ackage’?’ Recommended For Early Settlement - ‘Otaeist ebtcutoe ot te Intonnational Woodworkers of Amertea at. vite Covsci Net Vol. XXII, No. 10 es 2nd ISSUE, MAY - VANCOUVER, S B.C. 5c PER COPY commended by the IWA District Policy Committee to the IWA membership for acceptance as being the best obtainable through conciliation this year. not as good as the Union desired, the Committee advised the membership, that in its opinion, better terms could not be secured, without risking the loss of gains already made. tion to submit the “package” to the membership at this stage, that a democratic choice might be made, either for acceptance, or for rejection and the alternative of Con- ciliation Board proceedings and steps that might follow. lowing changes in the coast master contract. 1. “Best Obtainable” Says IWA Committee - extending into a statutory holiday, with no change “Package” settlement outlined below has been re- With the admission that the terms of settlement are The Committee stated that it was under an obliga- Settlement is now possible on the basis of the fol- STATUTORY HOLIDAYS Three additional paid statutory holidays, Empire Day, Armistice Day, and either Good Friday or Easter Monday, with a thirty calendar day qualifica- tion before and after the statutory holiday. SENIORITY RETENTION : Provision that, during lay-off, employees with less than one year’s seniority will retain seniority rights for six months; those with one or more years’ ser- vice will retain seniority rights for twelve months. FALLERS’ AND BUCKERS’ RATES The inclusion of the minimum basic rate, now in effect for fallers and buckers, in the wage schedule, with provision for negotiation and adjustment of these rates under the contract procedure. This pro- vision will extend the protection of the contract to fallers and buckers, in the adjustment of contract rates, a right which they had formerly been denied. HOURS OF WORK, STATUTORY HOLIDAYS Provision for the two-hour completion of a shift in the hours of work on the shift following the holiday. UNION SECURITY Provision for the compulsory check-off for all new employees after thirty calendar days’ service. BOARD RATES Provision for a board and lodging rate of $2.50 per day. SHINGLE WORKERS’ PIECE-WORK RATES Provision for the negotiation of a wider differential between No.’s 1, 2 and 3 shingle rates, with applica- tion on a plant basis. M.S.A. Provision for the transfer of M.S.A. coverage from operation to operation where now in effect. Note Change: The Green Gold radio pro- gram for June 17th, will be heard over Station CJOR at 6:45 p.m. instead of the usual time of 7:00 p.m. This change in the hour, for one evening only, will be necessary because of station requirements in respect of: a special network program on that date. WHAT'S INSIDE TRADESMEN’S PARLEY RESUMES P Negotiations for adjust- ment of rates for the trades- men in the logging section of the lumber industry will open in Vancouver this week. Discussions with manage- ment will deal with the sur- yey made of rates for trades- men in logging camps as required under the recom- mendation of the 1953 Con- ciliation Board, and follows closely upon the adjustment already negotiated for tradesmen in the sawmills. Members Gain Says President In a publi¢ statement: ve- leased to the daily press as the terms of the proposed settlement were placed be- fore the IWA membership, District President Joe Mor- ris said: The proposed “package” set- tlement placed before the mem- bership of the IWA yesterday, is the result of weeks of stren- uous bargaining between the Union’s Negotiating Committee and Forest Industrial Relations Ltd. with the assistance of Conciliation Officer Mr. Reg. Clements. . Our bargaining was realistic, and as it progressed both par- ties reached the conclusion that it would be to their mutual advantage, and in the public interest, that a basis of settle- ment should be established dur- ing the first stage of concilia- tion. The members of the seven- man IWA Negotiating Com- mittee have recommended ac- ceptance of the “package” settlement to the Union, in the belief that it represents the outside limit of contract im- provements obtainable this- ‘year under conciliation proce- dures. When a tentative agreement of this nature became possible between the bargaining repre- sentatives of both parties, it became our responsibility to ask the members of the Union to indicate either acceptance or rejection. Tt now rests with the mem- bership to make the decision on behalf of the Union, in the usual democratic manner. The IWA Negotiating Com- + mittee has reminded the mem- bership, that bargaining re- quirements this year have been See “GAIN” Page 3 7.00 p.m. ¢ Thursday § LISTEN TO Kw & wwe * ww Mass Rallies Hear Policy: Report; Vote By Ballot wwe & wwe *& wwe * Intense interest was shown by huge crowds of lumber workers who congregated at all Coast Local Union and Sub-local centres on Sunday, June 6, to hear and discuss proposed terms of master contract revision, negotiated ° during the first phase of cénciliation, and recommended for acceptance by the IWA District Policy Committee. Voting by secret ballot on acceptance will be completed prior to June 17. As the pros and cons of acceptance were vigorously debated, the one vital question at issue emerged more clearly, “If this ‘package’ is rejected, can the Union obtain a better settlement through Conciliation Board proceedings, and plans for strike action?” The Policy Committee members predicted that if the Union rejected the terms already negotiated, it might easily become engaged in a fight to gain a cheaper “package” of conditions at a later date, with vastly greater effort and sacrifice, Largest crowas were those which thronged the Exhibition Gardens, Vancouver, Local 1-217, and the Arenex, New Westmin- ster, Local 1-357. Both audiences heard District President Joe Mor- ris, and 1st Vice-President Wil- liam Gray outline the possibili- ties of settlement on the terms proposed. District 2nd Vice- President S. M. Hodgson also spoke on behalf of the Policy Committee at the Vancouver meeting. The Vancouver Local Union proceeded with their balloting at the conclusion of the meeting. The New Westminster unit de- cided to conduct a referendum vote, plant by plant. Changed Conditions In submitting a report on be- half of the District Policy Co: mittee, District President. Morris stressed factors in this year’s negotiations which varied consid- erably from those of former years. These, he said, had com- pelled the Negotiating Commit- tee to adopt a different strategy than before, and to seek a con- crete settlement in the first stage of conciliation. As cited by the IWA officer, these factors were: No Wage Demand By decision of the member- ship, the Negotiating Commit- tee had not been authorized to make any demand for a general wage increase. The demands formulated by the membership had placed full emphasis on the improve- ment of working conditions solely. This required the Nego- tiating Committee to bargain on the basis of principles to be incorporated in the contract, rather than, as formerly, on the economic factors, and fi- nancial outlay inyolved. The instructions of the mem- bership were to secure contract improvements of more endur- ing value than a wage increase. The Committee, therefore, in following these instructions, bargained for contract provi- sions of long-range value as well as immediate benefit. Conditions Bettered Measured in these terms, sub- mitted the President, the pro- posed ‘“‘package?’ offered the membership gains in working conditions as substantial as any secured in the past history of the Union. The District President des- cribed the changes in negotiating procedure encountered this year, and which made it advisable to CKNW Saturday 7.05 p.m. : (J AY Spokesman JOE MORRIS seek a settlement before refer- ence of the dispute-to a Concilia- tion Board. He detailed these factors as follows: Changed Procedure The Conciliation Officer con- ducted the proceedings in a manner that suggested his an- ticipation that his powers would soon be extended. He had brought both parties into - joint conference, immediately and repeatedly. He had vir- tually insisted that ‘the discus- sions continue, while hope existed of agreement on any point. The operators had indicated their willingness to reach an agreement at this stage. In confidential consultation with the Conciliation Officer, it became possible to thresh out the details of various proposed “package” proposals with com- plete frankness. This made it possible for bargaining to con- tinue without any barrier to a fresh aproach should the dis- cussions fail, and a Conciliation Board became necessary. Prée- cautions with regard to pub- licity in the daily press were necessary, that the Union’s freedom of action might be fully maintained. It was necessary to take into consideration the possibility that the new Labor Relations Act might be proclaimed soon. The major consideration was that the negotiations should reach a satisfactory conclusion See “SETTLEMENT” Page 3 6.30 p.m. Thursday