A

:

THE WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER

wa) ATTACK ANSWERED

IWA Regional President
Jack Moore took issue with
John Billings, President of
Forest Industrial Relations
Limited, who claimed that
failure to implement the Mill-
wrights’ Training Program
immediately has been due to

“the Union’s internal politics.

The only obstacle now ly-
ing in the way of launching
the program immediately is
the failure of the employers
to agree to an appropriate
rate when, through training,
a millwright gains a certifi-
cate for higher qualifications.
The lumber industry can eas-
ily afford the proposed in-
centive, he said in a letter
directed to Mr. Billings. Copy

of the letter follows:

“Dear Sir:

“Your letter addressed to
Syd Thompson, President of
Local 1-217 IWA, as reported
in (August 20) issue of the
Vancouver Province, calls for
comment on my part.

“In my opinion such ex-
changes may interest some
sections of the reading public
but will not facilitate the ef-
forts which our union and
management must make to
solve thorny problems.

“Whatever opinion may be
held on either side regarding
the progress of negotiations to
date on some issues, our main

concern must now be, I sug-
gest, to grasp present oppor-
tunities for settlement. I hope
to convince you that I desire
the speedy settlement of such
issues as the Millwrights’ Ap-
prenticeship Training Pro-
gram, I further suggest that
the solution of this particular

problem is largely in your
hands.

“Tt would be wise, I submit,
to understand a very natural
anxiety on the part of many
millwrights now employed in
the industry regarding their
job tenure. The Union acted
to allay their fears and
achieve unanimous agreement
on a workable plan. This plan
was submitted to you in our
recent negotiations, and was
agreed to by both parties ex-
cept on the question of a wage
rate for a Journeyman Mill-
wright certificate after the re-
quired period of training.
Your opposition to the pro-
posed rate is now the only re-
maining obstacle to immediate

‘implementation of the train-

ing plan.

“Unfortunately, the delay
in launching the Millwrights’
Training Program is now de-
laying a proposed program for
Electricians, and other train-
ing programs in view of
other classifications.

Are YOU Cashing In on
the Safety Boot Bonanza?

Our sincere congratulations to JOHN W. ATKINSON,
First Aid attendant at JOHNSTON TERMINALS, for designing
the poster reproduced at right. The display of this poster

as part of a safety program resulted not merely in a flood

of orders for safety boots, but was in addition credited with

REDUCING FOOT
INJURIES BY

90%

Conditions of employment now insist (thank God) on the
built-in protection of safety footwear. Are YOU ready to
supply the booming demand from your shelf stock! If not,
you're missing a hot bet. DAYTON SAFETY SHOES —
| a@ complete line for all B.C. industry — are selling like
het cakes. 50 thousand of these posters have been circulated
to B.C. industry by the Workmen’s Compensation Board.

“I may assure you that this

. union is endeavouring to meet

the urgency of the situation.

‘The employers, represented

by you, are demanding the
recruitment of skilled work-
ers from other countries. The
Immigration Department is
now enticing workers to mi-
grate to British Columbia
with over-glamorized reports
of job opportunities in the
province. These activities
ignore the fact that the skills
demanded can be provided by
available Canadian workers
if they are given adequate
training opportunities.

“Clearly, the success of the
Plan depends on a reasonable
incentive for working Mill-
wrights to undergo an ex-
tended training period in
order to qualify for a certifi-
cate. The increased rate pro-
posed is not unreasonable in
view of the much _ higher
qualifications demanded. It is
common knowledge that the
employers in the industry can
well afford this increase
which, if ‘conceded, will

enormously increase produc-
tivity.

“Please be advised that our
Negotiating Committee stands
ready to meet with you at any
time to explore all possibilit-
ies of an amicable settlement.”

COLOMBO PLAN STUDENTS pause for lunch during
their tour of MB & PR’s Squamish Logging Division ar-
ranged by Regional President Jack Moore. Group from
left: Waly Mohamand, Manpower Citizen’s Association,

British Guiana;

Montsho Selolwane,

General Workers

Union, Bechuanaland; Eileen Cox, Civil Service Associa-
tion, British Guiana; Stephen Alexander, Commercial and

Industrial Workers Union, Grenada; Andy Smith,
Regional Safety Director; Jerome Okoli,

IWA

Printers’ and

Allied Workers Union, Nigeria; Jacob Akintola, Ikega Tex-
tile Workers Union, Nigeria. Bill Gault, CLC Staff Member;
Ben Thompson, Ist Vice-President, Local 1-71 IWA.

TREND REVERSED

The Unemployment Insur-
ance Fund has reversed its
seven-year downhill trek. At
the end of June it showed a
bank balance of over $38 mil-
lion. At that time last year it
ee almost $16 million in the
red.

While the fund is expected

to build up a surplus of about
$100 million by the end of
the year, it is still a long way

off its 1956 high mark of $900
million.

One possible disadvantage
of the turnabout is that the
federal government may con-
tinue to ignore the recom-
mendations of an investigat-
ing body three years ago. The
report said that workers at
higher income levels should
be brought into the plan,
boosting its revenues.

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FOOTWEAR

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- CO. (B.C.) LTD.

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i Order now and be prepared.

PURCHASE OF SAFETY BOOTS AVAILABLE THROUGH
PAYROLL DEDUCTION

For Information — Contact First Aid Attendant