Fought For 7O Days

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 15

The entire Union rallied to
the support of the Interior
strikers who in the mainten-
ance of their picket lines en-
dured severe weather condi-
tions. The Interior Locals
were compelled to organize a
“scab - herding” blockade
against the employers’ at-
tempts to import strikebreak-
ers from Alberta,

A judicial probe was con-
ducted by County Court
Judge A. E. Lord, but his re-
port was rejected by the IWA.
The strike continued through
the Christmas season until
January 6, when the Northern
Interior won a base rate of
$1.354% an hour. Union se-
curity was gained, as well as
vacations with pay, seniority
provisions and three additi-
onal paid statutory holidays.
A little later the Southern In-
terior strike ended with a
settlement comparable with
that won in the Northern In-
terior. The contracts were
signed for a three-year period.
1955 The year 1955 saw

the first two-year

contract for the Coast indus-
try. The base rate was in-
creased by 10 cents in the
period to $1.59. Two additi-
onal paid statutory holidays
were written into the agrée-
ment. Provision was made
for travel time and fare al-
lowance for loggers. A job
evaluation program was insti-
tuted for the plywood section.
Shingle mill workers won an
additional 5 cents with pay-
ment for stand-by time. The
Union security clause was
strengthened and office em.
ployees were excluded from
the agreement.

1957

The night of July 4,
1957, was a memor-

able one in the history of the ©

IWA. A strike deadline had
been set for 10 a.m, the fol-
lowing morning. Premier
Bennett intervened and called
Major General Hoftmeister, of
MacMillan and Bloedel into
conference with the Negotiat-
ing Committee. The confer-
ence lasted all night with
rapid-fire exchanges between
the Union and the employers’
representatives. A weary Ne-
gotiating 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. Six-
teen 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 allow-

ance, and other benefits.
1959 This historical ac-
count of the Union’s

rogress must close with ref-
eS to the strike of 1959.
This strike was the longest
industry - wide strike on

record.

The situation had been ag-
gravated by the  double-
crossing tactics of the Min-

ister of Labour, Lyle Wicks.
Last-ditch efforts to 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% for strike.

There ensued 70 days of de-
termined and united battle for
the Union’s demands, which
was carried gallantly by
workers in all sections of the
industry,

Dr. John Deutsch was
called in to mediate by the
Provincial government.

Finally the settlement terms
agreed to by the Union’s mem-
bership included: a two-year
contract, with a wage increase
of 20 cents an hour over the
period, retroactive to June 15
with an additional 10 cents

for journeymen tradesmen.
The strike won an additional
10 cents an hour above the
recommendation of the Con-
ciliation Board.

A formula was agreed upon
to straighten out difficulties
in the plywood section of the
industry. The basis was laid
for improved travel time,
blanket certifications, and
improved seniority. Arbitra-
tion procedures were clari-

fied.

The history of the Union
from 1959 onward is well

known to all present members
of the IWA.

Agreements negotiated
since 1959 led to the estab-
lishment of a Health and Wel-
fare Plan for the B.C. lumber
industry, with a base rate of
$2.08 in the Coast industry
and $1.89 in the Northern and
Southern Interior.

WATSON'S GLOVES
Congratulates the I.W.A.
On Its Silver Anniversary

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