ANDY SMITH IWA THE WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER “DEAR TOMMY” The following open letter has been written by Andy Smith, Regional Safety Di- rector, to Mr. Tommy North, Safety Director for the Rayonier Company, because of Mr. North’s strong defence of the “walking wounded” policy when he addressed the recent IWA Regional Safety Conference. “Mr, Tommy North, Safety Director Rayonier Company. ‘Dear Tommy, “I wish to thank you for taking the time to address our recent Regional Safety Conference. Your talk on the subject of “walking wounded” was both informative and thought provoking and was undoubtedly the highlight of the Conference. “As a matter of fact some of your statements in defence of the “walking wound- ed” policy were so thought provoking, that I felt it necessary to write this letter to you seeking answers to questions, which, unfortunately, time did not permit me to ask you during the question period. “I apologize, Tommy, for the directness of my questions and in defence remind you that the problem of “walking wounded” has been a sore point with my organiza- tion for a number of years. “My first question is, why do you and other company safety directors persist in pushing the policy of “walking wounded” when you know the IWA, which is a vital partner in the joint forest safety programme, is violently opposed to it? “This strikes me as a rather shoddy way to treat one’s partner in any venture, let alone something as important as safety. “My second question is, why do the companies allow injured workmen to draw full pay for lying in a company First Aid room or doing light work around the premises when they could be drawing compensation benefits at home? “I know you assured us Tommy, that the companies’ assessment rates didn’t rise following a compensible accident but I still find it difficult to believe that injured workers are afforded this treatment for purely humanitarian reasons. “P’m afraid that if I were to suggest to IWA members in Port Alberni, for in- stance, that MacMillan-Bloedel, who spent millions of dollars last year attempting to crush the rights of a few office girls, was concerned over the welfare of its injured employees, I would be laughed out of the union. “Ym not trying to be difficult Tommy, but as Safety Director of the- Regional Council it is my duty to probe for the answers to these questions. “My third questions is, if the companies are carrying out this policy of “walking wounded” solely in the interest of the injured worker, why is it they shrug off all responsibility when, if at a later date, the worker suffers a relapse and is denied . compensation for his injury by the Workmen’s Compensation Board? “My fourth question Tommy, is, doesn’t it seem logical that all compensible in- juries should be dealt with by the Workmen’s Compensation Board, the agency set up for that specific purpose? “After all it seems a pity for the companies not to utilize the Board’s services when it is they who keep the Board operating through their industry assessments. “T admit the Board has a very institutional manner and is likely to frown on the idea of allowing injured workmen to lie around their place of work to recuperate from their injuries. But still, Tommy, even if the Board is coldly institutional, the fact remains that injured workmen under its care retain their entitlement to compensation benefits. “And another good point to consider Tommy, is, that by letting the WCB deal with all the compensible injuries, the present light duty jobs.would be available to IWA members presently unemployed. “And finally Tommy, would you and like-minded company safety directors be pre- pared to furnish to your “walking wounded” employees written guarantees ensuring life-time medical care and pensions equivalent to those set by the WCB in the event the “light-duty” injuries later flare up and the poor guys are denied compensation? “Yours truly “ANDY SMITH.” ALE IWA REGIONAL COUNCIL SAFETY DELEGATES. They doubt the need for “walking wounded.” j | ¥ TOMMY NORTH | | : t iwa})