B.C. LUMBER WORKER

3

——_—_

Switzerland, from left, Andrew Cooper, workers’ delegate of the Carpenters & Joiners; Sir Alfred
Roberts, member of the Trade Union Congress, General Council, and member of the governing body
resident, District No. 1, IWA; John Brady, United Auto Work-
ers; Albert Mayer, Saskatchewan Civil Service; J. G. McLean, Brotherhood of Locomotive, Firemen,

. and Enginemen.

of the I.L.0.; S. M. Hodgson, Vice-

Present At Geneva I.L.O.

CHAIRMAN REQUESTE
MEDIATION CONFERENC

Conferences under his direction, between IWA nego-
tiators and the employers’ representatives in an effort to
conciliate the dispute recently aired before a Conciliation
Board were requested: by Chairman Fred Smelts, following
the completion of the hearing of evidence and argument

“OLD DOC”

Dr. R. Llewellyn Douglas has
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NEW ADDRESS

in open session.

His statement, made on behalf,
of the District Negotiating Com-

Bank of Montreal.

‘ This unusual development was reported upon by Dis-
trict Secretary-Treasurer George Mitchell in a radio ad-
dress on the Green Gold radio program.

ES

ee
mittee, was as follows

“Last week, the Conciliation
Board, appointed to deal with the
IWA contract dispute, adjourned
its open hearings. More than six
days had been required for the
submission of evidence and argu-
ment relating to the Union’s de-
mands, and the employers’ coun-
ter-proposals.

In this connection it is inter-
esting to note that the prepared
briefs, from both parties, giving
the initial presentations, then re-
buttal and summation, together
with the transcript of evidence
heard from witnesses, made an
impressive total of over 20,000
words.

It will thus be realized that
because of the situation, both the
Union’s Spokesmen and the Em-
ployers’ Representatives made a
painstaking effort to provide the
members of the Board with the
evidence supporting their respec-
tive views of the issues involved.
It was freely acknowledged by all
observers present, that the
Union’s presentation, followed by
a complete rebuttal of the Em-
ployers’ case, and later a full
summation, was the most effec-
tive in its history.

Unusual Procedure

Following the adjournment

of the Board, the Chairman,
Mr. Fred Smelts, expressed the
opinion that the disputing par-
ties should endeavor to reach a
settlement by means of further
confererices under the auspices
of the Board. If this could be
done, he explained, the Board
would make arrangements for
this purpose.

It was preferable, he implied,
that the Board should report
agreement between the parties
now, rather than to risk further
conflict, as in any event a settle-
ment must be reached, sooner or
later.

The IWA Negotiating Commit-
tee, agreed to the Chairman’s
suggestion as this would enable
further consideration of the pos-
sibilities of settlement in the
light of evidence submitted by
the Union to the Board,

Furthermore, it was obviously
in the best interests of the
Union’s membership that the pro-
posed course should be attempted.
A refusal to enter into such con-
ferences would most certainly
have prejudiced the Union’s case,
before the Board and in the eyes
‘of the general public.

No Ground Lost

On the other hand, the oppor-
tunity at this stage to develop
possibilities of formulating
terms of settlement worthy of
consideration by the member-
ship will give an added advan-
tage to the Union in its bar-
gaining. Should a satisfactory
settlement fail to materialize,
the Board will still make its

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ifts and personnel,

THE

recommendations to the Minis-
ter of Labor, in the usual, man-
ner, and the Union will still be
free to accept or reject the re-
port, and if necessary, call for
a strike vote. ‘

These conferences are now in
progress, under the direction of
the Chairman, Mr. Smelts. Stren-
uous efforts are being made to
bridge the differences between
the disputing parties.

The IWA Negotiating Commit-
tee following the policy of the
Union has decided to continue to
participate in these daily sessions
while the discussions offer any
prospect of gaining contract im-
provements likely to be found ac-_
ceptable by the membership of
the Union.

Await Finalization

The discussions, although con-
ducted under the pressure of the
urgency of the situation, have not
yet reached the stage where any
announcement can be made. There
has been no finalization of recom-
mendations for the consideration
of the Employers and the IWA
membership.

Any conclusions that may be
yeached, either regarding a ten-
tative settlement, or to abandon
the discussions as futile, will be
reported upon promptly and fully
to the Local Unions. In passing,
I remind our listeners that the
seven-man Negotiating Commit-
tee, attending these conferences
on behalf of the Union, is repre-
sentative of the Local Unions
concerned,

Until an official announcement
can be made, IWA members are
warned not to believe press re-
ports based on guess-work. They
will be. advised without a mo-
ment’s delay, when any official
announcement_is pd&sible, They
will be advised to prepare for a
membership referendum on any
decision of major importance. In
the meantime, they should rely
on the official union sources for
their information.

Advantages Seen

The fact that a few more days
ave required to safeguard the in-
terests of the membership in re-
spect of the contract settlement,
should not be interpreted as con-
sent, to needless delay. If these
conferences succeed, as it is
hoped they will, time will actual-
ly be saved in arriving at a set-
tlement.

It is fully expected that the
membership will be able to’ vote
soon on terms of settlement,
which, with their approval, can
be placed into effect immediately.
This would settle the issues much
earlier, than under the usual pro-
cedure, outlined in- the Act, as
required after a Conciliation
Board reports, and which bristles
with restrictions upon industry-
wide action by the Union.

If an agreement is reached
now, the report of the Board to
the Minister will simply state
that the parties have reached an
agreement in the terms outlined
by the parties themselves. An
agreement reached under these
conditions with due deliberation
should prove more beneficial to
the Union’s membership than one
reached under the more severe
handicaps dictated by the law to
restrict the Union’s action in an
economic struggle.”

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