12 THE WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER SEPTEMBER, TO REGIONAL CONVENTION OFFICERS’ REPORT The Officers of the Regional Council take this opportunity to welcome the delegates to this 36th Annual Convention. During this week many resolu- tions and reports will be dealt with and decisions made. We are confident that the dele- gates, after study and debate, will develop programs and policies that will guide the Regional Council through 1974 as an effective and co-ordinat- ing body dealing with the problems of all the Local Unions in Western Canada. It has been a busy year for a number of reasons. While there were no area negotiations for master contracts, there were numerous independent em- ployers with whom we have obtained contracts. We are assisting Local Unions to gradually bring the rates of pay comparative to the B.C. Coast and Interior Local Unions. The Officers this year spent considerable time in develop- .ing the IWA-Forest Industry Pension Plan and it is our intention that in future negoti- ations we will be able to im- prove the benefits for the membership within the Regional Council. In the last year we also had the problem of attempted raiding by the Canada Pulp Union. The Officers do not under-estimate the seriousness of these raiding attempts primarily because of the nationlistic feeling that is rampant at this time. There are still some International unions that do not provide for any Canadian autonomy and this creates a problem for all International unions. This year the raiding was concentrated in three small operations in IWA Local 1-80 - . Mayo Lumber Company, Ladysmith Forest Products and CIPA Lumber Company. There was also a strong at- tempt made in the Somass Division of MacMillan Bloedel in Local 1-85. The Labour Relations Board conducted a vote in the three operations in Local 1-80 and unfortunately these operations were lost under the policies pursued by the Labour Rela- tions Board. Their decision is being taken to the Supreme Court of British°Columbia. The Officers wish to com- mend the Officers of Local 1-85 who, with the assistance of Brother J. J. Munro and Brother Bob Schlosser, put on a strong campaign and when the vote was conducted in Somass were able to preserve this certification. The Officers also wish to commend Brother W. Hawkes of IWA Local 1-85 who was placed on the Regional payroll during the raiding attempt and he made available to the Local Unions and the Regional Council much pertinent information that was desirable in combatting the raiding attempt. While there have been breakaways from _Inter- national Pulp in the Pulp Section of the Forest Industry both in the Pacific Northwest and in British Columbia, this has not resulted in any im- provements whatsoever over the conditions negotiated by the established unions in the area. The Regional Council has continually attempted to ex- pand the services provided by the Regional Council and have had a problem with insufficient office space. The Regional Executive Board authorized the Regional Officers to rent additional office space and we were fortunate in being able to rent 1000 sq. feet of space across the street from the Regional Office at Commercial Drive and 13th Ave. These offices will accom- modate the Safety Director, Director of Pensions, two evaluators and one girl. By making this move we will be able to have the Organization Department in the Regional Office which will eliminate some of the problems we had when the Assistant Director of Organization was out of town. ORGANIZATION Our organizational program has resulted in an increase in membership over the past year. Our average member- ship for this year has risen to 46,169 members. Brother Bob Schlosser, formerly Assistant Director of Organization has taken a position with the International Union. To fill the vacancy created, long-time organizer Brother Frank Stich was ap- pointed Assistant Director of Organization for Regional Council No. 1. Brother Mike Sekora who has been an organizer for the old District Number One and Western Canadian Regional Council No. 1 since 1944 retired on June 30th of this year. The Officers wish to express our gratitude for the work Mike has done over those twenty- nine years. The present Organization Staff working under the direc- tion of Brother Stich consists of Brothers: Art Friske, Gary See,. Ron Stenvall, Nick Worhaug, Ralph Bouvette and Frank Simpson. Brother Stich will be presenting a detailed Report on Organization to this Con- vention-so the Officers’ Report will not go into organization in any detail. PENSIONS A fully employer-paid pension plan was negotiated in the last set of-negotiations. It has now been set up and is functioning. Brother Wash- burn, whom we hired to assist on pensions, will be reporting in detail. Since negotiating this plan we have been able to include operations in Mani- toba, Saskatchewan and Northern British Columbia. The plan in the Southern In- terior is separate but provides the same benefits. RATE REVISIONS During this past year the Coast Negotiating Committee dealt with many rate revisions and achieved a remarkable settlement. We started with the manufacturing plant boom- men, proceeded to logging truck drivers and first aid tickets. We have concluded the sawmill categories originally given us and have moved on to the logging categories. Still to come up are revisions for plywood workers and the tradesmen. Attached to this report is a list of all categories presently settled. Since Clay Perry left the Research Department we have not had a Research Director. The Officers had hired Oliver MeMillan to fill the post but at the last minute he found he couldn’t leave Portland. The International however, have loaned us Denny Scott to do some work for us and to make recommendations as to what staff is required not only in research but also in education. Other staff appointments made this past year were Brother Max Salter as Safety Director to fill the vacancy created by the untimely death of Brother Andy Smith and the appointment of Brother Ev Flannery to fill the position of plywood evaluator left vacant by the illness of Brother Al Busch. Brother Busch is presently on an indefinite leave of absence. POLITICAL EDUCATION This year we have had the pleasure of watching an N.D.P. government governing the Province of British Columbia. In the 1973 Spring Session of the legislature, the govern- ment introduced 92 pieces of legislation, moving cautiously in some areas but it should also be noted that some bold and positive action was taken carrying out party policy in an attempt to protect the heritage of the people. The government has been moving most carefully on the matter of labour legislation. The government did remove the Mediation Commission, carrying out an election promise. However, it must be hoped that the Fall Session will see some positive legislative action taken by the N.D.P. to produce progressive labour legislation that will remove the roadblocks which consistently confront organized labour. There being no federal or B.C. provincial election this year the political interest that comes with an election year has not been present. However, it must be pointed out that a tough provincial election cam- paign was fought within the boundaries of this Regional Council (Province of Mani- toba). Your Regional Council participated in that campaign by sending Brother Maurice Eggie from Local 1-405 to Manitoba to work with and for the N.D.P. for the month im- mediately prior to the election. It has been most gratifying that Premier Schreyer and his government returned to office with a clear working majority. The performance of the N.D.P. in Ottawa should be noted and the party compli- mented for their forcing the old line parties to deal with the business of this nation. The myth that minority govern- ment can’t function has been exploded; the Liberals were forced to function and bring legislation and was to a degree _acceptable. The need for Political Education continues, however, and we again urge Locals to participate fully at the local and constituency levels. A Regional Political Educa- tion Seminar will be held immediately prior to the Fall Session of the Legislature. SOUTHERN INTERIOR The Southern Interior Negotiating Committee is presently demanding from the LF.L.R.A.: (a) revision of the Sawmill Wage Curve to establish average 3.25 percent in- crements for the- various wage groups; a 10 percent revision of all logging categories except the base rate; revision to the category of “Faller and/or Bucker” to establish $10.00 per hour; establishing of construc- tion categories and con- struction rates; and will be negotiating to revise the Plywood Wage Curve. PRAIRIE PROVINCES | Your Regional Officers have assisted the Prairie locals in contract negotiations with the various companies as follows: ALBERTA: . Local 1-207 North West Pulp & Power Negotiations were concluded with a general wage increase of 80 cents per hour to estab- lish a base rate of $4.39 per hour effective March 1, 1974, and category rate revisions ranging from 2 cents to 97 cents per hour for the hourly categories, 5 percent for falling 8” to 14” trees for the pieceworkers over and above the general wage increase, improved apprenticeship agreement and apprentice rates, improved health and welfare provisions, an ad- ditional statutory holiday (10) and other contract improvements. Local 1-206 Knight-Schmidt Industries Ltd., ‘‘Airport” and “Briar Park’’ Operations. Two new and identical agreements were negotiated with this company, vastly improving the working conditions and providing wage increases from 65 cents to $1.35 per hour in a 231, month agreement expiring April 1, 1975. (b ~~ wY (ec (d) (e) POTN ea? erete Local 1-206 Bendix Systems Ltd. A two-year agreement has been reached with a general wage increase of 75 cents per hour over two years, rate revisions ranging from 20 cents to 75 cents, an ad- ditional statutory holiday (11), vacations and health and welfare improvements to the agreement. } SASKATCHEWAN: Local 1-184 Woodlands Enterprises Ltd. Negotiations with this © company have been con- cluded with a general wage increase of $1.27 to establish a base of $4.38; category — revisions, included in the package were general con- tract and health and welfare improvements including 15 cents into the pension plan. Local 1-184 Domtar Construction Materials Ltd. Negotiations have been con- cluded and a new agreement installed after a strike that commenced on November 1, 1972 and ended July 7, 1973 when a memorandum was signed providing for a‘ general wage increase of 92 cents per hour, rate revisions, health and welfare — improvements, one more © statutory holiday an improved hours of work clause, and other contract improvements with the expiry date of the new agree- ment September 1, 1975. Our members, Committee men and their wives are to be commended: for their soli- | darity on the picket line and their determination to win from this giant Canadian | conglomerate better wages © and conditions. All of the intimidation, propaganda, © (10), 4. premiums for Sunday work, — and threats of complete plant closure by the company failed and the workers won. MANITOBA: Local 1-324 River Sawmills Company (in Receivership) ; A two-year agreement was negotiated and installed establishing a base rate of $4.38 during the life of the agreement, ten statutory holidays, four weeks’ vaca- — tion after ten years’ service, © 15 cents to the pension plan, rate revisions, and substan- tial contract improvements. Local 1-324 ; Northern Manitoba Timber — Cutters Limited (in Receivership) This two-year agreement | establishes the base rate at — $4.38 per hour during the life of the agreement (October 1, — 1974). It also provides the employer contribute 15 cents the pension plan, ten , statutory holidays, improved - health and welfare pro- visions, hot meals provision, See “REPORT” Page 13