THE WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER 38,000 copies printed in this issue Published once monthly as the official publication of the INTERNATIONAL WOODWORKERS OF AMERICA estern Canadian Regional Council No. 1 J L | a Affiliated'with AFL-ClO-CLC 2859 Commercial Drive, Vancouver, B.C. Phone 874-5261 Editor—Pat Kerr Business Manager—FrediFieber Advertising Representatives— Elizabeth Spencer Associates Forwarded to every member of the IWA in Western Canada inaccordance with convention decisions. ubscription rate for non-members $2.00 per year. C GUEST EDITORIAL ROADWAY Paiy PPWC POWER STRUGGLE (PULP & Paper Workers of _ Canada has dumped their National President off the union’s negotiating committee in favor of a man who doesn’t even hold an elected office. Fred Mullin, who soundly defeated Stan Shewaga as National President of the 5,000-member plus union will not head this year’s contract negotiations. The man who will take over as chief negotiator will be.none other than Stan Shewaga, the defeated candidate. Mullin didn’t even get the nod to be a delegate on their 24-man negotiating caucus. Though both men claim there is no rift between the two, some pulp union members from PPWC Local 2 at Crofton say this is definitely a power play by Shewaga. Mullin, a Crofton man, is well liked in his home local and has been the popular choice over Shewaga in other fields. Shewaga (PPWC Local 8 Harmac) was clobbered in the national contest for president late last year and since that time hasn't held any nationally-elected office. This move to oust Mullin as head of the pulp union's negotiating team is seen by some PPWC members as a start of Shewaga’s climb, by any means, to take over Mullin’s job at the next elec- tion. Brushing off accusations that there is a rift in the pulp union between warring factions, Shewaga told the public press that there is nothing strange about a union president not being included in contract negotiations. It was reported . that some locals were unhappy with the way that Mullin handled the 1970 negotiations that saw the PPWC out on a ten-week strike without strike pay. After electing Fred Mullin as National President, the Pulp Union members will have Stan Shewaga leading the workers again, this time during their very im- portant contract negotiations. Shewaga gave one reporter the final crushing blow to Mullin, when he said that Mullin can sit in on negotiations but . he could take no active role. For the Pulp Union, it seems that membership control has been lost in a power struggle among their leadership as to who sits where and who is allowed to say what. The PPWC have left themselves in the ridiculous position of authorizing their National President to enforce a contract which he has no part in negotiating or finalizing. In this case, Fred Mullin, the nationally-elected President has lost this round ... or is it the PPWC members who lost? Local 1-80 Bulletin -ICFTU APPEALS FOR RELEASE OF JAILED UNION LEADERS The International Con- gress and president of the 53 trade unionists in most non- communist countries of the federation of. Free Trade Unions appealed to Quebec Premier Robert Bourassa for the immediate release of the three Quebec labor leaders now serving one-year jail terms on contempt of court charges arising from an in- junction which nullified the legal right to strike of Quebec public employees last spring. Donald MacDonald, president of the Canadian Labour Con- million-member ICFTU has announced. The appeal concerns Louis Laberge, vice-president of the Canadian Labour Congress and president of the Quebec Federation of Labour, Marcel Pepin, president of the Con- federation of National Trade Unions and Yvon Char- bonneau, president of the Quebec Teachers Corporation. The ICFTU which represents world has also called on its major affiliates to make separate representations to the Quebec government in what- ever form they deem appropr- iate, Mr. MacDonald added. The letter, signed -by ICF TU General Secretary Otto Ker- sten of Brussels, Belgium, pledges support for the action taken on behalf of the three trade unionists by the CLC. C.-NDP ACTS FOR WORKERS — More efficient recovery of employees’ unpaid wages will be possible under new — legislation introduced by Labour Minister Wm. King. Amendments to the Payment of Wages Act stipulate that every director or other officer of a company is liable for the unpaid wages of the firm’s employees up to a maximum of two months’ wages per em-— i 1 WOE Mr. King said that the broadening of the concept of direct responsibility will give truction in y where there have been their obligations to their employees 1. And the: from a director of the fir employer and will the) sare ste dam many instances of small contractors failit Dy going into amkrupleye , Now the Ir ida pe ey vill be able to recover the money due a worker _ joard may rule that, where related activities are carried on by more than one person firm or association, these will be regarded as a single g te domely: Nablegs 20 006. ve, ate = es : VAALEN Hi ya Boss .. . I’m showin’ our first lady faller a couple of handy holds on th’ saw! Effective June ist the Mani- toba government is eliminat- ing health insurance premiums, which will make it the only province west of the Maritimes which isn’t im- posing a special premium or payroll tax to finance its share of the hospital and medicare program. However, the Maritime provinces receive higher contributions from the federal government toward- their health care programs. Cost to Manitoba for total elimination of direct payments will be about $25 million a year. Employees whose premiums are now paid in whole or in part under union contracts will receive amounts equivalent to the employer contribution in their paycheques. Medicare premiums were reduced from $204 a family and $102 for an individual per year to $99.60 and $49.80 when the government took office in 1969. The saving over four years is therefore substantial. ‘yi Elimination of premiums will reduce administration costs for collections by about? million dollars and will save the municipalities about The new step in Manitoba’s health services program was announced by Premier Ed Schreyer, heading the NDP government which will likely call an election this year. Provincial taxation will not be raised to pay for this an other benefits which are being increased. The governmen had a $43 million surplus in th last fiscal year and exp another surplus this com: year. A cost-of-living increase boost welfare benefits by 1 14 percent. A new work i centive program will allow social allowance recipients able to work to retain 70 ¢ an hour, or 30 percent of earnings, whichever greater. BAYER NO BETTER ONLY MORE EXPENSI\ In Canada Bayer has a con- tinuing copyright on the name Aspirin, but in the United States the product which is chemically acetylsalicylic acid can be labelled aspirin by any manufacturer, ASA is the abbreviation for acetylsalicylic acid and can be bought in any drugstore for 29 fae a hundred 5-grain tab- ets. The Federal Trade Com- mission in the United States is charging three makers of non- prescription pain-killers with misleading and unfair tising. ie aa It argues that there 15 ™ : ed therapeutically prov products are better than aspirins (ASA in Cana@a Bufferin and Exece double the pain-k or that Anacin is B other pain-killers. (If the consumer economize, then