OFFICERS’ REPORT GAINS CONVENTION APPROVAL Unions Affairs In Good Shape Auditor Affirms The Officers’ Report submitted to the IWA Annual Re- gional Convention dealt fully with the administration of the Union’s affairs during the past year. It was reported upon favorably by the Officers’ Report Committee with the approval of the convention. The Officers stated: “In reviewing our 25 years of progress, the records show the successful building of an organization which resulted in establishing contract benefits to the lumber workers in West- ern Canada. However, we must also look ahead and determine what the future has in store for the workers of the lumber industry. While many problems have been overcome, new problems and attitudes have developed which will still require the same degree of unity and co-operation, the same deter- mination to continue to go forward to make the lumber indus- try a good place to work.” The state of the Union was in- dicated by comment on a num- ber of important projects under- taken by the Union, as follows: Organization Statistics, compiled on average membership in comparison with previous years, do not alone state the entire picture on the prob- lems of organization. There has been a distinct change in recent years to large integrated opera- tions that are being automated and mechanized, with fewer people producing more products. However, the following figures are interesting in regard to aver- age membership. The twelve-month period ending June 30, 1960 _...... The year ending June 30, OSES, TES: SR ea The year ending June 30, Dee eee | 82,798 While we are nearing maxi- mum _ organization, there are, especially in the Interior of Bri- tish Columbia, in ,Alberta and in Saskatchewan, some woodwork- ers who need to be organized. In the Interior of British Columbia there are a few isolated opera- tions that, for one reason or an- other, have not yet been certi- fied and covered by a Union Agreement. The International Organiza- tional Department have placed on their payroll Brother J. Clay- ton Walls, as Assistant Director of Organization. Brother Ron Roley, International Director of Organization, is working in co- operation with the Regional Di- rector and as Assistant Director of Organization in conducting campaigns to bring all the wood- workers in the jurisdiction of the Region into our organization. His survey is being planned of potential membership in the In- terior of British Columbia, Al- berta, Saskatchewan and Mani- toba, Indications at this time are that in Northern Alberta, Sas- katchewan and Manitoba there will eventually be a large num- ber of woodworkers cutting pulp- wood for the pulp and paper in- dustry, soon this area will ie develope wil depend 10a : ae the extension of into these The financial position of the Regional Council has remained in a solvent position for two rea- sons: A. Increased membership. B. A reduction in administra- tive costs. Reviewing the Audit for the last fiscal year ending June 30, 1962, in comparison with the pre- vious twelve-month period, we find an excess of income over ex- penditure in the amount of $12,- 543.39, centred primarily around Lumber Worker printing, organ- ization, travel and negotiations. Policy established in the 24th Annual Regional Convention in: regard to Negotiations did pro- vide some measure of relief for the. Regional Council concerning wages and per diem for Negoti- ating Committee Members. While this policy is not without some problems, it has alleviated the position of the Regional Council with respect to finances. - Our records show an outstand- ing loan from the International Union in the amount of $15,000. Discussions have taken place with International Officers, and a proposal was made to write off one-half of this amount. How- ever, this matter has not as yet been finalized. Strike Fund The Strike Fund at present is in excess of one and a half mil- lion dollars; and, with two-year agreements in the coastal area of British Columbia and also the Interior of British Columbia, it is reasonable to assume that this Fund should be increased to two and one-quarter million dollars by June, 1964. Your Regional Officers have reviewed investment policy, and are of the opinion that Strike Fund investments must be gilt- edged, with no element of risk involved. Further, they must be the type of investments that would make money immediately available in the event of emer- gencies. Investment opportunities have taken peculiar turns in the last two years; with a variation in policies from our Federal Gov- ernment which resulted in\low interest rates, a complete about- face which resulted in high in- terest earnings. At the present time, investment earnings are at an all-time high; and consideration is being given to replacing some of our invest- ments in a manner to command ‘or yields. x Pe Lee eee IWA CONVENTION DELEGATES from Local 1-207, Alberta, examine plaque which honours the first Brother Robert Gardner, who died from the brutal the Provincial police, during the IWA martyr, ‘@ i! e \ beating received at the hands of 1938 Blubber Bay strike. The plaque will be displayed in Woodwork- ers’ House. Group left, Benny Quieite, Keith Johnson, Arne Christenson, Bill Sulak. with the intervention of automa- tion and mechanization in log- ging and manufacturing. We have witnessed modernization tech- niques which have completely revolutionized the industry, and which require many new-skills. While the Local Union has bar- gaining rights which are central- ized through the Regional Coun- cil during industry negotiations, we find that bargaining rights alone are not sufficient to con- clude satisfactory settlements: and further, industry-wide negoti- ations make it extremely diffi- cult to deal with detailed aspects of job content in so many sec- tions of the industry. The Union has long recognized this problem, and many years ago worked primarily to estab- lish uniformity in wage rates throughout the industry. There have been occasional adjust- ments for rigging crews, main- tenance workers, Boiler House crews, lumber graders, etc. in all sections of the industry. How- ever, a specific solution has not been found to deal with the over- all question in an equitable man- ner. In 1955 the Union dealt with the plywood section of the indus- try and was able to obtain agree- ment from the employers on a Job Evaluation Program. How- every, we were not able to imple- ment this. provision -until 1959. While plywood evaluation gives rise to complaints as to the valid- ity of the procedure, it is gener- ally recognized that it is better to correct this procedure than to discontinue its use. In 1959 Industry Negotiations, agreement was reached on a Rate Revision Committee to study new jobs and also those jobs where the content changed. This pro- cedure, however, did not produce proper results for at least two reasons: A. Employers attempted to in- clude in the rate revision procedure piece work in logging. B. The employers took the pos- ition that the highest rate in the industry was the ceiling on rates. This matter was changed in 1961 negotiations and, after some delay, the Rate Revision Com- mittee was set up and com- menced to work in the logging section of the industry. The Rate Revision Committee, consisting of Brothers J. Holst and J. Miyazawa for the Region- al Council, has been working with committee representation for the employers. Extensive work has been done in the log- ging industry to analyze the job content of the old conventional- type logging jobs; and they are now in the process of analyzing many of the new jobs in the in- dustry. The success of this Committee cannot be underestimated, be- cause we all realize the value of setting proper rates and cate- gories for jobs in this industry. Health and Welfare The membership in the Coast Forest Products Industry have been covered for nearly a year by. the Forest Industry Health and Welfare Plan and also Forest Industry Health and Welfare Plan 2. The value of uniform benefits in all operations, large and small, is recognized as one of the most important gains made in recent years in contract nego- Health and Welfare Plan Proves Boon To Members tiations. Thousands of the mem- bers of our organization working in the coast industry had no pro- tection, but are now covered by the same benefits enjoyed by the rest of the membership. Since the commencement of these Plans, approximately One Million Dollars has been paid in benefits in the form of life in- surance and weekly indemnity payments. The Union has been able to observe the value of this protection as it applies to the membership in the industry. These new Health and Welfare Plans have many important fea- tures not contained in previous hroughout the industry ers in instituting Plans. The pay- ment of benefits and financial ar- rangements were entirely at the discretion of the company; and the payment of premiums was worked out in company offices — in many instances without regard to the surplus accounts estab- lished in the Plan. Former plans had many fea- tures in fine print where benefits were payable at the discretion of the employer; and the behaviour of the individual, very often, was a factor in determining whether or not he would receive benefits under the Plan. At the present time, with the Forest Industry Health and Wel- Rp ale be avaate, jointly trusteed, the declaration of trust and the cordance with the provisions of the Coast Master Agreement and the text, which is designed in conformity with the Master Agreement. All funds of the Plan are at the disposal of the partici- pants in any future consideration that may be desired. The portability feature is also highly appreciated, especially in the sections of the industry where the membership are tran- sient. Lay-off coverage and port- ability go a long way to ensuring full protection to the member- ship in the industry, especially with portability applying not only in operations within each Plan, but also from one Plan to an- other. While medical coverage re- quires further attention in future See OFFICERS’ REPORT cme oe :