4 B.C. LUMBER WORKER FROM PAGE 3 theory that the workers would be reluctant to engage in strike action, after the exhausting struggle of the previous year. Against this psychological back- ground, the employers’ bargain- ing representatives made elabor- ate preparations to- oppose all contract changes, except those of a minor nature. When faced with these factors in the situation, your Negotiating Committee found it necessary to place greater emphasis than be- fore on the preparation of the Union’s case before the Concilia- tion Board, This required more time than formerly. Extensive research became “ne- cessary to offset elaborate dis- tortion of the facts as presented by the employers agents, and we had to prove that economic con- ditions in the industry and the needs of the workers did actually justify contract improvements. ‘As this work progressed, mem- bership interest and confidence increased, resulting in greater organized support for the Union’s bargaining strategy. Facts Produced It also seemed advisable, from the standpoint of public relations to make it abundantly clear that the IWA was prepared to ex- haust fully all the available ne- gotiating and conciliation pro- cedures, before contemplating direct economic pressure. It is generally agreed that the presentation of the case .for our Union before the Con- ciliation Board was the most effective on record. This was in a large measure, due to the painstaking and brilliant re- search undertaken by Brothers Ed. Kenney, and J. Miyazawa, and the bargaining ability of Brother Carl Winn. Their pre- sentation to the Board revealed a working knowledge of the economics of the industry which far outdistanced that displayed by the operators’ re- presentatives. ‘The result was a unanimous recommendation on the part of| Union’s position, the majority re- the Conciliation Board. The con- tract revisions proposed were not spectacular, nevertheless, the wage increase plus the incorpora- tion of the then existing cost-of- living bonus, into the base rate, represented a settlement slightly above the yeur’s trend across Canada. The contract was also strengthened in respect of the seniority and other contract pro- visions. Decision Vindicated The report of the Conciliation Board was made available in July. Upon the recommendation of your Policy Committee, it was accepted in a membership vote. Whatever may have been said, for or against the settlement at that time, it is now evident trat the Union pursued a realistic course, and acted in the best in- terests of the membership. De- cisions then made have been vin- dicated by subsequent events. Substantial progress was made without undue risks, which, when considered in connection with the rate of progress since 1948, re- flects no discredit on our Union. Interior Negotiations on behalf of our Local Unions in the Interior of the Province, which opened last July, became separated as be- tween the Northern and Southern sections, Consequently the Nego- tiating Committee was divided into two sub-committees, one based on Kelowna, and the other on Prince George. The International Research De- partment again rendered import- ant assistance in the preparation of the Union’s case during nego- tiations and the hearings of the two Conciliation Boards. The evi- dence as well as argument before both Boards was identical, but the recommendations, which re- sulted, were so widely different as to set in motion two separate chains of circumstances. The Board hearing the North- ern dispute gave majority re- commendations favoring the HANEY HANEY BUSINESS GUIDE “ESQUIRE” MEN’S WEAR (Graham Mowatt) Complete Stock of Work and Dress Clothing “THE STORE WITH THE POPULAR BRANDS’ BRITISH COLUMBIA VOGUE CLEANERS Truck Calls at Mesachie Lake, Cowichan Lake, Crofton & south to ShdéWnigan Hats Cleaned and Blocked Press While U Wait Phone 360 DUNCAN, B.C. ‘DUNCAN BUSINESS GUIDE J. LINDSAY LOUTET (C. Bradshaw & Co.) INSURANCE and REAL ESTATE DUNCAN 131 Jubilee St. LAKE COWICHAN BRANCH: Old Post Office Building PORT ALBERNI BUSINESS GUIDE MacGREGOR’S MEN’S WEAR For Everything a Man Wears WORK, SPORT or DRESS We Can Afford to-Sell the BEST for LESS! MacDONALD’S PHARMACY Prescriptions, Drug Sundries, First Aid Supplies Registered Optometrist r port of the Board in the Southern section on the other hand, dealt adversely with the Union’s claims. Your Negotiating Committee recognized the desirability of timing our strategy in both sec- tions as to maintain -parallel action and uniform results, but this was made impossible by the attitude taken by the operators in the Southern section. Strike Provoked The majority report of the Conciliation Board in the North- ern section, received early in September, was submitted to the membership, and approved as a basis of settlement. The Board’s proposals were rejected by the employers’ Association. Applica- tion was then made for a govern- ment-supervised strike vote. As preparations for this vote were in progress, a number of the op- erators threatened their employ- ees with lock-outs, if strike action should be favored. This threat on the part of the employers, caused Local 1-424, Prince George, in con- sultation with the District Of- ficers, to issue a strike call effective September 28th, im- mediately it was known that the over-all majority favored strike action. Interior right to engage in peaceful pick- eting. During these discussions we in- dicated to the Premier our will- ingness to enter mediation proceedings. However, the em- ployers rejected all mediation proposals. The Government then acted to appoint County Court Judge Arthur E. Lord to act an Industrial Enquiry Commissioner under the I.C.A. Act. Judge Lord conducted his en- quiry in Prince George immedi- ately prior to Christmas, and failing to effect any agreement in the dispute, submitted a num- ber of recommendations to the Minister of Labour. These recommendations which were accompanied by an unjust and uncalled for criticism of the Union’s actions made no contri- bution whatsoever towards a settlement of the dispute. The recommendations made were al- -most identical to a previous of- fer made by the operators in the early part, of December. Report Rejected The Commission’s decision in- stead of providing a basis for settlement created an increased feeling of bitterness between the parties in the dispute and a lack of confidence in the administra- tion of the labour laws of the province and it is the opinion of the Officers that if at any time in the future a similar circum- stance should arise, the govern- ment will be well advised to ap- point a Commissioner, who is thoroughly conversant with both the economy of the industry and the -particular aspects of the Trade Union movement, However, the recommendations were submitted to the member- ship with a recommendation from your Policy Committee to reject and by an overwhelming majority our membership expressed their The result of this action, and the establishment of picket lines, was to shut-down all. op- erations in an area, extending East from operations 20 miles west of Prince George to Me- Bride, and north from ‘opera- tions 60 miles south of Prince George to those a similar dis- tance along the Hart Highway. The employers, who had under- estimated the fighting spirit of the Union’s members in that area, engaged in highly provocative tactics, hoping thereby to smear the Union with the charge of lawlessness, and undermine cou- fidence in its purposes. “Goan Squads” and strikebreakers were repeatedly used by the employers to smash through the picket lines. It is to the great credit of the Local Union membership that they remained firm, under the most trying conditions, through- out zero weather and the Chris mas Season, to defeat the em- ployers’ attacks. Judge Lord Appointed During the month of Novi ber, we informed the Provincial Government of the situation caused by the employers’ ruthless strikebreaking tactics, and re- quested action to restrict their infringements upon our legal Victory emphatic rejection of the Com- missioner’s recommendation and a complete denial of the charges contained therein. Settlement Reached Following this rejection, the District and Local Union Officers found it possible to confer with the operators in the Prince George area on December 81st. At this meeting the employers were persuaded to make conces- sions which they had formerly refused to consider, and a for- mula for settlement was worked out for consideration of oth parties to the dispute, This settlement formula proved acceptable to the mem- bership when submitted to a yote, and the strike ended on January 6th. The Master. Con- tract was revised to include the major points for which the strikers had been contending. After 102 days on the picket line, featured by almost un- believable sacrifices, they re- turned to work, having won a decisive victory. Their victory consisted not only in the fact that they won important con- tract revisions, but also be- cause they soundly defeated the employers determined effort to smash trade unionism, in that area. For the first time in the In- terior, we were able to estab- lish the basic principle of union security in the contract, and in addition gained further vacation with pay entitlements and similar seniority, -griev- ance arbitration and other con- tract provisions, as now es- tablished in our coast master contract. Our success in rais- ing the base rate to $1.3514 has substantially narrowed the differential between the Coast and Interior lumber workers. Argyle Street Port Alberni Phone 1600 WOODWARD STORES (PORT ALBERNI) LTD. “Your Family Shopping Centre” 2 “Closed Wednesdays All Day” Hours: 9-5:30 Nanaimo Phone 1515 IRA BECKER & SO Vancouver Island Distributors & : LE.L. POWER CHAIN SAWS PARTS 4k SERVICE “UNIONS FORGING AHEAD” South Interior Meantime, in the Southern In- terior, the membership had re- jected the adverse majority re- port of the Conciliation Board hearing the dispute in that area. Again we requested a govern- ment-supervised strike vote. Before fixing a strike dead- line, we consented to confer with the operators, but the talks dead- locked when the operators re- fused to consider any major contract improvements, A strike call was issued effective as of October 28rd. : To a large extent the tactics on the part of the employers, experienced in the Northern In- terior, were duplicated in the Southern Interior, Our members on the picket lines displayed an endurance, and militancy which eventually won the day. Formula Found As Judge Lord was making preliminary preparations to proceed with his enquiry in the South, the appearance of the disputing parties before him resulted in another stalemate. However, we engaged in direct discussions with the operators’ representatives at this time, and secured the basis for an agreement which deserved con- sideration by our membership. When the proposals were considered by the members of the District Policy Committee, the decision was unanimously reached to recommend accept- ance. This recommendation was endorsed by the membership vote. The strike ended on Janu- ary 29th, In a number of important re- spects the contract in the South- ern Interior differs from that negotiated in the Northern In- terior. The terms secured were conditional upon the acceptance of a contract for a three-year period. In support of their re- quest for the extended period of the agreement, the employers stated that this would enable them to plan the necessary ad- justments with greater stability in their marketing arrangements. However, from the standpoint of the. Union, the opportunity was gained to consolidate our organ- izational and administrative posi- tion in the Southern Interior, without the interruptions and risks which attend annual nego- tiations, The Outcome These strike settlements climax an important chapter in I.W.A. history in this province. By fight- for and obtaining a recognized status for the Union under the Interior Master Contracts, we have firmly established our Union as the bargaining authority for lumber workers in all sections of the lumber industry in this pro- vince. The defeat of a vicious at- tempt to smash trade unionism in the Interior lumber industry, has provided additional protec- tion for coast lumber workers against an attack, originating in a low-wage area, Although the struggle was costly in terms of lost income, and strike fund expenditure, our Union has emerged with greater strength. We now have a strong, militant, union or- ganization in the Interior of which we may be proud, and upon which we may depend for srentes achievements in the fu- jure,