2 B.C. LUMBER WORKER bat 4 eal abet ta rhs FROM PAGE 1 “MORRIS” strikers. This rounded out the program of aid proposed at the District Delegate Conference, earlier in the year. The District President explain- ed the circumstances confronting the Union in the Northwest, and outlined the purposes of the Gov- ernors’ Fact-finding Commission. He pointed to complications on the American side, which are not encountered in British Columbia. The speaker advocated that the Union should endeavor to co- ordinate decisions with regard to bargaining strategy and heed the Iessons of strike experience, in this and other districts, Lesson Learned If so, he contended, the Union would make certain of a number of points, ie. the accumulation of adequate strike funds in ad- vance of the event; the direction of negotiations on a regional basis as determined by the na- tural economic units; steps to gain full participation of all the workers affected by the negotia- tions. Safety Program The District official dealt with the proposal, originating with Local 1-118, suggesting more fre- quent meetings of the District Safety Council. This would now be held on November 6, he prom- ised. ¢ The guest speaker, referred to the action taken at the meeting to elect delegates to the CCL convention, Ainsley, .R, Atherton, and D. J. MacKenzie, T., Chapman. He said that the IWA could not safely isolate itself from all that the CCL repre- sented. The main reason for action through the CCL was that the employers could not wrest from the Union by political means, those economic gains made at the bargaining table, CCL Action It was incumbent upon the IWA now to enlarge its horizons, he stated, and deal with develop- ing national problems which af- fect all lumber workers. Growing unemployment was a distinct menace, he asserted, and the IWA must act with its affili- ates in the CCL to demand planned action to ayert even greater disaster, than was now apparent in Eastern Canada. The -speaker also referred to the need for amendments to the Unemployment Insurance Act, and the desirability of a national labor code, which would. protect workers against disparities across Canada. President Morris complimented the Local Union on the manner on which it had upheld the best traditions of the IWA in this re- spect, and urged that all mem bers become more politically aware. He contended that when the workers took pains to get the facts regarding legislative deci- sions affecting their welfare, they would quickly learn to discrimi- nate between their political friends and political enemies, and act accordingly. IRA BECKER & SON FROM PAGE 1 done when earned. Unless the Union can now initiate retroac- tive adjustment, the men con- cerned have actually left a gen- erous slice of their hard-earned wages in the company’s tills. Daily Rate The first point on which the employers have defaulted is pay- ment of what has been known in recent years as the “existing daily rate’. Provision for this payment in addition to the con- tract rates originated with the desire of the Union, that fallers and buckers should share. fully in general wage increases nego- | tiated by the Union. Since 1950, specific references have been made in successive | Coast master agreements, always stipulating that the general wage increase should be added to the existing daily rate for fallers | and buckers. | This has been done in some | operations, where the fallers and | buckers consulted the Union prior |to their bargaining on contract |rates. In other operations, the | matter was neglected, and the | daily rate was “incorporated” in | the contract rate and its benefits | thereby lost to the fallers and | buckers involved. | What many of the falling erews have lost is readily seen | when comparisons are made be- | tween wages paid in operations |where the contract provisions |have been fully observed and those where it has been neglected. Large Sums Lost One large operation’s estab- | lished basic contract rate for the quarters is $1.18 per M. at the | same time the fallers and buck- “SHORT-CHANGED” ‘ ‘ : d j \t 4 Bi ah FRED FIEBER, Financial Secre- tary, Local 1-71, IWA, who charges that logging operators haye been “short-changing” the fallers and buckers on an aver ‘a daily rate of $3.56, in addition to the contract price earned on the quarter. No Equivalent Paid It might be suspected that fall- rate on the assurance from the employer that the contract rates would be adjusted upward in an equivalent amount. The survey shows a contrary result, Usually where no daily rate has been paid, the contract vate is absurdly low. Failure to negotiate one point satisfactorily, has proved a fail- ure for the fallers and buckers all the way down the line. This touches upon another point, where the fallers and buckers in Coast logging camps have lost heavily. They have been subjected to steady down- ward pressure on their contract rates. ‘The recent survey made by the Local Union revealed that in many large operations the con- tract rates have been cut to as low as 80 cents and 90 cents per M. from rates which in those operations used to average from $1.10 to $1.30 per M. Upon com- pletion of the investigation, the names of these operations will be published. This rate cutting cannot be justified by the factors which usually determine the price on | the quarters. Large companies whieh have | operations from Queen Charlotte | Islands all the way south, have \this low price for all quarters, regardless of the size of the tim- ber, the nature of the ground, and the cruise content, It vepre- sents a determined effort to cut the contract rates, whatever the conditions. ing crews forfeited this daily Revealing Comparisons ers collect an additional $4.56 a day for each day worked. In this | operation the general union in- creases have been paid separately | since 1947. Vancouver Island) Distributors | The fallers and buckers, who LE. L. POWER CHAIN SAWS PARTS Nanaimo Phone 1515 Some conception may be form-j for a particular operation, the Jed of the chaotic state found by | second column shows the corree- the Local Union, in this regard, | tion which the Union had to in- by reproducing the following fi-| sist upon, in view of the investi | gures taken from the first eleven | gation made of the rates paid agreements presented for the | during the preceding 11 months. * SERVICE Campbell River Phono 94H S HANEY HANEY BUSINESS GUI “ESQUIRE” MEN’S WEAR (Graham Mowatt) Complete Stock of Work and Dress Clothing “THE STORE WITH THE POPULAR BRANDS’ BRITISH COLUMBIA Duncan 131 Jubilee St. DUNCAN’ BUSINESS GUIDE. J. LINDSAY LOUTET (C. Bradshaw & Co.) INSURANCE AND REAL ESTATE Lake Cowichan Branch: Old Post Office Building | MacGREGOR’S | MEN’S WEAR For Everything a Man Wears WORK, SPORT or DRESS We Can Afford to Sell the BEST for LESS! PORT ALBERNI BUSINESS GUIDE MacDONALD’S PHARMACY Prescriptions, Drug Sundries, First Aid Supplies Registered Optometrist Argyle Street Port Alberni Phone 1600 WOODWARD STORES (PORT ALBERNI) LTD. “Your Family Shopping Centre” “Closed Wednesdays All Day” Hours: 9 -5:30 | are well unionized in this oper: | tion, are at least a da | ahead of fallers and buckers in another large operation, the jexisting daily rate, which will now be written | agreement fezecnuanal case wi | ing crews i lxight to do, since 1946 be caleulated separ- | atley. | Many of the better organized | operations pay the falling crews “He wears his baby shoes for good luck!” We have everything you'll need for fall in men’s clothes, fur- nishings and work clothes. 100% union-made. Buy yours with FREE CREDIT and save up to 15%. E"H Sit U THE=UB 45 EAST HASTINGS Union’s signature. | ones riety eoltninh crag iene rates entered in the agreement RATES SHOWN $1.10 plus $3.56 | 7 3.56 The financial losses sustained by fallers and buckers are deeply regretted by the men themselves and the Union’s officials. The Union is determined that a wrong must be righted, and is engaged in consultations with the falling crews to make certain that full justice is done, in accordance with the views and evidence of the men concerned. Crews Back Union Fallers and buckers, them- selves, quite freely state to the Union that they were easily fool- |, SAN FRANCISCO — TAILORS — LOAN MONEY ON Suits, Overcoats, etc. Loggers’ Boots, Sleeping Bags, Suitcases, Radios, Watches and Rings |The employers must admit that |here they betrayed a bare-faced anxiety to still further depress ‘yates for fallers and buckers. $1.15 plus § 1.35 °” 1.85) 30 (0c bonus to be included) 1.30 plus ne) 1.30” 90” 120” A501 (10¢ bonus to be included) ed, because ‘they had not taken advantage of the Union’s facili- ties, and were therefore out of touch with bargaining done for their benefit. That this situation can soon be corrected by the fallers and buck- ers’ themselves is readily seen, and is generally recognized. It is this discovery that is causing the falling crews to besiege the Union for service, that only the Union can render them, and which has constantly been avail- able to them. ; Two grizzled ridge runners from the hills stopped on a street in town to pass the time of day. “How’s things at home 2?” inquir- ed one. “Wal,” replied the other, “the old woman ain’t talkin’ to me, and I ain’t in no mood to inter- rupt her.” Expert Watch Repairing UNREDEEMED Suits and Caulk Boots For Sale MAIL ORDER 52 West Hastings Street VANCOUVER, B. C. “OLD DOC” Dr. R. Llewellyn Douglas has moved his Dental Office from 9 East Hastings St. to 712 Robson St., Vancouver, B.C. NEW ADDRESS