LABOR Non-union company backs out: as double-breasting revealed A non-union contractor which had threatened to sue the Vancouver Parks Board when its low bid was not accepted — and was subsequently given the contract — last week withdrew from the project rather than run the risk of having to pay union wages on the project. Parkview Construction Ltd. had launched. action in B.C. Supreme Court in February, claiming that the Vancouver Parks Board had unfairly discriminated against non- union companies because it awarded a $700,000 contract for expansion of the Hastings Community Centre to a union contractor instead of Parkview, the low- bidder. Parkview eventually got the con- tract when the parks board could not get the extra funds needed to the union firm’s bid from city council. But Parkview announced Apr. 18 it was withdrawing from the project — the same day that the Carpenters Union produced conclusive proof in a Labor Relations Board hearing that Parkview was in fact, acting as the non-union subsidiary of a union firm, Zagreb Construction. The prac- tice, known in the industry, as “double- breasting”, is illegal under the Labor Code. Carpenters Local 452 business agent Tom McNeice said that the local launched an action under Section 37 of the Code claiming that Parkview and Zagreb were under common ownership, after seeing Zagreb owner Don Bralic supervising on another project, the Point Grey gymnasium renovation, where Parkview had the con- struction contract. Evidence before the Labor Relations Board turned up a letter from Henry Haw- thorn, architect for the Point Grey project, commenting on Parkview’s performance. The letter stated unequivocally that Parkview “is the non-union subsidiary of Zagreb Construction. ..” Hawthorn also referred to another com- pany March Cosntruction, noting that it was the non-union subsidiary of M-G Builders, a union company. He noted pointedly i in his letter: “A final point, both union companies could be in great difficulty with the trade unions if their connections with non-union companies become public knowledge. They have re- quested and I have assured them that the information contained would be Sake con- fidential.” It was following the oe of the let- ter at the LRB hearing that Parkview stated its intention to withdraw form the Hastings Community Centre project. “They’re caught between a rock and a hard place,” said McNeice, adding that although the LRB case has been adjourned until May 24, it is almost certain that the board will rule that Parkview and Zagreb are commonly owned, thus compelling the non-union company to abide by the same collective agreement that the Carpenters have with Zagreb. If work had already begun on the project, the union could sue Parkview under Section 96 of the code for' back wages and benefits. “On the other hand, the parks board could sue Parkview for backing out of the contract and the company could lose its $65,000 bid bond,” he said. But if the Carpenters were able to win in this case, it is only one of scores of battles that Building Trades unions have had to wage against the double-breasting that has been particularly widespread recently as companies attempt to circumvent: union agreements. Significantly, in pursuing the case against Parkview, McNeice also turned up the name of the notorious right-to-work con- tractor Ewald Rempel. He had apparently acquired a 51 per cent share of Parkview, subsequent to the union launching the LRB application, in an effort by Parkview to avoid a common ownership ruling. The incident underscores the various corporate manoeuvres that some construc- tion companies have used in their anti- union campaign. Parkview is also one of more than 160 contractors who have launched a major case before the LRB asking for a re- interpretation of the Labor Code so as to allow double-breasting. Hearings are set to begin May | before a seven-member panel headed by LRB phaigman John Kinzie. IWA 1-363 to pay full dues to Fed Northern Vancouver Island Local 1-363 of the International Woodworkers has become the second IWA local to vote to pay full per capita dues to the B.C. Federation of Labor. A membership meeting of the local Apr. 14 voted by a 60 per cent margin to overturn an earlier executive decision and to pay full per capita, including the amount already withheld. The local executive had voted in Fabru- ary to follow the lead of regional [WA pres- ident Jack Munro who called on the union’s 13 locals to withdraw funding from the B.C. Fed by affiliating only a token 50 members: But the 1-363 membership voted to res- cind the decision, arguing that maintaining the unity of the labor movement was of primary importance, Menzies Bay camp chairman Sy Pederson told the Tribune. The meeting also called on the local to maintain full participation in the affairs of the federa- tion. The dues boycott action was initiated by Munro and the regional leadership as a rep- risal against the federation following Mun- ro’s defeat for the position of federation first-vice-president, a spot the union argued has traditionally belonged to the TWA. Munro also cited dissatisfaction with TWA delegate entitlement as another reason. The federation leadership is currently holding discussions with the IWA over the dispute and has set up a committee on con- stitution to study delegate entitlement and other issues. But in the meantime, the Local 1-363 decision will put per capita payment for another 1,400 members back into the coffers of the B.C. Fed. The 4,300-member Port Alberni Local 1-85 of the TWA has maintained full dues payments throughout, having voted to sats Munro’s call Feb. 9. FOR JOBS! FIGHT lpn WEDNESDAY MAY 1 CELEBRATE May Day demos, rally on May 1 The Vancouver Trade Union May Day Committee this year plans to mark the international workers cele- bration with a triple-headed program. There’ll be no march, but demon- strations against U.S. intervention in Nicaragua and unemployment and an evening rally on the fightback are set for Wednesday, May 1. At 12 noon demonstrators will assemble outside the United States consulate at 1055 West Georgia St. at Burrard (incorrectly reported as 1075 - in the Apr. 15 issue). That will be followed by a demon- stration at 1 p.m. at the nearby regional offices of Employment- Immigration Canada, 1075. West Georgia St. A “fightback rally and celebration” takes off at 7 p.m. in the Commodore Ballroom, 870 Granville St. Keynote speakers are B.C. Federation of Labor president Art Kube, Commu- nist Party industrial director George Hewison, and a New Democratic Party representative. There will be food and refresh- ments, and there’s no admission charge. For childcare, call 874-7311. ‘This Saturday hoosinds of British Conenbians will nis to. ie streets of Vancouver and several other i < to march for an Tribune and its predecessors have been publishing. # For a good number of those years, the Tribune s in its coverage and promotion of the effort to st dangerous escalation of armaments. During th - War and the “red scare” were used in all their f | spoke and marched against the insanity of ( Stockpiling — and against the stationing of such arsenals. peede co cies aaeea oe pees e peace 16 e PACIFIC TRIBUNE, APRIL 24, 1985