A protest made by the Loggers’ Local to the Provincial Government and members of the Legislature has turned the spotlight on the conditions imposed by large logging firms in the public use of access roads through extensive tree farm licence areas. Communi- ties formed mainly of loggers and their fam- ilies bitterly complain that they are taxed and inconvenienced in ways that are unnec- essary and expensive. Most seriously affected is the Northern part of Vancouver Island. Canadian Forest Products Ltd., Crown Zellerbach Canada Ltd., Elk River Timber Co. Ltd., Tahsis Company Ltd. and subsidiaries have com- bined to impose a permit system which is found to be unduly restrictive. BITTER COMPLAINTS The access roads are restricted to the op- eration of logging trucks and company veh- icles during the hours from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. On this point, there is no complaint. The complaints arise on the following points: The type of permit used voids auto in- surance on private cars used by loggers to travel to and from their homes within the area. The fees charged for commercial vehicles which are required to service small com- munities dependent on the access roads are such as to limit the service and add to living expenses. The operation of buses required for the transportation of loggers and their families living within the area is hampered by the excessive fees charged. In some instances, bus services have been discontinued on ac- count of the tolls demanded. FROM PAGE 1 “Dispute was issued for management to cease and desist intimidation of the employees. During the course of negotiations before a Conciliation THE WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER LOGGERS’ LOCAL PROTESTS TRAVEL CURBS ON FOREST ACCESS ROADS The manner in which the restrictions are imposed go far beyond fire safety require- ments and tend to bar entrance by sportsmen and tourists into one of the province’s best fish and game areas. JOHN SQUIRE AGREES John Squire, MLA (NDP-Alberni) Local 1-85 IWA, who has been indefatigable in pressing for amended legislation during suc- ceeding sessions of the Legislature stated in an interview that the complaints were well justified. He announced his intention to re- introduce the matter in the Forestry Com- mittee of the Legislature of which he is a member. In his comment on the situation, Squire pointed out that the companies involved have been granted concessions by the Legislature, which were intended to assist rather than hinder necessary public access to areas under timber tree farm licences. One such concession was that they would be reimbursed for fighting fires attributed to members of the general public. He also stated that departmental counsel had drafted a new statute, designed to es- tablish conditions of access that would be fair to both the companies and the public. The introduction of the proposed Bill was referred to a special inter-departmental com- mittee on the assurance from the companies that plans to cooperate with the public would be developed. In Squire’s opinion, the imposition of tolls on commercial vehicles was not contemplated by the Committee of the Legislature and was quite contrary to the gentleman’s agreement reached during sessions of the Committee. Garage men aided Action by the officers of Officer the proposal was made to form an East Indian Depart- ment on the green chain. This was vigorously protested, as a form of racial discrimination. Because of the large number of East Indians in the unit, the assistance of Bro. Tara Singh, Local 1-85, was secured. The Local Union Officers give high praise to the results of his presentation of the issues in the language most readily understood by members of East Indian origin. A government-supervised strike vote, August 3, gave a decisive majority in favor of strike action. When negotiations broke down the required forty-eight hour strike notice was given recently. When this notice expired, the employees walked off the job. Within half a day they were back at work with the settlement recommended by the Conciliation Officer and accepted earlier by them. Cliff Scotton awarded post gress, has announced that Clifford A. Seotton, editor of the organization’s magazine “Canadian Labour” will as- sume most of the responsibil- ities formerly held by Thomas B. Ward. Mr. Ward was re- cently appointed a member of the Unemployment Insurance Commission. Claude Jodoin, president of the Canadian Labour Con- Scotton’s new duties will include liaison between the CLC and its chartered pro- vincial federations and local labour councils. He will also become the secretary-treas- urer of the union label de- partment. He joined the Canadian La- bour Congress in 1959 as as- sistant director of public re- lations. He was appointed editor of “Canadian Labour” in 1961. “BUT 1AM LOYAL,J.R...MY Doctor ORDERED ME To QUIT SMOKING” Rare cen Local 1-424 IWA has secured an agreement for the employ- ees in four Prince George garages which will yield a wage increase of 37 cents an hour over three years. More than 50 employees are affect- ed in the four certifications involved. The auto mechanics now have a union shop clause in their contract, an additional paid statutory holiday and a work schedule which will es- tablish the 40-hour week dur- ing the life of the contract. The second shifts will get eight hours’ pay for seven hours worked. Independents Negotiating The Local Union has open- ed negotiations with five in- dependents in the Williams Lake area. The demands pre- sented are those which formed the basis of the settlement for the Northern Interior. Elgar Spruce Trouble Local 1-424 has found it necessary to apply for an in- junction to restrain manage- ment at Elgar Spruce Ltd., to prevent dismissals of employ- ees for union activity. With the majority of the employees signed up with the IWA, ap- plication was made for certi- fication. Seven employees were dismissed, although un- der pressure, three were re- hired. Four remained jobless as a result of the anti-union campaign. On two occasions the man- agement, confronted with the evidence in court, gave an undertaking to cease and de- a eh ee ee ee ae Te ees et, BP ee tea cae THE PROTEST The Honourable Dan Campbell, Province of British Columbia, Parliament Buildings, VICTORIA, B.C. Dear Sir: This letter is to bring to your attention the intense feelings of the membership on the northern end of Vancouver Island concerning the provoking limitations being forced upon them while travelling on Tree Farm License Access Roads. Much publicity has been bestowed upon the opening of this road complex, including its section of government road and the Nimpkish bridge. Publicity suggests that this road system now opens up the Northern Vancouver Island to tour- ism and its development potential. This publicity is becoming a mockery. The road itself is a far ery from finding itself classified as a highway, witnessed by a parade of cracked oil and hydraulic pans or torn fenders. While even this provoca- tion the membership can tolerate, what is intolerable is the attitude of the holders of Tree Farm Licenses. These four companies, Elk River Timber Company, Tahsis Company, Canadian Forest Products and Crown Zellerbach, have banded together to draw up their own rules and regula- tions regarding the use of this access road. Enclosed is a sample “Access Permit” which you will note completely voids a man’s own insurance policy as against any logging company responsibility. The hours that the road is to be opened is understandable and appreciated by people who earn their living in the woods. What is not understood nor appreciated is the manner in which these companies amend these hours at whim. Canadian Forest Products have added an additional restriction by clos- ing their gate at 12 midnight Sunday. Weekend closures are forcing the travelling public to use a slow and expensive ferry, the only alternative route. Elk River Timber closed their portion of the road Satur- day, July 25th, and Sunday, July 26th. Canadian Forest Pro- ducts announced at the beginning of July that they would be shutting down July 24th and made arrangements to find out how many would like to travel by bus. The action by Elk River Timber four days before this shutdown cancelled the bus arrangements, forced private car owners to travel only at night and caused an almost impossible situation of securing last-minute airline transportation for others. Crown Zellerbach chose Saturday, July 31st, and Sunday, August 1st, to close their portion of the road for bridge work, Their own people and those of Rayonier, Port McNeill, both ~ operations who were shutting down at this time, were denied the use of a road when it was most desired. Crown Zellerbach was to be closed for a three-week period. This bridge work could have been started on Monday instead of creating an unnecessary roadblock on a weekend. While these companies say that the roads are available at night, many people, especially for the first few trips, desire to travel in the daylight hours. The main road is still not too well marked; often a side road not indicated as such looks better than the main road and becoming “lost” is.a frequent occurrence. > The final complaint is one of arbitrarily imposed fees. The four companies that drew up the Road Access Permit have imposed a Fifty Dollar ($50.00) fee for commercial vehicles. Plans of a like Five Dollar ($5.00) fee for private cars was apparently dropped. These people buy the necessary B.C. license plates. Gas bought from those companies is not pur- chased at a reduced price, therefore, road taxes or its equival- ent is being paid to these companies. Because of your interest in the development of Vancouver Island and the fact that Tree Farm Licenses are supposed to be under some form of government control, we wish to bring this unsatisfactory road situation to your attention for what- ever action you feel would provide a better road access to residents of Northern Vancouver Island and the travelling public. LOCAL 1-71, IWA, BEN THOMPSON, | SECRETARY-TREASURER, SEE ee eee ment with retroactive pay as sist. An inspector for the La- bour Relations Board is in- vestigating the situation. The Local Union holds a certifica- tion in the company’s planing mill where excellent relations have prevailed. Arbitration Won John Sawatski, fireman at Eagle Lake Sawmills, has been reinstated in his employ- a result of successful arbitra- tion proceedings launched by the Local Union. Dan Rad- ford of the Canadian Labour Congress served on the Board as the Union’s nominee and won a majority judgment. Al- though Sawatski held twenty- two years’ seniority he had been dismi for incompe- tence.