B.C. LUMBER WORKER

1-71

Loggers Charge Company
With Rates “Double-Cross”

Bitter resentment among fallers and buckers employed
by Alaska Pine Co., and Alaska Pine & Cellulose’Co., be-
eause of “double-crossing” practiced by company person-
nel officials has provoked many of the falling crews to
seek employment with other logging operators, it is re-
ported this week by Local 1-71, IWA.

The Local Union officials have
taken up the cudgels on behalf
of the fallers and buckers, alleg-
ing that these company officials
have been guilty of flagrant viol-
ations of agreements reached on
contract rates.

Agreement Violated

When interviewed by this pub-
lication, Financial Secretary,
Fred Fieber, stated that the in-
cidents reported to him revealed
a deliberate disregard of a signed
agreement.

This agreement was signed, he
explained, on January 26th, and
“dealt with conditions in Port Mc-
Neill, Moresby, Pacofi, Holberg,
Mahatta, and Fraser Bay camps.
The operator agreed to the es-
tablishment of a minimum con-
tract price of 90c, plus an addi-
tional 10c for finishing, as well
as the $8.56 daily rate.

It was further agreed by the
company in each instance that
the agreed-upon base rate ap-
plied only to the best quarters,
and that additional compensation
would be allowed for adverse
factors.

When the camps opened in the
spring, several superintendents
stated that they had no know-
ledge of this agreement, although
the Vancouver office informed
the Union that copies of the
agreement had been sent to all
their operations.

The falling crews attempted to
negotiate their rates under the
terms secured by the Local
Union, but were denied the con-
sideration promised. Instead of
getting the contract terms they
encountered what has appeared
to be a callous attempt to lower

The sick Russian heard a knock
on his door. “Who’s there?” he
asked.

“Death,” was the reply.

“Thank goodness,” he sighed.
“T thought it was the secret
police!”

oo. /

The Bf
LUMBER WORKER =

their earnings in a breach of the
settlement reached.

Many of the falling crews have
been compelled to work for the
minimum base rate on quarters
for which last year’s rates ranged
from $1.20 to $1.30.

The final provocation, which
has aroused the Loggers’ Local
to the verge of a declaration of
open warfare against) Alaska
Pine Co. was the defiant state-
ment of an official at Holberg
camp.

Acting on his interpretation of
company instructions he told the
crews that the agreement signed
between the Union and the Com-
pany was “just so much... .”

Already 2 number of sets of
fallers have taken leave of Al-
aska Pine, stating that such
treatment is the worst they have
encountered in their experience
as loggers, There is every indica-
tion that the migration away
from Alaska Pine operations will
assume substantial proportions
in the near future unless matters
are rectified.

Grievance Procedure
Sabotaged

A further cause of friction be-
tween Alaska Pine and the Union
has come to light in the tactics
employed by the Personnel De-
partment in dealing with legiti-
mate grievances under the con-
tract.

It is reported by Local Union
officials that grievances properly
processed in the camps and re-
ferred to the Head Office are
immediately and deliberately
“stalled” on the pretext of petty

Fewer Wed

OTTAWA (CPA)— Fewer
births, marriages and deaths
were registered in Canada in
March than in the same
month last year, according
to the Bureau’s monthly re-
port on vital statistics. First-
quarter totals show 1.9%
more births and 1.6% more
deaths but 2.3% fewer mar-
riages than a year earlier.

technical objections to adjust-
ment.

At the same time the Local
Union officials have experienced
attempts by camp officials to en-
force “saw-off” settlements in
the camps, and thus defeat the
customary trade union method of
seeking redress for injustices un-
der an agreed-upon grievance
procedure.

The most serious charge in this | -

respect is that company officials
have not hesitated in unscrupu-
lous ways to prevent injured
workmen from obtaining Work-
men’s Compensation.

The Local Union has made re-
presentations to the District Of-
ficers asking that drastic action
be taken to offset this large-
scale attack on the IWA by Al-
aska Pine officials.

A large and impressive volume
of evidence has been collected
against various company officials
and may lead to legal action in
the courts, unless satisfactory
consideration can be obtained
from top level officials of. the

companies concerned.

WINNING HAND

“THESE ADD UP TO $1237.96,” declares Grace Baxter, Business Agent,
Local 1-71, IWA, with obvious delight as she calculates the, value of

cheques for sums recovered by the

Union in adjustment of rates for

fallers and buckers in coast logging camps.

LOG OF COAST CRUISE

Crew Of Loggers’ Navy

Records A Week’s Duties

MONDAY, APRIL 25

Left Vancouver at 11:45 p.m.
with the intention of going to
Texada Island. Strong northwest
winds and a heavy sea forced us
into shelter at Seymour Landing.
Tied up at 2:15 a.m.

TUESDAY, APRIL 26

Pulled into Coastal Towing Co.
raft breaking ground at Andy’s
Bay about noon. We no sooner
stepped off the boat when the
camp superintendent told us that
the Company didn’t like the IWA
and that he had instructions to
“shoo us off”.

After we had a little “talk”, he
agreed to let us have a meeting
at noon in the bunkhouse. Ar-
ranged to come back after supper
and see the crew again. About 14
men in camp and we signed up
all but one man.

Union No. 25,

LIMITED

the Province is

100%

THE VANCOUVER PROVINCE HAS
AGREEMENTS WITH TH
FOLLOWING UNIONS:
Vancouver Typographical Union No. 226,
‘Vancouver Printing Pressmen and Assistants,
Sates No, 88. ager
Vancouver Mailers Union No. 70.

Vancouver Newspaper Guild No. 207.
Vancouver Photo-engravers’ Union No, 54

For coverage of Labour ie P
oi on

Produced

Notified Local Office to apply
for certification. This is a very
strategic camp to have organized
for a lot of rafts and booms are
broken and sorted in this camp.
Because of open hostility of the
Company we didn’t set up any
committees. Feel that it is best
to leave that until we get into a
position to negotiaté for a con-
tract.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27

Held meeting at Forbes Bay
Logging. Twenty-six men in
camp, 20 attended meeting. Camp
just opened, signed up 20 mem-
bers, elected full camp commit-
tees. Chdirman, J. McKenzie,
and Secretary, Clint Root. Dis-
cussed negotiations. Washhouse
conditions not too good. Expect-
ing heavy winds tomorrow so ran
over to Pender Harbour after
meeting. Tied up at midnight.

THURSDAY, APRIL 28

Left Pender Harbour at 8:45
a.m. in order to get through Se-
chelt Rapids at slack water. Held
meeting at Osborne Logging.
Thirty-eight men in camp, 25 at
meeting. Elected complete new
executive—Chairman, G. R. Hen-
derson, and Secretary, Stan Hern-
berg. Interest seems high. Dis-
cussed negotiations, logging wage
revisions, and fallers’ rates. Many
grievances were suggested to the
camp committee,

This is one of the few camps
where the revised logging rates
are not in effect. Talked with
management and we can expect
them to institute the revisions
after negotiations are completed.

FRIDAY, APRIL 29 ~

Called in to Beaver Creek Log-
ging. Camp not yet open so left
cheekoffs and buttons with cook
who will tackle camp organization
when crew comes in next week.
Cook treated us to coffee and
banana short cake (this job does
have its good points).

Called at Vaneouver Bay and
left word that we would be back
on Sunday. Went to head of

SATURDAY, APRIL 30

Held meeting at Britain River.
Camp not yet fully open. Too
much snow. Only 28 men in camp
and had 26 at meeting. Interest
high, organization good. Chair-
man, Harvey “Dagwood” Richard-
son, and Secretary, Hans Larson,
have done a good job here and
have the camp 100% Union.

Discussed negotiations. Ques-
tion of electing Safety Committee
for the year was slated for Wed-
nesday when a special meeting
will be held for that purpose.

SUNDAY, MAY 1

Meeting at Vancouver Bay as
previously arranged. Vancouver
Bay is another 100% camp. Good
Union committee here, Had 50
members at meeting. Discussed
negotiations, and coming Safety
Week. Safety committee have ar-

ranged series of events for Safety
Week.

Each morning crew will get a
two- or three-minute pep talk
on safety. Union Chairman “Cap”
Shaw will talk for the Union on
Wednesday morning. A series of
safety questions will be asked
individual crew members. If the
man gives the correct answer he
will get a prize.

Good portion of the Union
meeting was taken up with ques-
tions concerning the possibility
of strike action and other Union
problems. Left Vancouver Bay
and ran down to MacMillan’s
camp at St. Vincent Bay.

TWO-THIRDS of the houses
of Reykjavik, the capital of Ice-
land, receive their heat from
water “piped in from the hot
springs. The water is so clean

that it does not corrode and can

be used for cooking.

Grapes: Most of Canada’s out-

put comes from Ontario’s Nia-

gara district, expected to produce
96% of the estimated 1953 crop

of it ee se other —
2,690, Pounds y be grown
in British Columbia,