4 " S BOARD TOLD WAGE BOOST NECESSARY AND POSSIBLE Union Presents Convincing Facts Justifying Demands Conciliation Board which opened its hearings on May 15 in Vancouver, heard IWA spokesmen present convincing RKER Vol. XXV, No. 10 GZ» "8 2nd ISSUE; MAY 1958 - VANCOUVER, B.C. Ss Sc PER COPY Guest Column “Wages Not The Cause” By RANK & FILER -Lately you have been hear- ing and reading much about a price wage spiral and its rela- tionship to inflation. If you are like myself and thousands of others, and, have been reading the newspapers regularly, you probably have the impression that wage increases cause price increases and, that Unions are responsible for inflation. This line of reasoning has been and still is being propagated by the Canadian Manufacturers’ Asso- ciation, the Pres, and many public relations and advertising Agencies. Just what is th iral and how did we get caught in it? I can re- member when during the war years we had price control, rent control, and a wage freeze, How did we move from that situation to our present one? Well. like most people I hadn't given it much thought until T heard a Mr. Coyne, top man in the Bank of ‘anad make the statement, when asked a question on a T.V. program, that “wages have not been the cause of inflation since the war, and have not pushed up prices.” Coming from the man, who, no doubt, knows more about the operation of Canada’s econ- omy than any other Canadian, this a rather illuminating: state- ment, and it piqued my curiosity so much, that I began to look back and see just what has happened since the war years. “Slipped Back” I found that in 1943 under price and wage control 46 per cent of the gross national product repre- sented wages, but that in 1957 only 38 per cent of the gross national product went into wages! Hor- rors! 1 though, after all these rs my Union has got me wage IL slipped back, 1 found that during the war s those who worked in indus- because they could not buy consumer goods, (no cars, refrig- See “WAGES” Page 3 WHAT'S INSIDE Interior Locals Ask 15’ Increase Wage and Contract Conference, held in Kelowna, May 16, drew a record-breaking and:representative attendance of delegates from Interior Local Unions and finalized the con- tract demands for revision of the Northern and Southern In- terior master agreements which terminate on August 31st. Conference sessions were attended by the District Policy Com- mittee and District Officers, who together with the Union’s Associate Research Director provided necessary information, and enabled plan- ned co-ordination with other sections of the Union. The Policy Com- mittee had arranged to mect in Kelowna on the preceding days to accomplish this purpose. It was announced that bargaining talks with the operators might be expected to commence on or about June 2. Local Unions repre- sented were Local 1-424, Prince George; Local 1-417, Salmon Arm; Local 1-423, Kelowna, and Local 1-405, Cranbrook. The contract demands as formulated by the conference are as follows: (1) A fifteen per cent across the board wage increase. (It should be explained here that the reason for the higher increase demanded in the Interior than at the Coast is that wage rates have been lower than at the Coast. The Union intends to continue its effort to place the Interior wage scale on a parity with that at the Coast.) 2 (2) A night shift differential of six cents per hour. (3) An amended vacations with pay clause to establish con- ditions similar to those now provided for in the coast agreement. It is also asked that steps be taken to fix stated periods for vaca- tions, and to prohibit arbitrary decisions establishing closures as vacation periods. (4) Provision for two ten-minute rest periods for each shift in manufacturing plants. (5) Full Union Shop conditions. (6) Provision for the revision of category rates. A list of categories where inequities exist will be presented at the opening of negotiations. It is also asked that definite provision be made under which the Union’and management will meet and agree on the designations and rates for new machinery installed, or when the job conditions are materially changed. See “INTERIOR” Page 3 arguments, accompanied by a wealth of evidence, to support the Union’s demands for a 12-point revision of the existing contract, with an across the board wage increase of ten per cent at the head of the list. The union’s presentation was followed immediately by the em- ployers’ as prepared by Forest Industrial Relations Ltd. This was mainly an extensive elabora- tion of the arguments heard pre- viously to the effect that any con- tract improvement this year would be disastrous for the industry. Both parties to the dispute agreed to a brief adjournment during which arguments in rebut- tal will be readied for presenta- tion as quickly as possible. Board members are, Dr. G. S. Allen, €hairman; R. R. Smeal, employees’ nominee, and C. G. Robson, employers’ nominee. The seven - man Negotiating Committee headed by District President Joe Morris, comprised of Joe Madden, District First Vice-President; S.._M. Hodgson, District Second Vice-President; Fred Fieber, Third Vice-Presi- dent, and Secretary; Walter Allen, International Board Member; J. MacKenzie, Local 1-118, and A. Butler, Local 1-80, handled the Union’s case. Crux of the dispute is the Union's ten per cent wage de- mand, which has been sternly and stubbornly rejected by the em- players’ representatives. On the IWA side increasing emphasis has been laid on the right of workers in the lumber industry to an up- ward wage adjustment of ten per cent. Living Costs It was shown that the cost of living had risen 3.3 per cent since the last wage adjustment, and that in this rise is found a 4.8 per cent increase in food costs. This, it is claimed, wipes out nearly one half of last year’s wage increase. Increased Productivity A key consideration is the in- creased productivity in the indus- try. Here again, evidence was supplied by the Union’s Research Directors that this increase in pro- ductivity has enormously de- creased production costs for the employer. It was stated that the man-hour output has increased enough to completely offset last year’s increase. Comparable Wages ¢ Statistics were tabled to show the general wage pattern in the province . This revealed, that un- less “an adjustment is made this year, lumber workers will be re- ceiving less than workers perform- ing comparable work in the other major industries of the province. One instance stressed by the Union's negotiators was that pulp and sulphite workers will enjoy a base rate of approximately $1.90 per hour by midsummer. As mainly, the same corporations employ both groups of workers, the inconsistency of holding the lumber workers to a lower wage level was shown. Despite the pessimism which permeated the employers’ pres- entation, the Union was able to show on the evidence that many factors are now operating to im- prove conditions vastly, Favorable Economic Factors Waterborne shipments to the United Kingdom are up 47.8 per cent. Waterborne. shipments to the United States are up 184.2 per cent. See “BOARD” Page 3 . Interior Wage Conferenc LISTEN TO Green Gold-CJOR 7:00 p.m. Thursday our> CKPG fst and 3rd Thursday 6:00 p.m.