OCTOBER-NOVEMBER, 1976 THE WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER 15 FROM PAGE 14 “OFFICERS REPORT” | amount of money in the Fund, the interest earned decreased to $111,000 compared to $223,000 in 1975. PENSIONS At the initiative of the I.W.A. appointed Trustees of the I.W.A.-Forest Industry Pen- sion Plan, an actuarial re- assessment of the Plan was conducted to test the assump- tions, based on three years of actual experience with the Plan. The actuary advised that, principally by making technical changes in the assumption surrounding the method of funding, certain improvements in the benefit schedule could be safely made without an increase in the contribution rate. The following improvements were made. In the Listing, the date of June 15 is used because June 15, 1973 is the effective date of the Plan for FIR. Companies. There are, of course, other effective dates but the relationships would correspond. At the time of writing this report, the respective joint Boards of _ Trustees in the North and the South have not met and ap- proved these changes. We are endeavouring to arrange meetings of these Boards as soon as possible. (a) The benefit rate in respect of Credited Past Service to be increased from $4.95 per month to $9.00 per month and to be based on completed years and months by which the member’s age at June 14, 1973 exceeded 50. (b) The monthly pension in respect of each Credited Future Service prior to June 15, 1975 to be increased from $8.25 to $9.00. (c) The monthly pension in respect of each year of Credited Future Service after June 14, 1975 to be increased from $9.00 to $10;.00. (d) Pensions in payment to be increased by 10% retroactive to July 1, 1975. Some benefit examples are as follows: EXAMPLE A year of- As the benefit increase examples given show, we are in process of developing a record of growth and im- provement in our Pension Plans. However, we have a great distance to go yet, both in benefits and in plan structure. In particular, we must address ourselves to solving the 1600 hours for a full year’s credit problem. This bears par- ticularly hard on the logging end of our Union and a solution must be found. If we are still faced with the A.I.B. at that time, there are ways under the A.I.B. regulations in which certain modest contribution increases can be made without them being counted against the wage package for A.I.B. purposes. The possible extent of such contribution increases is being studied now. The Trustees of the I.W.A.- Forest Industry Pension Plan carefully studied and accepted a proposal from the Plan Administrator that the Ad- ministration Office obtain its Own computer instead of contracting the computer work. This promised con- siderable savings in costs and improvements in efficiency. At a joint meeting of Trustees of the three Plans, the Trustees of the Northern. and Southern Plans agreed to study 4 joint _ use agreement to be drawn up. If agreement is reached, there will be further economies and efficiency improvements for all three Plans. A detailed report was made early this year at the last Regional Convention covering the previous calendar year. A similar report will be made available early in 1977 covering operations in the calendar year 1976. In general, the Plans are running smoothly. Per- formance of the Funds, as evidenced by the quarterly ‘staying Custodial Reports, continues to be satisfactory. In concluding our report, we should at this convention, remind ourselves that while we have had some difficulties in the past, our aim is to continue to do everything possible to bring about “One Union in Wood”’. The I.W.A. was born 40 short years ago when hours were long, the pay was poor, and the safety of life or limb meant absolutely nothing to the employers. In the past 40 short years we have through the determination of the memberhsip achieved stan- dards even beyond our initial expectations. But changing | times have produced new problems and new goals to be established. There are still many problems and itis going to take the continual determination of the membership and officers to continue on forward in the years ahead. The Officers would like to especially welcome delegates attending their first Con- vention. The best way to learn about the I.W.A. is to attend conventions, become involved in the decision making, and by active in your respective local unions. We would once again like to remind all delegates to the convention that by accepting nominations to attend this convention, you also accepted responsibility, and when the Convention adjourns, your responsibility does not end. This is the highest governing body of Regional Council No. 1 and the past policies and the ones that we will determine during this week will not work without your assistance at the local union level. All of which is respectfully submitted by the Regional Officers; J.J. Munro, President S. Parker, ist Vice President R.F. Blanchard, 2nd Vice President N. Menard, 3rd Vice President . _ T.W. Trineer, Secretary-Treasurer Pensioner retired at June 15, 1973 at age 65 having completed at least 5 years Credited Past Service. Benefit Rates Prior to June 15, 1975 After June 15, 1975 increase After increase described above EXAMPLE B Monthly Pension $ 45.00 74.25 81.67 Employee retiring at June 15, 1976 at age 65 having completed at least 5 years Credited _ Past Service and 3 years Credited Future Service. Wark Benefit Rates Prior to June 15, 1975 After June 15, 1975 increase Be i Benefit Rates After increase described above Prior to June 15, 1975 After June 15, 1975 increase BXAMPLE D After increase described above Monthly Pension $ 51.00 84.00 136.00 _ Employee retiring at age 65 having completed 2 years of Credited Future Service prior to June 15, 1975 and 20 years of Credited Future Service after June 14, 1975 Monthly Pension $110.00 196.50 218.00 : “yo gre Employee retiring at age 65 having completed 30 years of Credited Future Service after » June M4, 1975 Monthly Pension $150.00 270.00 300.00 SEVERE VILLENEUVE, of Local 1-324 IWA, The Pas, Manitoba, is the first member of the Local Union to retire under the IWA Forest Industry Pension Plan. Brother Villen- euve was employed at the Manitoba Forestry Resources’ Woodlands Division for the past five years. Prior to that he worked in the forest industry in other areas of the province. * Picture shows Local 1-324 President Bill Benson presenting Brother Villeneuve with his first cheque while Dan Curry, Industrial Relations Superintendent for the Woodlands Div- ision, looks on. The Local officers wish Brother Villeneuve a long and happy retirement. meseg aed FAY Representative Harold Griffith, Remen ley presents safety certificate to M.F.R. Woodlands Division Representatives Yvon Degognie, Earl Purdy and IWA Representatives Narcisse Gamache and Lloyd Strom, for the operation working fourteen months without a lost-time ac- cident. CONLIN LAKE GROUP WINS SAFETY AWARD IWA members . at Conlin Lake, sub-local of Local 1-324 employed by Manitoba Forestry Resources Ltd., Woodlands Division, were presented with a certificate from the Workers’ Compensa- tion Board for having worked 14 months without a lost time injury. The presentation was made at Sasaqui Rapids Lodge where the company held a I.W.A. Local 1-80 (Duncan) has reached an agreement with Doman Industries on a new contract for 150 Union members at the Cowichan Bay Sawmill, The sawmill opened in January, 1976, and the Union and the company have been in negotiations for a first contract since March. 2 ‘Jack Reiser, ist Vice- President of Local 1-80, said the main point in the new agreement is the im- plementation of the standard banquet for the crew and presented everyone with wallets who were employed in this logging camp. The Local Union representa- tive, Don Parker also pre- sented first aid kits to the Safety Committee which will be installed in their cars on behalf of the local. Hopefully other logging camps will be able to reach this record in this area. Coast Master Agreement giving the workers a five-day week. He said the company’s proposal for continuous production on a_ seven-day work basis was rejected by the Union members at the mill and they gave the I.W.A. a strike mandate. : Reiser said, ‘“‘The workers in the new sawmill deserve all the credit for this agreement because of their patience in this long set of negotiations and — their complete support for the Local Union negotiators.”