_ FROM PAGE ONE “DEMANDS” Waiver coverage for em- ployees upon retirement or in_ any event not later than age 65. (ec) Provide that Weekly Indemnity benefits will ter- minate upon retirement. 8. Seniority — Reinstate- ment (Art. XIX) Amend Section 10 to provide four months’ per year seniority protection for an employee temporarily leaving the bar- gaining unit to assume super- visory duties. 9. Leave of Absence (Art. XX) Revise and clarify provisions on Compassionate Leave, Educational and Training Leave, and Extended Vacation Leave so that the employer will have more control] over such things as the reasons for and the timing of these types of Leaves of Absence. 10. Arbitration (Art. XXXII) Amend Article XXXII to al- low for a process whereby Arbitrators are selected either by (a) mutual agreement or by (b) automatic rotation. 11. Strikes and Lockouts (Art. XXXIII) Amend Article XXXIII by changing the title from “Strikes and Lockéuts”’ to read “No Interruption of Work.”’ Amend the Article by adding the words ‘‘Walkouts or other interruptions of work” after the word “‘strike’”’ wherever it appears in the ASrticle. 12. Two-Year Agreement (Art. XXXIV) Provide that duration of Agreement be two years. FROM PAGE ONE “BETTER of his or her own soul, avoiding no questions. And we should do some straight talking with our neighbours about what is really happen- ing to British Columbia. This appeal goes to those who have for many years given their support to the New Democratic Party. It goes to those who be- long to British Colum- bia’s liberal tradition and who feel betrayed by those who aban- doned that tradition to join the present govern- ment in Victoria. It goes to those who usually are not involved in polities. It goes to those who recognize as their first commitment the FUTURE” well-being of their fam- ilies. It goes to those who are worried about the growing tendency to arrogance and tight control by those in power. It goes to those who believe that gover- ment should work for the benefit of more than just the super-rich. And when we have finished this straight talk, we can then turn to building a better British Columbia. It has to be done. cantil Dave Barrett, Leader, British Columbia New Democratic Party. All positions in Local 1-424 IWA, Prince George, with the exception of Financial Secre- tary and Recording Secretary are being opposed following the nominations conducted April 8th for officers at the Local’s Annual Delegated Meeting in Prince George. Nominated for office and whose names will go out on a referendum ballot are: President: D. Muirhead, G. Deschene; 1st Vice-President: _ G, Wolfram, L. Dockendorff; 2nd Vice-President: J. Hig- F. Everitt; 3rd_Vice- _ President: W. Koshman, R. ce ; Conductor; T. Bray, _ F. Deakin, Warden: S, Rutter, D. St. Hilaire; Six Year : D. Good, J. McQueen. Guest speakers at the two- day conference included Dave Barrett, NDP Leader of the Opposition; Regional Presi- dent Jack Munro; Regional 2nd Vice-President Neil Menard; Local 1-357 President Gerry Stoney and Local 1-367 President Joe Fowler. Business of the meeting included dealing with sixteen resolutions and approving the Officers’ and Financial Re- ports. The Financial Report showed that the Local was in good financial shape and the Officers’ Report, which cov- ered the Local’s past year’s activities, indicated steady progress in all areas. As usual, the Local spon- sored its annual banquet and dance for the delegates and _ visitors. THE WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER LOCAL 1-207 HINTON MEMBERS SIGN NEW TWO YEAR AGREEMENT By ERNIE CLARKE Regional 3rd Vice-President Negotiations at Hinton, Alberta involving members of I.W.A., Local 1-207, and Wood- lands Division of St. Regis Paper have concluded with the signing of a two year agree- ment, effective March 1, 1979. At a membership meeting March 26 the agreement was ratified by a vote of 140 to 87 with 4 spoiled ballots. The new agreement gives the employees a general increase of 8.47% or an average of 70 cents per hour in the first year and 60 cents in the second year. In addition the existing $50.00 per month COLA was folded into the existing rates, effec- tively adding an additional 29 cents per hour to all existing rates and an additional 2% to all piecework rates. All rates between $6.91 per hour and $7.60 per hour were adjusted additionally between 3 cents per hour and 11 cents per hour. This adjustment raised the base rate for common labour from $6.91 to $7.90 in the first year and fo $8.50 per hour in the second year. Special adjustments to Tradesmen moved rates from $9.48 per hour to $10.57 per hour in the first year, and to $11.17 in the second year. Power Saw Mechanics rate adjusted from $7.88 to $9.69 in the first year and $10.29 in the second year. Forestry Technician rates adjusted from $7.58 to $8.84 in the first year and $9.44 in the second year. All piecework ~ rates increased by 10.47% first year and 4.07% in the second year. I.W.A. pension plan con- tributions will be increased by 12 cents per hour in the first year to a total of 37 cents per hour per employee. Weekly indemnity increased from $260.00 per week maxi- mum to $270.00 per week maxi- mum March 1, 1980. Dental plan contributions 80% paid by employer effective March 1, 1980. Additional Vacations effec- tive first year. With great fanfare former Transport Minister Jack Davis announced that instead of “purchasing” three new fer- ries for $46.5 million, we will “lease them for 18 years and then take possession of them.”’ Davis, one of the brightest businessmen in the coalition, said by selling the three ferries to financial institutions in east- ern Canada and then leasing them back, the taxpayers would save $2 million per year (Victoria Times, May 20, 1976). Over 18 years we would save $36 million! You can’t knock that. However the Minister tabled in the legislature details of the leases and when Dave Stupich, former NDP Finance - Minister and a Chartered Ac- countant, analysed the lease documents, he found that IN- STEAD OF SAVING $36 MIL- LION, THE LEASES OVER 18 YEARS WILL COST THE B.C. TAXPAYER AN EXTRA $53.1 MILLION! You certainly will not read those figures in the Socred budget speeches. Here are the facts found by nology ...’’ Dave Stupich: 1. Cost of the 3 ferries if paid off this year (1976), $46.5 mil- lion. 2. Under the ‘‘lease’”’ B.C. will pay $4,633,151 per year for 18 years. A total of $83,396,772. 3. At the end of the lease B.C. will pay a minimum of $11,625,000 to take possession of the ferries. This brings the total payment under the lease to $95,021,772. 4. Ferries that had been paid for under the NDP government will now cost the B.C. taxpayer an additional $53.1 million. ALSKOG PASSES Vern Alskog, a_ long-time member of Local 1-71 (Log- gers’ Local) passed away on March 2nd. Vern started work- ing in the woods in 1926 and worked as a hooktender until he was hurt in 1955. Prior to the formation of the IWA, he worked actively to’ promote unionism in the woods. He is survived by his wife, son and daughter. ANOTHER HARRISBURG? BONNER — Ex Socred Minister of Labour / Attorney-General / Now Socred appointed Hydro Chief: “‘Nuclear power will be part of our future whether we like it nor not — Hydro will have to start construction of a nuclear power plant within 10 years . . .”’ Victoria Colonist, November 8, 1978 McGEER: “B.C. has a great opportunity to take the lead in Nuclear Fusion Tech- Victoria Times, March 28, 1979 ’ (McGeer goes on tosay B.C. Government is lobbying Ottawa to get a nuclear power plant, which McGeer says will be located somewhere in the Lower Mainland.) 1 to 3 years service 2 weeks. 3 to. 10 years service 3 weeks. 10 to 18 years service 4 weeks. 18 years and over 5 weeks. Alternate method of receiv- ing vacation pay. Employees can receive 40 hours at hourly rate for each week of vacation entitlement and pieceworkers 40 hours at average hourly rate for each week of entitlement or the percentage of gross which- ever is the greater. Other major changes to the agreement were in the area of Bereavement Leave, changed from Funeral Leave, because it often deprived members from their entitlement. 20% bonus paid to feller buncher on right of way. Provision for coveralls ex- tended to include crane operators. New system of sampling for determination of average butt diameter for feller buncher. Annual medical for company truck drivers. Company will pay lost time for truckers taking medical. Total demands for the new contract: From the Union 62 demands. From the Company 18 demands. PRICE WATCH OPERATION The AFL-CIO has called a special conference to lay the groundwork for Operation Price Watch, a_ grassroots monitoring system aimed at keeping tabs on consumer price increases. The program, AFL-CIO President George Meany de- clared in a letter to the presi- dent of the federation’s 105 affiliated unions, will help la- bour ‘‘make a better public case for a fair and workable anti-inflation program.” The program, to be coordin- ated by the federation’s De- partment of Community Ser- vices, envisions recruiting union-member volunteers in communities across the nation to monitor and report back on - food prices, rents, physician . fees, utility rates and fuel costs. “It is important,’’ Meany said, “that we do everything possible to stimulate local participation in our Price Watch.”