THE WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER 3 | "STRIKE VOTE" true that the attitude of the employers has brought conciliation fo an abrupt halt. We cannot accept a ridiculous situation in which we merely sit on our hands waiting for the employers to make a gesture towards a settlement of their own making.” “Our union’s members, with an emphatic ‘yes’ vote, will make a vital decision. "They will say in the only language that the employers understand, We will strike if you make it necessary by refusing to consider a better contract. To avoid a strike you must get back to the bargaining table and do some genuine bargain- ing on the basis of our demands. ‘Our members will be voting for action, which otherwise they will not get’.” In its report to the union, the Negotiating Committee ex- plained that a strike vote does not end negotiations, nor does it mean an immediate strike. If the committee is armed with a solid “yes” vote, time will be allowed for further negotiations. It is confidently expected that terms of settlement will emerge from such negotiations for membership consideration. The present situation is clearly revealed by the following comparison between the union’s demands and the employers’ only proposals as summarized: eee) UNION'S DEMANDS 1. A WAGE BOOST Fifty (50) cents an hour across the board for all. 2. PORTAL TO PORTAL PAY An eight and one half (812) hour day for loggers from marshal- ling point back to marshalling point. 3. EXTRA SHIFT DIFFERENTIALS Fifteen (15) cents an hour more for afternoon shifts, twenty (20) cents an hour more for graveyard shifts (except short shifts). 4. LONGER VACATIONS WITH MORE PAY 3 weeks after 1 year with 812% pay. 4 weeks after 5 years with 102% pay. 5 weeks after 10 years with 1212% pay. 5. ONE CONTRACT FOR ALL No work to be farmed out unless under contract conditions. 6. NO STRIKEBREAKING No orders to handle “hot” goods or to pass through a recog- nized picket line. 7. SWING SHIFTS Swing shifts to be the rule in all operations. (Except graveyard shifts). 8. DOUBLE PAY FOR OVERTIME . Doubled rates of pay for all present overtime work. 9. IMPROVED JOB SECURITY The right to negotiate crew adjustments to new production methods or machines. 10. ANOTHER PAID STATUTORY HOLIDAY Boxing Day in the logging camps and at Easter time in the plants. 11. SICK LEAVE Accumulated sick leave with pay. 12. LEAVE OF ABSENCE Up to six months’ leave for educational or compassionate reasons. 13. IMPROVED PLYWOOD JOB EVALUATION A better job evaluation program for plywood workers. 14, BETTER TIMING FOR VACATIONS __ Vacations with pay to be timed. to meet the needs of workers : and families. | 15. ASSURED SENIORITY references to “competency” in applying seniority. LETTER The futility of further discussions was recognized by the conciliation officer as indicated in the following letter from the Deputy Minister of Labour. This letter in effect reminded the union that a strike vote was the next step. May 4, 1966 REGISTERED Western Regional Council No. 1, I.W.A. 2859 Commercial Drive, Vancouver 12, B.C. Attention: Mr. J. MacKenzie. Gentlemen: In the Matter of the Labour Relations Act and in the Matter of a Dispute between Acorn Forest Products Ltd. et al, represented by Forest Industrial Relations Ltd. —and— International Woodworkers of America, Locals 1-71, 1-80, 1-85, 1-118, 1-217, 1-357, 1-363 and 1-367 represented by Western Canadian Regional Council No. 1, Interna- tional Woodworkers of America. The Conciliation Officer herein states that he is unable to bring about agreement between the parties to the dispute, and recommends only that a Conciliation Board should not be appointed. In conformity with the provisions of Section 29(2) of the Labour Relations Act, you are advised that a Conciliation Board will not be appointed. Your attention is directed to the provisions of Section 52 of the Act, which reads: “If either party to a dispute so requests, and if the request is made by either party to the Minister not later than eighteen days after the day upon which the Minister a) causes copies of the recommendations of the Conciliation Officer or of the report of a Conciliation Board to be transmitted by reg- istered mail to the. parties; or b) advises the parties under subsection (2) of section 29 that a Con- ciliation Board will not be appointed, the Minister shall appoint a person or persons to conduct the taking and counting of the vote under section 50 or 51.” Any request under Section 52 should be made to the Minister through the office of the Chief Executive Officer, Department of Labour, Parliament Buildings, Victoria, B.C. to be. received on or before May 24. May I say that the Department will continue to assist the parties to resolve the dispute, and that Mr. R. G. Clements, Chief Conciliation Officer, Department of Labour, 411 Dunsmuir Street, Vancouver 3, has been requested to cooperate: with the parties to that end. Yours truly, W. H. SANDS, Deputy Minister of Labour -EMPLOYERS' PROPOSALS LESS TAKE-HOME PAY BY . . - no mid-term wage rate revisions . base rate travel time pay after ten hours - no “red circle” rates in plywood plants . revision of fallers’ earnings downward . another $1.50 a day on loggers’ board charges . limited back pay for grievance settlements . stiffer holiday pay qualifications . - . job evaluation for all on employers’ terms WORSE WORKING CONDITIONS BY ; . @ continuous seven-day production week (no regular weekends) . extra hours for bob-tail shifts . fixed Eastertime holiday LOWER HEALTH AND WELFARE BENEFITS BY . . . no benefits for casual or part-time workers . . » less lay-off coverage - . . stiffer rules for weekly sickness indemnity pay WEAKENED UNION CONTRACT ENFORCEMENT BY - « + no seniority for part-time or casual workers - + » declaration by Union that all forms of job action are illegal with any production loss claims to be arbitrated