B.C, LUMBER WORKER ‘During the present strike, duty of releasing information n public with peed to , s was in accordance with the decision of the Polic: qoommittee to take the public completely into the Union's @Pontfidence with respect to its purposes and aims. ‘The IWA had nothing to con- ‘eeal, neither had we any cause for apologies. We did discover, however, that an informed public opinion is a more sympathetic public, opinion, and that public m is an important factor in winning any strike. - We also discovered that the man on the street is not always well informed regarding such matters as collective bargaining ~ and conciliation, When he is not aware of the facts, he is suscept- ible to the misleading propaganda which originates with the em- ployers. Although our daily releases to _ the press and radio have had un- questioned value, it is neverthe- true that the individual on e is the best propagandist for the Union in his daily rela- tions with his neighbors and fel- low-workers. If each individual member of the IWA becomes thoroughly’ conversant with the facts, and takes the pains to pass along these facts to others, im- portant results follow in the com- munity outlook toward a strike. For these reasons I propose to state what happened, and why, in chronological order, that the events which caused this strike may be clearly set forth in proper Sequence. Here they are: FEBRUARY 1, 1952 — IWA District Convention endorsed resolution declaring that “On June 15, no contract, no work” WN the writer was assigned the to the membership and the the Union's strike activities. and outlined contract demands for 1952-53. MARCH 23—IWA Wages and Contract Conference, re-affirmed convention resolution, “no con- tract, no work”, and defined spe- cific ‘contract demands, with in- structions to elected Policy Com- mittee. APRIL 8—IWA notified Forest Industrial Relations of proposed contract demands, both monetary and technical. APRIL 15 — IWA requested commencement of bargaining. FIR requests five-day delay. APRIL 21—Meeting held, but FIR not prepared to bargain, APRIL 23—FIR informed IWA of technical changes in contract desired by employers. APRIL 25 — FIR informed IWA, ten days after bargaining commenced, of monetary counter- proposals—a wage-cut, APRIL 30—Negotiations dead- locked . . . IWA applies for Con- ciliation Officer, MAY 12—Conciliation Officer met with IWA. MAY 13-14 — Conciliation Off- cer met with FIR. MAY 16 — FIR insisted upon rejection of all IWA demands, both technical and monetary, and maintained necessity for wage- cut. Conciliation Officer recom- mended appointment of a Con- ciliation Board. e MAY 19—IWA appointed Law- rence Vandale as nominee on Conciliation Board. MAY 27 — FIR named C. G. Robson as employers’ nominee on Conciliation Board. MAY 29 — Labor Relations Board named Mr. A. Cowan as Chairman of Conciliation Board. MAY 30—Sitting of Board de- layed as employers’ nominee too busy. " JUNE 3 — Conciliation Board held first meeting. JUNE 4 — Conciliation Board proceedings conclude. JUNE 6 — Conciliation Board failed to reach agreement and decided that minority report was unavoidable. JUNE 7—Time for Conciliation expired, Vandale submitted his minority report. Labor Relations Board refused extension of time as not requested by both parties, Union applied for a government supervised strike vote. JUNE 9 — LRB reversed deci-- sion to allow Chairman an exten- sion of time. JUNE 11—IWA received ma- jority and minority recommenda- tions of the Board. IWA renew- ed application for strike vote. JUNE 12 — Union’s vote on strike authorization carried with 93% majority — biggest vote in history of Union. JUNE 12—IWA notified that strike vote held in abeyance by LRB and ordered to continue bar- gaining. JUNE 13 — LRB called both parties together. Employers ac- cept majority report. [WA scaled down demands in effort to achieve settlement. FIR agreed to fur- ther meetings and later reversed decision, stating that meetings futile and further negotiations impossible, JUNE 14 — Further meeting held at insistence of LRB. FIR attended but stated unwillingness to discuss terms of séttlement because of deadline. JPNE 15 — All operations in Coast area closed down, upon automatic application of member- ship order as no satisfactory con- tract had been secured. JUNE 16-17-18—IWA repeated offer to meet with FIR and dis- cuss terms of settlement. JUNE 26—LRB outlined me- diation proposals with modifi tions to protect Union’s bargain- ing position, FIR rejected media- tion of LRB, on ground that the Union should be first penalized. JULY 14—IWA agreed to pro- posal that Chief Justice Sloan mediate dispute. Operators also agreed. JULY 16—Chief Justice Sloan instituted mediation conferences in Victoria. A “BLOW BY BLOW” STRIKE RECORD | By STUART M. HODGSON . CCL SCHOOL STEPS OUT PORT HURON (CP) — Labor legislation, co-operative organiza- tion, collective bargaining, the job of a steward, union adminis- tration and PAC techniques were among the courses taken by about 140 members of Canadian Con- gress of Labor affiliates who at- tended the xecent CCL summer school at Port Huron, Michigan. In_ discussion sessions, CCL members talked over more gen- eral questions such as farmer- labor relationships, the needs of working people in Europe and Asia, and the problems of racial tolerance. Among the speakers and in- structors were UAW Canadian Director George Burt, and CCF National Secretary Lorne Ingle. -PAC Predicts Election Soon Final results of the recent provincial elections in B.C. have caused active supporters of CCL-PAC to lay plans for renewed activity in anticipation of an election early in 1953. Probability that the Social Credit will attempt to form a minority government with a one-seat lead over the CCF offers little hope of political stability. Political enigma is the probable attitude of the Social Credit party toward organized labor. Statements issued by the pros- pective Premier, W. A. C. Ben- nett, hold but little comfort, as it is believed that he favors com- pulsory arbitration as the method of dealing with the current strike situation, Hitherto, the Social Gredit Party has not displayed any warmth toward the trade unions due mainly to the fact that it’s foothold is mainly in the rural areas. Let’s Talk It Over WE ALL WANT OUR WORK TO BUILD PROSPERITY FOR THE ENTIRE POPU- LATION OF BRITISH COLUMBIA. * WE ALL. KNOW THAT HARMONIOUS EMPLOYER-EMPLOYEE RELATIONS ARE ESSENTIAL FOR OUR PROSPERITY. WE CAN ALL USE COMMONSENSE TO STRIKE A FAIR BALANCE BETWEEN THE CLAIMS OF LABOR AND MANAGEMENT TO AVOID RUINOUS INDUS- TRIAL STRIFE, LABOR’S VIEW The Problem The Answer FIFTY THOUSAND -WORKERS IN THREE MAJOR IN- DUSTRIES, lumbering, fishing, and construction have taken or are about to take strike action. ; Large trade unions, the IWA, the Fishermen’s Union; and the Building Trades, are now fighting for consideration of the needs of their members. Many trade unions now state that strike action offers the only means by which they may gain a fair deal. ‘The trade unions are convinced that the organized employers have agreed to reject all trade union claims this year. 5 Bargaining and conciliation procedures have therefore failed. _ No immediate prospect of effective mediation to avert widespread work stoppages is in sight. ni Expansion of income through distribution of wages is an essential factor in the expansion of general prosperity. The spending of wages keep the cash registers ringing in B.C. communities for the wage-earners form the bulk of the population. Expanding purchasing power in the hands of the workers aids trade, as it expands the capacity to accept goods tendered in pay- ment for our exports. The price of labor must be determined by the democratic methods of collective bargaining, conducted to the mutual advantage of labor and managément. z Both labor and management must bargain and conciliate in a spirit of compromise to achieve a fair settlement of differences. The public, acting through appropriate agencies can determine the standards of equity and security by demanding adequate and im- partial mediation of conflicting claims. ‘THE ORGANIZED LUMBER WORKERS, FISHERMEN, AND CONSTRUCTION WORKERS SUBSCRIBE TO THE VIEWS _ EXPRESSED ABOVE AND JOINTLY APPEAL FOR PUBLIC SUPPORT ON THE SIDE OF FAIR AND JUST MEDIATION. STISEMENT SPONSORED BY THE VANCOUVER, NEW WESTMINSTER AND DISTRICT TRADES\AND LABOR COUNCIL (T.L.C.) AND THE GREATER R AND LOWER MAINLAND LABOUR COUNCIL (C.C.L.) ON BEHALF OF THEIR 166 AFFILIATED UNIONS, REPRESENTING 75 THOUSAND WORKERS.