CONCILIATION BARES ISSUES IN DISPUTE Oma Pestiaticn ot te Inbornational Woodworkers Almerica nh. Dusia Com Na Vol. XXII, No. 8 >> * 2nd ISSUE, APRIL 1955 - VANCOUVER, B.C. S 5c PER COPY REWARD FOR FAITHFUL SERVICE PRESENTATION of an honourary life membership card in Local 1-367, IWA., was made to old time member Frank O’Laughlin, on his recent retirement from work, by IWA District President Joe Morris, April 17th, in a ceremony at Hammond. OLAUGHLIN HONORED Honorary life membership card was presented to Frank O'Laugh- lin, long time member of Local 1-367, IWA,, on his retirement from work, by IWA District Pres- ident Joe Morris, April 17th, at Hammond. In a short ceremony, the District President and Local Officers paid tribute to Bro. O'Laughiin, for the faithful service he rendered to the Local. Born in North Dakota, Bro. O’Laughlin started work in the Hammond Mill in 1926. He helped tovorganixe the mill and became the first IWA Shop Steward there. He has held at various times nearly every position of office within the gift of the Local and has attended virtually all IWA District Conventions. WHAT'S INSIDE g Lect 1-85 DO Figen 2 HODGSON NAMED CCL-ILO ENVOY Recent announcement from the CCL Ottawa office stated that “Stu” Hodgson, Vice-President of B.C. District Council No. 1, and Financial Secretary of Local 1-217, IWA, has been selected as a delegate to attend the Fourth World Convention of the International Federation of Free Trade Unions in Vienna, Austria, from May 20th to 28th. The Congress delegation this year will be headed by Secretary- Treasurer Donald MacDonald, and other delegates will be “Stu” Hodgson, Bill Mahoney, United Steelworkers, John Brady, United Automobile Workers, and Eugene Forsey, Research Director, who will attend as an advisor. Simultaneously, the Government has announced that Vice-President Hodgson has been appointed to represent Canada at the forth- coming 38th Session of the I.L.O. Conference in Geneva, Switzer- land, from June Ist to 23rd. “Stu” will be a member of the workers’ delegation and will be Accompanied by John Brady of the United Auto- mobile Workers plus other rep- fesentatives from the T.L.C, C.C.L., and the running trades. See “HODGSON” Page 9 STUART M. HODGSON - _ MH The Union’s spokesmen stated that they were following every available avenue offering possi- bilities of an amicable settle- ment. In this they had largely ignored the employers’ rejection of every IWA demand in the bargaining talks which proved abortive, and necessitated con- ciliation of a defined dispute. A genuine effort was being made, it was reported, to develop a fresh approach to the issues in dispute. Due to the fact that discus- sions to date had been in the nature of exploration into possi- bilities of agreement, without finalization on any point, no more definite reports on the pro- gress of negotiations could be made, it was said. Frank comment on the differ- ences separating the Union and the employers featured a radio address by President Walter Allen, Local 1-85, IWA, Port Alberni, a member of the District Negotiat- ing Committee. He said in part: Allen’s Statement “My colleagues on the District Negotiating Committee have re- quested me to give my impres- sions of the issues which lie be- tween our Union, and the Coast lumber operators. I am glad to do so, for I am especially con- cerned that the members of my own Local Union on Vancouver Island should have up-to-the- minute information on negotia- tions for the 1955-56 contract. On my recent visits to opera- tions certified to my Local Union, as well as at well-attended mem- bership meetings, I was impress- ed with the intense interest of lumber workers in the topic, and by their determination to get HM H Allen Describes. Gulf Between IWA and FIR Conferences under the supervision of Conciliation Offi- cer.Robert Forgie continued in daily sessions this week, as the IWA District Negotiating Committee, and Forest Industrial Relations Ltd. tested methods of conciliation as a means to reach an agreement on the terms of the Coast master contract in the lumber industry. BoM the kind of contract that was outlined by us at the District convention earlier in the year, I hold the opinion that our Union’s members may be relied upon to support the Union’s fight with unswerving loyalty. It has already beén reported that the bargaining talks which commenced on March 15, failed to produce a settlement. We hold the opinion that this was due entirely to the attitude of the employers. They stubbornly rejected every IWA demand. They also sought to weaken the contract provisions established under last year’s settlement. When it became clear that the employers were determined to reduce the benefits available un- der the existing contract, and would not, in addition, concede a single contract improvement, as proposed by the IWA, further bargaining under such. conditions became completely futile. The Union could take no other course, than to apply for a Conciliation Officer. I wish it understood that I am not attempting to summarize all the arguments pro and con on all issues, but I would like to mention some points which, up to the present time, have proved to offer the greatest difficulties in moving toward an agreement. Union Shop - At our Wages and Contract Conference, we gave high prior- ity to a full union shop. We are now demanding a full union shop. The employers say “no” and they say it with emphasis. Every alert IWA member knows the reasons why this See “ISSUES” Page 2 posed in the government bill labour. The maximum period of benefit in the Unemployment Insurance bill is reduced to 30 weeks, from 51. A transition section calls for a three-year period during which those who had accumulated credits for the maximum period under the present act would be eligible for longer benefits, Supplementary benefit rates will equal regular rates. They will be called “seasonal” and paid, as at present, only from January 1 to April 15. Proposed Rate The proposed rate schedule re- places the present top category for those earning $48 or over with three categories. The maximum classification, $57 and over, will provide weekly payments of $30 for married people, $23 for single. The next, $51 to $56.99, will have benefits of $28 and $21; and the third highest, $45 to $50.00 carries Insurance Act Overhauled The establishment of three new insurance classes, the ex- tension of the minimum benefit period and the elimination of the non-compensable day were the chief amendments pro- to amend the Unemployment Insurance Act introduced in the House of Commons just be- fore Easter recess, which met the demands of organized the rates of $26 weekly for-married people and $19 for single. Allowable supplementary earn- ings went up one dollar to $13 weekly. The CCL had requested that the maximum supplementary income for those in the top cate- gory of benefits be raised to $15. Unwelcome Carryovers Unwelcome carry-overs from the present act are the exclusion of certain occupations, particularly those in hospitals and charitable institutions, and discriminatory re- gulations against married women. The non-compensable day was eliminated but the five-day waiting period retained. ; Other labour recommendations not in the proposed bill are the payment of benefits to all workers who are ill while unemployed and the establishment of reciprocal agreements with other countries covering immigrants. LISTENjTO Green Gold-C.J0K 7.00 p.m. 4 Thursday § CKNW 7:05 p.m. Sat, CJAV6:30 p.m. Thur CKPG - Ist and 3rd Thursday -6 p.m. CHWK - Monday, 7:15 pm. to 730 p.m.