4 FROM PAGE 1 THE WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER "LOGGERS' MEET" woodworkers, He also served fair warning that employers attempting to defeat legal strikes of the IWA by the use of scabs would face an aroused and united Union. Turning to next year’s ne- gotiations, he indicated that the Officers were preparing a plan for presentation to the Wages and Contract confer- ence which would enhance the bargaining power of the Union. He stated that while the details of the plan were not yet completed the general strategy was to co-ordinate negotiations of the wood- working unions in the Coastal area North and South of the border. Once again, as in previous years, the loggers slammed the Income Tax Department. Fifteen of the eighty - eight resolutions submitted for con- sideration of the delegates dealt exclusively with a re- newed demand for income tax changes to enable loggers to deduct from taxable income, transportation expenses, board and lodging costs, pro- tective clothing expenses and depreciation maintenance and replacement of tools. The editorial staff of the Barker was also taken over the coals for its attacks against elected officers of Lo- cal 1-71. A motion was ap- proved to “instruct the offi- cers of Local 1-71 to take whatever Constitutional or Civil action is necessary to stop this unwarranted, unfair and libelous attack.” To ensure that the mem- bers of Local 1-217 were made aware that the loggers had no quarrel with them, a privi- leged motion was approved to submit an open letter to-the Lumber Worker | informing 1-217 members that the log- gers considered only the edi- torial staff of the Barker re- sponsible for the attacks against them. Two other resolutions which aroused considerable interest called for a Canadian to run for International of- fice. The delegates finally concurred in principle with a motion “for the Local to adopt a policy of actively sup- porting for high International office, a Canadian candidate of the Canadian member- shiv’s choice.” The loggers also indicated their displeasure with the In- ternational by approving a resolution to reduce the pres- ent 75c per capita payment to 25c per member per month. The original resolution had suggested reducing the per capita to 10c but the officers pointed out this was the amount paid out by the Inter- national to the Canadian La- bour Congress. Other major decision dealt with by the meeting included: e A demand that an Indus- try Job Training Programme be negotiated and instituted as soon as possible. e That the Local make every effort to employ an- other business agent. e A demand that com- panies erect suitable bulletin boards carrying the IWA in- signia in every camp. e A demand that the Gov- ernment install a post office at Port Hardy Airport. The loggers’ keen interest in safety was apparent from both the number of safety resolutions submitted and the debate of the delegates. Among the resolutions were demands for: e Greater training for green men before being put to work. © Stopping the practice of keeping injured men on the payroll and off Compensation. e Abolishing the practice of loggers working alone in the woods. © Safety belts to be worn by operators of mobile equip- ment. © Greater control by the WCB on companies whose foremen order men to work in unsafe places and perform unsafe acts. Fifteen resolutions dealing with such items as sub-con- tracting, shorter work-week, fare allowance. M.S.A., travel time, and free room and board, were referred to the Local’s forthcoming Wage & Contract conference. The extensive and well documented Officers’ Report indicated that the affairs of the Local Union had been soundly’ administered. The Trustees in their Report com- plimented the officers on their handling of the Local’s fi- nances. In dealing with organiza- tion, the Officers’ Report stat- ed that ten new agreements had been signed in the past year and three certifications granted with agreements yet to be signed. The Report also stated that the problem of contracting and sub-contracting is being tackled by securing “letters of understanding” from the contractors, to abide by all the terms of the Master Agreement. So far ten con- tractors have signed the let- ters. The need for more educa- tion was strongly stressed by the Report which stated in part: 54 “Much more work needs to be done in the field of educa- tion, but again we run into the problem of time and people available.” The problems experienced by officers in handling the members cases on arbitration, U.I.C., Workmen’s Compen- sation, and Health Insurance and Medical Coverage, was dealt with extensively in the Administration section of the Report. In dealing with political ac- tion, the Report stated: “It is highly likely that every subject matter discuss- ed today is covered in some manner by either Federal or Provincial legislation. Taxa- tion, Compensation, Medi- care, Pensions, efc., are all controlled by numerous Acts. “The improvements that we desire will only come about by changing these Acts. To change the Acts we must See “LOGGERS” — page 5 EUGENE OLLENBERGER Nong & CHUCK SMITHSON TOP OFFICERS of the Local are left, ‘ing, Ist Vice-President; Bill Wilson, President; Ben Thompson, Secretary-Treasurer; Ernie Freer, 3rd Vice-President. TWO CHARMING VISITORS were Mrs. Ollen- berger, left and Mrs. Ben Thompson. Bob Picker- TWO OF THE HIGHLY EFFICIENT office staff of the Local, Gwen McDowell left, and Wes Ross spent a hard day at the conference ensuring that the delegates’ voucher cheques were ready for them.