OCTOBER, 1973 THE WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER COMMITTEE TO STUDY TAX FORMULA HEADQUARTER MOVE Cooperation was the key word as the more than 400 dele- _ gates attending the IWA Inter- national Convention Sep- tember 24-28, in Vancouver, approved numerous resolu- tions designed to improve and strengthen the Union. The most controversial resolution was the one request- ing that the International Headquarters be moved from Portland, Oregon, to Van- couver. After wide debate, the delegates compromised and overwhelmingly endorsed a motion referring the matter back to a committee for study. This committee comprised of equal numbers of Canadian and American members and headed up by the International President, is to report back to the 1975 International conven- tion in Montreal. The Convention also appro- ved amendments to the Consti- tution which spell out the com- plete autonomy all sections of the Union have enjoyed for years. Purpose of this was to silence those critics who claim the Canadian members are dominated by the Americans. A number of resolutions pro- posed by Regional Council No. 1 and adopted, called for: «x The Regional Councils to collect the per capita tax from the Local Unions. _ : x The immediate restora- tion of all Union rights and privileges for those named in the errant members’ list. * An immediate embargo on shipment of logs from Canada and the U.S. and better forest management. The resolution, unanimously en- dorsed, pointed out that unres- tricted export of round logs and squares or cants was detri- mental to a stable forest indus- try, and was bound to create unemployment among IWA members. Speakers at the Convention included Regional President Jack Munro who made a bitter attack on the nationalist union movement in Canada. -He called the leaders “misfits, people who don’t have the guts to go to con- ventions and state their position.”’ He stated that they were more detrimental to organized labour than a lot of the reactionary employers. He concluded by saying that there should be one union in the forest products industry and “everybody working in this industry should be a member of the IWA.” APPROVED BY MEMBERS Unofficial reports indicate that the membership has approved by a wide margin, the new per capita tax formula proposed by the last Regional Convention to properly finance the Regional Council. The additional money pro- vided through the new formula will now allow the Regional Council to carry out projects designed to strengthen and expand the organization. DELEGATES TOSS OUT NAZI CLAUSE IWA International -Con- vention delegates voted to toss out a clause in the Union’s Constitution which prohibited Communists, Nazis, and Fas- cists from holding membership in the Union. The resolution had been endorsed by the Regional Convention August and sub- mitted to the International Convention for action. Backers of the move claimed the clause was offensive to democracy and discrimina- tory. ~ aa iL 1-184 NEGOTIATES ¥ TIMBER BOARD AGREEMENT Local 1-184 IWA, Saskatche- wan, has negotiated a new two- year agreement for the em- ployees of the Saskatchewan Forest Products Timber Board Division, which provides for an across-the-board wage in- crease of $1.08 an hour. The increase is to be paid in four stages as follows: Effective last September 1, 47 cents per hour; May 1, 1974, 18 cents per hour; September 1, 1974, 36 cents per hour; and March 1, 1975, 7 cents per hour. The Union’s Negotiatiating Committee headed by Regional 2nd Vice-President Stan Parker, Local President Neil Menard, Local Financial Secretary Ted Becker, and assisted by plant members Stan Bell, Bob Kennedy, Walter Servanderluk, Peter Ens and Howard Fraser, were also successful in winning a number of important fringe benefits. These include: @®: The Company paying 70 percent this year and 75 per- cent next year for the cost of a plan providing for — Group Life and A.D.D. at $10,000 for each married employee and $5,000 for single employees with no dependents. @ Weekly indemnity. @ Disability period com- mencing on the first day of a MEMBERS OF THE NEGOTIATING COMMITTEE of Local 1-184 IWA, Saskatchewan, who negotiated the new two-year agreement for the employees of the Saskatchewan Forest Products Timber Board Division. Group standing, left, Stan » Ted Becker, Bob Kennedy, Walter Servanderluk. ee left, Ens, Stan Parker, Neil Menard. non-compensable accident and on the fourth day of illness and lasting for up to 39 weeks (up to 52 weeks as of September 1, 1974). © Benefit level will be 66 2/3 percent of normal weekly earnings. © The contract also provides coverage for semi-private hospital accommodation, nursing homes and hospitaliza- tion outside Canada. The Company has agreed to pay 90 percent of the cost of prescription drugs, ambulance service, artificial limbs, wheelchairs, and 80 percent of the cost for services of a registered nurse, hearing aids and private hospital rooms up to a $10.00 per day additional. Other improvements in- -clude: @ Agreement by the Com- pany that it will study the Union’s proposal that contrac- tors and sub-contractors supplying the mills be signa- _ tories to the agreement. @ Compensating employees who miss civic holidays en- joyed by other Company employees, by giving them a holiday in December. | $39,000 per year. ose | ' BLANCHARD APPOINTED | NEW 3RD VICE-PRESIDENT Robert (Bob) Blanchard, Recording Secretary and full- time staff member of Local 1- 217 IWA Vancouver, has been appointed the new 3rd Vice- President of Regional Council No. 1. ; Regional President Jack Munro in announcing the appointment stated that Blan- chard was an ideal choice for sy FROM PAGE ONE the position because of his union knowledge and years of - experience in handling the membership problems. Blanchard, who was _ also editor of Local 1-217’s publica- tion ‘‘The Barker’’, has worked in the forest industry 26 years. He is married with four children and resides in Coquitlam. Se “LABOUR BILL” arbitrations. His salary will be Administrative vice-chair- man Ed Peck, 49, a member of the co-ordinating committee of the Employers’ Council of B.C. and president of Towboat Industrial Relations Associa- tion. His salary will be $38,000. Vice-chairman Jack Moore, 49, former regional president of the IWA and 1st vice-presi- dent of the B.C. Federation of Labour. Vice-chairman Nancy Morrison, 36, a provincial court judge. Moore’s and Morrison’s salaries will be $33,000. Major trade unions, labour organizations and employers associations are being asked by King to submit nominees for the remaining six board posi- tions. @ Highlights of the 153- section will include: burden of. proof for unfair dismissals shifted to the employer; @ The Board may certify several employers as one unit if the majority agree, and may form a council of trade unions where fragmented bargaining units exist; @ A union may apply for a new certification with only 35 percent membership, but a representative vote must show that 50 per cent plus one desire union; ®@ A labour Ombudsman will be appointed to hear grievances against the depart- ent, unions or employers; ® Workers in essential ser- vices must begin bargaining in good faith sixty days prior to the expiry of a collective agreement, and can choose unilateral binding arbitration as an alternative to a strike. @ Employers will be forbid- den to use, to authorize or per- mit the use of professional strikebreakers; ® Previous legislation which made it illegal for unions to contribute to political parties or candidates in elections is to be repealed; . @ Any contract which discriminates against any per- son contrary to the Human Rights Act will be null and void. This will wipe out any section or a contract with discriminatory pay rates as between men and women. King said the new board will operate as an administrative tribunal and not be a court because “‘even a cease and desist order issued by the board is not self-enforcing.”’ LAND SPECULATORS WARNED B.C. Agriculture Minister Dave Stupich has warned land speculators that the govern- ment is ready to crack down on them in the near future. He aimed his warning at those he - called the “rich individuals” who are currently buying up undeveloped land and holding it, in hope of making substantial profits from its eventual sale for use as residential property. Action taken could include heavy taxes placed on land being held by speculators, thus forcing release of the land for public use.