B.C. LUMBER WORK

ER

Jnion Questions
ard’s Evidence

Repercussions throughout Local 1-423, IWA, following
the adverse decision of an Arbitration Board which heard
the complaint of W. Wolfe that he had been unfairly dis-
missed by S. M. Simpson Co, Ltd., Kelowna, express severe
criticism of the manner in which the management set the
stage for the hearing of evidence, before the Board.

It was’ disclosed during the sit-
tings of the Board that the wit-
nesses had previously been sym-
moned into the company office
and required to sign statements
in the presence of company offi-
cials,

The statements were not pre-
pared by the witnesses but pre-
pared by an official, after cross-
examination, and the witness was
requested to place his signature
on the document.

During the sittings of the
Board, the witnesses denied the
accuracy of these signed state-
ments, When compared with
their verbal evidence under oath,
it was contended by Local Union
officials that the written state-
ments had been “slanted” in fa-
yor of management.

The County Court Judge, who
presided, found it difficult to un-
derstand how men could be-per-
suaded to sign statements which
they subsequently declared to be
inaccurate,

Warning Issued

District Secretary-Treasurer
George Mitchell, who represented
the Local Union on the Arbitra-
tion Board, stated: “All workers
whose evidence may be required
before an Arbitration Board
should be warned not to sign
statements in advance under any
form of coercion by management.

“Any evidence to be submitted
should be heard openly ‘at all
Stages and certainly should be
heard by the Union’s representa-
tives whenever it is placed in
written form,

“Tn this instance, the witnesses
were tricked into stating partial
truths, at the suggestion of man-
agement, whereas, when ques-
tioned in open court, it was
shown that their written state-
ments by no means included all
the facts, of which they had clear
recollection.” 4

The complainant was fired be-
cause he used harsh language to
the foreman. His defence was
that he had not done so, and that
it was the foreman who had con-
sistently provoked him with
abuse,

‘The Loeal Union officials con-
sider that the incident has served

JOBLESS
PROTECTED

OSLO (CPA) —Plans to beat
Seasonal unemployment in Nor-
way during the winter of 1953-
64, including government approp-
riations to provide $4,725,000 for
public works, have been an-
nounced by the Norwegian gov-
ernment,

The Ministry of Communica-
tions has proposed a $1,350,000
road building project, while the
other $3,375,000 will go to pro-
vide employment for other con-
struction and installation work-
ers. The $4,726,000 appropria-
tion will be in addition to the
$675,000 which is available for
work projects under the normal
budget.

The concentration on building
and construction projects is a re-
sult of the high incidence of win-
ter unemployment among con-
struction and installation «work-
ers — who accounted for more
than half the total unemployed
in the winter of 1952-53—due to
seasonal work stoppages at pub-
lie works projects. Plans are be-
ing drafted to provide employ-
ment for these categories of

as a warning to foremen, who
customarily use abusive language
toward the employees.

President™A. F. Hartung of
the International Woodworkers
of America announced that the
Northwest Regional Balloting
Committee has completed the
tabulation of the strike ballot.
The results of the ballot are
being sent now to all Local
Unions involved.

The strike vote lost by 47
votes. However, a number of
Local Unions cast strong strike-
action’ votes.

‘The Northwest Regional Nego-

IWA REFERS ISS

tiating Committee analyzed the
votes and reached the following
decision:

(a) To refer all original bar-
gaining points and negotiating
authorizations back to the Dis-
trict Councils and Local Unions,
where no settlements have been
reached, to take whatever action
they see fit to complete negotia-
tions. .

(b) To send out a ballot to
Local Unions having contracts

UE BACK

with the Weyerhaeuser Timber
Co. recommending acceptance of
the 5e-per-hour increase reached
earlier this year between the
parties,

Other settlement for the 5e-
per-hour increase have been
reached with the following com-
panies: Edward Hines Lumber
Co., West Fir, Oregon; Erickson
Logging Co.; Lovin Logging Co.;
and McCorkle Bros, Inc., in the
Raymond, Washington, area, 4

Foutt for Cen onaur Ce |

belong to future generations as well as our own,

In British Columbia the forests are our heritage, but they

If these forests were to disappear so would our wildlife and much of our

scenic beauty. So would hunting and fishing, camping and

picnicking. So would nearly fifty cents of every dollar in our pockets.

Along with other progressive companies, we of Columbia Cellulose

are practising scientific forest conservation—doing everything

within our power to preserve this rich heritage for future generations.

But we need your help. A lighted match—a careless cigarette—

a smouldering campfire can destroy all our efforts in a few

_hours. Then there’ll be that much less for your children.

For their sake, do your part. Keep B.C. forests green this summer.

COMPANY LIMITED e PRINCE RUPERT, B.C.

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