¢ THE WESTERN ih h } N CANADIAN Z I) i/, YY)! i tg -Incorporating The z.2. Lamberworker Official Publication of the Jeferaattonal Wooduarkert of srémertca Regional Council No. 1 i VOL. XXVIII, No. 8 UN VANCOUVER, B.C. 5c PEK GORY 2nd Issue April, 1961 Conciliation Officer Appointed Mr. E. P. Fisher has been appointed Conciliation Officer to deal “| with the dispute between the IWA and the coast lumber operators bargaining through Forest Industrial Relations Ltd. On the day of the announcement, the IWA Regional Negotiat- ing Committee took steps to facilitate immediate discussions with he: employers. These are now being conducted by the Conciliation cer. i REFRESHER COURSE is given members of the Plywood Plant Review Committee by IWA Research & Education Director, Joe Miyazawa, and Al Busch, IWA Plywood Evaluator, during the recent Staff Conference at Parksville, Vancouver Island. Morris Challenges Clyne s Statements Views of Mr. J. V. Clyne, Chairman of MacMillan, Bloedel, and Powell River Ltd., on wage levels in B.C., expressed at the recent annual meeting of his company’s shareholders, were sharply chal- lenged by IWA Regional President, Joe Morris on the Union’s radio programme. Mr. Clyne’s statements about wages and econo- mic progress could not be substantiated in fact, said the IWA official. The claim that high wages in Brit- ish Columbia had caused the greatest degree of unemployment in Canada was grossly inaccurate, President Morris declared, The provinces with the lowest wage rates had experien- ced the highest chronic unemploy- ment. He referred to the comparative reports issued by the Dominion Bur- eau of Statistics which had revealed worse conditions in the Maritime Provinces, Quebec, and Newfound- land. Low wage spending in those provinces, he added, have had a para- lyzing effect on business activity. The IWA spokesman expressed the view that Mr. Clyne had been prompted to speak as he did because of current IWA negotiations. He said in part: “It seems almost incredible that Mr. Clyne should single out trade union objectives as being the chief factor in the ebb and flow of capital to British Columbia. The public is in possession of a great deal of informa- tion regarding all the factors that govern the rate of outside investment. =) Public discussion of Federal and Pro- vincial Government policies have re- vealed deciding considerations far be- yond the scope of trade union act- Bill 42 Goes To Courts ‘The validity of provisions in Bill 42 relating to the check-off will be tested in the courts. The recommendation of the B.C. Federation of Labour to this effect has been acted upon by the Oil and Chemical Workers’ Union, It is understood that the courts will be asked to declare that the Provincial Legislature lacks the power to enact legislation which in- fringes upon the free functioning of parliamentary institutions. The amendment to the Labour Re- lations Act which prohibits contri- butions from trade union funds in support of Federal candidates or Federal political parties is claimed to be entirely outside provincial juris- diction, It is also contended that civil rights in British Columbia may not be abridged in a manner that differs See “BILL 42” Page 3 WHAT'S INSIDE ivity. “In the trade union movement we recognize the basic fact that invest- ment capital is attracted to any area where the resources may be devel- See “MORRIS” Page 2 Conference e Discusses Oe ° Seniority Successful discussions on Seni- ority and Plywood Evaluation were held by IWA Regional Council staff members at a three- day conference attended by sixty delegates April 17-18-19, at the Island Hall Hotel, Parksville, Vancouver Island. The discussions were designed. to clarify the subjects based on the ex- perience of Local Union and Regional officers, Regional President, Joe Morris and Regional ist Vice-President, Jack Moore conducted the discussion on Seniority. While the conference lacked the authority to make decisions, cer- tain recommendations were made with the view to setting up a uniform policy for Seniority throughout the Union. The Regional Director of Research & Education, Joe Miyazawa, and Al Busch, Regional Plywood Evaluator instructed the Plywood Plant Review Committee members on the Evalua- tion Manual and on the _ history, methods and techniques of job eval- uation. dollar per day, for all employees. IWA Demands e A wage increase of twelve and one-half cents an hour, or one © An industry-wide health and welfare plan, jointly administered un- Chief spokesman for the Negotia- ting Committee, Regional President Joe Morris, stated:—“I have advised Mr. Fisher that the [WA Negotiating Committee will hold itself constantly in readiness to expedite considera- tion of settlement terms. I speak on behalf of the entire Committee when I say that full cooperation will be ex- tended to the Conciliation. Officer in his endeavour to establish a mutually satisfactory basis of agreement. “The outcome of these discussions will be reported upon to, the members of the Local Unions involved. “We are entering conciliation with confidence that our contract demands are just and feasible. A wealth of evidence supports this attitude. We will, therefore, continue to press for acceptance of the contract revisions outlined by the Union’s Wages and Contract Conference earlier in the year. , “The Union’s demands originated with the members of the Union and for this reason they express the more urgent needs of the workers ii the lumber industry. Membership Will Governs “I stress the ‘whportance of this point, because some employers have publicly insinuated that wage in- creases and contract improvements are demanded only because trade union officers are irresponsible. “We invite our critics to examine the records of the IWA. Our negotia- ting policy is directly governed by membership will. The Union is charged' with the major responsibility of promoting the welfare of. the workers in the lumber. industry. To the extent that it is possible for the Union to raise their living standards and job security, the Union contri- butes to the welfare of all those resi- dent-in associated communities. “These elementary facts must be re-stated, because some employers would have the public believe that unions exist only to subvert econo- mit progress. The Union fights for the need of the many, as opposed to the greed of the few.” Jodoin C CLC Peace Outlines Policy Policy of the Canadian Labour Congress remains in support of Canadian participation in NATO, said President Claude Jodoin, Canadian Labour Congress, speaking before the Edmonton and District Labour Council on April 22. Neutralism will not serve der trusteeship on a 50-50 contributory basis, and to provide: complete medical coverage; sickness and accident insurance of $35.00 per week for 26 weeks; life insurance in the amount of $5,000.00; accidental death and dismemberment insurance; all such coverage to apply during a lay-off for the period of seniority retention. 3 e An industry-wide portable pension plan jointly administered under trusteeship. : e Required adherence to contract provisions by all contractors and sub-contractors. © Payment of $2.80 an hour to shingle sawyers, plus 51 cents an hour per square for all squares in excess of 20 squares a day and $2.25 an hour to shingle packers plus 3914 cents per square for all squares in excess of 20 squares a day, © Amendment of the time on a portal to portal basis. ability to do the work require present contract provisions for loggers’ travel e Deletion of all reference to casual labour in the agreement. e Upward revision of rates for engineers and firemen, e Inclusion of one additional paid Statutory holiday. e Re-negotiation of the present contract provisions relating to rate revision to expedite decisions respecting new and revised jobs resulting from technological changes in those sections of the industry not now covered by the job evaluation programme. ' e Revision of the seniority clause in the present agreement to clarify the application of seniority to be determined by length of service and d. ¢ Deletion of the following words from the present seniority clause, “except where circumstances render such a posting impractical”. © Payment of a doubled rate for overtime. labour’s desire to establish world peace, he declared. Six main points constitute the pol- icy of Congress in relation to inter- national affairs, he said. These are: 1. An immediate end to nuclear weapon tests. 2. Continuous and constructive negotiations leading to universal disarmament under a system of international control and inspec- tion. 3. Refusal of nuclear weapons on Canadian soil and in the hands of Canadian forces. 4. Strengthening of the United Nations and the creation of an international security force at the disposal of the United Na- tions. 5. The gradual channeling of our defence expenditures into constructive peaceful projects. 6. A more active programme toward the improvement of liv- See “JODOIN” Page 2 “Blitz” Drive By 1-417 Wins Merritt Plant “Blitz” organizing drive staged by Local 1-417 IWA, Salmon Arm, recently secured spectacular results when the operation of Nicola Valley Sawmills Ltd., Merritt, B.C., employing approximately 120 men, was re-captured for the IWA in a weekend. For a number of years the employ- ees had experimented with an employ- er’s profit sharing plan, for which they had deserted the Union. When it became evident that profits were not being shared to the advantage of the employees, the opportunity for unionization was again presented by the Local Union. The members were signed up by means of a rapid three-day house-to- house canvass in which Executive member, Local 1-417, Bob Schlosser, Financial Secretary Cliff Michael, Re- gional Organizer Dick Larson, and Regional 2nd Vice-President Bob Ross participated. The campaign was unique in that virtually the entire crew were members in good stand- ing and had signed the Union's check-off, before any intimation of the tactic had reached the employer IWA certification has now been is- sued by the Labour Relations Board. Negotiations with the firm will be conducted in a manner that will pro- tect the investment of the crew under the terms of the profit-sharing plan previously in effect. Investigation of the circumstances by Regional 2nd Vice-President Bob Ross caused him to comment, “The — experience of the employees in the Nicola Valley Sawmills Ltd. with an employer’s profit sharing plan stands as a warning to lumber workers else- where. It was proven to be no sat- isfactory substitute for trade union organization and affiliation.” LISTEN TO Green Gold—CJ0 7:00 p.m. Thursday 6 A L s CKPG ist and Last Thursday 6:00 p.m.