LUMBER WORKER 11 Impressions of Power Saw Plant By IWA ROVING REPORTER HEN Steelworkers’-Pen Baskin said that I should see what happens behind their union label in the making of IEL power saws, I had to be sold. After all, I said to myself, one plant is much like another. But believe me, after I spent a few hours tramping around the 64,000 square feet of IEL modern plant now located in Burnaby, my eyes were bugging out. When I made the second trip, to check on our pix, I took John T. along with me. He expressed my feelings very neatly when he said, “Say, this is the kind of plant where I’d like to work.” When wé asked permission to photograph the skilled operations likely to be of interest to the users of power saws, we received every courtesy at the hands of the top brass, President Pitrie, General Manager Noble, Sales ‘Manager Mennell, Superintend- ent MacDonald and Public Rela- tions Director Gray. Certainly there were no reservations in their welcome to the plant under Pen’s sponsorship because of the excellent relations between man- agement and the Union. That’s what made our errand interesting, above everything else, Not only is the plant bright and attractive, in a fully modern- istic way, but the atmosphere is friendly and free of the high pressure tension, with which some industrialists try to speed production. Quality Stressed Quite obviously .the emphasis is on quality of production, rath- er than on volume, but this policy has paid off for the volume is increasing. The firm started manufacturing power saws only ten years ago on limited resour- ces. It moved into a fully modern million-dollar plant a few months ago, and will shortly add another big plant extension. I found the owner, Mr. Petrie working with the operator of the electric hard- ening process, experimenting to get an improved cutter bar on the saw, Saws leaving the production line are placed on the block for running tests, and then given field tests on a log. Some are stripped down to see how every part stood the test. If any defect is spotted, the assembly line is stopped until the defect is cor- rected. I’ve worked in plants where they try to cover up a fault rather than remedy it. But in IEL, they know they’ve got to satisfy the fallers and buckers, so they anticipate the exacting demands of the job in the woods. They are able to place this emphasis on quality, because they have highly skilled workers, and because they try to protect these skills with union shop conditions of a high order, . Toolmakers A toolmaker, as most trades- men know, must serve a long and arduous apprenticeship to ply his trade. This plant has more toolmakers than any other fabri- cating plant in B,C.—twenty- three in all. They are largely re- sponsible for the precision work | ‘on the batteries of presses, lathes, | shapers, ete., which fill a huge machine shop, because they fas- hion the jigs, tools and dies used for making the component parts. Pride in craftsmanship is evi- dent everywhere in the plant. The men work with the latest and ‘most modern machines, and are boeaei a 5 seeking improvements. They have other improvements in the making. They like to exhibit the old style machines, and compare them with the latest 28-Ib. unit which has as much or more pow- er, and greater versatility. It’s refreshing to meet. men who are proud of their work, because they know that they are doing the sort of job which will serve the other fellow well. Three Good Reasons Now, at this point, some faller or bucker reading this trade union journal is going to ask me, why I should go overboard with a plug for one maker of power saws. Maybe he has a definite preference for some other make. Well, I’m prepared to give my reasons, for what they are worth, and’ without starting any argu- ment about whose power saw is better than whose. My first point is that, as far as I can find out, this is the only union shop plant making power saws in Canada. My second point is, that this firm has made a success of its business while it consistently encouraged the best possible trade union standards in the plant among its worker: Evidently they are working with the Steelworkers to estab- lish further improvements in conditions. Quality Wins My final point, is one that no trade unionist should miss. This plant is paying wages in con- formity with the wage pattern in B.C, They are able to pay these wages “and successfully invade Eastern Canada, and the over- seas markets. You. can mention this to em- ployers who always claim that the high standards demanded by B.C. workers are a detriment to industrial progress, and expand- ing export markets. This firm pays union wages, and by co- operation with the Union fets such a high quality of workman- ship that the product has gained a world demand likely to soon double their present production of 40,000 power saws a year. THEY SPEAK FOR 500 WORKERS IN I.E.L. STEELWORKERS UNION con ea PLANT MITTEE, Local 3376, in the plant of Tadaeeael Engineering Ltd., Burnaby, B.C. where IEL Pioneer Power Saws are manufactured. (From left) Jack Stefamini; Bill Worral ; Leonard Magda; George Geiger, Local Union President; Pen Baskin, Regional Representa- tive USWA; Bill Cooper; Anna Rusmak; Lee Oakes; Bill Grubb. Merger Plans Queried BOSTON (CPA) — A deci- sion on whether one of the old- est unions in North America will refuse te join the new merged AFL-CIO organization is to be decided by a referen- dum of the union’s membership to be held shortly. The 97th convention of the In- ternational Typographical Union ||) (AFL) adopted a constitutional amendment providing that the union “will not be a part of, nor be affiliated with, any organiza- tion which by its laws, or other- wise, provides or claims control over the internal affairs of the ITU, its relations with other unions or its jurisdiction over work processes existing or tential.” Detailed Changes It was adopted by the conven- tion after earlier comment by ITU President Woodruff Ran- dolph that provisions in the AFL- CIO merger constitution were “dangerous”. The ITU has sub- mitted proposals for detailed changes at the AFL-CIO Unity Committee. Should the constitutional am- endment be approved in the membership referendum, it would probably prevent the ITU from affiliating with the new AFL & clo. HEAD’S Champion of All Lightweight © Caulked Boots @ LIGHT CRUISER Peatursng High Carbon Steel Oil Tempered Boot Caulks FOR SURE GRIP Another Favorite HEAD'S famous “SAFETY TOE BOOTS” for Mill Workers W. J. HEAD BOOT FACTORY LIMITED (PA, 4844) “HEADS YOU WIN” 21 East Hastings St. Vancouver, B.C. pos EW CANADIAN INS Benoa), HORST GUNTHER KRAMMER (right) winner of the $500 bursary awarded by Local 1-85 IWA, Port Alberni is congratulated by Presi- dent Walter Allen of the Local Union. Kramer came to Canada at the age of 27, and although married with a family, completed his education by taking Grades 11 & 12 in correspondence courses of the Provincial Department of Education. He captured top marks in English and the History of English. 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