6 THE WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER Southern Alberta IWA Members Strike Blairmore Sawmill The IWA attack on low-wage areas in the Alberta lumber industry has precipitated a strike in the Southern part of the province. Fifty IWA members, employees of Blairmore Saw- mills Ltd., took strike action Monday, March 9. The strike has closed down the company’s logging operations, woods mill operation and the planing and gang saw mill in Blairmore. Regional Ist Vice-President, Jack MacKenzie, reports that the members of Local 1-206, IWA involved have challenged the employer with determination to secure a decent contract. The demands made by the Local Union included a wage increase of twenty-five cents an hour across the board, and adjustment of rates for fallers and ‘buckers, as well as a number of fringe benefits. The base rate on entering negotiations was $1.32% an hour. The average wage in the mill was $1.50 an hour, fifty cents less than the aver- age Alberta manufacturing wage. No wage increase had been granted since Septem- ber 1960. The company has required that fallers and buckers own their own power saws, for which a rental allowance of 30 cents an hour is paid, in addition to an hourly wage rate of $1.70 an hour. The fallers and buckers have de- manded that this allowance be increased by 20 cents an hour. The company has attempt- ed to divert a portion of its production to the North Fork Sawmill Ltd., a subsidiary of Blairmore Sawmills Ltd., also located in the town of Blair- more. The Local Union im- mediately established an in- formation picket line at the subsidiary operation. The Al- berta Deputy Minister of La- bour has now advised the Local Union that such action during their lunch hour. * - COMOX LOGGING & RAILWAY BOOM CR EW attending Union Meeting of Local 1-80 if constitutes a secondary boy- cott, forbidden under the Al- berta Labour Act. This ruling is protested by the Local Union, with the likelihood that the matter will be settled in the courts. Robert Schlosser, Financial Secretary, Local 1-206, IWA OF BRIGHT IDEAS . IT WORKS | EVERY TIME! WE WISH WE’D BEEN BRIGHT ENOUGH TO HAVE HAD MORE THAN ONE. TO MAKE THE BEST BOOTS IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD (AND STARTING RIGHT IN B.C.). BUT THEN, WE'VE MANAGED TO DO ALL RIGHT WITH OURS. is actively assisting the strik- ers and has established his temporary headquarters in Blairmore. Strike action followed the decision reached by the em- ployees in a _ government- supervised strike vote which favored strike action by a vote of 46-6. The employees had previously rejecteda Conciliation Board award of seven cents spread over two years. The minority report of “Bud” Hodgson, Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union, the employees’ nominee on the Board, point- ed out that more than half of the employees work for less than the average wage of $1:50 an hour, for only ten months in the year. He up- held the Union’s demand for twenty-five cents an hour wage increase. He said, “I am of the opin- ion that any employer who profits from the use of our natural resources should be among the first to accept so- cial responsibility. Many em- ‘ployers do so by providing their employees and families with a reasonable amount of security in the form of paid sick leave, medical and sur- gical care, life insurance and pension plans. In the com- plete absence of any similar employer welfare coverage here, I feel I am bound to at least try and provide the em- ployees with a reasonable ‘wage, annual vacation with pay and the usual paid statu- tory holidays.” He also urged acceptance of the forty-hour week. Negotiations Underway At Dom. Tar Local 1-184, IWA has open- ed negotiations with in- ion Tar and Chemical Co. Ltd., Saskatoon, for a revised contract. The wage demand is for an increase of 25 cents an hour across the board for seventy - five employees, to boost the present base rate of $1.65. These negotiations have special significance, stated Re- gional ist Vice-President, Jack MacKenzie, becausé the Local Union has already suc- ceeded in negotiating the highest base rate paid in the province to lumber workers. Depressed wages in the prairie provinces has present- ed the IWA with a major problem. The increased pro- duction in these provinces now presents unfair competi- tion to the B.C. industry, and under-cuts wage standards negotiated for the Pacific Coast province. NEW CHEF PIERRE PARIS & SONS 51 West Hastings Street Vancouver 3, B.C. Family Teamwork in Craftsmanship since 1907 NEW DEAL... t Ol id Vancouver's Finest Italian Restaurant 138 EAST HASTINGS ST. Telephone 684-5631 VANCOUVER 4 SPECIAL OFFER! This Coupon entitles bearer to have 2 Deluxe Italian Dinners 1 for the price of when accompanied by wife or girl friend. VALID DURING MARCH ‘64 ONLY