THE WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER N pace By WALTER KOZIJ Local 1-71 1st Vice-President Local Officers have reported that the wages and conditions of employees of ‘two con- tractors at MacMillan Bloedel’s Juskatla Division are what could only be described as belonging to the 1930’s. However, even the oldtimers in the local union cannot recall situations during the ’30’s where loggers were charged for breaking chokers. A sub-local meeting at Juskatla last February requested the Officers to meet with the contractors and sign agreements which would give their employees the same benefits as are enjoyed by other IWA members. The Coho Logging Company Limited operates with up to 8 men and falls, yards with tree farmers and a cat and haul their own logs with a self- loading truck. The Dave Froese Logging Company Limited also operates with up to 6 men who fall and yard with tree far- mers. Local Representatives Walter Kozij and Steve Kilby met with the two owners on March 27th to get Letters of Understanding signed. The Union at that time pressed for immediate medical, Health and Welfare and pension coverage for the employees involved. The two contractors had no CHARGES M-B- NG RIP-OFF intentions of signing agreements or improving the conditions of their employees. Jim Park the owner of Coho Logging openly stated that he is a member of the Western Independent Log Haulers Association and it is their policy to remain non-union. Dave Froese was asked if he had any objections to his employees having a medical and health and welfare plan and he replied, ‘‘I’m not for it, these guys might get drunk and get themselves hurt in car accidents on purpose so that they wouldn’t have to work.”’ An employee of Dave Froese who lives at Port Clements is on social assistance at the present time while on sick leave. His illness is not related to drinking, driving or laziness. His financial difficulties however, are related to the lack of a health and welfare plan at his place of employ- ment. A committee ‘member at Juskatla commented that perhaps something better could be expected from a religious man. IWA members at Juskatla then investigated the two contractors through interviews with their present and former employees and a picture of unbelievable rip-offs was pieced together. Neil DeBock reported to the union that he had worked 10 hours a day for 12 days and grossed a total of $166. Coho had listed him as a faller to be paid $2.00 a cunit. When asked if he had felled more than 83 cunits he replied, ‘‘Yes, but I never got paid for it.” DeBock cleared a total of $50.35 after being deducted the sum of $25.00 for having damaged a powersaw bar. He received no vacation pay. Russell Jeannotte -reported that he had worked for Coho for 5 days and instead of being paid the going rate for Skidder Operators he received the gross sum of $114.31 and netted $35.05. Jeannotte was deducted $15.00 for the loss of a choker and another $15.00 for damage fo a bunkhouse door. Jeannotte also received no vacation pay. Local Union Officers have demanded that MacMillan Bloedel return the $15.00 which was deducted for damage to the door. There was just cause for the frustration which brought about the damage. Sam Hadsall was treated similarly in the three months he worked for the Coho Company. He was paid $4.00 and later $4.50 an hour for cat hooking. He worked up to 12 hours a day for straight time and received no vacation pay. Apparently not satisfied with this rip-off, his Boss wrote ‘‘All Benefits Included”’ on his pay statements. Two fallers employed by the Coho Company advised the FOUR WELL KNOWN members of Region 1, who attended a by ” the Congress Convention include, left, Regional President Jack Munro, Local 1-405 Third Vice-President Lyle Kristiansen; Walter Kozij, First Vice-President of Local 1- 71; and Ed Gill,,Warden of Local 1-71. Local Union that their piecework earnings were $51.00 to $65.00 a day and had to work 8 hours for it. The Master Agreement in its Article IX, Section 2 (h) is very clear where it reads ‘““Member companies of Forest Industrial Relations Limited agree that they will not issue or continue any falling and bucking con- tracts after June 15, 1972 where the falling and bucking con- tractor employs a piecework falling and bucking system.”’. This section . of the agreement was offered to the Union by the Industry in their efforts to settle the 1972 strike. This same section was violated: by MacMillan Bloedel before the same agreement had ex- pired. A full report on the rip-off policies was given to a special membership meeting on April TO A WORLD DRIVEN BY INFLATION ...and other pressures towards compromising on second-best, Dayton’s makes no. contribution. 3 That is why Dayton’s loggers have won more world championships than any other boot ever made. % It has always been, and still is, the choice of the man who knows the best—and is prepared to pay for it. DAYTON SHOE MANUFACTURING CO. LTD. 2250 EAST HASTINGS STREET TELEPHONE 253-6671 VANCOUVER, B.C. 1st and the following policy was unanimously endorsed by the Union members. .— ‘That immediately and continuing until agreements are signed by the Coho Company and the Froese Company, logs manufactured by these con- tractors will not be loaded, hauled, dumped or boomed by IWA members. If any IWA member is’ discharged, suspended or disciplined for abiding by Union policy the entire Union will retaliate.” MacMillan Bloedel was advised of this policy on April 2nd and Union members refused to handle the hot logs. One week later Dave Froese signed letters with the Local Union and the boycott on his logs was lifted. The- Coho Company refused to sign and latest reports are that this contractor is moving out of Juskatla. The local union has laid a complaint to the Department of Labour about the Coho Company. Additionally the local has demanded a full investigation of the contract- or’s practices. The complaint has been referred to the department’s Terrace based inspector. The Officers of Local 1-71 are convinced more than ever before that MacMillan Bloedel is the chief benefactor of contractors who provide sub- standard wages and con- ditions. IWA members at Juskatla will undoubtedly insist on nothing less than a foolproof contractor’s clause in > the next agreement. BOYCOTT NEW CODE The 10th convention of the Canadian Labour Congress strongly endorsed the appeal of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers for a campaign against the use of the new postal code. The resolution in support of the campaign called for an active protest against the introduction of new sorting equipment, which involves major technological changes in postal procedures, without consulting the union.® The postal authorities are also making important changes in job classifications without reference to the union. These changes include lower pay rates for a large number of union members.