Local 1-417 IWA sponsored a “public” meeting on February 12, 450 persons were in attendance and listened attentivel “question and answer” period. followed the speakers. LABOUR SUPPORT GROWS FOR INTERIOR STRIKE IWA Regional President Jack Moore stated at a public meeting held on February 12 = in the Kamloops Secondary School auditorium that all avenues to settle the current Southern Interior lumber dis- REGIONAL PRESIDENT JACK MOORE PREDICTS A “CRACK” IN THE PRES- ENT SOUTHERN INTERIOR STRIKE. pute are being explored. Moore further stated that cer- tain companies have now in- dicated that they wish to get . down to serious negotiations with the Union and he pre- dicted that there would be a crack in the present deadlock within the next ten days. Moore accused certain mem- ber companies of the Interior Forest Labour Relations Asso- ciation of stooping to unethi- cal practices such as interfer- ing with their employees’ medical and welfare coverage, and scabbing operations with supervisory personnel in an attempt to force a settlement | on terms less than the recent- ly negotiated parity settle- ments with Celgar Ltd. and Welwood of Canada (Ques- SECRETARY OF THE B.C. FEDERATION OF LABOUR SCORNS GOVERNMENT AND ANNOUNCES $10,000 DONATION .TO THE THREE STRIKING LOCAL UNIONS. , Ray Haynes, Secretary of the B.C. Federation of La- bour, in his address to the meeting compared the Inter- ior Woodworkers’ strike-for- parity with the former fight of labour for the 40-hour work week and the 8-hour work day. Haynes stated that the Federation is in com- plete support of the IWA, and is now circulating all unions in the province for financial assistance to the Interior IWA strikers. He presented Local Union President Bob Schlos- ser with cheques for a total of $10,000 to be divided by the three striking IWA Locals. Haynes accused Premier Bennett and certain Ministers of the Crown of interference at the start of the Interior strike and he felt that this interference has _ prolonged the present stalemate. An economic and statistical report by IWA Regional Staff representative Tony Vander- heide revealed that the mar- ket outlook for Southern In- terior forest products is ex- cellent and that lumber prices are presently skyrocketing. Increased demands by Amer- ican buyers for British Col- umbia softwood products will have to be met mainly by In- terior mills since the Coast is now operating at its probable maximum level. Vander- heide’s report also revealed that over the period from 1m CHAIRED MEETING. 1960-1965 hourly wages rose by 16.7%, while Executive salaries, Management bonuses and Corporation profits rose by 27%, 26% and 67% respec- tively, thus indicating that wage raises are NOT respon- sible for the present inflation- ary trends in the Canadian economy. Striking members of the IWA from the Avola, Vaven- by, Clearwater, Savona, Mer- ritt, Salmon Arm, Monte Lake and Kamloops areas who at- tended the public meeting re- LOCAL UNION PRESI- DENT BOB SCHLOSSER — tm a Se 1968, in the Kamloops Secondary School Auditorium. Close to QUESTIONS FROM I.W.A. MEMBERSHIP AND GENERAL PUBLIC WERE ANSWERED BY THE REGIONAL PRESIDENT OF THE I.W.A. iterated their determination not to return to work until such time as their employers offer a contract which pro- vides for “equal pay for equal work” in comparison with coastal woodworkers during the term of their next con- tract. The arrival of Moore and Haynes was delayed because . of airplane trouble and in order to reach Kamloops they had to charter a private plane. BILL SCHUMAKER AND RAY HAYNES JOIN PICKETERS AT L FOLLOWING LUMBY STRIKE MEETING. UMBY TIMBER COMPANY LTp.