NEGOTIATING COMMITTEES REPORT US = TTT TTTTTTTTTTUTTTTTUTTTTA TUN ONO OOOO ON NCO UO UUONOO OOOO OOOO CULLUM OLILOUDOOEDLODOD ULL OU Interior Businessmen. . . @ IT'S YOUR INCOME WE'RE TALKING ABOUT! The more we earn, the more we can spend with YOU for our needs. For this reason you should know why In- terior IWA members are now bargaining for the same wages and contract conditions as are now in effect at the Coast. The wage-spending of 8,000 woodworkers in the Northern and Southern Interior is an important factor in business activity. The In- terior must not become a low-wage area, be- cause this can only lead to business stagnation. Interior woodworkers now receive 50c an hour less for comparable work than Coast woodworkers. This lowers living standards throughout the Interior. Placing Interior woodworkers on the same footing as Coast woodworkers will ensure the circulation of another $8 MILLION throughout the Interior, most of which will flow toward retail outlets. Increased output per man-hour fully justi- fies these proposed wage increases. The labour costs per unit of production have in fact been substantially lowered, protecting the industry's export market. The accumulated profits and increased net worth of the big corporations which now dom- inate the Interior lumber industry could easily provide the same wages for their Interior em- ployees as they pay at the Coast. And remember, wage spending of the workers in the community far exceeds these companies’ local purchasing. We ask for your moral support so that we can together greatly enrich the prosperity of our Interior communities. YOUR I.W.A. CUSTOMERS ETO VUTINTOA NOON UITUON UNTIL UTINNO TINUE LLU LULCU LULL ELUUPL LLL LLUnL-eLUULL LULU LeLUL LL LLLoee-LLooe Laces He oe eee eco ore ero eso ooo oo ooo oor oe eo oo oe TTT TCE TOT TTT TTA TTE TOURER TOGOET UOT OATES OOTATOET OEE OORT OGT CET COCCA TOG OOTOGHOAT UCT UGTCCHTCA GT UUGT CGT OOOTUNTICGTOOTCVVOOT OVI ONY INVIOT EATON NNT UNO DOE DDNIUTTM MMMM MMMM M MMMM 5 The advertisement reproduced above appears this week in the daily and weekly newspapers throughout the Northern and Southern Interior. It supplements a memo now being handed to local businessmen by their IWA customers. As instructed by the Interior Wages and Contract Conference, the Negotiating Committees have mounted an intensive public relations campaign to explain the reasons for the Union’s parity demands to the membership and the public. This has become necessary due to widespread propaganda misrepresenting the IWA demands as unreasonable and damaging to the public interest. THE WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER * “WE HAVE JUST BEGUN TO FIGHT”’ To All Interior IWA Members: The Interior operators’ opposition to parity with the Coast has made the first round of bargaining talks fruitless. In each case, the Northern and Southern Interior Negotiating Committees have applied for the appointment of a Conciliation Officer. The Northern Interior operators offered only two thin dimes over a two- year contract. This was promptly rejected by the IWA Committee. At Prince George, the employers’ representatives were unwilling to accept the Union’s demands on job evaluation, training programs and technological adjustment. The Southern Interior operators did not renew their former proposal of a 34-cents-an-hour wage increase, nor did they make any offer. They expressed some interest in job evaluation and training as a possibility in the next contract. The employers in both areas expressed stubborn opposition to parity with the Coast but without any supporting evidence that could be accepted. Conciliation brings an early and critical stage in our negotiations. We will submit to the Conciliation Officer the evidence which fully justifies parity and continue to press for acceptance by the employers. Following the usual ten-day period of discussions, the Conciliation Officer may recommend (1) terms of settlement or (2) the appointment of a Con- ciliation Board or (3) only that no board be appointed. If he makes a “no board” recommendation, as in the 1966 Coast negotiations, a strike vote after 18 days will be necessary. Whatever the outcome of conciliation, as we now assess the employers’ position, a strike vote will eventually be necessary to prove Interior member- ship determination to win parity with the Coast. This does not necessarily mean strike action but it will be a vital test of our bargaining strength. It is not too soon to prepare for a solid strike vote by making all our fellow-workers on the job aware that 100% unity behind our demands is the key to victory. With a demonstrated solidarity, we can win parity. NORTHERN INTERIOR NEGOTIATING COMMITTEE Jack MacKenzie Gordon Hurlbert Ross Inglis Toby Mogensen SOUTHERN INTERIOR NEGOTIATING COMMITTEE Jack Moore Jack Munro Bill Schumaker Bob Schlosser BUT WAIT TILL WE GET PARITY! es The average Interior woodworker spends approximately $69 per month on car purchase and operation. Gasoline prices average 14% higher than in Vancouver. Interior depreciation, oil, tires, insurance, and the initial purchase price average 17.5% more than at the Coast. : : : -