“NOTHING” SAYS BOARD * * * * * * Committee Urges Rejection Sa» om oh s of Majority Report and A. Uh wl (= \ ee Wi Ne Authorization of Strike Action se is se edt rant Ege Re aa Vol. XXV, No. 12 «** 2nd ISSUE, JUNE 1958 - VANCOUVER, B.C. “> 5c PER COPY Majority report of the Conciliation Board, signed by Chairman G. S. Allen, Dean of the Forestry Department, UBC, and the employers’ member, George Robson, released June 18, recommends that no wage increase be granted IWA members for a year. A number of the employers’ proposals designed to take away existing contract rights are upheld in their report. The majority of the Union’s demands are ignored. Bob Smeal, Union member, in a minority report, challenges the majority report as showing an obvious bias, and indicating that it is an employers’ report, designed to pro- voke and not to conciliate. The IWA District Policy Committee, after careful consideration of all aspects of the situation, unanimously recommends that the members, by secret ballot in the referendum now, under way, reject the majority report, and authorize strike action when deemed advisable by the District Policy Committee. Summaries of the majority report, the minority report, and the Union’s statement follow: President's Talk Censored This radio address, recorded by District President, Joe Morris was not delivered. Late in the afternoon, on Thursday, the President was advised that the solicitors for Station CJOR had made major deletions in his script, to the extent that another tape recording would be necessary. President Morris advised the station that he could not accept the suggestions of the solicitors, as it was his duty to make a factual report to the members of the Union, and in doing so he had not violated the law. The station’s management stated that they were unable to ignore the advice of solicitors retained to protect the station’s interests. The solicitors insisted that the comments of President Morris dealing with the Conciliaion Board and the em- ployers, imputed motives, and that this was not permissible. An announcement, stating the facts was substituted for the original address. The original address as prepared in script form by President Morris is here reproduced in full, with the deletions indicated by italics, and changes inserted in brackets. Majority Report = “Nothing” Majority report signed by the Board Chairman and the employers’ member is given below in part. Copies of the full text have been furnished all Local Unions. The deletions are mainly on account of considerations of space. “The Board regrets that it is unable to submit an unanimous report. Many of the points could not be satisfactorily resolved except on a bona fide bargaining basis. The complete disagreement on wages precluded the possibility of settling some of the less important issues, as among the Board members. “In ariving at its conclusions, the Board attempted to follow the principle of recommending changes only where the evidence in favour of such change was overwhelming and the evidence against weak. This is not to suggest that there was little or no merit in the others but, rather, to emphasize that serious conflict of interest appeared to exist. “This approach may seem to beg the question in a number of in- stances; if so, it is because the Board did not have sufficient evidence, particularly in respect of the possible ramifications that might result from the proposed change, to be certain that a change would be fair and reasonable to both Parties. “The Board’s recommendations follow; a minority report will be —Editor. In a radio report to the Union, District President Joe Morris agreed with the statement in the minority report that the majority of the Board threatens 28,000 lumber workers that they will get NOTHING this year, for the report, he stated, has nothing of any significant value for the lumber workers as a group. “We Must Fight’ He said that unless the members of the Union prepare to fight, they will get nothing from the employers. He bitterly denounced the discrim- ination shown by the same employers who have already granted a $1.89 base rate to the pulp and sulphite workers, effective July 1. From here on we must fight, he said, as he urged a thumping vote for rejection and authorization of strike action. No steps will be taken to set a strike deadline, he stated, until the membership in all Local Unions have been consulted. He said in part: “The Conciliation Board, which commenced its hearings on May 15th, has now submitted its report to the Department of Labour. The Chairman, Dean G. S. Allen, head of the Forestry Department, Uni- See “CENSORED” Page 3 Strike Vote It is announced that a government- supervised strike vote for the coast lumber industry will be held on June 27th. This should not be confused with the Union’s vote now under way to deter- mine acceptance of the majority report and authorization of strike action by the District Policy Committee, when deemed advisable. The recommendation of the Commit- tee is to reject the majority report by voting “No” on the Union ballot, and to vote “Yes” on the same ballot for au- thorization of strike action. WHAT'S INSIDE Interior. Censored IWA Pix Safety Minority “Attack... submitted by the third Member. ARTICLE VI—WAGES Section 2 (a) “A great deal of evidence and discussion was heard in respect See “MAJORITY” Page 10 Minority Report Accuses Bias In his minority report, Bob Smeal, the Union’s member on the Board bluntly condemned the majority report as one dictated by the employers. He said: “I find it impossible to agree with the report submitted by the Chairman and the employers’ member of the Conciliation Board appointed to deal with the above-mentioned dispute. “I submit herewith a minority report, with recommendations, to- gether with my reasons for dissent from the majority opinion. “Attention is directed to the fact that the Board commenced its hearings on May 15th, and continued these hearings in open session until June 2nd. Thirteen proposals, supported by extensive exidence and argument, were presented by the Union. “At the conclusion of the open hearings, the Chairman met once with each of the disputing parties separately to clarify points at issue. The board resumed sessions on June 7th, in camera, and continued these until June 13th. At that time it became obvious that no satisfactory and un- animous recommendations could be reached. Complete Disagreement “Tt is with deep regret that 1 find myself in complete disagreement with the other two members of the Board on all the major issues raised by the Union in its presentation during the hearings. After prolonged consideration of a mass of evidence, urgent problems affecting the wel- fare of the members of the Union have been denied any proper recogni- tion. See “MINORITY” Page 9