A Members Ballot To Decide Contract Issues Policy Committee States Basis of Recommendation IWA membership referendum to determine either ac- ee RE CIE Yr leprctlianal W/oeUaaNboid of Amadsa uP cea coma. Vol. XXII, No, 12 <> * 2nd ISSUE, JUNE 1955 - VANCOUVER, B.C. S 5c PER COPY REPORT TO THE UNION coNTRACT SETTLEMENT PROPOSALS - were wlan before a mass sean meeting in the Vancouver Exhibition Gardens by-District President Joe Morris, on behalf of the District Policy Committee. Seen with him on the platform are (from left) Conductor Charles Lamarche, President Lloyd Whalen, and Acting Financial Secretary, C. P. Neale. ACCUMULATING GRIEVANCES PROVOKE FLARE-UP Succession of inexcusable and irritating contract vio- lations, which reached a climax in the dismissal of a grader gn a flimsy pretext, provoked the employees of the MacKay and Flanagan sawmill, New Westminster, Local 1-857, to walk off the job and ‘According to the latest re- ports, they are still on “holiday” with the exception of two mem- bers of the crew who have sta- tioned themselves in the vicinity, in order to answer any enquiries from other workers regarding conditions in the mill. This in- formation service” has evidently completely discouraged the re- sumption of operations. The mill has recently changed hands, and the troubles of the crew started with the new re- gime. They gained the impres- sion that the new owners were “take a holiday” on June 21. determined to deprive them of the benefits established under their agreement. No satisfactory information regarding manage- ment’s policy on any matter af- fecting the crew could be ob- tained. The grader, who was fired, had been requested by another crew member who had no supervisory status, to assist him. As he was already oyer-burdened with his work, he merely said that he couldn’t, and that it was not his job. Later the foreman asked him about the incident and or- dered him to take on the special task. He immediately did so, when ordered, but that evening he received his time for “not be- ing sufficiently cooperative”. The job grievance committee could not gain the opportunity to discuss matters with the owner. The Local Union’s officers at- tempted to process the grievance, but experienced the same diffi- culty, they report. The crew members, meeting in an indignation meeting, walked out of the plant in protest. Steps have been taken by the Local Union and the District Of- ficers to mediate the dispute, and deal with the causes for friction in the plant. WORKERS URGE PUBLIC CONTROL NATURAL GAS Conferences held in Vancouver recently comprised of representatives from B.C. municipalities, CCL and TLC trade unions as well as community service organizations took a firm stand for the distribution of natural gas under publie auspices. 'The resolution adopted on this point read as follows: WHAT'S INSIDE Page “THAT this Conference rec- ommends that the Delegates seek support from their orga- nizations in requesting the Provincial Cabinet to direct the British Columbia Power Com- mission to immediately take under control the distribution of Natural Gas in the Province of British Columbia, and to enter into agreements with such municipalities that desire to distribute within their own boundaries.” Consideration was also given the production and distribution of electric power, with the result that the following resolution was adopted: “BE IT RESOLVED THAT The Provincial Cabinet order that a Public Inquiry be imme- diately undertaken into the fi- nancial structure of the British Columbia Power Corporation and its subsidiaries, and as to their operational effect on the present and future welfare of See “GAS” Page 3 ceptance or rejection of the contract settlement “package” recommended by the District Policy Committee was pre- ceded recently by mass membership meetings, under the | auspices of the Coast Local Unions, and attended by mem- bers of the District Negotiating Committee. Before voting commenced, care was taken by the District officials to inform the membership on the exact nature of the proposed set- tlement. Special bulletins were -Jissued for this purpose, in addi- tion to the usual official channels of membership information. Spokesman for the Committee at the membership meeting call- ed by Local 1-217, IWA, in the Exhibition Gardens was District President Joe Morris. A meeting held*simlutaneously in the Aren- ex, New Westminster, was ad- dressed by the Committee’s Sec- retary, Fred Fieber. Meetings held on Vancouver Island heard John MacKenzie, Tony Poje, and Walter Allen. President Warren Lowery, Local 1-367, also a member of the Committee, explained the terms of settlement to meetings in the Fraser Valley. In an extensive review of all the circumstances leading up to the recommendation of the Com- mittee, District President Joe Morris gave a closely reasoned statement of the grounds for the Committee’s decision. The remarks made by the President may be summarized as follows: The proposed settlement bene- fits all the workers in the indus- try, while at.the same time it jxemedies long-standing griev- ances in the logging, shingle mill and plywood sections. In this re- spect, it conforms to the view expressed by the March Wages and Contract Conference. ‘The Negotiating Committee in- terpreted its instructions to mean that they should strive to secure a contract that would unify the bargaining strength of the whole union and benefit all sections of the industry. New Principles The proposed settlement writes new and vitally important prin- ciples into the contract. Features such as. stand-by time, fare al- lowance, travel time, and job evaluation have always been bit- terly opposed by the employers and proved to be the most con- tentious issues before the Con- ciliation Board. They were obtained only after extended and deliberate discus- sion with the employers because .| they present many complications. This leads to the conclusion that such subjects might easily be sidetracked in mediation proceed- ings conducted during a strike, or even while a strike deadline’ is pending. The Committee ‘placed % a high value on these benefits, as they can be expanded in their bene- ficial application at a later date, and therefore was unwilling to invite any risk of losing- them once they had been conceded by the employers. It was also considered that they ranked in importance with the more familiar contract fea- tures which are usually stressed when strike talk is in the air, Advantages Under the strategy established by the Committee, enabling a vote on the proposed settlement in concrete terms, the members in voting know exactly what they will get, if they approve the terms of the settlement. There will be no delay in signing the contract, if the majority ap- proves. If, however, the mem- bership does not approve, noth- ing is lost, as the right to de- mand a strike vote still remains. It may be argued by some that a better settlement might be secured after the Union wins a favorable strike vote. The mem- bers of the Committee could only use their best judgment in this matter and they decided to rec- ommend acceptance now. One consideration already mentioned must be noted. It is reasonable to presume that the Union could not secure the same type of set- tlement after a strike vote, and after the opposition to new fea- tures had further crystallized among the employers, especially among the smaller companies. It should also be noted that the employers were under almost as great pressure as though the Union had a favorable strike vote in hand. The employers were in a spot, where they did not dare show any disinclination to bargain in good faith, else they would have invited public condemnation, if open strife en- sued. It was also known to them that the Union was preparing to take a strike vote, and meet all its consequences if necessary. Their reasoning was that it would be better business to reach a settlement now than after un- rest or slowing down of their production schedule. The Alternative Another point, which the Committee could not disregard, is that it would be necessary to gain a majority for strike See “BALLOT” Page 3 £) CONVENTION DATES SET Call_has been issued by the IWA International Offi- cers for the 18th and 19th Constitutional Convention to be held in the Hotel Schroe- der, Milwaukee, Wis, Aug- ust 20-25, inclusive. The pre-Conyention -ses- sion of the International Executive Board will con- Vene at 10 am, Thursday, August 18, in the Hotel Schroeder. IWA International Execu- tive Board has announced that the Fifth Annual Meet- ing of the IWA International Safety Council will be held in the Hotel Schroeder, Mil- waukee, Wisconsin, com- mencing at 9:00 am. Aug- ust 21, 1955. 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. Y oCHWK - Hondas, 75 » ne 730 pm.