14/The Western

Canadian Lumber Worker — Special Edition

istrict

from page 13

All production was brought to a standstill in the Northern
Interior on September 28 by an IWA strike which involved 4,000
lumberworkers. It was a hard-fought battle, in which Fred Fieber
played a notable part. The Southern Interior Locals entered the
fight on October 23. :

The entire Union rallied to the support of the Interior
strikers who in the maintenance of their picket lines endured
severe weather conditions. The Interior Locals were compelled to
organize a ‘‘scab-herding” blockade against the employers’
attempts to import strikebreakers from Alberta.

A judicial probe was conducted by County Court Judge A. E.
Lord, but his report was rejected by the IWA. The strike con-
tinued through the Christmas season until January 6, when the
Northern Interior won a base rate of $1.35% an hour. Union
security was gained, as well as vacations with pay, seniority
provisions and three additional paid statutory holidays. A little
later the Southern Interior strike ended with a settlement
comparable with that won in the Northern Interior. The contracts
were signed for a three-year period.

1935

The year 1955 saw the first two-year contract for the Coast
industry. The base rate was increased by 10 cents in the period
to $1.59. Two additional paid statutory holidays were written into
the agreement. Provision was made for travel time and fare
allowance for loggers. A job evaluation program was instituted
for the plywood section. Shingle mill workers won an additional 5
cents with payment for stand-by time. The Union security clause
was strengthened and office employees were excluded from the
agreement.

1987

The night of July 4, 1957, was a memorable one in the history
of the IWA. A strike deadline had been set for 10 a.m. the
following morning. Premier Bennett intervened and called Major
General Hoffmeister, of MacMillan and Bloedel into conference
with the Negotiating Committee. The conference lasted all night
with rapid-fire exchanges between the Union and the employers’
representatives. A weary Negotiating Committee emerged from
the conference at 6 a.m. July 5, with a settlement which they
were prepared to recommend to the Union’s members. In the
next few hectic hours messages were flashed to all points, calling
off the pickets, many of whom were already at their stations.

On this occasion the Union won the Union Shop as well as a
wage increase of 13 cents an hour or 7’ per cent. Sixteen other
contract benefits were established, including better seniority,
sick leave, rest periods, an additional week's vacation with pay
for five years’ service, a holiday rate for piece workers, call time,
improved fare allowance, and other benefits.

19589

.. This historical account of the Union's Progress must
make reference to the strike of 1959. This strike was the longest
incustiywids Coast strike on record.

e situation had been aggravated by th - i
tactics of the Minister of Labour Lyle Wicks. Laces eee
avert a strike by the Union were wrecked by the employers

With an impressive display of Solidarity, 27,000 “‘wood-
workers walked off the job promptly at 11 am July 6. The
membership vote was 90.7 percent for strike. :

There ensued 70 days of determined and united battle for

the Union’s demands, which was carri :
all sections of the industry. rried gallantly by workers in

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