. | By Staff Reporter : The Interior woodworkers’ demand for parity with Coast woodworkers 's a cry for justice. Moreover, parity spells economic sense as well as social iustice. No sound reason can be advanced to show why Interior woodworkers should any longer accept depressed living standards. The industrial develop- ment of the Interior will bog down if based on low wage income. Fundamentally, parity is fair and reasonable because Interior wood- workers perform the same work and produce as much per man-hour as their fellow workers on the Coast. Even when parity is defined in terms of wage rates and fringe benefits, they must still endure higher living costs than at the Coast. Before comparisons are made it should be noted that the purchasing value of the Interior wage dollar has been steadily shrinking since the present contract was signed. Living costs have risen almost 9% in that period, as determined by the official consumer price index. As shown in the accompanying chart prepared for the Economic Council of Canada, costs of food and services have shown spectacular increases in recent years. The cost of items so classified bear more heavily on those residing in small communities. Residents of the smaller communities invari- ably pay more for food and services than those who have ready access to shopping facilities in the large centres. 3 The escalating costs of living alone justify a substantial wage increase. The trend of sharply rising prices during 1966 is now continuing in 1967. The all-time high of 148.1 in the consumer price index is reported for May 1967. The IWA negotiators cannot ignore the fact that wages must now be adjusted to still more alarming price increases in the immediate future. Interior Forest Companies’ Profits PROFITS BEFORE TAXES 1966 BiGRrORESH FRODUGIS (TD. oT $ 12,600,000 —Alexandra Forest Industries CELANESE CORPORATION _....------- —Castlegar, B.C. —Celgar, B.C. —Nakusp, B.C. —Cooke Lumber Co., Greenwood, B.C. GROWING ZELIERBAGCH) soo —Lumber Timber Co., Lumby, B.C. —S. & K. Ltd., Kelowna, B.C. —S. & M. Simpson Ltd., Kelowna, B.C. —Trautman-Garraway, Peachland, B.C. CYPRUS MINES CORPORATION __ ~ —Kicking Horse Forest Products Ltd. INORANDAR MINES = so —Eagle Lake Sawmills Ltd., Prince George, B.C. —Oliver Sawmills, Oliver, B.C. —Penticton Sawmills Ltd., Penticton, B.C. —Sinclair Spruce Mills, Prince George, B.C. —Upper Fraser Spruce Mills, Prince George, B.C. : —wWestern Pines Lumber, Princeton, B.C. VVEMERITAGUSERG ee a —Kamloops Pulp & Paper, Avola, B.C. —Kamloops Pulp & Paper, Merritt, B.C. —Kamloops Pulp & Paper, Lumby, B.C. $117,400,000 $ 82,300,000 $ 23,982,000 $ 66,300,000 106,300,000 Consumer Price Index — Canada INDEX CHANGE eee 185.4 + 1:8% eee 138.7 + 2.4% io, al 148.9 na 794 Pee 148.1 + 2.9% THREE YEAR SUMMARY: The price increase between August, 1964 and May, 1967 amounted to 8.8% (Source: Dominion Bureau of Statistics) THE WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER 3 EQUAL PAY FOR EQUAL WORK The Interior wage dollar buys much less than the Coast wage dollar. This is conclusively proven by a survey conducted by the B.C. Federation of Labour. The cost of living in the Interior is at least 10% higher than at the Coast. This conclusion is reached on a safely conservative basis after an extensive review of actual costs in 1966. To establish the index shown in the accompanying table, a wide variety of foods and household goods were Priced at multi-branch supermarkets. Housing and utility comparisons were based on comparable accommo- dation. While land costs are usually lower in the Interior, house construction costs are shown to be higher. Heating costs are much greater because of the much higher costs of natural gas and heating oil, as well as the longer and colder winters. Gasoline prices on the average are 14% higher in the Interior. Higher costs are also found in car purchases, maintenance, oil, and insurance, averaging about 17.5% more than at the Coast. Some items in the standard family budget are assumed to be the same as in Vancouver. It was pointed out however, that Vancouver residents have readier access to “‘specials’’ and low-cost outlets for many household necessities. When all the facts are taken into consideration, the proposed wage increase of 50 cents an hour will only bring Interior woodworkers abreast of spiralling prices but will not wholly overcome the costly handicap of the “plus” costs found in many Interior communities. In fact, as matters stand ‘the Interior woodworkers could justify a ten percent bonus above the Coast rates. Who then dare say that the parity demand is unreasonable? Interior Living Costs (Vancouver = 100) INDEX IN Sehet-Take F fete LU (ay se 112.8 Eggs--and: laifys Proc cts ise 108.0 Fresh and frozen vegetables 110.9 Other groceries: 22). 506220 See sees ae 105.0 Housekeeping and toiletries 100.0 Housing and rent (average) __...--- 108.7 Heat: :Gaverace’) oases ase a ae eis 150.0 lransportationy average). —sameasneene ety uae 116.4 Overall difference on basis of take-home pay —_......- 110.7 (Based on Actual Costs) (Source: B.C. Federation of Labour) PERCENTAGE INCREASES IN MAJOR COMPONENTS OF CONSUMER PRICE INDEX fH ALL Goods AND SERvicEs ST [J Foon 24] GooDS OTHER THAN FOOD SERVICES 65-66 1960-63 63-64 64-65 Nofe: 1965-1966 based on first nine months of each year. Seurce: Based on data from Dominion Bureau of Statistics. Economic Council of Canada, 3rd Annual Review INTERIOR 1967 DEMANDS % That the Northern and Southern Interior Agreements be re- placed by the 1966-1967 Coast Master Agreement, including all supplements thereto. % That an evaluation program be negotiated to cover all categories in the manufacturing section of the industry that are not presently covered by plywood evaluation. THE DEMANDS INCLUDE: Wage boost of 50 cents an hour. Ten cents an hour for 2nd and 3rd shifts. Vacation pay 612% and 8%% for 5 and 20 years’ service. Travel time pay for loggers above 9 hours on company property Job Pe in sawmills. * That training principles and apprenticeship programs negotiated between Forest Industrial Relations Limited and Regional Council No. 1, IWA, become part of this agreement. * That all logging categories be revised in line with the coastal area. e Better job evaluation in plywood plants—hno female rates. e Revision of category rates for loggers. © Six months’ notice of technological change — crew adjust- ment or severance pay. © Negotiation on sub-contracting to protect contract rights. ® Training opportunities with seniority recognition. ;