in the
Quesnel plant.

The agreement which settled
the strike in 1951 contained a
number of clauses which, as
then agreed, will now be re-
written to conform to the new
master agreement for the Nor-
thern Interior, and will bring
additional benefits to the Ques-
nel plywood workers.

next contract

President Fred Fieber.

Wages, Contract Talks At Portland

NORTHWEST PACIFIC STATES Regional Wages and Contract Conference, Portland, January 12-13,
year. Fraternal delegates present from British Columbia are District Secretary George Mitchell and District 3rd Vice.

formulated new demands for