1st Issue Jan., 1966 IWA The following is the speech made-by Regional President Jack Moore as a member of a panel at the 23rd Annual Con- vention of the Truck Loggers’ Association, January 12, in Vancouver, The theme of the panel discussion was “The sta- tus of a logger” and the panel members were confined to this topic. By JACK MOORE Regional President We may agree, I hope, that the use of the word “status” in our panel discussion should not convey the impression that a logger is a “status seek- er” in the accepted meaning of that term. I know of no group that is less concerned about the status symbols priz- ed by city dwellers. I under- stand that we are viewing, as objectively as possible, ad- vances which have gained or might gain for the logger an improved recognition of his worth and easier access to the amenities of community liv- ing. SKILL Traditionally the logger has always been a man much prouder of his independence, skill and hardihood than of any social prestige. From the beginning, the logging in- dustry has attracted men with a sense of adventure and a taste for out-door living. Whether he worked for wages or profits the logger has been a rugged individualist, proud of the fact that he is at his best where weaklings “could not stand the gaff.” I suggest that no more pow- erful men were ever assembl- ed in a group than those who manned the early logging in- dustry. The rigours of life in the open developed a brawny, wiry type of fellow who boasted that he could “take it. LEGENDS The modern logger is fre- quently misunderstood be- cause of the legends out of the past. Once, it may have been true that their distinc- tive dress, language and man- nerisms set loggers apart as a separate breed. The hazard- THE WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER ous nature of their work and atrocious camp conditions which deprived them of nor- mal social outlets made their conduct appear boisterous when in town. At the begin- ning of the century a writer defended them as, “rude in manner and intemperate but highly intelligent with a pas- sion for their wild and toil- some life—brave, honest and industrious.” MIGRANT A migrant industry moving steadily into newly developed forest areas with a “cut-out and get-out” policy created a class of migratory or transient workers. Once there was some truth in the description ap- plied to them as “homeless, womanless and voteless.” They were given little oppor- tunity to strike their roots down into the community. Conditioning forces have radically changed the loggers’ way of life. As early as the late thirties the Journal of Forestry said, “The reckless men, the legendary lumber jacks, passionate, vigorous, impetuous dare devils who have given picturesque color to the old time lumber camps are now almost a vanished race. The steadiness of a sober and methodical machine age has settled down upon the logging and sawmill indus- tries as they seek to perpet- uate themselves in the West.” CHANGED What was true in the thir- ties is doubly true in the six- ties. The status of a logger is being further and more radic- ally changed by conditioning forces in the modern logging industry. Certainly the logger can no longer be described as “homeless, womanless and voteless.” The industry has expanded, it has changed, it has adapted itself to changing economic pressures. The present status of a logger is a measure of these changes. By the same token these changes create uncertainty about the future status of the logger. Any appraisal of the pres- ent status of a logger must take into account the condi- elas ‘FLY B.C. AIR LINES’ tioning forces which have al- tered and continue to alter his status. One such factor was the de- velopment of saner labour- management relations, in the last thirty years. At first, the strong individ- ualistic characteristic of both the employer and employee living and working under frontier conditions provoked turbulence in labour relations. The labour turnover in the woods was abnormally high as loggers restlessly moved from camp to camp in a dis- contented search for better wages standards. Intermittent employment due to seasonal conditions and market fluctu- ations aggravated this insta- bility of employment. Early. attempts to unionize the loggers had heavy sled- ding because of the widely scattered operations and de- termined opposition on the part of the employers. UNION By the time the IWA ap- peared on the scene in 1937 new ground rules had been established in labour rela- tions. The passage of the Wag- ner Act in the United States with its profound influence on Canadian legislation was the turning point. Collective bar- gaining was made national policy in both countries. Legal protection was given, the right to unionize and to bar- gain collectively. These procedures were more definitely codified dur- ing and after World War II, when Canadian provinces made bargaining and concilia- tion a compulsory prelude to legal strike action. Soon the almost constant guerilla war- fare in the logging industry made way for orderly col- lective bargaining and accep- tance of area agreements, be- tween IWA-unionized loggers and the employers’ central bargaining agencies. CLAIM We may properly claim that collective bargaining has built a better status for the logger. Wages and working condi- tions -have steadily improved with a degree of uniformity which has appreciably reduc- ed the labour turnover in the woods. Operators and loggers as well as the entire commun- ity have benefited. Not the least of these benefits has been the greater attention to acci- dent prevention which sub- stantially reduced a terrible casualty list. Experience has taught the value of collective bargaining as compared with the chaos of pre-war days. It is now our joint responsibility to make collective bargaining work in a manner that will protect the status of the logger as he faces necessary adjustment to tech- nological change in the log- ging industry. His new status demands new technical skills. INCOME It is not quite good enough merely to express gratification that a logger’s income is high- er and that his life can now be more closely related to family and community living. The status of a logger is un- dergoing change with immed- iate consequences which are disquieting. Our concern about the status of a logger should take these conse- quences into consideration. Out of old problems, new “THE STATUS OF A LOGGER” problems are emerging to place him at a turning point quite as critical as that which confronted him in the thirties. The structure of the indus- try is changing to provide greater centralization of con- trol. Structural unemploy- ment for the logger is added to the already existing sea- sonal under-employment. This has given rise to a demand for equitable and better utili- zation of forest products, that the disappearance of establish- ed smaller operations may not create ghost communities. In this connection, I trust, your organization will approve IWA representations on this score before the last session of the Legislature. Prompted by the loggers, the IWA asked for forest management and utilization policies that would help to maintain a high level of employment in the woods. PROGRESS As we are all well aware the last ten years have seen revolutionary changes in wood operations. None of us wish to stand in the way of progress but at the same time we must consider its effect on the status of a logger because of the more highly specialized skills required for efficient logging. The availability of skilled loggers is an impor- tant asset for the industry that should not be carelessly wasted. An experienced log- ger’s “know-how” is not gain- ed overnight. I submit that this aspect of of the logger’s status has re- ceived too little attention. Capital expansion with a shift of workers to new areas of development or other occupa- tions has obscured the facts. The Federal Department of See “LOGGER”—Page 8 Store your valuables in a... SAFETY DEPOSIT — BOX This way you know where your important papers are. Why not call in and arrange for one... CANADIAN af now! IMPERIAL BANK OF COMMERCE MORE THAN 1260 BRANCHES TO SERVE YOU