|

5)

B.C. LUMBER WORKER

~ “SETTLEMENT”

without any confusion or delay
that might be caused by dis-
putes in regard to the interpre-
tation of a new law.

Certainties Preferred

The Negotiating Committee
considered that it would be to
the advantage of the Union to-
secure a reasonably good set-
tlement now instead of risking
the uncertainties of bargaining
that might ensue after a Con-
ciliation Board report.

When at close grips with the
operators it was possible to
gain consideration of many
points, which are important to
the Union, but are seldom
given serious consideration by
a Conciliation Board chairman.

The Union’s spokesman then
analyzed the terms of the pro-
posed settlement on the merits
of all items in relationship to the
welfare of the membership and
the improved bargaining position
of the Union for the future.

He stressed the importance of
determining the value of the pro-
posal as a “package” of condi-
tions, and viewing the settlement
as it is likely to affect the whole
union, and not any particular
section.

His remarks underlined the
following points.

Terms Analyzed

The gain made of three addi-
tional paid statutory holidays
would benefié all the workers in
the industry, as these holidays
had been selected which would be
available to the maximum num-
ber of workers in each instance.
Further negotiations would not
be likely to yield better results
on this point.

Seniority Retention

The seniority retention provi-
vision is one which should have
been clinched for the Union years
ago. Approximately 1000 cases
are outstanding in which, after
a brief lay-off, the workers were
treated as new employees. ‘This
is a matter of urgent importance
* to ensure job security, and the
enjoyment of privileges attached
to seniority. It represents 2 com-
plete reversal of the attitude
formerly taken by the operators.

Fallers’ and Buckers’ Rates
Negotiating rights for fallers
and buckers have been an out-
standing need for years, and is
now made urgent by the decision
of Chief Justice Sloan, that under
the terms of the existing contract
they are excluded from its pro-
tection. Under the new proposed
clause, a floor will be established
at the present effective rates, and
provision made for adjustment as
Jocal conditions may demand, with
recourse to the grievance and
arbitration procedure of the con-
tract. This provides the best pos-
sible insurance against the ten-
dency to cut the contract rates.
‘The clause relating to the com-

pletion of a shift extending into
the morning of a statutory holi-
day is a rational solution on a
District basis of a vexing prob-
lem. The employee is fully pro-
tected against any earlier start
of the shift after the statutory
holiday.
Union Security

The demand for a greater
measure of union security has
been on the bargaining agenda
since 1942, and this is the first
appreciable degree of progress
made. It was made possible
through negotiation, and might
not be so favorably considered by
a Conciliation Board under the
present circumstances. Agree-
ment on the principle, and partial
aplication is a big gain for the
Union, in view of the attitude
consistently taken by the opera-
tors in the past. It will enor-
mously strengthen three or four
of the Local Unions, as it will
overcome the handicap to organi-
zation now caused by a high Ja-
bor turnover.

Board Rates

As regards the increase in the
Board rates, it should be remem-
bered that since 1952, the opera-.
tors have been demanding a
board rate of $3.25. The statis-
ties prepared by them this year,
based on a cost-accounting of
cookhouse operations, indicated
that the average cost per meal
now ranges from 99c to $1.25.
The operators offered to open
their books in this respect to
examination by the Union’s audi-
tors.

Board rates charged in an-
other basic industry, mining, now
range from $2.55 to $2.75 a day.

The Negotiating Committee
agreed to the inclusion of this
item in the settlement “package”
only with the greatest reluc-
tance. The Committee opposed
any such increase from the start,
but when it was found that the
operators were determined to in-
crease the board rates, the effort
was made to keep the increase
to the lowest possible amount.
Any increase is highly objection-
able, it is agreed, but the pro-
posed increase in this “package”
is less objectionable than a
recommendation from a Concilia-
tion Board for an increase of 75c:
or $1.00. It is felt that a much
graver threat to the take-home
pay of the loggers has been
warded off for some time.

Shingle Mills

The proposal for: the negotia-
tion of piece-work rates for
shingle sawyers and packers has
a two-fold purpose. If such ne-
gotiations are unsuccessful, the
present rates will be retained. It
opens up the possibility of an
adjustment, now sought by many
of the shingle mill workers for a
fairer basis of rate adjustment
under present conditions, which

HEAD’S

Champion of All Lightweight
®@ Caulked Boots ©

LIGHT
CRUISER

Featuring

High Carbon Steel Oil

Tempered Boot Caulks
FOR SURE GRIP

can be followed up to their ad-
vantage.

The proposal regarding a
medical services plan indicates
that the employers were unalter-
ably opposed to the Union’s de-
mand for -full coverage, at this
time. Already a high percentage
of the employees in the industry
may take advantage of the MSA
plans in effect, and the conces-
sion won protects them as they
move to other operations also
covered. q

The President emphasized the
fact that the choice between ac-
ceptance or rejection rested
with the Union’s membership.
Should the members reject. the
“package” the Policy Committee
would renew its fight with: vigor
as instructed.

“Cheaper” Package
A Possibility

He pointed out that rejection
would require a renewal of ar-
gument before a Conciliation
Board, with all the resulting un-
certainties, and the very real
danger that a cheaper “package”
might be recommended and fur-
nish weaker fighting ground. It
was the definite responsibility of
the Committee, he stated, to con-
sult the Union’s membership at
this juncture, for only the mem-
bership should exercise the right
to reject, or accept.

It was only after the most
careful and extensive appraisal of
all the factors that the Commit-
tee had decided to recommend
acceptance, as being in the best
interests of the membership this
year. The progress made pro-
vided substantial benefits, imme-
diately, and laid the foundation
for still more successful bar-
gaining in the future.

GHOST TOWN

VIENNA (CPA) — Vienna,
with a death rate twice as high
as its birth rate, with 60.8 per-
cent of its families childless,
will be the “ghost town”. of
Europe if its present popula-
tion trend continues. The so-
cialist government faces an
incredible task, for their policy
is to make living conditions
favorable for families in a city
where poor, inadequate housing
is cited as the chief reason for
the drastically falling birth
rate.

pofebetatafatatageges

Printers of
The B.C.

LUMBER WORKER

ANN 0D

LIMITED

PRINTERS AND
LITHOGRAPHERS

An Employee Owned Co.
944 RICHARDS STREET
PAcific 6338-9

FROM PAGE 1

“MEMBERS GAIN”

entirely different from those of
previous years. The member-
ship had decided from the
outset that no demand would
be made for a general wage
increase.

Consequently, our bargaining
strategy was directed to the
improyement of working condi-

tions, and the incorporation of
principles in the master con-
tract, which, in our opinion,
would better and stabilize em-
ployer-employee relations. I

| am confident all concerned will
appreciate that substantial pro-
gress has been achieved toward
this end.

Interior Talks _
Under Way Now

Negotiations for the revision
of the master contract in the
Northern Interior opened in
Vancouver last week, ‘with
President Joe Morris and Vice-
President William Gray acting
as spokesmen for the IWA.

Chief spokesman for the op-

erators was Mr. T. R. Watt, of
the Labor Relations Bureau.

The: bargaining talks will be
resumed in Prince George during
the week commencing June 14,
and will be attended by the de-
signated members of the District
Policy Committee.

Railway U

nions

Call Strike Vote

MONTREAL (CPA) — Offi-
cials of 14 Canadian railway
unions, involved since the end
of last year in negotiations
with the Canadian Pacific and
Canadian National Railways on
the question of fringe benefits
for their non-operating railway
employees, have decided to call
for a strike vote in mid-June,
according to Frank Hall, chair-
man of the negotiating com-
mittee.

‘The 135,000 railway employees
concerned in the dispute will cast
strike ballots which will be mark-
ed for return no later than Aug-
ust 2. The result of the vote will
be announced here later
month,

that}

Reports handed down from a
federal conciliation board were
rejected by the railways in the
case of the union nominee and
the chairman. The railways con-
tend that the benefits sought by
the employees would cost them
$60 million a year.

The union requests are for
cumulative sick leave, 3 weeks’
paid vacation after 10 years’
service, eight paid statutory holi-
days and premium pay for Sun-
day work.

“Did they take an x-ray photo
of your wife’s jaw at the hospi-
tal?”

“They tried to, but they got 2
moving picture.” :

In every
quarter of Canada

Bank or MonrTrean

Canada's First Bank

WORKING WITH CANADIANS IN EVERY WALK OF LIFE SINCE 1817