- WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER

4 REGIONAL 1st VICE-PRESIDENT BOB ROSS
- - - PLANS REMEDIAL CAMPAIGN

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A loaded gun points at our members throughout British Columbia. The gun is increased productivity. The
price is accidental death now -- or breakdown and slower death later.

Sensationalism? No! The proof is everywhere -- in the woods, the sawmills, the plywood plants, and the
_ shingle mills. Let us examine the weapon first. |

Productivity is the measure by which we determine the amount produced by the worker in a given period.
In the past fifteen years automation and technological change have increased this manyfold. This increase in itself
is not a bad thing. We do not propose to explore here the social and economic consequences of the machine
replacing man on the job. It is evident, however, that there is a senseless preoccupation with increased man-hour
production as a goal in itself -- that it is not enough for management that fewer workers with better machines and

techniques produce more.
: Our men and women are forced to work faster -- one man must do two or three men’s work.

In the mills the work load is increased as new machines and methods are introduced. The machines move
faster; the chains move faster; our people must move faster. In the woods the fallers work alone and on piece
work, Production is higher that way. The yarding crews work short handed. Production is higher that way.

Management asks government to permit more overtime. Eight hours per day ai this pace is not enough. Where

they cannot lure with money, they seek compulsion.

THIS IS SPEED-UP. The price? -- look in the black bordered box.

There is a strange contradiction here. In management there are sincere and dedicated men in safety
| departments, working tirelessly in an effort to reduce accidents.

| WE SUGGEST THAT THE PRODUCTION AND SAFETY PEOPLE PAUSE FOR A MOMENT TO SEE WHERE THEY
ARE HEADED. :

v In the Union our Local Officers and committee men on the job never stop trying to reduce the human waste
in this rat race. Unfortunately, some of our people are willing victims in this holdup. We ask them to pause
and look at the price they pay for working alone, for that extra time and one-half, for that piece work contract.

YOUR REGIONAL OFFICERS ANNOUNCE, NOW, A CAMPAIGN TO COMBAT THIS INSANE SPEED-UP.
THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE IN THE GROWING POOL OF UNEMPLOYED TO REPLACE THE HUMAN

~. WRECKAGE.

R. C. ROSS, 1st Vice-President, Regional Council.

Two months ago a plywood worker in the Interior, reporting as a commit-
tee woman on a speed-up in her section stated:

“They have pushed it up another notch. Most of us have worked here for
years and we're good, but we can’t keep up. We are always hurting our-
selves. Our arms are all bloody at the end of a shift. But the worst thing
is that we feel so ashamed when we can't keep up.”

On June 29th this year Anton Sovdat, a faller, was killed in MacMillan,
Bloedel and Powell River's logging operation at Franklin River. He was work-
_ | ing alone. There was no partner to keep an eye out for the huge slab that
= f him.

“- Po acwatly. in the same company’s camp in MacKenzie Sound, Gordon Johnson
moving a donkey through the woods. There was a short crew. Gordon
i the machine as well as hook-tender. The machine ra