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Incorporating “Fhe ©.C. Lumberworker Official Publication of the Jeleraattonal Weedworkers of APmeréea Regional Council: No. 1
. F Authorized as Second Class Mail, ‘Post Office Dept.,

Ottawa, and for Payment of Postage in Cash

2nd Issue |
Jan. 1965

Vol. XXXII, No. 2°

VANCOUVER, B.C. dec PER COPY

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INSPECTORS REJECT Public Hears How Strike

Was Needlessly Provoked

Two major violations of the Labour Relations Act by Frolek Sawmills Ltd., North
Kamlops, have been charged by IWA Regional Officers in statements to the B.C.
Legislature and on the Kamloops radio station.

It is claimed that the strike, now in its 5th month, was needlessly provoked
by the employer's refusal to recognize the certified Union, the IWA, or bargain
collectively. Even the appointment of a Conciliation Officer failed to bring the em-
ployer to the bargaining table.

In a submission to the B.C. Legislature, Regional President Jack Moore has
pointed out, “The issue in this strike is the right, under the law, of workers to
organize, bargain collectively and secure an agreement. This right has been
challenged by Frolek Sawmills Ltd. If the law is successfully evaded in this in-

FISHER PROPOSALS

The PLIB lumber inspectors, who comprise Local =:
= 1-288 IWA, have rejected settlement proposals recom-
mended by Conciliation Officer E. P. Fisher.

This was announced by Regional President Jack }::

% Moore after a day-long special meeting of the Regional ::
_% Executive Board held February 5.

Bo On behalf of the Board, President Moore sent a tele-

SSS RRS

% gram to Labour Minister Peterson, requesting that steps
% be taken to bring the parties together again.

bs His telegram stated: Our Local Union, 1-288, IWA,
% composed of lumber inspectors, has rejected Mr. Fisher’s
% recommended settlement. In view of the gravity of the
= Situation, I request the assistance of your Department

% to bring the parties together immediately.

bs In Victoria, the Minister of Labour announced that
= he would comply with the IWA request.

s See Story Page 3

uire

Demand Action

A determined joint effort
by IWA members, Rae Eddie,
MLA (NDP-New Westmin-
ster) and John Squire, MLA,
(NDP-Alberni) to get action
out of the Standing Commit-
tee on Labour of the Legis-
lature was foiled by a Social
Credit majority.

When, under the rules of
the House, the members of
the committee were summon-
ed to an organization meeting,
the IWA members moved:

“That the chairman be in-
structed to report to the
House and ask permission to

move a motion that the ques-
tion of automation and its ef-
fect on the people and the
economy be referred to the
Labour Committee for investi-
gation and report.”

The motion was ruled out
of order by Chairman Dudley
Little and upheld by the Soc-
ial Credit majority on the
committee.

When interviewed on the
question, Rae Eddie explained
that under the rules of the
House the Committee can

See “EDDIE”—Page 2

stance, disputes of this

nature will multiply.

In a broadcast over the Kamloops radio station, Regional 2nd Vice-President

Jack Holst said, in part:

“At the outset, I must state
that our Union never takes
strike action until all means
to obtain a fair settlement of
a dispute have been exhaus-
ted. In this instance, we have
not been given an opportun-
ity, such as provided in the
law, to negotiate an agree-
ment with the employer and
avoid public inconvenience.
This will be seen when I state
the facts, all of which I can
document.

First, let me pay tribute,
on behalf of the Union, to the
courage displayed by the men
who have faithfully held the
picket lines in this strike,
round the clock, for over four
long weary months. Let me
say to them that their con-
duct has been in the best tra-
dition of trade union pioneers.

Let me also say to them that
the IWA members in Local

Unions from Victoria to the
Manitoba boundary stand
firmly behind them in their
struggle.

It is now clearly evident
that their wages and condi-
tions will not be raised to the
levels established for wood-
workers in the Interior, until,
as freemen, they fight for
their rights as set forth in the
laws of this province.

Employer Evaded

Our Union has complied
with the law. The employer,
inexcusably, in our opinion,
has evaded the provisions of
the law up to this date. Let
the facts speak for them-
selves.

Local 1-417 IWA, was cer-
tified by the Labour Rela-
tions Board on June 16, 1964
as the bargaining agent for

See “RIGHTS”—Page 3

“No Joke’
Phil Told

“Tt’?s no laughing matter for
those of us who have been
fighting for four months on
the picket line to get a con-
tract from an employer who
defies the law”’.

This was the comment of
pickets at Frolek Sawmills
Ltd., North Kamloops, when
they read in a Vancouver
daily that Highways Minister
Gaglardi laughed at the re-
port that he had crossed an
IWA picket line.

Here is the story told by
the pickets. Mr. Gaglardi
crossed the IWA picket line

See “JOKE”—Page 2

Rm

~~ ; “~~

IWA NEGOTIATING GROUP which secured the recent agreement at the
Plywood Division of North Canadian Forest Industries Limited, Grande
_ Prairie, Alberta. Group from left, back row, Robert Lawrence, Plant Com-

nittee member; Tony Deutsch, Plant Secretary; John Bergum, Plant Chair-
front row, left, Joe Regional Director of Research and Edu-
1; Keith Johnson, Local 1-207, President; Jack Holst, Regional 2nd Vice-
Jean Balinsky, Plant Committee member.

Alberta Breakthrough Made

An agreement, which marks a major advance for Alberta
plywood workers, has been negotiated and approved by IWA
members in the plywood division of North Canadian Forest
Industries Ltd., Grande Prairie, a subsidiary of Canadian
Forest Products Ltd. in B.C. Six days of tough bargaining
eliminated many of the sub-standard conditions found in
Alberta and brought them closer to the standards negotiated

in B.C. Approval was given the new proposed agreement at
a membership meeting January 29.

The new agreement pro-
vides:

A wage increase of 27 cents
an hour over a three-year
period effective as follows: 10
cents an hour, February 13,
1965; 8 cents an hour, Febru-
ary 13, 1966; and 9 cents an
hour, February 13, 1967.

Additional increases for
categories, affecting 104 em-
ployees, and ranging from
one cent an hour to 13 cents
an hour.

A 40-hour week, commenc-
ing August 12, 1966, for day
and afternoon shifts. Grave-
yard shifts, commencing Au-
gust 12, 1967, to receive 40
hours pay for 33% hours
ee fa a : ge in the

rta plywood industry.

Three weeks vacation with
pay after 13 years service.

An improved job - posting
procedure.

A revised seniority clause
to protect workers during lay-
off periods.

Health and Welfare pro-
vision written into the agree-
ment with the company pay-
ing fifty per cent of the cost.

Millwright carpenters, elec-
tricians and welders who ob- °
tain tradesmen’s certificates,
as now required under Al-
berta law, receive an addi-
tional 15 cents an hour.

Procedure for setting wage
rates for new categories or
revised jobs which may be
established during the con-
tract period.

Full union shop for all new
employees.

See “ALBERTA”—Page 2