FROM PAGE 1 ; “Officers’ Report” proportions. The IWA has been fully aware pf the dangers fo. lumber workers which are to be seen in the present decline of the employment index, and ac companying loss of buying power in the hands of the public. The level of production main- tained in the lumber industry ha> been much higher than was pre- dicted by the employers during last year’s negotiations. It is be- lieved by your officers, that the information to be placed before this body and the Wages and Contract Conference will show sound reasons for optimism re- garding the immediate prospects for the lumber industry in this province. We will propose that both labor and management should plan improvements in the provinee’s largest basic industry with a confidence that will stimu- late greater optimism in turn throughout all the industries in the province. It is gratifying to note that the members of the IWA have reso- lutely resisted any attempt to undermine their hard-won right to administer their own affairs without any outside interference. It is suggested, however, that at- tempts made to weaken the con- stitutional structure of the Union point to the necessity of constant vigilance in this respect. We may all be proud.of the fact that the standards of trade union practice, and community service maintained by this Union have served to raise in a substan- “tial degree the living standards for many thousands of workers in British Columbia. In this out- standing service to its member- ship, the IWA has served the public interest well. We appreciate the support ren- dered the Union by members of the general public, and we may assure them that the members of the IWA remain determined to work for social progress with renewed energy. NEGOTIATIONS The 1954 negotiations on the Coast master contract were con- ducted under circumstances which differed radically from those in previous years. One cause for this situation was that in the bargaining strategy laid down by the Wages and Contract Confer- ence, it was stipulated that no wage demand be presented. It therefore became necessary to place greater emphasis on con- tract improvements, offering in- direct monetary benefits, improy- ed job security, and better work- ing conditions. ‘As the program developed with the formal presentation of the demands, it became necessary to follow an entirely different course than in former years. To a large extent, the differences with the operators hinged on conflicting viewpoints in regard to those principles which, in the opinion of the Union, should be incorp- orated in the contract. Some of these principles have been bit- terly opposed by the employers through the years, and therefore required discussions even more prolonged and complex than usually occurs on wage rates. Bargaining sessions opened on April 15th, with no apparent change in the bargaining position previously stated by the opera- tors. During the early stages of IRA BECKER & SON Vancouver Island Distributors I. E. L. POWER CHAIN SAWS * PARTS Nanaimo Phone 1515 HANEY BUSINESS “ESQUIRE” MEN’S WEAR | SERVICE Campbell River Phone 94H U (Graham Mowatt) Complete Stock of Work and Dress Clothing “THE STORE WITH THE POPULAR BRANDS” HANEY BRITISH COLUMBIA DUNCAN BUS Duncan 181 Jubilee St. J. LINDSAY LOUTET (C. Bradshaw & Co.) INSURANCE AND REAL ESTATE INESS GUIDE Lake Cowichan Branch: Old Post Office Building me PORT ALBERNI BUSINESS GU MacGREGOR’S MEN’S WEAR For Everything a Man Wears WORK, SPORT or DRESS We Can Afford to Sell the BEST for LESS! MacDONALD’S PHARMACY Prescriptions, Drug Sundries, First Aid Supplies Registered Optometrist Argyle Street _ Port Alberni WOODWARD STORES (PORT ALBERNI) LTD. “Your Family Shopping Centre” “Closed Wednesdays All Day” Phone 1600 Hours: 9 - 5:30 of the Union, in foregoing any wage demand, as an indication that the membership had accept- ed their carefully planted propa- ganada regarding an alleged col- lapse, of the off-shére lumber markets. It was equally evident, that they could not appreciate the fact that the membership, in focussing attention on working conditions, had taken a ¢omplete- ly realistic and positive approach to the whole range of their needs. After all possibilities of settle- ment had been exhausted during the preliminary stages of nego- tiations, the District Policy Com- mittee decided to apply for the services of a Conciliation Officer. Accordingly, Mr. R. G. Clements, action would be regarded as a challenge to the enforcement of the Act, as then interpreted by spokesmen for the Government in th Legislature. It was considered unwise to allow the economic in- terests of the members to be side-tracked by any political con- siderations,or to risk a conflict in which the Government might be allied with the employers. The result was that, although more time was consumed, every possi- bility of settlement was thor- oughly canvassed. © These changed tactics made it clear to the Negotiating Com- mittee that a settlement which might be formulated at the Con- ciliation stage of the dispute would offer distinct advantages to the membership of the Union. It was necessary to gauge all the Imown possibilities in balance with the unpredictable outcome of further steps under the Act. Accordingly, the members of the Negotiating Committee, with- out prejudicing the bargaining position of the Union, worked out with the operators’ representa- tive, a package proposal. This package proposal was approved by the Committee for recommen- dation to the general member- ship. When submitted to a refer- endum vote, the membership accepted the Committee’s recom- mendation by a decisive majority. McCULLOCH Model 47 CHAIN SAW This one-man saw for profes- sional logging, pulp cutting, tree surgery, etc., takes most of the effort out of woodcutting. Gasoline powered, light-weight Model 47 (only 30 Ib.) operates in any position, comes with blades from 14” to 36% for any job. «©. Drop into you! dealers for a demon- stration. McCULLOCH COMPANY OF CANADA LTD. 220 West Ist Avenue Vancouver 10, B.C. Phone: EM 2155 Decisions Were Upheld cussions suggested that he con- templated more official pressure than formerly exercised in simi- lar circumstances. The Negotiating Committee i terpreted his attitude as indicat- ing that he expected depart- mental support in his conduct of the conciliation proceedings, be- cause of the terms of the new Labor Relations Act, 1954, then awaiting proclamation. It was also apparent to the Negotiating Committee, that if the Union fol- lowed blindly the strategy em- ployed in previous years, such The agreement was then con- cluded and signed. In the opinion of your officers, the policy followed by the Union, throughout negotiations, and in acceptance of the contract terms negotiated, was a wise policy. The decisions adhered to were those laid down in the Wages and Contract Conference and in Policy Committee meetings, and were therefore closely related to the views of the membershi These decisions have been vind cated by subsequent events. Sub- stantial progress has been made in strengthening the contract provisions at points whére great- er protection for the interests of the members had been long over- due, Such gains as improved union security, additional paid statutory holidays, better senior- ity provisions, negotiating rights for fallers and buckers—all these have enormously improved the bargaining strength of the Union as well as the working conditions of the membership. INTERIOR As a three-year agreement had resulted from the Southern In- terior strike, only one set of negotiations was necessary in the Interior of the province during 1954. These negotiations mainly concerned the membership of 1- 424, Prince George. Negotiations: commenced early in July. During the bargaining discussions, in which. the Nego- tiating Committee members were assisted by the representatives of Local 1-424, a tentative agree- ment was reached and submitted to the operators and the Local The terms of the proposed settlement were approved by the IWA members and the i i operators, The major aim, and achieved, was to revise ‘the Northern Interior contract, and bring it into line with the provi- sions already established in the Southern Interior. The main features of the re- vised agreement were: introduc- tion of paid statutory holidays for the first time, and improved sen- jority clause, the automatic call- back after lay-off, and a small wage increase, and a 40-hour week beginning September 1st, 1955. ; The standardization of the In- terior agreements as to wage rates and working conditions will allow the Union the necessary time to consolidate its position in the Interior, by means of ex- panded organization and develop- ment of the Union’s program on the job in all Local Unions. TRADESMEN’S RATES It should be noted that the wage structure in the lumber in- dustry was greatly improved by negotiations and agreement reached in respect of tradesmen’s rates. As a result of a recom- mendation of the 1953 Concilia- tion Board, a District Committee steadily exercised pressure on the operators to wipe out the dispari- ties which were apparent between the tradesmen’s rates paid in the various lumber operations, and between the tradesmen’s rates in the lumber industry and those prevailing in other industries in the area. The question was finalized by the committee in the early part of 1954 after prolong- ed and strenuous negotiations and a complete survey of the rates throughout the industry. A sched- ule of amended rates, together with improved definitions of tradesmen’s qualifications, was tentatively agreed upon, and sub- mitted to the tradesmen concern- ed through the various Local Unions. The proposed settlement was approved, and an agreement was signed, with retroactive ad- justment of the rates to January 15, 1954, See “REPORT” Page 3 of three British Columbia homes. PHONE TAtlow 7140 FOR DAILY HOME CARRIER DELIVERY A Real Unicn Shop And No Mistake! ; No less than TEN unions work in hormonious association with the management of The Van- cover Sun to produce the daily issues of Western Canada’s leading newspaper that go into two out The Sun Is hoppy to be a real Union Shop throughout, with agreeable relations with all its organized crafts and personnel.