THE W

ESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER

Frolek Disqualified”

The IWA has requested the Select Standing Committee
on Forestry in the B.C. Legislature to deny further cutting
rights to Frolek Sawmills Ltd., North Kamloops, while the
company refuses to comply with the Labour Relations Act.

It was disclosed that Joe Frolek already enjoys special
cutting rights under five different names in the Kamloops

Unregulated Forest Area.

IWA Regional President Jack Moore made an additional
submission to the Committee in the following terms:

“Mr. Chairman:

I beg the permission of
your committee to add a foot-
note to the submission made
by-me on behalf of the Inter-
national Woodworkers of
America on March 10th.

You will recall that this
Union’s submission to your
Committee stressed the im-
portance of forest manage-
ment policies best calculated
to promote adequate living
standards and job security
for workers in the forest pro-
ducts industry.

Since my appearance be-
fore your committee I have
had the opportunity to study
a brief prepared on behalf of
a group of companies operat-
ing in the Kamloops region.
This brief requests the right
of utilization to 7” d.b.h. in-
creasing the allowable cut by
90%, and special rights in a
sustained yield unit proposed
to include this group of op-
erators in the Unregulated
Kamloops Area.

I note that one of the sig-

natories to this brief is Joe
Frolek on behalf of Joe Fro-

lek Sawmills. I also note that
the list of established lic-
ensees in this area includes
the following:

Frolek Sawmills Limited

[ Frolek Sawmill & Halston

Lumber
Frolek, Joe

Frolek, Joe Frolek S/M &
Son Lbr.

Frolek S/M, Halston Lum-
ber & Punjab Lbr.

I direct your attention to
the fact that a strike has been
in progress at Frolek Saw-
mills Ltd., North Kamloops
since September 23rd, 1964.

This strike occurred for no
other reason than that the
employer refused to comply
with the provisions of the La-
bour Relations Act. We have
informed the Minister of La-
bour and the Minister of
Highways, Member for the
riding, that the employer fail-
ed (1) to bargain with this
Union, certified by the La-
bour Relations Board as the
bargaining agent, (2) to make
a reasonable effort to con-
clude an Agreement, (3) to
participate in conciliation
proceedings — all require-
ments stipulated in the La-
bour Relations Act.

Further, this Union was
compelled to charge this em-

ployer with violations of Sec-
tion 18 of the Labour Rela-

PEC Program
Re-Vitalized

The re-establishment of the Regional Political Education
Commitee has been ordered by the Regional Executive Board.
An early and representative meeting is proposed by Regional
1st Vice-President Jack MacKenzie, its chairman. A Political
Education Seminar is in view to focus attention on political
issues of direct concern to the Union’s members.

Local Unions were requested to name their delegates to
the Committee in the following communication:

“Dear Sir and Brothers

By resolution at our last
meeting, the Regional Execu-
tive Board instructed that-the
Regional Political Education
Committee be re-established.
I would therefore request
that your Local Union act as
soon as possible to name a
delegate to this Committee
that an early meeting can be
planned.

The Regional Political Edu-
cation Committee will be re-
quired to assist in the organi-
zation of a Political Education
Seminar in cooperation with
the Local Unions at the earl-
iest date. We hope to achieve
this cooperation through the
Regional Committee.

If there is prior discussion
in the Local Unions, any de-
cisions made by the Regional
Conmittee will reflect the
views of IWA members. It is
suggested that each Local
Union establish a Political
Education Committee to con-
sider action in support of our
Union’s political objectives.
Your delegate to the Regional
Committee would then be
better able to convey mem-

| bership views to the central

committee.

I enclose a copy of a Policy
Statement prepared for con-
sideration at the next Pro-
vincial Convention of the
New Democratic Party. This
is now being distributed to
the Party’s constituency as-
sociations to assist member-
ship discussion prior to the
convention for guidance of
the delegates. This statement
deals with legislation of vital
concern to our members and
upon which we should form-
ulate our views as trade un-
ionists.

It follows that, if we are to
influence policy, either as
stated in the Legislature by
the Opposition, or by a New
Democratic Government, the
affiliated Trade Unions should
be heard at the provincial
conventions. I urge, therefore,
that Local Unions take steps
to bring themselves into good
standing as regards payment
of affiliation fees.

Your immediate attention
and advice on these matters
would be appreciated.”

Yours fraternally,

J. MacKENZIE
First Vice-President

« « »e Moore

tions Act and was granted
leave to prosecute by the La-
bour Relations Board.

Mr. Frolek’s employees did
no more than exercise their
rights as set forth in the La-

bour Relations Act in order
to obtain the wages and
working conditions already

negotiated with the employ-
ers in the Southern Interior.
Mr. Frolek’s refusal to dis-
cuss anything with his union-

ized employees left them no
alternative but to strike.

I now submit that the right
of access to timber on Crown
land should be granted only
to persons who are prepared
to comply with the law. Com-
pliance with the provisions of
the Labour Relations Act is
quite as important as compli-
ance with the provisions of
the’ Forest Act. The man who
wilfully breaks one law of the
province will readily break
other laws. As trade unions
are made subject to heavy
penalties for offences under
the Labour Relations Act, the
same code of justice should
apply to employers.

On the above grounds I
hereby register the opposition
of the International Wood-
workers of America to the ex-
tension of further cutting
rights on Crown land to Fro-
lek Sawmills Limited or the
owner thereof.”

Respectfully yours,
JACK MOORE,
President.

BILL HAWKES

Bill Hawkes, a member of
Local 1-85 IWA, Port Alberni,
has been nominated by the
Canadian Labour Congress
to spend six months in the
United Kingdom on a bursary
offered by the Imperial Rela-
tions Trust. Bill, who is the
Camp Chairman at the Frank-
lin River Division of Mac-
Millan, Bloedel and Powell
River, will leave for England
in April.

While in the United King-
dom, he will attend T.U.C.,
Labour Party and other con-
ventions and be attached to
the Department of Extra-
Mural Studies at London
University. He will also
travel through England, Scot-

land, Wales and Northern
Ireland.

Reimer
Runs In
Edson

Officers and members of
Local 1-207 IWA, Edmonton,
are actively participating in
the Edson provincial riding
by-election in support of the
candidacy of Neil Reimer, Al-
berta representative of the
Oil, Chemical and Atomic
Workers International Union.

Reimer who is Leader of
the New Democratic Party in
Alberta and CLC Regional
Vice President was persuaded
by the Alberta trade unions
to contest the seat left vacant
by the death of a former Cab-
inet Minister. Election day is
March 29. Organized labor in
Alberta has long demanded
direct representation in the
Alberta Legislature, in which
the Socreds hold 59 seats out
of sixty-three. The Alberta
Federation of Labour is now
fighting the threat of restric-
tive labor laws.

The NDP-Labor candidate,
in his acceptance speech at
the recent nominating con-
vention, pledged support for
an investigation into the fi-
nancial operations of Alberta
West Ltd., in which MacMil-
lan, Bloedel and Powell River
Ltd. is reported to have a
controlling interest. Reimer
has publicly questioned the
prospects of monopoly con-
trol of the pulp harvesting
areas which are now being
allocated to large integrated
companies in Alberta.

MINI-MEDICARE OPPOSED

The stormiest period in a
stormy session was the debate
in the B.C. Legislature,
March 12, on the Social
Credit mini-medicare scheme,

Bill 36. An Act Respecting
Medical Grants. The New
Democratic Party Opposition
attacked the Bill and finally
voted against it mainly be-
cause of the inadequate med-
ical coverage, the prospect of
high insurance premiums, and
evasion of universal health
insurance.

Under the Bill, the Goy-
ernment will pay half the
premiums of eligible persons
not liable to pay income tax
the preceding tax year and
one quarter of the premiums
of those whose taxable in-
come the preceding tax year
did not exceed $1,000. Al-
though only non-profit car-
riers are admitted to the

scheme, a $1 million fund pro-
vides for a “pooling of risks”
which is presumed to enable
insurance companies to
screen out the poor risks and
unload them on the public
scheme, in order to set their
rates on selected good risks.

No definite provision is
made for premium rates
which may be controlled by
Order - in - Council. Certified
carriers are required to enroll
all applicants for coverage
only during three months of
the year.

Opposition leader Robert
Strachan claimed that intro-
duction of the Bill by Welfare
Minister Black instead of
Health Minister Martin re-
vealed that it was regarded
as a welfare rather than a
health measure.

“Money, or the lack of it,
will be the qualifying factor,

not the need for medical at-
tention,” he said.

“To say that there is no
means test is false,” he
charged. “An individual’s
willingness to prove he is poor
will determine his right to
partial benefits provided by
the plan.”

NDP members declared
that 18,000 people on social
welfare, mainly the unem-
ployed employables, will not
be covered because they will
not be able to pay the pre-
miums. “This is a plan to bail
out the doctor-controlled MSI
which has been in financial
trouble,” they said.

Fear is expressed by trade
unionists that the effect of the
Bill will be an attempt by the
doctors to negotiate a higher
schedule of fees for MSI, a
prepaid plan in which the ma-
jority of trade unions par-
ticipate.

Congress Fills Posts

The appointment of Henry
Rhodes, 52, of Ottawa, as
Acting Director of Organiza-
tion for the Canadian Labour
Congress has been announced
by Claude Jodoin, CLC presi-
dent.

Mr. Rhodes will fill the va-
cancy caused by the appoint-
ment of Joseph MacKenzie
to the Board of Maritime
Trustees. Joe MacKenzie is
on leave of absence from the
Canadian Labour Congress.
Henry Rhodes’ former posi-
tion will be taken by Rheal

Bastien, 48, of Buckingham,
Que., who became Acting As-
sistant Director of Organiza-

tion.
Mr. Rhodes, a native of

Kingsville, Ont. has been
active in the labour move-
mentment since 1931. He

joined the staff of the former
Canadian Congress of Labour
in 1942 and before coming to
Ottawa was Regional Direct-
or of Organization for On-
tario.

Mr. Bastien joined the
Montreal staff of the Trades

and Labour Congress in 1953
and became a travelling aud-
itor for the Canadian Labour
Congress in 1962.

kk *

Louis Laberge, Montreal,
was appointed to the Execu-
tive Council of the Canadian
Labour Congress. Mr. La-
berge, who is president of the
Quebec Federation of La-
bour and a member of the
staff of the United Automo-
bile Workers, will fill a va-
cancy caused by the death of
Roger Provost of Montreal.