2nd Issue May, 1967 THE WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER FROM PAGE 4 Le “LOCAL 1-71" “Negotiations between FIR and the Coast Negotiating Committee have continued on a host of other subjects which are referred by our members. Progress is being made in the areas of improvements to Tradesmen’s apprenticeship training and rates of pay, job training programs and other matters. We are hopeful that the establishment of a Union- Industry Standing Committee as provided in Article XXI of the Master Agreement will result in solutions to prob- lems that are now outstand- crews at Sandspit and Kiti- mat forced the company to revert to status quo. In Ko- kish the company was ada- mantly determined to insti- tute this discriminatory prac- tice. When the matter could not be resolved, the members refused to work overtime and refused to moonlight by re- fusing to drive crummies out- side of their regular eight hours work daily. The La- bour Relations Board very freely gave the employer an Order which forces our mem- bers to be subjected to these GUEST SPEAKER Tom Barnett, NDP-MP for the riding of Comox-Alberni and member of Local 1-85 IWA Port Alberni, reported on some of the taxation benefits loggers would realize if the Carter Royal Commission Report on Taxation were to be implemented. Seated on the right are Bob Pickering and Walter Kozij. ing and which will continue to arise in our changing con- ditions. ; “A new seniority clarifica- tion has been agreed to with Twinriver Timber Ltd. and their operations in the north- ern part of our local. Prob- lems in this area were not un- common previously but, with the expansion of this com- pany’s operations to Prince Rupert and the Hazelton area, the matter became one gree of protection from an ve who has often cir- cumvented the Master Agree- ment.” service time to twenty min- utes in all its operations. It stated in part: practices. The Order was granted after the operation had been closed down for two weeks. The local union is very critical of legislation be- ing so readily available to the employer to break a dead- lock by tipping the scales in his favour. The issue was not lost completely in spite of all these manoeuvres. The ma- chine operators are now paid for all time they turn in,” The Report also criticized the Social Credit government for its refusal to force all em- ployers to be bonded. It went on to say: “In the latter part of 1966 Mahood Logging Ltd. went into bankruptcy with the re- sult that many of their em- ployees have not been paid wages owing to them. M.S.A. and Health and Welfare ac- counts are in arrears and Un- ion dues have not been re- ceived by the Local Union. The Local Union, through our Regional Council and the B.C. Federation of Labour had previously attempted to RON ROLEY . .» Warned that the International needed more money to effectively organize the unorganized wood- workers. bring in legislation which would force all employers to be bonded. Refusal by the So- cial Credit Government to bring in this needed reform is an excellent example of their callous disregard of the prob- lems of the people and bias which favours the employer.” Dealing with safety, the Report noted with deep con- cern that fatalities and seri- ous accidents were increasing in the Local Union even though the officers, represent- atives and safety committees were working continuously to further the safety program. Regional safety director Andy Smith was compliment- ed in the Report for his num- erous visists to operations in the Local Union and the help he has afforded the member- ship. The Report added: “There is no relief in sight from the pressing problems created by the companies in- stituting their policy on walk- ing wounded and light duty. The matter is further aggra- vated by medical practition- ers in remote areas who often advise our members to accept light duty. A bulletin has been sent out to all Sub- Locals, advising against the dangers of light duty and urg- ing our members to consult their own family doctor in any cases of doubt on such advice. “There is no decline in the number of members who seek the assistance of the Local Union in obtaining Work- men’s Compensation Board Benefits. The provincial legis- lature has indicated that a new Act will be introduced next year and we are hope- ful it will contain the needed changes.” The Report paid high trib- ute to the job performed by the members of the Ladies Auxiliary in Terrace. It stated: “The Officers are pleased to report that our Ladies’ Auxil- jiary in Terrace is doing an excellent job in furthering the aim of this organization. They are visiting all IWA members who are in the hos- pital and doing us a yeoman service in enhancing the image of organized labour in this community which is largely dominated by the em- ployer and populated by many workers who are fear- ful and anti-union. “We wish to express our appreciation to the Ladies’ Auxiliary for the work done ' eer eee i a eae JACK MOORE ... Region 1’s stand on delegated conferences has ben vindicated. in the past year and wish them every success in the future.” Nearly a full page of the six page Report was devoted to the subject of political ac- tion. The last two paragraphs quoted here clearly express the views of the Local Union and indicates the officers are prepared to go all out in sup- port of the NDP in the next election. “The Local Union’s Officers have attempted to further the aims of the New Democratic Party and will continue to do so. However, we require the all-out assistance and partici- pation of our members to meet with a greater degree of success. “We are pleased to report that an NDP Club has been organized at Englewood and is functioning excellently. The Englewood NDP Club is unique in that all its members are either members of this Local. Union or their wives. With this type of initiative and drive in other parts of the Local Union, we are cer- tain to rid ourselves of the Social Credit millstone | os bad . .. paid tribute to the solidarity and fighting spirit of the Local Union. around our neck after the next election.” The Report noted that the Local Union had won certifi- cation for ten new operations during the year and another certification was pending. The Report pointed out that or- ganizing in the Local was be- coming more difficult due to the large companies contract- ing portions of their work. It then concluded by stat- ing: “The northern part of the Local Union has a larger ratio of unorganized woodworkers than any other area. In addi- tion to the workers’ fear and reluctance to join the union, we have been hampered in our attempts by two em- ployer-dominated unions op- erating here. The Terrace & District Forestry Employees Union and The Christian La- bour Association of Canada have bargaining rights in two large mills in Terrace and to the present time we have been unable to dislodge them. The agreements held by these unions are far inferior to ours and real protection is virtual- ly non-existent.” te MN Me D i / “ff | / OS jf if Y ty, 7 AY f, , LAUGH IF YA WANNA . - . BUT WITH A GOOD HANDLER I COULD SELL A MINT OF THEM ON TH’ WEST COAST ALONE!