VOL. XXXH, No. 21 a THE WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER AUTHORIZED AS SECOND CLASS MAIL, POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, OTTAWA, AND FOR PAYMENT OF POSTAGE IN CASH. VANCOUVER, B.C. 5c PER COPY ist Issue Nov., 1965 => UNIONS UNITE TO PROTEST OUR ANSWER By JACK MOORE, IWA Regional President There can be only one answer to the call for action issued by the B.C. Federation of Labour as presented on this page. The IWA will give continued and all-out support to the Oil Workers if they are forced to extend their strike to all the major oil companies after November 24th. Such has always been the policy of the IWA. We give the same co-operation to other unions on strike that we expect when our Union is on strike. We can do nothing less than make the most emphatic protest possible, if the attempt is made to force us to use “scab” products on the job. The Oil Workers accepted our recommendation to wait another nine days. This allows time for us to determine whether the oil companies will get back to the bargaining table. We will also find out whether the Government ‘in- tends to deal with this dispute as it has dealt with other disputes, through mediation. If, at the end of nine days, nothing is done to reach a fair settlement, all organized labour in this province faces a grave threat. It will mean that the largest and most powerful corporations in the country intend to crush labour’s fight for job security. It will also mean that the Provincial Government is acting in collusion with U.S.-controlled corporations. The real issue in this struggle is the right of unions fo negotiate contract provisions that will cushion the effects of technological change for workers threatened with the loss of their jobs. As the Oil Workers point out, improved contract bene- fits mean nothing to workers whose jobs are wiped out. We face the same issue in the lumber industry. A defeat for the Oil Workers will mean a defeat for the IWA, in its present fight to protect the jobs of thousands of lumber workers. For our own interests, as well as those of the Oil Workers, we must protest this latest’ power play of the economic overlords and let the public know that organized labour is prepared to fight for its legitimate rights. We stand with the Oil Workers in their demand that employers should be required to negotiate those contract provisions that will protect our job opportunities. As suggested by the Federation, we can make our protest loud and clear. TRADE UNIONISTS DEMONSTRATE SUPPORT FOR Organized labour in B.C.’is prepared to use its ultimate weapon to resist attempts to impose the dictates of the Giant oil corporations on any union in the province. This was the firm resolve of 300 trade union representa- tives from across the province assembled in Vancouver No- * vember 15. The Oil Workers’ strike, in its present form, was seen as revealing a move by the most powerful business combina- tion in Canada to defeat la- bour’s program on behalf of workers displaced by auto- mation. The trade union representa- tives learned that the oil corporations would not re- spond to any suggested medi- ation of the major question at issue—the effects of automa- tion. Thus they have made a farce of collective bargaining, it was claimed. They also learned that little or no pressure had been ex- ercised -by -the Provincial Government to engage the oil companies in genuine bargain- ing on the issue. Every union represented agreed that the Oil Workers’ demands on this score are rea- sonable. They simply echo the demands of all other unions faced with automation. The Oil Workers want only due advance notice from the companies of changes in pro- ducuion methods in order that provision might be made for re-absorption in employment or re-training for alternative employment of those dis- placed. NOTICE Urgent and Important As you are aware, from press and radio reports, the strike planned by the Oil Workers Union for midnight, November 15th, has been postponed until 11:59 p.m., November 24th. The post- ponement was recommended by the Federation following dis- cussions with major affiliates and the Strike Co-ordinating Committee. The recommendation was also endorsed by a meeting of three hundred trade union leaders from all over the Province on November 15th. _ As matters now stand, unless settlement is reached before midnight on November 24th, the strike will proceed at that time and all unions are asked to discontinue use of petroleum products. for a period of 48 hours: from midnight, November 24th. Unions not directly involved in the use of petroleum prod- ucts are asked to withdraw their service for the same 48 hour period as a token of support and solidarity for the strike. Every effort must be made to have this programme carried out as effectively as possible, and the full co-operation of all unions is requested. _ The strike being conducted by the Oil Workers is of extreme importance to all trade unions. The question of automation on which the oil corporations refuse to yield any ground affects every worker, Your union can also help by wiring your M.L.A. and the Minister of Labour demanding the Provincial Government in- struct the oil corporations to commence bargaining in good faith and resolve this dispute before it spreads and involves the entire trade union movement of the Province. Your full support and co-operation in this programme is requested. ; E. P. O'NEAL, Secretary-Treasurer. They asked only for the contract provisions which now appear in agreements with many leading American com- panies. The Federation’s emergen- cy conference recommended that the Oil Workers should delay their strike deadline until November 24th (11:59 p.m.). This. recommendation was accepted by the Oil Workers at a meeting held the same day. It was then agreed that if F.1L.R. TO SIGN AGREEMENT Forest Industrial Relations Limited has withheld its for- mal approval of an agreement negotiated by the IWA to pro- vide reclassification and rate revision for planermen in coast mills, The employers’ representatives refused to sign the agreement until Re- gional and Local Union offi- cers would provide a written guarantee that what they de- scribe as “pressuring job ac- tion” would be discontinued. It is learned at press time that Forest Industrial Rela- tions Limited has now sig- nified its willingness to sign the planermen’s agreement with the Union. The Regional Negotiating Committee refused point- blank to give any such writ- ten commitment, and denied that IWA members had en- gaged in any illegal activities. The employers’ demand was no settlement was reached by the new deadline, all unions represented would withhold their labour for forty-eight hours in protest against the injustice of being compelled to use “scab” products on the job. This decision resulted in the appeal to all unions issued by. the Federation and repro- duced on this page. It is understood that prepa- rations are going forward to make the public protest effective. interpreted by the committee as an “ultimatum” which would wrongfully incriminate IWA members and expose them to punitive action by companies opposing their de- mands for long overdue rate revisions. Regional President Jack Moore immediately called lo- cal union staff representatives to a conference in Vancouver November 10th. The staff See “AGREEMENT” — Page 2