1st Issue July, 1965 By JACK MOORE The Western Canadian Lumber Worker takes pleasure in repro- ducing an article recently contrib- uted by Brother Stu Hodgson, fi- nancial secretary of Local 1-217, to the International Woodworker. This excellent and painstaking re- view of the progress in negotia- tions made by our union at the THE WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER coast is recommended reading for all IWA members in the area. This history of the re- markable progress made by the IWA in the coastal area of B.C. since 1937, is still all the more impressive because its author has, in recent years, voiced severe criticism of Re- gional negotiating policies. He now implies that, in the light of the record, IWA progress on the coast is cause for pride on the part of our wunion’s members. This historical review under- lines two important points. (1) The long-range policy of steadily and persistently de- veloping an industry - wide master agreement embracing, not only wages, but all the A 28 YEARS OF PROGRESS basic requirements for im- proved working conditions has proven rewarding. Unwise risks were avoided to ensure this consistent rate of progress. Four industry- wide strikes resulted in lim- ited immediate gains but the Solidarity demonstrated on other occasions, behind the THREAT of strike. action, proved as effective. (2) One fond hope of IWA ne- gotiators in B.C. was to es- tablish parity with base rates in Washington, Oregon, and California. In the 1964 ne- gotiations, this was - finally accomplished. It paves the way now for coordinated ac- tion across the international boundary. SS ry WAGE INCREASES AND MAJOR CONTRACT IMPROVEMENTS NEGOTIATED FROM 1939-1965 b. CATEGORY 1939 1943 1946 1953 1965 \ Plywood: Lathe Operator 88 1.00 1.15 1.97 3.21 \ Sander Operator 68 98% 1.03% 1.79% 2.91 e | Dryer Operator 08 .74 89 1.76 2.81 } Labour 48 67 82 1.49 2.36 Le | Sawmill: Sawyer 95 1.05 1.65 1.82 2.60% 3.8742 a Edger 718 75 1.07% 1,27 2.02 2.80 : Maintenance .50 90% 1.10 1.85% 3.07 a) Grader 45 63 80 1.00 1.69% 2.6844 | Boomman 40 65 sut 1.00 1.59% 2.5444 Labour 30 60 82 1.49 2.36 u Shingle: Filer 85 1.55 1.28 2.65 3.841% j Cutoff 65 .88 1.05 1.73% 2.66% . | Block Piler .50 72 87 1.54% 2.41% @ Hours of Work 48 48 Loggers 40 40 | summer 48 . . winter 40 ' Rem’f’g 4 44 {/ Overtime 1% 1% 1% 1%. : 1% Y\ Rest Periods Plywood Plywood Plywood Plywood All Reman’f’g ] 2-10 mins. 2-10 mins. 2-10 mins. 2-10 mins. 2-10 mins. \ Union Shop — — — Maint. of Union Shop Membership ' Statutory Holidays 6 7 9 9 ! Paid Statutory Holidays — — — 3 9 K. Vacations with Pay ' After 2 years” After 300 days Same as 43; 1-5 yrs2%% 1-5 yrs. 4% } with Co. 1 ¥% day pay for after 5 yrs. one. (one week) (2 weeks) N week without every 25 days. add. week as 5yrs.andup 5-20 yrs. 64% W pay. (one week) of 1947 5% (two wks.) (3 weeks) Over 20, 812% (4 weeks) Hours of Work— 48 Due to war: 50 44 40 hours with 40 hrs. Sunday Tradesmen (9 hrs. 5 days two consec. 1% regardless ' 5 hrs. Sat.) days off. STU HODGSON .. By S. M. HODGSON EGOTIATIONS in the Forest Industry have been colourful, imaginative and full of suspense. There is no doubt that the gains re- corded over a 20-year period, from 1946 to 1965, are greater than those achieved without a Union from 1850 to 1946. The Forest Industry has been operating in the Prov- ince of British Columbia since approximately 1848, and al- though the Industry’s impact on the province did not at first hold the predominance that it does now, there can be no doubt that it has played an important part in the devel- opment of the province. RECOGNITION In 1965, the Forest Indus- try is recognized as affecting over 50 per cent of the B.C. economy and, as a result, In- dustry collective bargaining has a al ene on _ province and plays an impo ant part in establishing trends patterns. - to 1943 the IWA’s struggle tred mainly on cogn ager the right to - IWA Gains represent the Forest Industry employees. Every effort at or- ganization was opposed and Union minded employees blacklisted, and organizers barred from the operations. Since 1943 the Union’s devel- opment has been rapid, Union recognition, collective bar- gaining and working condi- tions, have been established. L. S. W. U. In 1931, the first attempts at Union organization were made by the Lumber and Sawmill Workers Union, at that time a division of the Workers Unity League. In 1934 after a three-month strike, the Union all but van- ished. In 1935 it was reorgan- ized under the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners. In 1937 the International Wood- workers of America came into existence under the banner of “Organize the Unorganiz- ed.” Thus the emphasis of Union organization was plac- ed on the industrial worker. Union organization on the United States side of the In- dustry because was swifter, no doubt. of the Wagner Act. Wages were slow in moving up, although it is interesting - to note that from 1939 to 1943 wages did indeed double that of the previous 20-year per- iod. In all probability this was due to the war and the wages being paid in the shipyards, aeroplane factories, etc. Com- petition was on for men and management had to pay more to attract the people into the Forest Industry. The War Labour Board came into being and wages and prices were frozen. First negotiations of 1942 and 1943 were mainly for the purpose of Union recognition and the securing of a collective agree- ment. Between 1943 and 1945 there was no wage increase and any adjustments came about by order of the War Labour Board. GAINS 1946 to 1953 the Union made its major wage in- creases and the basic wage jumped during this eight- year period 82 cents (67 cents to $1.49). _ From 1953 to 1956 wages increased only 10 cents, from tract $1.49 to $1.59. From 1857 to 1965 the increase totaled 77 cents over this nine-year period ($1.59 to $2:36) . However, this last nine- year period saw tremendous’ effort and emphasis being placed on category adjust- ments. This took the form of wage revisions, additional amounts of money for specific categories and plywood evalu- ation. 40-HOUR WEEK Turning to the question of improved working conditions, from 1943 to 1953 the major effort was placed on wage in- creases and establishing the Union. Contract gains were not too good although some basic gains were made such as the 40-hour week, main- tenance of membership, two weeks’ vacation and accept- ance of the paid statutory holiday theory. From 1954 to 1965 the Union made its greatest con- improvements. Many new clauses were written into the agreement and many new principles were estab- lished, such as fare allowance and travel time for loggers, rest periods, health and wel- fare, union shop, increased vacations, full statutory holi- days, standby time in the shingle industry, time -and one half for all work per- formed on Sunday regardless. No doubt the Union has really come of age. No at- tempt has been made to bal- ance the IWA’s gains with that of any other major in- dustrial union, and what such a survey would reveal, although interesting, would not necessarily be related be- cause of the variance and differences between indus- tries. Within the Forest Industry Wage increases have been many and the basic rate from the beginning of 1946 at 67 cents per hour has been raised to $2.36 as of June 15, 1965. This in itself is an in- crease of $1.88. CAN BE PROUD The Union can be justly proud of its achievements and while there are many See “IWA PROGRESS”—Page 6