B.C. LUMBER WORKER

5)

~ Wise.”

“INTERIOR”

had acted as chief spokesman for
the Union, lashed out at the
Coast lumber operators, for their
evasive tactics. He stated: “I
tried everything humanly pos-
sible to arrive at a settlement in
the early stages of bargaining,
but it now appears that the
operators were completely un-
willing to bargain. I want to as-
sure you right now that when the
Union goes before the Concilia-
tion Board we will not stand for
any fooling” around.

“We are going to try and get
down to business, and will ex-
pect the operators to do like-

Election Influence
The International Secretary
concluded with a reference to the
provincial general election: “If
there is a pro-employer govern-
ment elected, the employers are

going to make a stand. If you

elect a weak government, the
employers are going to say ‘No’.
The only alternative is that you
elect a fair and honest govern-
ment with a sincere desire to
serve the best interests of the
people.”

Vice-president Claude Ballard
actively assisted in the confer-
ence on administrative problems
which followed the wage confer-
ence on May 31. Proposals made
jointly by the District and Inter-
national Officers will be submit-
ted for approval of thé Local
Unions. The International officer
gave assurance that as soon as
possible another organizer would
be assigned to the Interior, and
that in future the organizers
would work on an area basis
rather than a local basis. ca

Full support for the organiza-
tion plans outlined was pledged
by him.

FROM PAGE 1

“IWA

Secretary of the Committee, de-
clared: “The attitude taken by
the IWA.from the outset of bar-
gaining talks has been that with
a reasonable and open-minded
attitude on both sides of the
table, an amicable settlement can
be made possible.

“As proof that the Union
was prepared to meet the op-
erators in exploring such pos-
sibilities, the original demands
were modified when confer-
ences were held under the di-
rection of the Conciliation Offi-
cer. Notwithstanding the fact
that the Union’s proposals
were modified, the operators’
representatives made no re-
sponse to the overture, and
remiained adamant on the con-
ditions which they originally
stipulated.”

“As we have explained previ-
ously, their ‘package deal’, when
appraised from the standpoint of
the workers’ welfare, would
prove greatly to their disadvan-
tage.

“Despite the rebuffs which we
have endured in an earnest en-
deavor to bargain in good faith,
We are prepared to continue in
the effort to settle our differences
around the conference table, if
the operators show any readiness
to accomplish a meeting of
minds.

“A settlement must be reached
some day, and the more reason-
able we all are at this stage, the
more likely it is that we can
emerge from this dispute without
serious impairment of satisfac-
tory labor - management rela-

tions.”
Will Fight

“On the other hand, if forced
by the operators to struggle for
what we believe to be the legiti-
mate rights of the workers we
represent, we will intensify our
efforts to get those rights by all
legitimate means at our disposal.
Up to this point the operators
have not been willing to reason

with us, in the light of all the
facts.

Facts Disguised

‘Several points stand out with
even greater clarity, by reason
of the preparation of our case
for a Conciliation Board. One
such point is that a review of the
statements made by the opera-
tors before last year’s Concilia-
tion Board shows that they were
not as close to the truth about
market prospects as was the
TWA.

BRIEF”

reason of events. As they are
attempting to make the same
predictions this year, on flimsier
evidence, we are even more cer-
tain that they are disguising,
rather than explaining the true
situation.”

Wage Increase Feasible

A mass of evidence has been
assembled by the IWA Negotiat-
ing Committee to show that the
industry can pay a wage increase
without crippling the profit posi-
tion of the employers. :

The evidence shows in sum-
mary:

That profits of the lumber
corporations are still excep-
tionally high, and are showing
an upward trend.

That the wage rates in the
lumber industry have fallen
behind the rates now establish-
ed in many other industries,
with more limited resources.

That export shipments of
lumber to the United States
have increased in a marked
degree, which more than off-
Sets any decline in export ship-
ments to the United Kingdom.

That production of lumber in
the Coast area has increased in
yolume and monetary value.

That orders on file with the
lumber companies at present
foretell a still more lucrative
market,

That the B.C. operators en-
joy a $25 a thousand F.B.M.
advantage in the American
market over American opera-
tors (who pay higher wages)
by reason of lower stumpage
and labor costs, as well as
lower water-bourne freight
costs,

Summed up, the evidence
compiled painstakingly by the
IWA is said to prove that all
cost items proposed by the
Union can be conceded without
financial injury to the owners.
It is further contended, that
the increased distribution of
wage income proposed will
have a beneficial effect on busi-

ness activity across the proy-
ince.

A psychiatrist was question-
ing a patient and asked: “What
would you say is the difference
between a little boy and a mid-
get?”

“There might be a lot of dif-
ference,” said the patient after
thinking a while,

“What for instance?” ask the
psychiatrist,

_ “Well, answered the patient,

| “the midget might be a girl,”

rie

From Page 1

months. In the event of a camp
closing down, or where an em-
ployee has accumulated leave
and his service is terminated
through no fault of his own and
he. has worked the seven days
during the week, the Employee
will be paid one-half a day’s pay
for each day’s credit accumu-
lated.”

The Chief Justice said in part:

“With deference I am unable
to agree with the interpretation
advanced by Mr. Hefferman (FIR
Counsel). In my view some mean-
ing must be attached to the word
‘or, As I read the sub-section-
(and 1 must say with respect that
whoever draughted it left its
meaning clouded with consider-
able obscurity) the phrase follow-
ing the word ‘or’ must have a
meaning different than the words
preceding the word ‘or’.

It is clear, at least, that the
words following the word ‘or’ re-
fer to a permanent closure. It fol-
lows in consequence the words
preceding the word ‘or’ or must
be given a different meaning, ive.,
as referring to something other
than a permanent closure. This
can only be a temporary closure.

In consequence I interpret the
words ‘in the event of a camp
closing down’ as referring to tem-
porary closures. I am fortified in
this conclusion by the absence of
any words qualifying ‘closing
down’, If it were not for the
words following the word ‘or’ I
would say that ‘closing down’
would be wide enough to include
both permanent and temporary

“SLOAN”

closures,

But as the words following the
words ‘or cover the contingency
of a permanent closure and, in
that event, the termination of em-
ployment, ‘closing down’ must be
read in the alternative sense as I
“have indicated,

Mr. Hefferman argued that
such a meaning was never intend-
ed, That may be so. In matters
of interpretation, however, I must
look to the words themselves and
endeavor to construe them ac-
cording to their use’

A further question submitted
by the IWA to the Chief Justice
was as follows:

“Whether the Company violated
Article XXI by imposing a charge
of $1.00 per day on all occupants
of the bunkhouse premises for
lodging between the 24th of June,
1952, and the 29th of July, 1952,
lesser rates having been in effect
brior to June 24, 1952.”

The circumstances prompting
the Union to request arbitration
arose out of action taken by B.C.
Forest Products Ltd. in the im-
position of an additional $1.00
per day upon East Indian and
Chinese occupants of bunkhouses
during the strike.

In this matter the Chief Justice
declared: ~

“The Master Agreement is one
which governs board and lodging
solely for men engaged and em-
ployed within the terms of the
Master Agreement and while
they are so employed. It has no
relation to men who cease to
work because of their own re-

fusal so to do, When on strike
Union members are not within
but without its terms. sf

When that is understood it is
quite apparent that a Company
owning bunk-houses can, during
a strike, charge any rate they see
fit for their occupancy by any-
one—Union members or strang-
ers The Company is quite free,
in that circumstance, to make
any private deal it wishes with
anyone for the use of any part
of its own premises.

The maximum rate for Board
and Lodging fixed by Article XXI
of the Master Agreement is a
rate which is part and parcel of
the other terms of employment
set out in that agreement. Ar-
ticle XXI has no relation to a
period of self-imposed unemploy-
ment due to strike action.

My attention was drawn to
Sec. 2, sub-sec, 2 of the Industrial
Conciliation Act. In my view it
has no application to the subject
under discussion. All we are con-
cerned with in this matter is
whether or not Article XXI ap-
plies when a Union member is on
strike. For the reasons I have
given it is my opinion it does not
apply in that circumstance.”

Fallers and Buckers

‘A further question pending
before the Chief Justice for
mediation relates to the com-
plaint of fallers and buckers to
the effect that a number of the
companies are unfairly reduc-
ing the contract rates on
quarters,

It was contended by - the
IWA that this action violates
the terms of the agreement
reached in 1952 when it was
stipulated that established con-
ditions other than those ex-
pressly changed by the agree-
ment should remain in effect.

DOUBLE DISTILLED

UADIAN Watisny

In 1908, the New Westminster lacrosse team—later the famous ”
“Salmonbellies"—became the first team to win the Canadian

Lacrosse Championship.

B.C. FURSTS

In 1904, William Braid founded B.C.’s first
distillery, and established the standard of quality
that distinguishes/B.C. Double Distilled Rye.
Discover for yourself why B.C. Double Distilled
is preferred by British Columbians for its superb
flavour... its light body and mellow smoothness.

THE BRITISH-COLUMBIA DISTILLERY CO. LTD.

The Distinguished Products of British Columbia's First Distillery 8
B.C. DOUBLE DISTILLED + B.C, EXPORT © B.C. RESERVE © §.C. SPECIAL © B.C, STERLING LONDON DRY GIN |

This advertisement is not published or displayed by the Liquor Control Board

x or by the Government of British Columbia.
a qaaxX a