Issue ly, 1966

THE WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER

O'KEEFFE SUSPENDED FOR 15 YEARS

IBEW Business Agent Art O'Keeffe, who continued the strike at Lenkurt Electric over the objections of Local and International officers, has been suspended from the Union for 15 years.

Two other members of the Local’s executive received suspensions of 25 years and five years. The suspensions were imposed by William Ladyman, Canadian vice- president of the Union.

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ART O0’KEEFFE

O’Keeffe said he would ap- peal the ruling to the Union’s International executive coun- cil in Washington, D.C., and to the International conven- tion in St. Louis if necessary.

Ladyman suspended O’Keeffe for a total of 40 years, 15 years on each of two counts and five years on each of two other counts, but the suspensions will run con- currently.

In the meantime, the case against the 29 unionists charged with contempt of court arising from the dem- onstrations outside Lenkurt is still in progress. The Crown has completed its evidence after 16 days of testimony.

Tom Berger and John Lax- ton, lawyers for the defen- dants, will launch an applica-

tion to have the case dis- missed on the ground that there was discrimination in the laying of the charges,

Berger stated that out of the 120 persons identified as having taken part in the dem- onstrations last May, only 29 were charged. These 29, he said, were active trade union- ists and their arrest was an attempt to defeat the cause of unionism.

Four IWA members were among those charged.

The Lenkurt strike devel- oped after the Company de- manded excessive overtime work. Two hundred and fifty- seven employees walked off the job in protest charging that the Company had vio- lated an agreement that no overtime would be worked until a new contract was signed.

The Company called the walk-out an illegal strike and fired the employees. Because the IBEW refused to back the strikers it was necessary for organized labour to come to their aid. The IWA was one of the unions which contribu- ted generously.

The B.C. Federation of La- bour recently estimated that it would cost approximately $70,000 to assist those Len- kurt strikers not rehired and finance the court cases of the unionists charged in the dem- onstration.

The IBEW has, in the meantime, signed a new three-year contract with Len- kurt Electric which gives the employees a six-percent hour- ly wage increase each year for the next two years.

The contract contains a new clause on overtime. This states that a reasonable amount of overtime may be necessary for the efficient operation of the company and there should be no concerted refusal on the part of the crew when asked.

In addition, both sides agreed to no strikes or lock- outs during the contract period.

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CONTRACT TALKS RESUME

Contract negotiations be- tween the B.C. waterfront employers and the Long-

remen’s Union have been resumed,

They were the first talks held since the jailing of 10 union officials for contempt of court in ignoring an in- seeecn. The men were re-

last week when the Bc. Federation of Labour paid their fines. union is seeking a 50- cent hourly wage increase on present rate of $3.38 an our, Other issues include i hours of work and ifferentials.

_ One of the thorniest issues : the statutory holiday ques-

The 10 men were jailed Yr ignoring an injunction ing them to counter- any orders they might

given longshoremen on _

whether to work on the Vic- toria Day holiday, May 23. No one turned up for work that day.

Representations were made to federal Labor Minister Nicholson — the longshore- men operate under federal jurisdiction — and he prom- ised to recommend amend- ments to the Canada Labour Code on qualifications re- quired before a man is en- titled to a statutory holiday.

The minister said he would do so only if the union and the waterfront employers can’t work out an agreement on statutory holidays.

Nicholson also has decided against ordering a conciliation board to investigate the dis- pute, although a conciliation officer is standin to as-

g by sist the parties if he is needed. |

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J. & M. SHINGLE COMPANY EMPLOYEES — members of Local 1-217 IWA — are shown here picketing the operation after the owner refused to sign the new Coast Master Agreement. The 25-man crew struck the plant July 12. After three days of strike in which all production was effectively curtailed, the owner capitulated and agreed to the terms of the contract.

t of British Columbia

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