L. C. Audette,

Canadian Maritime Commission,
“Ottawa, Ont.

Your letter of January 25th,
states you conducted an inquiry
into our problem, but the con-
tents of your letter point clearly
to the fact that you contacted
Union Steamships Limited only
and got the same phoney excuses
we have listened to for a number
of years, and further your letter
indicates quite clearly that you
put the stamp of approval on
their position.

Had I wanted to get this type
of answer, once more, I would
have paid the traffic manager of
Union Steamships another visit.
He is quite obliging in this re-
gard,

Inquiry Needed

What I requested was that
there be an inquiry to get-the
point of view of the loggers, the
logging companies, and Union
Steamships Limited, plus a study
of the problem and a decision
made that will give loggers the
type of respect commonly ex-
tended to human beings else-
where in Canada. Loggers are
presently herded into boats some-
thing like any of the well-estab-
lished meat packers in Canada
would transport stock, and of
course charged at top rates for
services not even provided. I fail
to see how you can put a stamp
of approval on this type of ser-
vice.

“You mentioned in your. letter
that regulations provide Union
Steamships the right to provide
this type of service. I do not
doubt this, but I suggest that it is
possible to amend the regulations.

No Berths

ells Gov't
’. “Beef”

You also mention that the com-

aire

pany does not stamp “Sit-Up”
on tickets. For your information,
I have in my possession a Union
Steamships’ ticket with “No
Berth Available”. Basically I fail
to see any differences. The re-
sult is the same when the individ-
ual pays for a berth he does not
receive, and further many of
these types of tickets are sold
beyond berth facilities,

You mentioned also in your let-
ter that it was common practice
on the Coast to charge for ser-
vices not given. This is not cor-
rect. If you travel from Van-
couver to Victoria or Nanaimo,
you pay a regular fare: if you
wish a berth, there is an extra
charge.

Daylight Trip

You made considerable refer-
ence in your letter to trip made
by “Lady Cynthia” from Port
McNeill to Vancouver. You have
overlooked entirely the fact that
this boat left Port McNeill at
3:00 p.m, and arrived in Vancou-
ver at 7:00 am. There is no
legitimate reason why this boat
could not have left at an early
hour in the day and made the
trip on a daylight run. The com-
pany argues that the tide in Sey-
mour Narrows was the factor,
however, they have several boats
on regular schedule on the Coast
that go through Seymour Nar-
rows. This disproves the com-
pany’s position.

May I suggest that you review
your ‘position of January 25th,
with a view of establishing de-
cent transportation accommod:
tions for the loggers of British
Columbia.

Yours truly,
FRED FIEBER,
Sec.-Treas.
Local 1-71, LW.A.

LOGGER FIRED

FOR “GROUSING”

Whether a logger can exercise his traditional right
to “grouse” about the way the job is run, without getting
“the axe” is a question now under discussion in the
Ladysmith Sub-Local, 1-80, because of action taken by
management in a nearby operation

The story as told by onlookers
is to the effect that a logger en-
gaged in discussion with another
crew member prior to starting
time, but on company premises.
He voiced his disgust at the lack
of efficient organization of the
erew to which he was attached
and complained bitterly that as
the crew was undermanned, the
members were burdened with ex-
tra work and responsibility.

Complained Out Loud .

He asked if anyone had heard
whether another man would be
sent to work with the crew, and
was informed that the foreman
has stated that no men were
available.

It is reported that he then ex-
claimed, “What a gypo outfit”.
When advised who would be head
loader he said, “It will be the
same as yesterday, one will want
to put it here and another there.”

Unfortunately for him one of
the two foremen overheard his
remarks and walked up to him
saying, “What right did you have
to say that?”

He replied, “What other outfit
would ask‘ man to chase, second
load and head load at the same
time?”

The foreman retorted, “That’s
the way it is going to be, and if
you don’t watch yourself, you
won’t have to worry about it”.

This silenced the complainant,
but when he was boarding the
erummie, the sub-foreman, stated,
“Don’t get in there, you’re fired”,

Grievance Outlawed

When the camp committee at-
tempted to process the grievance
it was discovered that he had not

GRIEVANCE SPARKS ‘HOLIDAY?

Neglected grievances in the operation of the Western
Forest Industries Ltd. at Honeymoon Bay were quickly
adjusted, by the Local Union and management, when the
crew members expressed their protest by taking a one-

day “holiday” recently.

Labor-management relations,

as a consequence have now taken a turn for the better.

The grievance, which’ finally
touched off the storm, concerned
the plight of an electrician who
was despatched to a logging op-
eration some distance from the
mill for a special task. He was
not allowed pay for the time re-|
quired for travelling. |

When the matter was processed
as a grievance and adjusted in his
favor, he was vindictively demot-
ed to the “bull-gang” at the mill.
At the same time there happened
to be seven other outstanding
grievances.

Following meetings at the Lo-
cal Union office between manage-
ment, FIR, and the Local. Union
officials all but one grievance
was wiped off the slate.

Steps were taken to remedy the
underlying causes of dissatisfac-
tion, and the basis was laid for
improved morale in the operation.

Dalstsjafajafefajet=fafejafe}

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completed his 80-day probation-
ary period, although he had been
with the company considerably
longer. This period had been
broken by his own hospitalization
and sickness in the family.

Under a ruling made earlier by
Chief Justice Sloan, this proba-
tionary period must cover a pe-
riod of continuous employment.

The Sub-Local suggested to the
Company that both parties should
agree to submit the dispute to
arbitration but no reply was re-
ceived.

The position taken by the Sub-
Local is that the ruling has been
applied with injustice in this case
and in similar circumstances. It
is also contended that manage-
ment should not infringe upon the
right of free speech in an em-
ployee’s own time.

Further steps in the matter
are now being considered by the
camp committee and the local

LOCAL 1-80
MEETS: _
MARCH 7

Membership meeting of
Local 1-80 IWA will be held
in the new IWA Hall, Dun-
can, on Sunday, March 7, at
10:30 a.m.

A full attendance is urged
because of the important na-
ture of the business to be
transacted.

union,

40-HR. WEEK
GAINS FAVOR

OTTAWA (CPA)—The five-
day, 40-hour week now has a
widespread application in the
construction industry across
Canada, according to a study
made by the Research Branch
of the Labor Department re-
cently.

The study covered eight con-
struction industries in 42. cities
throughout Canada and showed
that the five-day, 40-hour week
was general except in Newfound-
land and Quebec. In Montreal,
however, a 40-hour work week
was general.

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