LOGGERS’ LOCAL ADDS CRUISER TO TOP 5,000-MEMBERSHIP MARK Otel Pestatica ote International Woodworkers of America ‘Diserict Cowacl He 2 Vol. XXII, No. 18 <3 23 2nd ISSUE, SEPT. 1956 - VANCOUVER, B.C. @S> Sc PER COPY NEW CRUISER purchased by Local 1-71 WA to supplement organization coverage now undertaken from the Loggers’ Navy. Speedy 24 ff. craft is powered with 200 H.P. Lincoln motor, and when placed in com- mission, will cover Jervis Inlet area, MacDonald Lauds Merger Progress When interviewed on the occasion of his recent visit to Vancouver by the B.C. Lumber Worker, Secretary- ‘ Treasurer Donald MacDonald, Canadian Labor Congress, affirmed that completion of the merger plans had given a tremendous impetus to trade union organization across Canada. The organizational gains, he stated, had been reflected in the statistics of additional charges granted by the Congress as well as in reports from virtually all the Congress affiliates. The num- ber of charters issued directly by the Congress to newly-formed units had been fifteen. Contract Gains Made Not only had the majority of the Congress affiliates reported gains in membership strength, but also substantial contract im- provements secured at the bar- gaining table. This result, he said, was not solely due to the increas- ed yolume of employment but had definitely resulted from the greater strength of labor’s bar- gaining power. At the national level, the Con- gress spokesman asserted, the harmonious integration of admin- istration and organization activi- ties conducted by. the Congress had been effectively and efficient- ly accomplished. He attributed progress described by him as be- WHAT'S . INSIDE Page yond .all the expectations “held earlier, to the marvellous spirit of cooperation manifested by all parites to the merger. Provincial Mergers Scheduled It was gratifying, the Congress Secretary said, that in nine prov- inces, where there had previously been TLC and CCL organizations, merger conventions have ~ now been scheduled. It is anticipated that merger plans at the provin- cial level will be completed by the month of February. Approximately 20 local Labor Councils have already merged. Those remaining are all proceed- ing with their merger plans. It is important to note, he said, that affiliates with parallel juris- dictions in the same industries are now carrying on negotiations, with a view to unification of their activities. First such merger to be consummated, he predicted, would be that of the United Pack- inghouse Workers with the Meat- cutters. Many other unions, are now engaged in talks that will disclose common aims and develop harmonious relations. Seeretary MacDonald stated that the Congress has held a See “MacDONALD” Page 3 LISTEN TO Green Gold-CJOR FOOD BILL UPS INDEX OTTAWA. (CPA)—Canada’s consumer price ‘index reached a new high point of 119.1 (1949 prices equal 100) at the begin- ning of August, the Dominion Bureau of Statistics has re- ported. The index rose by 0.6 during July to reach a point 2.3% above the level of a year earlier. The main cause of the rise in the index was an increase in food prices which sent the food index up from 114.4 to 115.9, All other indexes, except clothing, also showed increases, although to a lesser extent than the food index. tk * wk & wk & New Target of 6000 Seen For December wk « wk we wk *& “We've hit the 5,000-member mark and expect to reach 6,000 before the end of the year,’’ was the announcement proudly made by the officials of Local 1-71, IWA, this week, as their plans matured for expansion of the Local Union’s services to crews in coast logging camps. One outward’ sign of the grow- ing confidence in the Local Union’s future, has been the pur- chase of a new cruiser. This new and speedy 24-ft. craft, powered with a 200 h.p. Lincoln motor, will soon be commissioned to serve logging camps in the Jervis Inlet area, It will accommodate two staff members, and will ex- tend the camp coverage, which formerly over-burdened the Local Union’s flagship, the Loggers’ Navy. Sub-Locals Did the Job When queried by the B.C. Lum- ber Worker, Financial Secretary Fred Fieber stressed the fact that the Local Union’s growth had re- sulted mainly from the loyal ser- vices rendered by the Camp Sub- Locals, the camp committee mem- bers, the field organizers, and the staff. He expressed the belief that the decision of the membership to raise the dues had enabled an improvement of the Local Union’s services which in turn had given a decided impetus to the member- ship growth. It had been made possible to appoint an additional” organizer, and thereby achieve a more effective planning of orga- nizational coverage. When the membership records of Local 1-71 were charted in graph form for the information of the delegates attending last December’s convention, it was shown that the average member- ship for 1950-54 struck a peak of 2800 in November, 1954, and one of 4531 in November, 1955. These fluctuations levelled off in 1956 and took a decided upward trend, See “LOGGERS” Page 3 Salmon River Men Settle Dispute Work stoppage in the operation of Salmon River Log- ging Co. Ltd. which involved approximately two hundred men ended this week, when the points of dispute with management were ironed out in conferences between the company representatives and the officials of Local Union 1-363, IWA, assisted by the District officers. Terms of settlement negotiated by the IWA officials provided that there would be no discrimination against any crew members re- porting for work. It was also agreed that the crew would be hired back in strict order of sen- jority, with temporary arrange- ments respecting key men who might be absent. Grievances Overdue Crew members affirmed that they had failed to gain considera- tion from the company, a sub- sidiary of the Powell River Co. Ltd., for long-standing griev- ances. Failure of the company to fulfill contract terms, they said, made it necessary for them to take job action. The spontaneous outburst of protest brought mat- ters to a head, when District and Local Union officials were called to the scene. Main grievances were that the company had refused to negotiate the rates for newly-established categories, and that no steps had been taken to write into the wage scale the tradesmen’s rates pre- viously negotiated. In the terms of settlement ne- See “SALMON RIVER” Page 3 ee RAE EDDIE Local 1-357 IWA JOHN SQUIRE Local 1-85 IWA RE-ELECTED TO LEGISLATURE ee a _ TONY GARGRAVE Local 1-217 IWA — 7.00 p.m. * CJ AV - 6:30 p.m. Thursday Thursday § CKPG = Ist and 3rd Thursday- 6 p.m.