|

‘—-.

CONTRACT SIGNED

Otsaat Patticaicn of tbe International Weoduorhers of America wid. Dieta Corr Xe

Vol. XXII, No. 13

®t ISSUE, JULY 1954 - VANCOUVER, B.C. “GP

5c PER COPY

STRIKE FRONT SOLID

US. Federal Government conciliators this week moved
to bring the CIO-AFL striking woodworkers in the Pacific
Northwest States into discussions with the employers’
groups in the fir belt, with the hope of shaping some basis

for settlement in the four-week-old strike.

Reports originating in the!
Portland strike headquarters in-
dicated that public pressure was
wearing down the employers in
the unreasonable position which
they had taken at the outset in
rejecting all reasonable settle-
ment proposals,

The Union’s officers warned
the strikers, however, against any
easy optimism that a quick and

early settlement would be found.
100% Solid

In the meantime the strikers
have maintained a 100% solid
front. On the employers’ front,
a large number of operators have
signed with the IWA accepting
the 124% cent an hour wage de-
mand,

Proof that the strike is solid
is found in the fact that more

woodworkers are on strike at the
present time than when the strike
started said International Presi-
dent Hartung. The joint action
by the CIO and AFL unions has
closed down all major operations.
including those of Weyerhaeuser
and Long-Bell,

Total working force on strike
now exceeds 100,000, and more
operations will be shut down, if
a satisfactory settlement fails to
materialize in this week’s media-
tion talks, IWA officers stated.

In a public statement, Presi-
dent Hartung declared:

See “STRIKE” Page 3

UNIONS

FIGHT

FARE BOOST

Storm of protest was heard this week throughout the
ranks of organized labor in opposition to the proposal of
the B. C. Electric Railway Co. to increase the transit fares.
Vancouver Labor Council, among other bodies, filed a pro-
test with the Vancouver City Council and demanded a
thorough probe into the financial operations of the public

utility.

A further resolution of the
Council expressly stated its op-
position to the proposed fifteen-
cent fare. Delegates were bitter
in their denunciation of the BCER
because of its notorious disregard
of the public interest.

The B.C. Federation of Labor
was requested to join with the
Council in representations to the
Public Utility Commission.

In a press release, President
Lloyd Whalen stated:

“Not a Red Cent”

“This monopolistic ‘octupus
that has been fattened at the ex-
pense of the Vancouver public,
should not be allowed another
red cent out of our pocketbooks
until the financial manipulations
of the B.C. Power Corporation,

and all its subsidiaries are thor-|!

oughly probed.

“The Couneil’s Executive will} |

ask authorization to demand such
a probe, conducted by a properly
constituted judicial body. In the
meantime, we will mobilize or-
ganized Igbor’s strength against
the increase.
Stock Manipulations

“The startling disclosures re-
cently made of stock manipula-
tions netting $875,000 in extra
profits for favored directors,
again veveals that this public
utility is being operated solely
to siphon profits out of British
Columbia wage earners for East-
ern investors,

WHAT'S
INSIDE |

“The proposed fare increase
will mean an additional and in-
excusable deduction from the al-
veady overburdened pay ‘cheque
of the average family.

“I warn employing interests
that if they support the BCER
in this raid on our pocket books,
they must reckon with insistent
and even militant demands for
wage increases on the next
round, that will compensate the
workers for this profit gouge.”

Interior
Talks
Progress

Northern Interior negotia-
tions were resumed this week
in Prince George, following
consultation between District
President Joe Morris and the
membership of Local 1-424
IWA at a meeting July 11.

It was reported on the Local
Union radio program that certain
of the employers’ proposals would
be under consideration.

IWA negotiators are optimistic
that a mutually satisfactory set-
tlement may be reached without
any serious disruption of produc-
tion in the Northern section of
the province.

kok

wwe

wk we &

Policy Committee Approves
Final Draft Agreement

wwe &

Ina statement released

wow &

wwe &
over the Green Gold Radio

program, District 1st Vice-president William Gray an-
nounced last week that the IWA District Officers had
signed the Coast master contract for 1954-55. The revi-
sions incorporated in the document were those which had
been ratified by vote of the [WA membership, he stated.
The clauses which required

amendment under the terms of
the settlement reached during
the first stage of conciliation
were drafted in a form that
proved mutually satisfactory to
both parties after careful consid-
eration.

The phrasing of the amended
sections was submitted to and
approved by the District Policy
Committee,

Agreement Formalized

The formalities of signing the
master - agreement were then
completed, as representing 178
firms and approximately 32,000
lumber workers.

Local Unions are now engaged
in securing signatures on the
necessary separate documents in
the more than 500 operations in-
volved in the industry-wide settle-
ment,

Employers who bargain inde-
pendently are now signing with
the Local Unions in ready ac-
ceptance of the contract pattern
established in the main negotia-
tions.

The IWA is in receipt of con-
gratulations from many unions
elsewhere in Canada, for success-
fully negotiating a substantially
improved contract this year by
means of conciliation.

BAKERS

LOCK-

OUT WORKERS

IWA members last week indicated a high degree of
interest in the strike-lockout situation affecting the Bakery
and Confectionery Workers (AFL) because of action by
the employers which created an industry-wide stoppage

of production.

IWA officials contended that
the development fully justified
the position taken by the Union
earlier, when before the Cabinet,
that the Labor Relations Act in
this respect was slanted in favor
of the employers.

This stand was taken by Dis-
trict Ist Vice-President William
Gray, when he introduced Busi-
ness Agent Mel Kemmis, of the
Bakery Workers on the recent
Green Gold radio program.

When invited to state the posi-
tion of the bakery workers, Kem-
mis said:

“Our Union has acted in strict
observance of the provisions of
the new Labor Relations Act,
and has taken. strike action in
one plant only, McGavin’s Ltd.,
Vancouver, The Union made no
attempt to promote-an industry-
wide strike. Complete cessation

Sde “LOCKOUT” Page 3

EMPLOYERS

}
i
|
i

CLOSE DO

WN INDUSTRY

¥ Bakery Workers Locked Out At 4X Plant

Green Gold—-CJOk

7.00 p.m. *

LISTEN TO

Thursday §

CKNW

Saturday

7.05 p.m. 4

6.30 p.m.
Thursday

(JAV

s
°