FROM PAGE EIGHT “CONVENTION” comprised of a number of components designed to be used independently or as a unit. This system will immediately benefit those who are currently handling arbitra- tion cases for their Local. It has also been designed to form an integral part of any future training sessions on handling arbi- tration cases. The components of the index system area Cases Reported index, a Subject Matter index, and a Citation index. The Cases Reported index is designed to be updated immediately and forwarded to the Locals with the arbitration cases. This new index now tells you at a glance: —who the arbitrator was; —whether the grievance was upheld; —the subject matter of the grievance; —what IWA arbitration cases, Labour Relations Board cases, Statutes, or Memo- randums of Agreement were referred to and relied on by the arbitrator. There are separate indexes for arbitration cases reported in the Northern Interior, the Coast, the Southern Interior, and for the Prairie Locals. Both the Subject Matter and the Citation index will be up-dated quarterly and for- warded to the Local Unions. The Subject Matter index will form the backbone of any future expedited arbitation system. Eventu- ally the Subject Matter index will incorpo- rate all arbitration cases throughout the Region. To date, Coast arbitration cases from mid-1970 have been indexed by sub- ject. Only the most recent arbitration cases from the Northern Interior, the Southern Interior, and the Prairie Provinces have been indexed thus far. The Subject Matter index lists, in date order, by topic and sub-topic, the arbitration cases dealing with a particular subject. The index is extensively cross-referenced for easier accessbility and handling. The Citation index lists independently all IWA arbitration cases, Labour Relation Board cases, Statutes, Memorandums of Agreement, or Interpretations cited and relied upon by various arbitration boards. This index gathers together for the first time a historial jurisprudence of IWA cases. The overall objective of the indexes is to provide the most relevant information to the greatest number of people in the simplest form. The indexes have already proven useful in assisting Local Unions in the settlement of grievances prior to arbitra- tion. As well they are helpful in the decision whether to proceed to arbitration. Ulti- mately, the efficient use of the indexes should result in reducing or minimizing legal costs. Sister Beattie continues to be involved in various educational areas within the IWA. As well, she continues to prepare and instruct two week-long courses on Labour Advocacy and Advanced arbitration for the Canadian Labour Congress Winter School. ‘TRADES AND APPRENTICESHIP ep cuccsnip e number of apprentices indentured to Forest Industry has continued to drop the past year. This has occurred in spite the fact that most of the apprentices who been working in production in line with ir seniority have since returned to their de. The main reason for the drop in the 1 number of apprentices is the signifi- decrease in new indentureships. This ion exists not only in the Forest but most other industries as well reflection of the economic times Trades Upgrading As mentioned last year, an agreement was reached to deliver upgrading programs for tradesmen in the Southern Interior with emphasis on electronics and hydraulics. Most tradesmen in that area who wished to participate in this have been given the opportunity to do so or will do so by the end of the year. Twelve other trades courses are in the process of being developed at BCIT and other training institutions as a result of meetings with tradesmen where they expressed a need for upgrading in various fields. This was initiated at meetings of the union and management along with repre- sentatives of both senior levels of govern- ment. Whether the actual training will take place in the near future or not, remains to be seen, but in any case, the courses will be developed and ready for use in line with meets as outlined by the tradesmen on the job. Welding The two Provincial committees on which we have representation have concluded the development of an apprenticeship course for welders. This will be of three years’ duration with four periods in school. It is expected that the schools will be teaching these programs around the beginning of the year. In regards to the C, B and A level of welding certificates we must remind all concerned that the process for existing welders to be grandfathered without exami- nation expires on June 1, 1984. Sawfiling The Province of Alberta has now estab- lished the three trades of fitter, filer and benchman. Local 1-207 initiated and actively participated in this development and it is to that Local Union’s credit that this step has finally been achieved in a province long involved with the forest industry. FINANCES As in previous years, the report on Finan- ces relates to the audited statement of the General Fund and Strike Trust Fund for the year ended June 1983. GENERAL FUND Stated to the nearest thousand, you will note that Income has increased from $1,703,000.00 to $1,784,000.00, an increase of $81,000.00. Expenses for the period decreased from $2,243,000.00 to $1,998,000.00,.a decrease of $245,000.00. Thus expenditures exceeded Income by $214,000.00. You will note that the bank balance as of June 30, 1983 was ($145,000.00) overdrawn. However, it should be further noted that as of September 30, 1983, the deficit has been reduced to ($8,867.28). Only by a great deal of sacrifice by many people were we able to overcome our precar- ious financial situation. All of the Regional staff were extremely co-operative in this area. The fact that some of our staff worked for other unions during the past eight. months was also of great assistance. Brothers Nick Worhaug, Clay Perry, Larry Rewakowsky and Frank Wall all worked for a lengthy period of time for other organizations. STRIKE TRUST FUND 1983 Strike Assessment Income stated to the nearest thousand was $885,000.00, down from $985,000.00 in 1982. The Fund paid out in assistance and expenses $98,000.00 and received from assessments, interest and advance refunds $1,234,000.00 for a credit to the Fund of $1,136,000.00, leaving a total equity in the Strike Fund of $3,7353,000.00 as of June 30, 1983. CONCLUSION The Officers would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the Regional Staff, the Regional Executive Board, the Local Unions and the membership for their patience and understanding during the past year. Respectfully submitted, REGIONAL OFFICERS J. J. Munro, President R. F. Blanchard, Ist Vice-President N. L. Menard, 2nd Vice-President, R. Stanyer, 3rd Vice-President G. A. Stoney, Secretary-Treasurer FORESTRY From a letter to B.C. Forest Minister Waterland by Dr. J. H. Border, Pest Man- agement Expert. I have just returned from assessing my field experiments on the mountain pine beetle in the Clisbako River area in the southwestern portion of the Quesnel Forest District. I am not, however, writing to you about my research. The pertinent subjects of this letter are the mountain pine beetle and the emasculated status of pest management in the B.C. Forest Service. This spring, a few spot infestations of the mountain pine beetle were clearly visible from the air around the Clisbako River. These infestations could have been con- trolled by single tree disposal techniques at approximately $20-35/tree, despite trhe lack of roads in the area. Now the situation is much worse, and frankly frightening. On a 20 km flight from Nazko to the Clisbako River, I counted 68 spot infestations on one side of the aircraft alone. My field crew recorded up to seven-fold increases in the numbers of newly infested trees, and many new spots have appeared that will not be visible from the air until next summer. Even one glance at the beetle infestation map in the Quesnel District Office is enough to shift a tenured professor like me into the letter- writing mode. BUT WHAT IS BEING DONE? VIRTU- ALLY NOTHING. THERE APPEARS TO BE ENOUGH MONEY AND RESOURCES TO MONITOR THE DEMISE OF THIS VAST FOREST, BUT LITTLE TO DO REPORTS ANYTHING CONSTRUCTIVE TO PRE- VENT IT. THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRAGIC WHEN ONE REMEMBERS THAT JUST RECENTLY, MUCH OF THE POLICY, FUNDING AND PEOPLE WERE IN PLACE TO DO THE JOB. THE FOOT SOLDIERS ARE NOW GONE, VICTIMS OF THE GOVERNMENT'S RESTRAINT PROGRAM. THE BEST YOUNG CREW MEMBERS IN THE QUESNEL FOREST DISTRICT ARE LAID OFF, AND A SUPERB OLD-HAND TECHNICIAN HAS BEEN TRANSFERRED FROM PEST MANAGEMENT TO TIMBER EVALUA- TION TO PROVIDE HIM WITH CON- TINUED EMPLOYMENT. BUT IN SWEDEN... The National Forest Survey at the College of Forestry in Umea recently published these assessments: total stock, which at the start of the forest surveys in the 1920s was barely 1,800 million m’sk (cubic metres solid volume over bark), now amounts to more than 2,500 million m°sk. During the 1970s the stock increased by an average of 12 million msk per year. The stock increase occurs mainly in the exploita- ble and mature forests. The annual growth is also on the increase and the gross amount for the late 1970s is put at close on 85 million m'sk, which is also a record. After making deductions for natural mortality, the net growth is about 77 million m‘sk. Lumber Worker/Fall,1983/9