ae

We interpret the decisions of
the conference as forming one
earefully balanced statement of
necessary changes in the con-
tract, each one supplementing
the other, ‘to secure the desired
general betterment of living
standards for the entire working
force in the lumber industry.

So, keeping this point in mind,
this is the list of demands:

The Demands

DEMAND No. 1 — The pay-
ment of wages on six addi-
dional statutory holidays,

DEMAND No. 2—Full union
security, ”

DEMAND No. 3—Day rates
and negotiating rights for
all workers now on piece-
work rates.

Statutory

Demand number one is for six

additional paid statutory holi- |

days, ’

This demand is, of course, a
- cost item. It will benefit the

workers by giving them the,

equivalent of another four cents
on the average hourly rate. It
will cost the employers just that
much and no more. In spéaking
of this cost we should note that
it does not affect the general
costs of production in exactly the
same way as would a general
wage increase, .

From the standpoint of the
workers, it should be remember-
ed that the government sets
aside nine days in éach year by
proclamation. The purposes are
that there should be a general
cessation of work, and commun-
ity participation in the observ-
ances appropriate on the occasion,
whether religious, patriotic, or
social,

The custom is that all monthly-

B.

MBER WORKE

c. LU

R

DEMAND No. 4—Retention
of seniority during lay-off.
DEMAND No. 5—Sunday pay
at time and one-half for
watchmen, boatmen and plant

guards. °
DEMAND No. 6—A job an-

alysis program for the en-

tire industry.

DEMAND No. 7—A medical
services plan, employer paid,
for the whole industry.

DEMAND No. 8—Free trans-
portation -from the hiring
point to the job.

Now with the entire list of
demands before us, let us return
to a consideration of each one
separately. Let us ask ourselves,
what are the advantages to the
workers and the industry at
large.

Holidays

rated workers enjoy these holi-
days without any deduction from
their salaries. At first, hourly-
rated workers were paid only for
| those hours in which work was
| performed. Now it is generally
recognized, that the discrimina-
tion practiced against hourly-
rated workers is unfair. _

Without a continuation of pay
on statutory holidays, they suffer
merely another day’s lay-off with-
out pay. They and their families
are not enabled, therefore, to
enjoy the community observances
of legal holidays with the same
freedom as the rest of the work-
ing population.

By denying wages for these
days, the employers automatically
classify them as second-rate citi-
zens, a fact that is deeply re-
sented. From the standpoints of
health, moralé, and justice, as
well as the public interest, this
demand, if agreed upon, will
benefit both labor and manage-
ment.

Union Security

Demand Number Two is for
full union security. Our concep-
tion of full union security is the
establishment of union shop con-
ditions, This is not a cost item,
but in former years has been
opposed by the employers as bit-
terly as though it were,

As a matter of fact, it is a
matter of concern to the employ-
ees alone. If, by majority will
they desire this form of relation-
ship with the employer, they
should not be denied this right.
In principle, it means that all
those who bargain through the

jlegally established bargaining
agency, should democratically ac-
cept the responsibilities as well
as the rights conferred upon them
by the establishment of collective
bargaining.

T'll have much more to say on
this topic at a later date. I have
just this to say to lumber work-
ers: You will find in the bitter
opposition of the employers your
best reason to fight for the Union
Shop. The only reason it is op-
posed by the employers is that
their opposition may weaken our
| bargaining strength.

Contract Rates

Demand Number Three is for
established day rates for fallers
and buckers, and shingle mill
workers with the basic right to
negotiate rates for all piece-
work. As all those who now work
on contract rates will realize,
this is not a demand for more
wages at this time, but is a de-
mand for the legitimate protec-
tion of the income which these
workers can now earn from their
production,

‘Without attempting to explain
all the technical details, which
were fully understood by contract
workers at the conference, it is
the Union’s intention to relieve
the deadly pressure under which
these workers must now produce,
make their working conditions
safer, and protect them against
arbitrary reduction of the rates,
negotiated on their behalf in
light of the job conditions.

Seniority Rights

Demand Number Four is for
the retention of established sen-
iority rights during any lay-off.
This is not a cost item, but is of
great importance to the workers
in a period when the employers
reduce or expand the soree
force as required to meet their

needs, The

ten into the contract.

If it means anything at all, it
should be extended to protect the
re-hiring rights of all workers,

“CONTRACT DEMANDS STATED

IWA Research Men

JOE MIYAZAWA

while they are kept waiting for
the employment, from which they
have been only temporarily sep-
arated, through no fault of their
own.
Sunday Pay

Demand Number Five is that
wages should be paid at the rate
of time and one half on Sundays,
to*watchmen, boatmen, and plant
guards, The need for removal
of a.glaring injustice is so ob-
vious that I need not enter into
any lengthy explanation. These
workers, which constitute a small

Medical

Demand Number Seven is for
the introduction of an employev-
paid medical services plan for
the whole industry. A number of
|firms in the indusiry already
make such provision, with vary-
jing conditions. Because of the
great need for better health pro-
tection, the Union now considers
that the principle should be given
general application.

This is, of course, a cost item.

Fare Al

Demand Number Light is that
the employers should now as-
sume full responsibility for the
provision of free transportation
for workers, from the. place of
hiring to the place of employ-
ment. This demand originates
mainly with the loggers and for
very good reason.

For the most part their wor
is performed at sites far distant
from the hiring offices of the
logging firms, They have been
required to pay their fares, us-
ually by steamship or plane, to
and from the job.

Due to fréquent shut-downs,
caused by weather conditions, or
high log inventories they must
bear this high expense repeatedly

“A six letter word meaning tough? ... Ya’ dope,
it’s WATSON, the glove that’s really tough!”

percentage of the working force,
should be treated as fairly as
production workers.

Job Analysis Program

Demand Number Six is that
job analysis program be institut-
ed throughout the entire industry.
This is a fact-finding project that
is long overdue. It is necessary
that we may now lay the basis

in which all category rates will
be fairly adjusted on a compar-
able basis.

Services

The measure of its cost is not
entirely the measure of its bene-
fit to the workers, but it is equal
to another 3% cents on the aver-
age hourly rate. Every worker
knows its ‘importance, which I
need not stress here, In consider-
ation of the interests of both
labor and management, this
health protection will substanti-
ally reduce the lost production
and lost income resulting from
preventable illness.

lowance

during the course of a year. It is
a direct penalty against their
take-home pay, because of condi-
tions beyond their control, and
because they cannot establish re-
sidence in close proximity to
their work.

The Union is determined that
this penalty be removed. No
other class of worker in this pro-
vinee is treated in this way.

Total Gains
Add these demands up, and es-
timate their values. If you are

of a better wage structure, with-!

thinking in terms of dollars and
cents, these demands if negotiat-
ed, will be the equivalent of an
hourly wage rate increase across
the board of seven and one-half
cents. If you add up all the other
values, it will be found that these
demands will enormously improve
living and working standards for
the lumber workers, in many
ways that cannot be reckoned by
dollars and cents.

No Wage Increase

We will not attempt to nego-
tiate a wage increase. This point
‘was thoroughly discussed by the
delegates attending the Wages
and Contract Conference. They
reported the sentiment of the
workers on the job to the effect
that in fighting for wage in-
creases during recent years many
important working conditions
were sacrificed.

The improved working condi-
tions outlined in this year’s de-
mands, in their entirety, have a
value for the workers as great as
any possible general increase of
the wage rates, and cannot be so
easily taken away. The employers
will find it difficult to deny these
demands because they will stabil-
ize employment and stimulate
higher morale and greater effi-
ciency ‘in production.

The Markets

From the standpoint of the
workers, we consider it of great
importance that they should gain
the utmost protection in the en-
joyment of steady work this year.
‘We therefore emphasize, in these
demands, greater security in em-
ployment, better job security,
and health protection,

From the standpoint of the
employers, we will be able to say,
that by protecting the interests
of their employees in the way
we propose, they will be protect-
ing the markets about which they
express such great concern. Ex-
panding, efficient production to
hold their competitive position on
the world market is in the final
analysis based on the well-being
and efficiency of the workers in
the industry.

Housing: Of the dwellings
built last year, one in four was _
for rental purposes, about the
same proportion as in 1952. This
was roughly 24,200 new rental
units as against 18,250 in the pre-
ceding year, an increase of close
to one-third.

PHONE TAtlow 7140
FOR DAILY HOME
CARRIER DELIVERY

V

A Real Union Shop .
And No Mistake!

No less than TEN unions work in harmonious
association with the management of The Van-
couver Sun to produce the daily issues of Western
Canada’s leading newspaper that go into two out
of three British Columbia homes.
. to be a real Union Shop throughout, with agreeable
relations with all its organized crafts and personnel.

The Sun is happy

THE