a MEDIATION PROCEEDS EC Lonsentvor Vol. XX, No. 15 > JULY 17, 1952 5c PER COPY VANCOUVER, B. C. Interior Talks | Meet Stalemate Negotiations with the Interior lumber operators dead- locked this week at the end of the prescribed period for bargaining, with the IWA making immediate application for the.appointment of Conciliation Officers for the North- agrn and Southern operations included in the bargaining oups. A series of conferences at Prince George for the Northern Interior operations, attended by the members of the IWA District Policy Committee, failed of re- sults, in discussion with the Nor- thern Interior Lumbermen’s As- sociation, Similar conferences in Vancouver dealing with the Southern Interior operations lile- wise ended in stalemate. : IWA negotiators complained that they had experienced the same delays which had been en- countered in the Coast negotia~ tions. They claimed that the In- terior operators were marking time to await the outcome of the strike at the Coast. | Demands of the union followed closely the demands presented at the Coast, with the provision that the over-all “package” in mone- tary terms should be the equiva- Tent of a wage increase of 3bc. Demands were set forth as hereunder: (1) WAGES: The Union's re- mest in the matter of ad- justments to the present wage schedule, will be presented to the representalive during the initial bargaining period, UNION SECURITY: A full Union Shop clause to provide” that as a condition of em- ployment, all present and fu- ture employees will become and remain members of the International Woodworkers of America. PAID STATUTORY HOLI- DAYS: A new clause to pro- vide all employees covered by this Agreement with regu- lar rate of pay for all Statu- tory Holidays, either named or declared. HEALTH & WELFARE: A new clause providing for a wnion trusteed, employer-paid Health and Welfare plan to cover all employees within the bargaining units. IMPROVEMENTS TO THE PRESENT VACATION CLAUSE to provide holidays as follows: 1 week after one year's em- ployment. 2 weeks after three years’ employment. 3 weeks afier 5 years’ em- ployment. HOURS OF WORK: Changes to this Clause to provide for a 40-hour work- (2) @) (4) ©) (6) WHAT'S INSIDE week, and other necessary technical changes in line with our work-week request. (7) SENIORITY: Certain im- provements and word changes See “INTERIOR” Page 2 Radio Log GREEN GOLD— Monday, CJOR, 9 p.m., Thursday, CJOR, 7 p.m., ‘Vancouver LOCAL 1-85 IWA— Thursday, CJAV, 6:30 p.m. Port Alberni LOCAL 1-357 IWA— Saturday, CKNW, 7:05 p.m., New Westminster PUBLIC RALLY BACKS STRIKE More than 5000 persons assembled in Powell Street Grounds at a labor rally, which surpassed any such demon- stration seen in recent years, unanimously voted support for workers now on strike after the issues had been out- lined on behalf of the IWA and the trade unions concerned. The assembly which was spon- Sored by the Greater Vancouver and Lower Mainland Labor Coun- cil, was chaired by President George Mitchell, who welcomed the cooperation of the Trades and Labor Council in what lie des- cribed as a grave industvial crisis involving more than 50,000 work- ers, In forthright terms he ascribed the menacing situation to the tac- ties of the employers who had engaged in warfare against the trade union movement to depress wage standards. Show-down Now The time had come for a show- down, he warned, as the existence of a united front of the employ- ers had been disclosed in their own publications. Representing the IWA, District President J. Stewart Alsbury claimed that the charge against the IWA of illegality was noth- ing more than a smoke-screen. Actually it had been the employ- See “RALLY” Page 2 HOOK Holds Pe ko Members of the IWA Negotiat- ing Committee observed strict silence with regard to any pro- gress made, in deference to the request of the Chief Justice. International Assist It was disclosed by Negotiating Committee Secretary Walter Al- len in a_ radio broadcast that designated members of the com- mittee were in constant attend- ance, together with International President Al Hartung and First Vice-president Claude Ballard. He also assured IWA members that the entire District Policy Committee was standing by for quick consultation on all vital matters of policy. Any conclus- ive outcome of mediation would be immediately communicated to the membership, he stated. Public Demand Public opinion rapidly mounted in support of a front-page edi- torial of The Vancouver Sun, in which it was pointed out that in- action to break the stalemate in the lumber industry would result disastrously for the province. The name of Chief Justice Sloan was suggested as mediator. Kk * Chief Justice Sloan ace Talks kkk Continuation of conferences between the IWA District Negotiating Committee and Forest’ Industrial Relations Ltd. this week with Chief Justice Gordon Sloan as media- tor, was regarded by observers as indicating the possibility of an early settlement of the dispute which has halted production in the Coast lumber industry for over a month. The IWA Negotiating Commit- tee immediately accepted the suggestion and communicated, with the Chief Justice, stating that his mediation would be wel- comed by the Union. A few days later, after it was made appar- ent that public opinion would no longer brook evasive tactics, the operators agreed to accept this form of medigtion. Immediate result was the drop- ping of all accusations regarding the legality of the course pursued by the IWA, and straightforward consideration of the real issues to discover any basis of settlement. Vancouver Selected Mediation conferences opened in Victoria, July 16, and occupied the balance of the week. It was then announced that the confer- ences would be resumed in Van- couver, that both parties might command readier access to es- sential information and oppor- tunities for consultation with - their principals. It is predicted that a formula for settlement may result before another week elapses. Contempt day exchange between le; House. IWA OFFICIALS leave Vancouver Court House when charges of contempt for alleged yolation of on anti- injunction were dropped by Coastal Towing Co. Ltd. (Left) Jacob Holst, Fred Fieber, District Pre- Dicketing sident J. S. Alsbury, George Mitchell, Stuart Hodgson, “Jocko” Colwell, Joe Morris, and John T. Atkinson. waited patiently in an anter Towing Co. Drops Charges Action launched on behalf of Coastal Towing Co. Ltd. to commit all IWA District Officers and Local 1-80 picket officials for contempt of court was abandoned after a one- gal counsel while the defendants ‘oom of the Vancouver Court ° Charges against the IWA offi- cials were based on affidavits fur- nished by John Hugh Garrison, master of the tug Gleeful, who alleged that his attempts to tow nine sections of logs out of the export storage basin at Lady- smith, had been prevented by : IWA pickets. |. It was contended th: this was in violation of a restraining order previously issued by Mr, Justice = Manson protecting the interests jof Coastal Towing Co. against | picketing. Legal Rights Upon consultation between the | IWA pickets and officials’ con- ‘ cerned, with barristers Alex Mac- donald and R. J, MacMaster, it was disclosed that the IWA pick- ets at Ladysmith had merely ex- ercised their legal rights of peaceful picketing. The master of the tug, a mem- ber of the Merchant Service Guild, was unwilling to take logs placarded “hot cargo” in tow. When agreement was reached to abandon the action, Mr. Justice » Coady amended the order of the court, allowing for peaceful pick- eting as defined in the “Trade Union Act” and the [WA officials * agreed to communicate this defi- nition to the pickets at Lady- smith, . a Suits Pending Further attempts of employers to break the IWA picket lines have resulted in the issuance of further injunctions and charges of contempt. In one instance civil suit is threatened. All such matters have been re- ferred to the solicitors of the IWA for the necessary defence. Contention of the IWA is that ithe Trade Union Act permits peaceful picketing, and that on this right the Union will make its stand. -