- Geo: Mitchell Reports

THERE’S A REASON

JA Local Unions should note the significance of the fact that
nine major problems arising from disputed interpretations of
the master agreement now await discussion under the provisions
of the “right of reference” clause of the agreement, The conclu-
sions to be drawn from these circumstances are (1) that a clear
understanding of certain terms of the agreement did not exist at
the time of signingand (2) that the employers are resorting to
restrictions on benefits as preparatory to this year’s negotiations.

On the first
point we should
all perhaps exer-
cise greater care.
When the master
agreement was
finally drafted,
the Policy Com-
mittee endeavor-
ed to foresee all
those contingen-
cies which might arise regarding
interpretation.

Jn some instances, changing
conditions in the industry, and
inereasing alertness of the job
committees have resulted in dif-
ficulties regarding interpreta-
tions.

In many instances, agreements
were signed in the operations,
without a clear understanding be-
tween the Local Unions and the
employers that certain conditions,
to which they were accustomed,
should be rectified. -

Initial Agreement

As the “right of reference” is
a difficult procedure, the obvious
alternative is a clear-cut under-
standing at the time of signing
the agreement.

When signed the agreement
should be vigilantly policed to
make certain that the conditions
agreed upon are enforced for the
benefit of the crews.

the blame for present difficulties
rests entirely with the Union.
There is good reason to believe

||that the employers are “tighten-

ing up” on all contract benefits
in order to make negotiations
this year as difficult as possible.

Every effort wil be made to
present certain beneficial clauses
now in the contract as unwork-
able, and therefore to be marked
for elimination, All this is con-
sidered by them as a favorable
background for their opposition
to further contract improve-
ments.

The most effective answer to
these tactics is to police the con-
tract continuously, in order to
enforce its letter and spirit.

‘This can be done only with the
full cooperation of the workers
on the job, and it demonstrates
as nothing else can that they are
determined to get a contract
which more fully protects their
rights on the job and standards
of living.

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558

WORKMANSHIP

OTTAWA (CPA) — Stanley

committee on industrial relations,

The bill would provide that
members of a certified union
could request their employer to
check-off union dues and at any
time revoke that decision if they
wish. The measure is already in-

Check-Off Checked

Knowles (CCF Winnipeg North

Centre), accepting Works Minister Fournier’s suggestion that his
voluntary revocable check-off bill go to the House of Commons

said he preferred that course to

the defeat of the bill by the government majority.

moved that the bill be sent to the
committee on industrial relations
and the following year the meas-
ure was written into the national
labor code. u

CAUTION!

WASHINGTON — The AFL
has urged all affiliates to use
“ytmost caution” in negotiating
wage agreements affected by the
Consumer Price Index, which “is
at best an incomplete and ap-
proximate measure.” The AFL
Cost of Living Committee point-
ed out that more than 3 million
workers covered by escalator
clauses are directly affected by
the changes.in the index.

Employers to Blame
This does not mean to say that

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Publication date of the next issue of the B. C. LUMBER WORKER
is March 5th. ‘Deadline for ad copy is February 26th and for news
copy February 27th.

EC Loncert!Worwer

Representing the Organized Loggers and Mill Workers of B.C.
PUBLISHED TWICE MONTHLY BY
INTERNATIONAL WOODWORKERS OF AMERICA (CIO-CCL)
B.C DISTRICT COUNCIL No. 1. Romney

DISTRICT OFFICERS:

Stew

rt Alsbury
Joe Morris
. Stuart M. Hodgson
Fred Fieber
Secretary-Tre George H. Mitchell
International Board Member .. William’ N. Gray
Address all communications to
GEORGE H. MITCHELL, Secretary-'Treasurer
45 Kingsway - Phone FAirmont 8807-8
Vancouver, B.C.

Subseription Rates. $1.50 per annum
Aayertising Representative. -G. A. Spencer

}| tion of the bill by the committee
{|for industrial relations.

;|the government several times.

cluded in the labor codes of sev-
eral provinces.

Minister Doubted
Mr. Knowles questioned Labor
Minister Gregg’s statement that
labor preferred the checkoff as a

subject for collective bargaining
rather than by legislation. He
pointed out that the major labor
congresses have for several
years, presented briefs to the fed-
eral government requesting legis-
lation for a voluntary revocable
checkoff.

‘The opposition of employers to
the dues check-off was inconsist-
ent, said Mr. Knowles, because
they already provide a checkoff
service in respect of various
charities and a compulsory check-
off of income tax payments at
the source. “There is opposition
not just to the idea of the check-
off but to what, in this case, the
checkoff does in that it gives a
form of recognition to, trade
unions and . . . provides some
help to trade unions in their or-
ganizing work,” he said.

Some Hopes

‘The CCF member said he hoped
that history would repeat itself
in connection with the considera-

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INJUNCTION
FOUGHT

WASHINGTON — The U.S.
Supreme Court refused, January
5, to make an immediate ruling
on the constitutionality of the na-
tional emergency provision of the
Taft-Hartley Act, under which
1500 striking Steelworkers at
Dunkirk, N.¥., had been forced
back to work. The union, in the
first court test of the provision,
had urged an immediate decision

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