B.C. LUMBER WORKER ‘Gas Control” the people of British Colum- bia; and to consider ways and means for their operation to be taken over and controlled by the B.C. Power Commission.” The participating organiza- tions were asked to endorse the following resolutions: To Write the Public Utilities Commission protesting their ruling barring citizens’ groups from making representation at any Public Hearing on the ap- Plication of the B.C. Electric to distribute natural gas, and requesting immediate recon- sideration of this decision. Also requesting the Public Utilities Commission to hear the application of the B.C. Electric Co., then adjourn the hearings for 60 days to give municipal bodies and other or- ganizations time to study the brief of the B.C. Electric Co. IWA Local Unions represented were 1-217, 1-357, 1-80, 1-85, and 1-363. TWA M.L.A.’s were also in attendance. The conference was chaired by Regional CCL Director Dan Rad- ford in the morning, and by Dick Henham in the afternoon. Guest speaker was Willis T. Batcheller, consulting engineer, Seattle, who explained the sources and uses of natural gas, as well as the plans for its dis- tribution through a network of lines. E Delegates attending numbered 106, and the organizations so represented have a total member- ship of 80,000. Said the psychiatrist to his pa- tient: “My dear fellow, you have no complex. You ARE inferior.” HAS FREE HOME DELIVERY adds to the enjoyment of enter- taining—free home delivery. Simply call TAtlow 1121. A case—or several cases—of good LUCKY LAGER -will arrive at your home in no time. NO PARKING NO CARRYING LUCKY LAGER BREWERIES (1954) LTD. Also Brewers of Silver Spring Ye Olde has a time- saving sug- gestion for you that actually old From Page 1 _ “BALLOT DECIDES” action in virtually all opera- | tions, otherwise the strike plans of the Union might be seriously hampered under the Jaw. Once it became known, as it would, that the Board had the consent of the employers to any settlement, even less at- tractive than the present one, a definite risk would be taken in putting the issue to the test of a strike ballot, requiring a majority in all operations. A Good Deal The proposed settlement is a good one. It closely approximates the objective set by the Union in the Wages and Contract Confer- ence. It is as good as any other union has secured when consider- ed in its entirety. No one will be called upon to apologize for its contents. It fits into the pattern of steady progress, which the IWA has established since 1948. This settlement,’ with its new features, opens the.door to many important gains in the future. The Negotiating Committee was not only able to gain a better settlement but also blocked the main proposals of the employers. For instance they were insist- ent on an increase of logging camp board rates to $3.00 a day. They had reams of statistics to prove that they were losing hun- dreds of thousands of dollars on the cookhouses. As matters stand now, the board rate remains at the pres- ent level for two years. The same applies to the clauses in the con- tract which protect the rights of cookhouse- and bunkhouse em- ployees in regard to hours of work and vacations, which’ ém- ployers were anxious to delete. Their most dangerous counter- proposals were discarded. This is, of course, a negative view, but deserves some atten- tion, for it reveals the bargain- ing strength of the Union, which, in the opinion of the Committee, must be preserved at all costs, or no settlement will be of any per- manent significant value. _ In speaking of the 2-year term, he said: “The members of the Commit- tee are well aware that this fea- ture of the proposed settlement may be viewed with alarm in some quarters. It is an innova- tion in IWA settlements for this District. The advantages to be noted in it favor are: A two-year contract enabled the Union to bargain for a big- ger package, and to get conces- sions from the Employers such as fare allowance, travel time, and job evaluation, which were firmly refused for a one-year term. It appeared to be the only way in which the Negotiating Committee could place in the con- tract, a maximum number of the Union’s demands. A two-year contract will en- able the Union and the Employ- ers to test fully the workability of the new changes, which would be impossible in one year. In this connection, attention should be directed to the complexity of the problems, where automation is entering the industry, and which will require prolonged and expert investigation before satisfactory remedies can be justly applied. The Employers were able to advance with some weight, the argument that some of the new features suchas stand-by time, fare allowance, travel time, and job evaluation involved financial commitments which cannot be ac- curately estimated at the present time. The Board was obviously influenced by this argument, as favoring a two-year contract to enable stabilization of prices and marketing plans in relation to the increased costs of production. This proposed settlement will cost the Employers a good deal more money than they originally reckoned they would part with this year. There is some logic in their claim that they should be allowed time to adjust their sales program accordingly. It will enable the Union next year to concentrate on the con- tract negotiations in the Interior. DANNY SAILOR SETS A NEW RECORD CLIMB World champion tree climb er, IVA member Danny Sailor, set a new record for climbing redwood trees when he recently competed in the tree climbing event at Redwood Acres Fair in Eureka, California. Danny, in winning the contest, set a new Fair record for his climbing of an 85-foot giant red- wood tree, five feet at the butt, in 17 seconds. Time of his closest competitor was 35 seconds. He also thrilled the erowd with Phis death-defying exhibition of the Charleston Dance and head stand on top of the tree. Closing off this performance, he display- ed his skill in tree topping to the huge delight of the gathering. Danny will be featured at the Pacifie National Exhibition in Vancouver this year. There in two shows daily he will perform the feat of climbing up and down a 100-foot fir tree in 87 seconds. Nickel Company Shows Three Month MONTREAL (CPA)—The International Nickel Co. and subsidiaries made a profit of $20,678,248 in the first three months of 1955, the company’s quarterly report shows. Net profit is up more Profit than $4.6 million from the Jan.-Mar., 1954 period total of $16,046,937. Total profits for the com- pany in 1954 amounted to $65,295,186, A Luchy Break Broken glasses are often handicapped by an obsolete lens prescription. Since human eyes change with use, abuse and age +++. periodic eye examinations are necessary to detect any nted for lens for broken glasses to give deserve. Schedule regular check-ups by your optometrist. e Abramson & MA, 0928 OPTOMETRISTS 734 GRANVILLE STREET Ground Floor — Vancouver Block a lucky break for eyes correction. Don’t wait your eyes the break they Hollenberg MA, 2948 Union Seeks Health Plan MONTREAL (CPA)—Can- ada’s non-operating railway workers are likely to include a proposal for a comprehensive health plan and pay increases in their next set of contract de- mands. A hint ofthis possibility is given in the latest issue of Canadian Transport, magazine of the 40,000-member Canadian Brotherhood of Railway Em- ployees (CCL). In his last article as Secretary of the Joint Protective Board, William J. Smith, now President of the CBRE, notes that the 145,- 000 non-operating employees’ de- mands for sick leave with pay were rejected last year by Arbit- rator Judge Gordon Sloan. Point- ing out the need for protection when ill-health strikes the family breadwinner, Mr, Smith states that protection of health insurance “can best be provided jointly by the companies and employees: Our membership should begin to seriously consider this problem and our approach to same. Further it should be recognized that there is a disparity in the average hour- ly earnings of non-operating rail- way employees and that of other basic Canadian industries. We cannot be content to lag behind”. SAN FRANCISCO — TAILORS — LOAN MONEY ON Suits, Overcoats, etc. Loggers’ Boots, Sleeping Bags, Suitscases, Radios, Watches and Rings Expert Watch Repairing UNREDEEMED Suits and Caulk Boots For Sale MAIL ORDER 52 West Hastings Street VANCOUVER, B.C.