Lost Wages

IN the exposure made of “short-changing” prac-

ticed on wage payments due the fallers and
buckers in Coast logging camps, Local 1-71, IWA,
has furnished a useful lesson in the value of a
uniform Union policy in all phases of collective
bargaining.

The first point to note is that the best possible
settlement is always made when the terms are
shaped on an industry-wide basis, exercising the
full bargaining strength of the workers concerned
in all branches of the industry.

The second point to underline is that this year’s
settlement, in respect of the clause dealing with
the negotiating rights of fallers and buckers, met
an urgent necessity, too long brushed aside by the
employers.

Steps to implement this. clause in the contract

now reveals how essential this protection has
always been for men who work on contract rates.
Too many of them have for years been working
oe than was agreed upon at the bargaining
able.

Fallers and buckers are prone to an independ-
ent outlook, mainly, of course, because of the con-
ditions under which they work. They have a
natural self-reliance.on which they depend in
arguing with the company officials on prices for

the quarters, as well as in tackling the increas- Canada’s housing start for 1954 is slowly gaining | )’'",,
tempo after a very slow start at the beginning of the yea

: hie ., |The latest reports show the starts for the first six) The United Steelwor
They sacrifice nothing of this independence if | months of this year at 46,398, as compared to 46,746 of | America at Hamilton are
r. It is hoped by construction men that this year
rpass 1953’s starts of 102,409—this is a record for | elderly people. They would have

ingly difficult conditions.

they work in and through the Union in regard to
their*contract conditions. The Union’s Negotiat-

| in tackling h
as well
by others.

rent housing in Ottawa.
building des in the
sla
Rents will
a month for

n.

erage abot

; three b

*| four times the vent.

| put up some money them

ing problems,
agitating for a

action

To mect a shortage of low-

To provide work for the

winter

ut $58

> wo-storey double-
By JOE MIYAZAWA ‘house and row-house wn
rooms. Families” will
an income of about

with

of
con-

Jering a similar project for

nselve:

ing Committee invariably includes men with log- ‘3 d call on the province for a
ging experience who are alert to the traps often | Construction 4 The Unions say they are taking | grant of about 5% of the total
set for those on bushel work. The Union’s stipu- | ‘ecent!y quoted eas wees canteens ARTS IN US.
lations regarding this section of the logging indus- ee anal 1954 1953 1952.
try have always given full attention to the special | the housing backlog is to be over- | January 68,200 61,100
conditions involved. come. Since 1948 the housing | February 73,800 74,300
% starts for Canada have been: | March 96,100 91,100
The logging companies are extremely anxious | Ree senate tated
to maintain the system of contract cutting. Under ey f 102,000 96,900
this system they can speed up their production by | July ..... 96,100 101,100
the lure of “big” money. Whether this pay is so | Ka °
“big” or not at the end of a year, is always a mat- | |
ter of debate. Much depends on the luck of the | spenaing for new construction |
weather and other conditions. lin July rose five percent over |
* . = June te record of $ lio, =
It is not “big” when one estimates the average | and £ first seven months of | .
working life of a faller or bucker. | this yea penditures were at
~ | the record level of $20.1 billion, |

The whole point is that the system tends to | according to the U.S. D
encourage men to act hastily, and without taking | ° {bor and Comn |

« i A The value of new work on pri-|
time to ensure that proper standards are main- | vate residential building totalled |

tained for all falling crews in the industry. This | more than $12 million in July.
responsibility now rests upon the Union, and in fee es oa aceae eel
its proper discharge, fallers and buckers should {for any month since Ogtober, |

extend cordial cooperation. | 1950, The high July rate reflect-
|ed a greater than usual rise in|

Some cutting crews failed to consult the Union, [gas housing starts during

a 5 co ERT) a 8 | July. |

and acting on their own, were “short-changed”, in |p. the first seven months of]

the matter of the existing daily rate. They chose | the year, private starts have to-|

to ignore an important precaution taken by the | talled 670,500 which is 3 percent |
Union to extend to them the full benefits of any |*P°ve * ¥°% 28°.

: . s | i i x i}
general wage increase. Other cutting crews ignor- ieee eee rent |

|
ed the campaign, waged by the Union against the | One of the most interesting |
cutting of contract rates, and ended up with rates | low-rent honstag cevelopmionts to
, , 5 5 e appear recently i$ the housing}
zo low as to endanern the whole structure of con- | project which will be underw
ract rates, as established. soon in Ottawa. Thg Ottawa Dis

‘ trict Trad 1 Labor Council |
The Union has rendered fallers and buckers a | ;._ Aarne a linited-dividend |

great service in checking the trend toward ab- eamnany to borrow Pgney from |

4 ute insisti Central Mortgage ousing |
surdly low contract rates. Also by insisting upon | Go: for 44 low-rent units, The |
the entry of the daily rate in the contract, it will | city will put up the 10% equity
be impossible in future for the men to be “short- | capital required, in the form of

2” eee 5 land. |
changed” on this item. | ‘The Union will undertake to:

This indicates that the right to negotiate such | handle, Maree aes sues
rates under the terms of the contract will prove Lad :

of much greater benefit than was at first realized S

rtment |

in the camps.

The most useful result will be closer coopera-
tion between the falling crews and the Union to
air a large number of legitimate grievances with |
the definite expectation of settlement under the
revised contract terms.

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