FROM PAGE ONE “TRIGGERS STRIKE" The Company took the posi- tion that regardless of what the Union said it had no in- tention of giving better vaca- tion provisions than those provided by the other South- ern Interior companies. When both parties appealed to the Board for a decision, the Company notified Deputy Labour Minister Sands that the agreement, signed and mailed to the Firm by the Union, was yet unsigned by the Company. The Board on learning this information and obviously anxious to avoid either party taking it to court over an ad- verse decision, took the easy way out by ruling that no col- lective agreement existed. The Board’s action, which had no precedent, stunned Lo- cal officials. After reviewing the situation they decided that because there was no agree- ment in force they had every legal right to take job action. After meeting with the crew they gave the Company sev- enty-two hours strike notice. The seventy-two hour notice while not necessary was done to avoid any complications. The officers also informed the Company that they were will- ing to meet at any time in an attempt to resolve the issue. The Company signified its willingness and on August 25 a meeting was held. At the start of the meeting Munro in- formed Company officials that if no agreement was forthcom- ing the Plant would likely be struck next morning. He also told them that in any event the afternoon crew would be pulled off the job to attend the Union meeting called for 4:45 p.m. that day. Up until 4:30, the Company officials fenced with the Union negotiators. At that time they walked out of the room and . returned with the contract signed. They stipulated, how- ever, that they would not go along with the vacation clause but would agree to have the dispute taken to arbitration or interpretation. The proposal was put to the crew at the afternoon meet- ing and finally approved after a lengthy discussion. Union officers were still un- certain whether a collective agreement existed or not. Some argued that after the Board made its ruling August 14, both parties would have to sign a new document. Others questioned what would have happened if the Local had pulled the crew the next morning, on what would have been a legal strike, and the Company had pulled out a signed contract afterwards. Because of these questions, the Board was contacted again and Sands ruled that once the Company signed the contract a valid agreement existed between the two par- ties. : ELECTION NOTICE INTERNATIONAL OFFICERS AND ONE TRUSTEE The. Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (Landrum-Griffin) was made a federal law in 1959, and among its many requirements includes notifying the membership of the election of Union Officers. Our Inter- national constitution requires a referendum ballot for an office that has two.nominees and any change in per capita tax. Therefore, notice is hereby given that ballots, which may be submitted for the election of an Interna- tional President, First Vice-President, Second Vice- President, Secretary-Treasurer and one Trustee, will be mailed to your Local Union by September 29, 1969. Your Local Union will elect a Balloting Committee and establish the time and place for voting. Please con- tact your Local Union Officers for the voting information. May I urge every member in good standing to exercise his constitutional right and vote for the candidate of his choice. WILLIAM BOTKIN International Secretary-Treasurer WORKERS TO RETIRE EARLIER A new labor study shows that the current generation of workers will retire earlier and have more years of leisure than previous generations. A report, prepared for the Dominion Bureau of Statistics by Frank T. Denton and Syl- via Ostry, based on 1961 and earlier census figures com- pared life expectancy and re- tirement prospects. While 40 years ago, a work- er could expect an average of only five to 5.4 years of re- tirement, a man now can look forward to 8.2 to 8.5 years, the researchers suggest. BREAN RED LR ete ee ee Because of the trend for young people to remain longer in school or university before joining the labor force the number of young people look- ing for work also has consid- erably decreased. In 1921, more than half of all 15-year-old boys were working for a living, the re- port states. In 1961 the figure had dropped to 18.4 per cent. While in 1921 some 53 per cent of all men of 71 were still working, less than 30 per cent of those aged 71 were working in 1961. THE WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER — ar ee COMPOSITE PICTURE SHOWS Local 1-417 and Regional officers meeting with the crew of the Federated Co-op in Salmon Arm, August 24, in an attempt to resolve problem caused when the Company refused to sign collective agreement over dispute on vacation clause. Officers from left: International Assistant Director of Organization, Bob Schlosser, Local 1-417 President Art Kelly, Regional 3rd Vice-President Jack Munro, Local 1-417 Financial Secretary Kevin Kelly. AT WELDWOOD, QUESNEL COAST WAGE PARITY — ENSURED FOR TWO MORE YEARS A new contract which guar- antees wage parity with the coast for the next two years has been approved by the ap- proximately 700 employees of Weldwood of Canada in Ques- nel. Terms of the agreement call for an immediate 18 cents an hour across the board increase plus all increases and improv- ed fringe benefits negotiated from June 15, 1970, to June 14, 1971, by coast members. Negotiating the contract for the Union were Regional President Jack Moore, the spokesman, Local 1-424 Presi- dent Bob Pitman and Local 1-424 Financial Secretary Toby Mogensen. A major breakthrough in the agreement was the num- ber of large hourly increases won for non-evaluated cate- gories. Out of fifty categories revised, over half of them re- ceived increases of 12 cents an hour and the top third ranged from 15 cents to 23 cents. The highest revision gained was for the sawyer REGIONAL CONVENTION OCT. 6-10 The 32nd Annual Conven- tion of Regional Council No. 1, will be held October 6-10, in the Hotel Georgia, Vancou- ver. Approximately 170 dele- gates will attend the week- long conference representing the 16 Local Unions with members in British Columbia, ‘Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Prior to the convention, the Region will hold its 20th An- jual Safety Conference, October 4, at Woodworkers’ House, Vancouver, The majority of the dele- gates attending this confer- ence will also be delegates to the Regional Convention. Ap- proximately 75 are expected at this meet to review the Union’s safety program. head on the automatic car- riage who jumped from $3.61 to $4.59, an increase of eighty cents an hour. Other highlights of the con- tract included: e Overtime rates for all Sunday work. e Coast Apprenticeship Programme including the 21- cent premium, e Improved vacation clause. e A Sawmill Evaluation Programme. e Group Life — $5,000; AD & D—$5,000; Weekly In- demnity $75.00 paid by joint contributions and Union members as Trustees. e Elimination of piece work. e Tradesmen rates to be written in. e Fire fighting agreement in line with coast agreement. SSeS SS] LIGHTER SIDE Widow: a gal who always knows where her husband is. * * * Kamloops Katie says that girdles don’t really help a woman’s weight — just shift it to.a more interesting loca- tion! your best chain value Proven in the world’s forests by thousands of satisfied users Made in Canada; used throughout the world. EXCLUSIVE B.C. DISTRIBUTORS DEALER ENQUIRIES INVITED BROUGHT TO YOU BY BOB, BILL & JOHN SELLS SELLS BROS. SALES LTD. NOW AT NEW AND BETTER PREMISES OPPOSITE Mc & Mc 52 EAST CORDOVA STREET VANCOUVER 3, B.c. 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