Ist Issue, July

B.C. LUMBER WORKER

FROM PAGE 1

“TERMS APPROVED”

negotiations with the central em-
ployers’ bargaining agency.
Situation Reviewed
Now that we have almost
reached the end of the 1955 nego-
tiations, it might be profitable to
vevieW the situation, in order that
we may note significant points for
future reference. I do not intend
to hold a post mortem on the
many discussions which have
taken place throughout the Union
in recent weeks. The Policy Com-
mittee made its recommendation
for acceptance in good faith.

The members of that commit-
tee could only weigh all the fac-
tors and express their convictions
as to what should be done in the
best interests of the membership.
‘The rank and file membership
have accepted that point of view
so expressed, and further argu-
ment as to whether the course
taken by the Union was right or
wrong is now futile.

Like many others in the)
Union, I had hoped that the
package would contain more,
and that more generous condi-
tions might have been estab-
lished in regard to the benefits
negotiated. My personal deei-
sion to support acceptance was
based on the conviction that the
package was the best obtain-
able through negotiations, and
that it was unlikely that a bet-
ter package could be obtained
by other means. The member-
ship haye expressed agreement
with that view. There the mat-
ter should end.

Prestige Enhanced

We should not overlook the fact
that Union has emerged from a
period of strenuous and critical
negotiations with a vastly im-
proved prestige. Contract nego-
tiations in an industry which
dominates the entire economy of
the province is a matter of grave

responsibility. I believe that our
Union met its share of that re-
sponsibility in a proper mamner,
while at the same time it bar-
gained faithfully and militantly
to improve the working and liv-
ing standards of all lumber
workers.

Membership Control

Members of the Union, as well
as its critics, should note that
throughout the entire period of
negotiations, the rank and file
members were in full control of
the situation. The District Con-
yention, comprised of delegates,
selected by the membership, first
outlined the major issues. Later,
a representative Wages and Con-
tract Conference finalized the de-
tails of bargaining demands, and
elected a Policy Committee on
which all Local Unions were rep-
resented and from which a Nego-
tiating Committee was appointed.

Each significant development
in negotiations was reported to
the membership. All the facts re-
garding the proposed settlement
were also stated frankly in order
that the membership vote might
be well informed. The new mas-
ter agreement will be signed by
authority of a membership secret
ballot conducted throughout the
Coast region. No Union could
possibly do more to ensure that
the general membership should
exercise full control of such vital
policy decisions.

Progress Important

Another factor worth noting is
that once more the Union has
achieved a contract settlement
which maintains the rate of prog-
ress which has consistently ac-
companied the growth of our
organization. When we contrast
wages and conditions today with
those which existed in the early
and formative years of our Union,

we realize the worth of our ac-
complishments. “This ‘year, we
have so conducted our bargaining,
that we can expect to continue
that rate of progress, and in that
respect our Union was never in a
better position.

I'm very proud of the fact that
IWA members have not*forgot-
ten that our Union was founded
on the principles of industrial
unionism. :

The settlement this year is in a
real sense a triumph for an in-
dustrial union, bargainng over a
large area, on an industry-wide
basis. Wages for every worker
in the Union will be. increased.
The number of paid statutory
holidays was inereased to eight,
for all. In addition, the settle-
ment deals with pressing prob-
lems in each section of the indus-
try, especially in the logging,
plywood and shingle mill sections.

Unity Pays Dividends

This indicates that we are tak-
ing full advantage of the bar-
gaining strength, developed on an
industry-wide basis, to gain at-
tention for the needs of every oc-
cupational group. We have suc-
cessfully maintained a unity of
action that is an urgent require-
ment for the protection of the
entire working force, under the
existing conditions of their em-
ployment.

It should also be remember-
ed, that at the Wages and Con-
tract Conference, the delegates
expressed the determination to
secure a settlement of this
character. In this regard we
have achieved a reasonable ap-
proximation of the objectives
so stated.

I think we should take pride in
the fact that our Union has kept
abreast of the times in broaden-
ing negotiations to gain contract

ane

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terms based on new prineiples
now required to meet changing
conditions.

Fare Allowances

The introduction of a fare al-
lowance provision for loggers is
new, and because it is the begin-
ning of the end for a vicious cus-
tom, it was difficult to negotiate.
Like very other member of the
Policy Committee, I believe that
the conditions now negotiated are
quite inadequate. However, we
must not overlook the fact that
for the first time, the principle,
under which an Employer accepts
some responsibility for the log-
gers’ transportation costs has
been written into the contract.

Now that we have persuaded
the Employers to face up to this
responsibility, we will be in a
better position to negotiate im-
proved conditions, in the light of
experience with the clause.

Travel Time

TRe travel time issue is in the
same position. It will now benefit
all those required to travel long
distances to and from the mar-
shalling point to the work site.
Nevertheless, it will benefit many,
and it establishes recognition of
a very important principle, to be
expanded in its application.

The principle of paying for
stand-by time, now secured for
the shingle mill workers is of
greater significance than gener-
ally realized. It is another deadly
blow to some of the bad condi-
tions which afflict those who work
on piece work rates.

Job Evaluation —

The full advantages of job
evaluation, as now won for the
plywood workers have not- yet
been realized. Here again, we
have won acceptance of a prin-
ciple which will have far-reach-
ing consequences in the future.
In many sections of the industry
we must prepare for revolution-
ary changes, as a result of auto-
mation. When the values of job
evaluation in the plywood section
are demonstrated, there will be
no reasonable ground for refus-
ing its introduction into other
sections of the lumber industry.
As planned by the IWA, labor
has an equal voice with manage-
ment, in giving effect to changes
resulting from job evaluation.

I suggest that it is the most
efficient approach to a problem
that has perplexed us in all sec-
tions of the industry, that of
inconsistencies in job classifica-
tions and category rates. The

rapid introduction of automatic
processes, will change the job
content for many workers.

In

“Mind if | cutin, Mac?”

For style, quality and selection,

to best our line of

nd Young Men’s sum-!
mer furnishings. Sold with our,
FREE CREDIT PLAN, too.

THAT'LL BE THE DAY

“Don't knock yourself out, Jarvis,
ask for a helper."

many instances, greater skill will
be required.

A proper system of job evalu-
ation ensures that as these
changes occur, the worker affect-
ed will have his conditions
promptly re-assessed, and his
wage rate adjusted fairly on the
basis of the evidence.

Two-year Contract _

In order that all the items in-
cluded in this year’s package
may be written into the contract
now, we have approved a contract
term of two years. While this is
an innovation in IWA bargain-
ing, it promises some definite
advantages. At least we should
study the results very closely,
that we may be guided by ex-
perience.

One advantage is that from
now until March 15, 1957, we can
give our undivided attention to
the building of the Union, by the
completion of our programs of
organization, and education. For- -
merly, a greater part of the year,
each year, was devoted to plans
to meet any emergency that
might arise in the course of bar-
gainng. Also, next year we can
give full attention to the prob-
lems of the Interior, as in the
Northern and Southern sections,
the contracts terminate in 1956.

Other Problems

‘A Union as large as ours, must
give its time and energy to other
problems as well as the struggle
on the economic front. We can-
not safely afford to concentrate
our entire attention on gains to
be won at the bargaining table.
If we do, we will not have given
our members the protection to
which they are entitled for their
living standards. In this modern
world, our economic security is
not solely determined by collec-
tive bargaining. We'll have to
give attention to the problem of
protection for our legislative
rights, which have a vital bear-
ing on our contract rights, and
bargaining gains.

The progress made this year
has great value, if we build it
into plans for future progress.
When the complete history of our
progress is written, it will be
seen that the IWA kept on its
course in 1955.”

ATTEND YOUR
Se UNION MEETINGS
We REGULARLY /

DECLINE _

OTTAWA (CPA) — A
total of $19,742,906 was paid
in compensation for 6,302,107
days unemployment during
May, DBS has announced.
This compares with $24,598,-
076 for 7,735,268 days in
April and $20,709,106 and
6,575,003 days in May, 1954.