B.C. LUMBER WORKER

bread baking in the major
is due solely to the deci-
employers’ associa-
tion out their employees
al plants. z
This has been done to imple-
ment a threat made earlier by
them, that unless the employ-
ees accepted an employer-dis-
torted version of the recom-
mendations of a conciliation
board, they would be thrown
on the streets by lock-out ac-
tion. The members of this
union while always prepared to
discuss a settlement of any dis-
pute at the conference table,
would not be bullied in this fa-
shion into a meek acceptance
of employer-dictated terms.
Proof that the present incon-
venience caused the public, is
due entirely to the decision made
by the employers is found in the
fact that the Union’s proposal to

keep one bakery operating to! should be understood that the

supply hospitals and essential
services for the sick, has been
rejected by the employers.

_ “LOCK-OUT”

2

I would also point to the fact
that this Union has indicated its
willingness to submit the dispute
to Mediation, as suggested by
the Acting Minister of Labor,
but, as we are now informed, the
employers will not consider any
form of mediation which might
provide the basis for an amicable
settlement without distress to
the public.

Our proposals for revision of
the agreement with the master
Bakers’ were considered by a
Conciliation Board. Mainly we
requested a 35-hour work week,
an improved night shift differ-
ential, liberalization of the va-
cation policy, and the introduc-
tion of the Union’s welfare plan
as in operation at other plants.

Health Reasons

As the question of reduced
hours of work became one of the
major issues in the dispute, it

members of the Bakery Workers
Union have long requested this
change for a number of import-

Conditions Compel
Shorter Hours

ant reasons. In the baking in-
dustry the workers upon the in-
sistence of the employers are re-
quired to work nights, on Sun-
days and on holidays and under
conditions which for health rea-
sons necessitate a shorter work
week than now prevailing,

The 85-hour work week is in
effect in all large bakeries on the
Pacific Coast to the South, Van-
couver bakeries are utilizing the
same type of equipment. An
additional factor is, that, as
stated before the Conciliation
Board, the rapid mechanization
of the industry has in some in-
stances increased man-hour pro-
ductivity by four times. The
members of the union desire the
shorter hours that available em-
ployment may be equitably
spread over the available number
of skilled craftsmen.

Arbitrary Attitude

The members of our Union
have found it impossible to un-
derstand the arbitrary attitude

expressed by Mr. Walter Owen,
Q.C., on behalf of the employers,
and which has made it impos-
sible to discuss a settlement in
an amicable fashion.

When the report of the Con-
ciliation Board was made avail-
able, he attempted to dictate an
acceptance of the majority
recommendation, minus the ap-
proval of a welfare plan. Such
a procedure is unheard of under
conciliation procedures and could
not be allowed by the Depart-
ment. Acceptance or rejection
of such reports must be made
unconditionally.

He then stated, to the De-
partment and I quote, “We
have to advise you further that
unless all the employees con-
cerned accept the report with
the variation above referred
to, it is the intention of our
clients to invoke the lock-out
procedure provided in the ICA
Act.” Quotation ends. The
variation referred to was the

Union Obeyed

Act’s Provisions

deletion of all reference to the
recommended welfare plan.

Following the proclamation of
the new Act, and in an adver-
tisement published in the Van-
couver dailies, June 29, Mr. Owen
made *the attempt to persuade
the public that the Union should
conduct an industry-wide strike
vote. He misquoted the Act, sub-
stituting the word “Union” for
“unit”. Later he corrected his
misquotation privately but failed
to make the correction as pub-
licly as he made his faulty in-
terpretation of the law.

McGavins Only
‘The Union accepted the intent

port in this struggle.

We have been met with noth-
ing but pre-emptory dismissals
of such proposals from the em-
pe representative, Mr.

wen. It is the employers who
have chosen to close down the
bakeries regardless of public in-
convenience, that they might
browbeat their employees into
acceptance of unfair conditions
of employment.

Employers Lockout

I appreciate the fact that this
situation may cause serious in-
convenience especially to workers
in the Coast lumbering centres,
who depend on the Vancouver
bakeries for essential supplies.

I can only point out to our
fellow-workers in the lumber in-
dustry that we are fighting for
our rights as they have often

“WE TOLD
YOU SO”

U.S. Bread
FOUND
Untair

CCL Unions voted to support
the fight of the Bakery and
Confectionery Workers against
their employers’ lock-out, at
the last meeting of the Greater
Vancouver and Lower Main-
land Labor Council, when they
learned that bread imported by
the bakeries from the United
States had been declared “un-
fair.”

Recording Secretary Tom Allen
and Picket Captain, Walter Han-
zel, addressed the delegates on
behalf of the locked-out employ-
ees, and won hearty approbation
for their stand.

When the matter of imported
bread was under discussion, the
delegates made it clear that no
CCL Union was involved in the
handling of “hot” bread.

President Lloyd Whalen sup-
ported the appeal for support of
the locked-out workers, pointing
out that bread was being im-
ported from an area where wages
paid bakery workers was sub-
stantially higher, and where the
35-hour week prevailed.

He stressed the fact that con-
ditions which prevail in the bak-
eries necessitate a shorter work
week. Bakery workers must now
undertake production on all Sun-
days, and holidays in addition to
working night shifts, he ex-
plained.

Record
Assured

OTTAWA (CPA) — Con-
sideration is to be given by
the Labor Department to
providing figures showing
the number of man-hours
lost through sickness and ac-
cident, Labor Minister Gregg
told Stanley Knowles (CCF
Winnipeg North Centre)
during discussion of Labor
estimates,

A record was kept of the
number of man-hours lost
due to industrial disputes

done in the past. Because we
produce. bread, we have not con-
sidered strike action recklessly,
and as a matter of fact have not
done so at all since 1920. We

that we may have your sup-

(strikes and lockouts), said
the Winnipeg member, and
the sickness and accident
figures would also be valu-
able. The Minister promised
to consider the matter,

IN INDUSTRIAL FIRST AID

She’ Workmen's: Compensation
7
ompe!

ing and

FROM PAGE 1

“STRIKE”

“We know that the lumber in-
dustry was in excellent shape in
1952. We also know that since
then, the great majority of wood-
workers have been given no wage
increases.

“And we know that the cost of |
living has gone up nearly 2%
since 1952, when most Wood-
workers last got wage increases.

We know that national produc-
tivity is going up annually at the
vate of at least 4% each year,
according to official government
figures.

In the lumber industry, produe-
tion per man hour has gone up
even faster, it is indicated by the
industry’s West Coast figures. It
could be as much as 13% over the
past 2 years. They have not dis-
puted this.

We think Woodworkers are en-
titled to share in benefits result-
ing from increased productivity
just as much as are auto or steel
or construction workers.

We agree with Charles E. Wil-
son’s statement in 1946 when he
was head of General Motors that
the American system is superior
in the world because most em-
ployers “have shared with their
workers the. new values achieved
by greater productivity.

“If this productivity is properly
shared, and if the American
people continue to be willing to|
work for the things they want,” |
said Wilson, who now is Secre-!

tary of Defense, “It can double
their standard of living each gen-
eration.”
Pioneering

This fight of ours is not just
for today, but for our children
and grandchildren as well, Every
increase in the standard of living
which we must take from the em-
ployers will be passed on to our
families.

Strike Leader

PRESIDENT
AL. HARTUNG

Rate Changes
Considered

Announcement was made re-
cently by IWA District Offi-
cials that the work of the
District Committee reviewing
rates for tradesmen in the log-
ging section of the lumber
industry had been finalized in
recommendations now receiving
consideration by the Local
Unions.

‘The survey made by the Com:
mittee and discussions with the
employers’ representatives has
been in completion of the under-
taking reached last year as the
outcome of a recommendation of
the Conciliation Board.

Adjustments for tradesmen in
the sawmill section of the indus-
try were worked out earlier in

the year. The second half of the
committee’s labors have now been
completed, and await ratification
by the tradesmen affected.
Tradesmen interested in the
proposed adjustments are reques-
ted to contact their Local Unions
with regard to information and
the procedure of consideration.

SUPPORT
OUR
ADVERTISERS

PROVINCE MEN

1.T.U. OFFICERS

Pictured above are five membi

ers of The Vancouver Province

composing room staff, all of whom hold elected office on the

executive of Vancouver Typographical Union No. 226, This 1.

U.

Local covers all union newspapers and job printing shops in
Vancouver. The Vancouver Province is proud to have so many

of its valued employees holding positions of respor

this trade union. From leit obove

ility with
are executive committee member

Fred Franks, vice-president W. H. Watson, executive member Jim -
Wood, president H, T. Uce) Chambers, and assistant secretary ©
Charlie Crompton, They are members of one of seven unions

who work together each day to produce The Vancouver Province,”

| union produced,

@ newspaper: that always gives lobor a square deal and which is