12 THE WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER FROM PAGE TEN “OFFICERS’ REPORT” the bas rate of $2.94 —a total discrepancy of 19 cents per hour. This example of discrepancy in cate- gories can be repeated many times. It is incredible that two workers in the same country, facing the same living costs, doing the same job, producing the same commodity from the same raw material that is sold in the same market for exactly the same price, should not be paid the same wage. LOCAL 1-207: The same difficulties are being faced by our mem- bership in Local 1-207 in northern Alberta where, because of tremendous distances and stiff employer resistance to better wages and working conditions the Local Union consist: ntty finds its2if involved with the courts at considerable cost in its efforts to gain simple justice for the workers in that area. Huge corporations, such as the North Western Pulp and Power Company at Hinton, stubbornly refuse to give proper consideration to the legitimate demands of their? employees, and as a result our members must be prepared to take strike action or bend to the employer’s will. At the time of the writing of this report, our mem- bership employed by North Western Pulp and Power Company Limited have been on strike for ten weeks. They deserve our highest commendation and support for their militant stand against this particularly arro- gant employer. oo It is unfortunate that employers in Alberta, be- cause of the very low wages paid by most companies in that area, are able to impress upon Conciliation Officers, Conciliation Boards, etc., that the wages they pay their employees should be kept at approxi-- mately the same low level. This situation can only be corrected through a strong organizational drive that this Regional Council will recognize as being neces- sary, even if it is very costly. However, in spite of the cost, the job must be done, if only in our own selfish interests, to ensure that poor conditions be eliminated, thereby creating greater possibilities for better wages and working conditions throughout the remainder of our Regional Council. There has been considerable expansion in the ’ woodworking industry in the province of Saskatche- wan in the past f2w years. Outside interests, such as Simpson Timber Company Limited (a wholly-owned American company), Dominion Tar and Chemical (a major subsidiary of the huge Argus Corporation), MacMillan Bloedel, Limited, and a new modern pulp mill 70 percent owned by Parsons of New York and 30 per cent by the Saskatchewan government, is located at Prince Albert, and now in full production. The Saskatchewan Timber Board also operates a number of manufacturing plants employing in excess of 300 workers. At the time of this writing the International Pulp & Sulphite Union has established at the Prince Albert Pulp Mill a base rate of $2.81, effective August 1, 1968, with an increase to $2.88 February 1, 1969, and a further increase to $2.98 on August 1, 1969. Termi- nation date of contract is July 1, 1970. The IWA base rate at Simpson’s Domtar, Mac- Millan Bloedel, Saskatchewan Timber Board, plus a number of logging contractors, is $2.09 per hour. The crews are demanding $1 per hour increase across the board plus additional demands. When one considers that the product is sold in the same market for the same price as the Interior spruce, their de- mands are completely justified. We wish to advise this convention that a long, pitter and costly struggle may well ensue in the prai- rie area over the next few years. We ask that this convention pledge full support to those sisters and brothers who deserve something far better than a meagre existence. POLITICAL EDUCATION: Enactment of the Mediation Commission Act (Bill 33) by a Social Credit majority during the last ses- ‘sion of the B.C. legislature provided one more con- vincing reason for trade union political action. All IWA Local Unions and the Regional Council joined in the emphatic protest made by the B.C. trade union movement against the compulsory features of the Act which enable dangerous restrictions on free collective bargaining. This protest was more effectively expressed when many !WA members. actively participated in the NDP campaign which captured the Social Credit riding of Vancouver South. As Bill 33 was made an issue, this by-election refuted the Social Credit claim that Bill ALL B.C. IWA LOCAL UNIONS were represented at the meeting called by the B.C. Federation of Labour to devise ways and means to defeat the Social Credit government’s anti-labour Bill 33. 33 has the full support of the electorate. This by- election also proved that trade union political action can be made effective through the NDP. IWA participation in a program of political edu- cation paved the way for a significant role in the NDP federal election campaign last June. Through voluntary assistance with funds, material and per- sonnel, the IWA gave substantial support to the NDP campaign. It was demonstrated that within the IWA ranks an increasing number are skilled in modern election campaign techniques. The past year’s experience clearly indicates the need for continuing political education to inform all IWA members at the job level on political develop- ments which directly affect their welfare and require trade union action. LADIES AUXILIARY: The Regional Officers again wish to record ap- preciation for the services rendered by the members of the Ladies Auxiliaries. We have noted with satis- faction their continued efforts to play their important part in our organization. Our organization. will never be completely suc- cessful until there is an extension of the functions of the Ladies Auxiliary to a point where there is a MEMBERS of the IWA Ladies’ Auxiliaries during the 1966 Regional Convention in the Georgia Hotel, Vancouver. better understanding and co-ordination between the membership working in the industry and their wives, especially since the advent of political action has become an important factor in our affairs. We hope that in the future the annual meeting of the Ladies Auxiliary will expand its functions to pro- mote to an even greater extent the establishing of auxiliaries, and further than that, that an effort be made to make the trip to the Annual Regional Con- vention a more enjoyable one. CONCLUSION: We urge the delegates to this convention to de- vote their efforts in this convention to full considera- tion of the membership’s problems. We hope the deliberations will bring about an even more effective organization to co-ordinate the efforts of all Local Unions in the Regional Council. Respectfully submitted by the Regional Officers J. A. Moore, President J. MacKenzie, 1st Vice-President D. E. Pratt, 2nd Vice-President M. J. Corbeil, 3rd Vice-President Fred Fieber, Secretary-Treasurer