‘ THE WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER KELOWNA CITY OFFICIAL CLAIMS: IBEW HEADS SUGGESTED UNION STEWARD BE FIRED Editor’s N ote: A recent edi- torial in the Kelowna Courier hich Stated that strikes have fate ceased to serve any use- u 2 the City, drew the following scathing letter in reply from Bill Schumaker, president of Local 1-423 IWA. Following its publication, the City of Kelowna also sub- mitted a letter to the Courier which suggested that because Schumaker was not a member of the IBEW he could not know what went on during the negotiations between the IBEW and the City. This let- ter is also reprinted on this page. For the information of Lum- ber Worker readers the offi- cers of Local 1-423 IWA were better informed about the strike than were the IBEW officers in Vancouver. The strikers worked out of the IWA Local office in Kelowna for 13 weeks and were not hesitant in confiding to these IWA officers who had given them so much invaluable help during the strike. After reading your editorial in Wednesday’s, August 2 paper — headlined — “Strike Results Will Be Felt For Many Years,’ I feel it only - proper that you, Mr. Editor and the people of Kelowna know what really settled the strike of the 1.B.E.W. against the City of Kelowna. But before I open your eyes and the eyes of the public, I can assure you that the strik- ers did not welcome the settle- ment as you state in your editorial. There were choked emotions when they voted on the settlement. The charges that the City of Kelowna laid against the strikers for the rock throwing incident that occurred on July 10 at Highland Drive was the lever that settled the strike. I might also add that this incident was overplayed. Charges of assault were laid against the three strikers, also an additional charge, more serious, of assault with intent to commit an indictable of- fence was laid against Mike Scheer, the Chief Job Stew- ard. The I.B.E.W. and the City were only a whisker away from a settlement when this incident occurred. This incident then changed’ the picture. The ILB.E.W. heads came in from Vancou- ver to try and resolve the dis- pute. The City negotiators were determined that the three strikers employed by the City would have to be penalized and at first wanted them terminated as part of the pro- posed settlement. ; The original proposal was then watered down by the City and the final proposal was put to the crew by the Union heads. The City would drop the indictable charge against Mike Scheer, but the three men would have to stand trial for the assault charge and would plead guilty. If the crew would not ac- cept this then the indictable charge against Scheer would be pressed. What choice did the crew have, they were damned either way! It ap- pears someone was deter- mined to get their pound of flesh! The final and outrageous demand the City requested was that Mike Scheer, who had worked for the City of Kelowna for 10% years, was to terminate his employment. That is why they are all back to work but one. These were the terms of settlement, Mr. Editor, that should also be brought to the attention of the public. You also mention in your editorial that strikes have long ceased to serve any use- ful purpose of settling labour disputes. Do not believe that my friend and I would not be so hasty to congratulate the City negotiators. Their tactics in these past negotiations leave a lot to be desired. I have personally contact- - -ed many people and discussed the settlement with them and their reaction is disbelief, dis- may and anger. I also criticize the integrity of the Union heads who came in from Vancouver to finalize the dispute. They recommend- ed that the crew accept the settlement. To me as a Union Represen- tative I hang my head in shame to realize that such an appalling course of action could ever come about. I would see myself in hell first before I would sacrifice any. member of our union to settle any dispute, large or small. In conclusion, Mr. Editor, I think it is the duty of your paper to bring all the facts to the people of this city and I trust I will see this letter in the Courier in the near future. Yours truly, Wm. F. Schumaker, President, Local 1-423, I.W.A. CITY REPLIES Sir: I would like to comment briefly on the letter in your paper of Aug. 10th from W. F. Schumaker. Mr. Schumaker intimated that the people of Kelowna should be told the truth and therefore I cannot leave his letter unanswered. Mr. Schu- maker is with the IWA and not the IBEW and therefore he was not present during the negotiations and he has been misinformed. I wish to make the following comments: 1. The City of Kelowna did not lay any assault charges. The charges were laid by the RCMP, based on the evidence before them. 2. The City of Kelowna did not and could not have the charges withdrawn. This was a right possessed only- by the Crown. 3. The City agreed that not- withstanding the assault charges, two of the three em- ployees concerned would re- turn to work without penalty (aside from the legal posi- tion). 4, The union readily agreed and in fact were the first to suggest that Mr. Scheer would no longer continue his em- ployment with the City. 5. The dropping of the in- dictable charge against Mr. Scheer would have been by agreement between the prose- cuting lawyer and the defence lawyer and this would prob- ably have been related to evidence or lack of evidence. Yours very truly, D. A. Chapman, Chairman, City Negotiating Team. -- BIOGRAPHY OF JUSTICE MUNROE INTERIOR CONTRACT MEDIATOR Mr. Justice F. Craig Mun- ree was born in Welwyn, Sas- katchewan, August 21, 1916. He was educated at Central Collegiate, Regina, Saskatche- wan, where he acquired his B.A. in 1937 and his L.L.B. in 1939. : In June 1940, he enlisted with the Regina Rifle Regi- ment and spent three and one half years overseas in the U.K. and on the continent. He returned home late in 1945 with the rank of major. Until his appointment to bench, he practised law a George L. Cassidy in New Westminster, where he makes his home. He was counsel in seven murder trials — three times for the defence, and four times for the Crown. His practice in- volved him in many labour matters, and in 1960, he medi- ated a grain workers strike, and has been Chairman of Conciliation Boards in rail- way disputes. He made one unsuccessful bid for public office when he ran as Conservative candidate in New Westminster in the 1960 Provincial election. _ He has been associated with a number of community groups and ventures in New Westminster. Among them are the Kinsmen, Canadian Legion, New Westminster Bar Association, John Howard Society, and the United Good Neighbour Fund. ~ P| NEWFIE WAGE LEVEL STILL CANADA'S LOWEST Ina epg to a Royal mmission on Minimum the Newfoundland Federation of Labour noted that 41 percent of Newfound- land families had incomes of less than $3,000 a year, at the last Census. The brief called for he viable minimum : wage future well-being of this prov- ince, our government has in- stituted one of the most pro- Bressive and comprehensive systems of support for higher education in Canada, Surely it can be persuaded to do as much in the field of minimum wage legislation to improve the present living standards of its people,” the NFL said. F. OLIVIERI BURSARY WINNER Officers of Local 1-85 IWA Port Alberni have announced that the Local Union’s annual $500 bursary has been award- ed this year to Fernando Olivieri, son of Mr. Mario Olivieri, an employee of the Alberni Plywood Division of McMillan Bloedel Company. Fernando graduated from Grade 12 at A.D.S.S. with a 90% scholarship exam aver- age. He will enroll at UBC this fall where he will study for a doctor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics. The Local officers in an- nouncing the winner reported that there has been a tre- mendous increase in bursary applications during recent years. This year twenty-eight students applied for the burs- ary, eleven of which were sons or daughters of IWA members. MINE, MILL VOTE MERGER Merger of Mine Mill and United Steelworkers in Can- ada was confirmed August 17 following an official tally of ballots cast by Mine Mill members. Slightly more than 60% of the 13,000 members voted two to one in favour of the mer- ger action. Actual figures showed 5,122 voting “yes”, 2,522 dissenting with 58 spoil- ed ballots. While the merger has been approved by the members, there still remains a 15 day period in which challenges against the count may be filed. IT’S JUST THAT HE AIN’T USED TO SUCH A BIG CHEQUE . . . HE’S FROM THE INTERIOR!