j F [EMBERS VOTE ACCEPTANCE Otsciat Pedticuion ot be Intornctionad Wadia] Amahice Disrta Coens ab. Vol, XXV, No. 16 <> 2nd ISSUE, AUGUST 1958 - VANCOUVER, B.C. => 5c PER COPY AW {\\\™ Fabour Day Message At NO TIME in the history of the Canadian trade union movement has there been greater need for a revival of the traditions associated with Labour Day. Originally, in 1882, the day was marked off as an occa- sion when the organized workers might claim the status in the national life deserved by their toil, their struggle for political and economic freedom, and their service to mankind, Present-day neglect of this purpose, which once made the day significant, may easily jeopardize the ob- jectives of the whole trade union movement. This is no time for apathy or the smug complacency which forgets the lessons of the past. It is because the amazing growth in strength of the trade unions has brought important gains to Canadian workers, that they are now faced with new problems. These mainly stem from the intensifying opposition and the more subtle attacks of big business interests. In this situation, the trade unions are called upon to serve a dual role. They must defend the position already gained, while at the same time they prepare to move for- ward toward the attainment of a larger measure of social and economic security. Solidarity, militancy, unity, and all the other fam- iliar phrases which are heard throughout trade unions in times of crisis, must now be given’a firmer basis in fact and accomplishment. We should carefully analyze the losses as well as the gains of the past year, if we are to be adequately prepared for the next phase of the workers’ struggle. We must admit in all honesty that our unions were not as well prepared to meet the attack of the organized employers as we thought they were. In some important respects we lost ground, and should now direct our en- ergies to remedy the situation. Needless mass unemployment was condoned and exploited by the employing interests to block trade union gains, and bring about so-called “economic adjustments”. They undertook to destroy trade union militancy through artificially-created fears caused by alarm over the un- certainties of employment. In the next year, the trade union movement ‘must mobilize public opinion to demand full employment poli- cies which our resources now make possible. We must expose the true causes of unemployment in order that See “‘MESSAGE” Page 2 es Hearings Start Soon Hearings of two Conciliation Boards dealing with the issues in dispute betewen the IWA and the Jumber operators in the Northern _and Southern Interior await the “appointment of two chairmen. Early action in this respect is ex- pected. It has been intimated WHAT'S INSIDE Poge that no agreement was reached between the nominees of the parties, and that the appointments will therefore be made by the De- partment of Labour, George Home, Secretary of the B.C. Federation of Labour has been named to represent the IWA on the Southern Interior Board, and William Symington, Interna~ tional Representative of the United Packinghouse Workers will be seated by the Union on the Northern Interior Board. Major issue is the Union’s de- mand for a fifteen per cent wage increase, Unions Ponder Threat Trade union assemblies scheduled for the autumn months will be asked to con- sider the threat of legislation intended to penalize strike action such as experienced in British Columbia this year. Usually reliable sources have intimated that prominent indus- trialists and lawyérs have been engaged in drafting a revised La- bour Relations Act, which will ef- fectively restrict strike action, and introduce a form of compulsory arbitration. Spokesmen for management, have been heard to declare, when irritated by labour’s demands that the trade unions will soon be dis- ciplined by legislation now in the making. Trade union officers who scan the publications devoted exclusive- ly to the interests of management have noted an outpouring of edi- torials and articles, all attacking unions with a striking similarity of language, which indicates one common source of inspiration. One of the latest phases of the campaign is to raise alarm regard- See “THREAT” Page 2 ‘SLOAN SETTLEMENT FORMULA New Contract Better Than Majority Report Proposals Announcement was made this week that voting in the IWA membership referendum had, by a decisive majority, given approval to the Sloan settlement formula for the 1958 negotiations. These results were tabulated on a District basis on the balloting conducted by the coast Local Unions. This membership verdict was immediately acted upon by the Union’s Negotiating Committee to discuss with the employers’ rep- resentatives the actual phrasing of the agreed-upon amendments to a number of contract clauses, Soon To Be Signed These discussions are still pro- ceeding with the expectation that at an early date the master agree- ment will be signed by both parties. This sets in motion the usual activities on the part of the Local Unions to sign up the individual operations, and those who bargain independently of Forest Industrial Relations Ltd. The signing of the master agreement will bring to an end one of the longest and toughest contract battles which the Union has yet encountered. Since March 17 Bargaining which commenced March 17th yielded no results. Conciliation Officer, Mr. Reg. Clements conducted parleys, April 14-18 but was unable to bridge the differences between the par- ties, Dean George S. Allen, of the UBC Forestry Department was named chairman of a Conciliation Board, which commenced its hearings on May 15th and re- ported on June 18th, The majority report of the Board confronted the Union with an unusual situation, inasmuch as it proposed to subtract from the xisting contract provisions while at the same time it recommended wage freeze for one year. The majority report was almost en- tirely an employers’ report, indi- cating that the majority had ac- cepted the claims of the opera- tors. This report was rejected by IWA members with a majority of 82%. At the same time this same majority authorized strike action. Reduced Strike Vote Within a short period, and after extraordinary pressure from the employers, the government-super- vised strike vote approved strike action with a 65% majority. Here again the Union was confronted with the unusual result that a considerable number of operations had voted against strike action. Mediation Launched The District Policy Committee authorized the resumption of dis- cussions with the employers to search out a basis of peaceful settlement. These discussions con- ducted by “Mr. William Fraser, Chief Conciliation Officer, bogged down when the operators insisted upon the terms recommended by the majority of the Conciliation Board. The Union took ‘the position that it would not be forced to accept a worse contract instead of | an improved contract, Formula Proposed Finally the Provincial Govern- ment named Hon. Gordon M. Sloan as a mediator, with the See “VOTE” Page 2 OVERWHELMING SUPPORT was given for acceptance of the Sloan Formula by these members of Local 1-80, IWA, Ladysmith, seen balloting here during the Local Meeting held August 17th, which was addressed by IWA District President Joe Morris. LISTEN TO fireen Gold-CJOR 7:00 Thursday * CKPG-Ist & 3rd Thurs., 6:00 p.m. 0 CKEK-Thurs., 8:15-8:30 p.m.