Bi-weekly Bulletin Published by The B.C. District Council, International Weodworkers of America, (CIO), Affiliated with Canadian Congress of Labor —

VOL. XI, No. 11

VANCOUVER, B.C., SATURDAY, JUNE 6, 1942

‘Broadway <GS> Printers Ltd.

(271)

Five IWA Demands Granted In

Queen Charlotte Island Camps

VANCOUVER, B.C.—After several months. of attempts by the rwa| to open negotiations with four Q.C.I. logging companies, and a series of

meetings with Government officials at both Vancouver and Ottawa, five major grievances of the spruce loggers have been settled.

The concessions gained include:

1. Immediate establishment of em- ployer-employee committees in each camp,

2. Fares to be paid by the companies one way to loggers working three months, and both ways to those work- ing six months or more, This arrange- ment to apply to those already up there a8 well as to new employees.

3. Refrigeration for perishable food- stuffs both on the Union Steamship boats and in camp.

4. Airplane transportation to Vancou- ver for injured loggers, and improved hospital and medical arrangements for each camp,

5. Delivery of mail by air to QOL camps as well as air transportation to rush loggers to the job.

The proposals arose out of meetings held by Elliot M. Little, National Director of Selective Service, and A. S. Nicholson, Timber Controller: from Ottawa, with union officials and the management of the QCI companies, Following up a con- ference of Nigel Morgan, IWA Int'l Ex~ ecutive Board Member, with Mr, Little, in Ottawa last month, a delegation from. the IWA, including District President Harold Pritchett, Local 71 Secretary Ernie Dalskog, CCL Vice-President Mc- Auslane and Herbert Gargrave, CCF MLA, met the Director of Selective Serv- ice in Vancouver last week, At Mr. Little's request the IWA’s recommenda- tions were submitted in the form of a brief (which is printed in full on Page 3 of this edition). Later the Government officials met with the operators and also with Secretary Pat Conroy and Vice- President McAuslane of the Canadian Congress of Labor, who represented the IWA. A number of other unions and organizations, including the COF, also impressed Mr, Little with the serious- “ness of the QCI situation.

ASSUE JOINT STATEMENT.

.

uslane a joint statement was issued Phe press by E, M, Little, Director of Service, and Timber Controller

Ve have forcibly impressed the ging operators with the absolute ne- of getting production up to re- nts and are hereby urging sim- cooperation from labor, both those now in the logging camps and those could be ;taking part in this vital

‘sg work on the Islands for three Return fare will be paid after hs, This same compensation will not only to men going up but already there,

ye have arranged for the immediate ) it of employer - employee each of the four company ‘These committees will

je advisory on all matters relating to production and concerning management- labor relations, Employee representatives will be elected by secret ballot in a gov- ernment-supervised election.

“We have also arranged for certain other improvements, Through the co- operation of the Royal Canadian Air Force, mail will be carried into the Islands by air hereafter. Only one camp now has hospital and doctor but all will

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with the signing of the same agreem

The agreement which was presented ¢ to the Hill Logging crew on Monday night, with the unanimous recommen- dation from the Negotiating Committee for acceptance, included practically all of the union’s demands and will be in effect for one year.

It provides for recognition of Grievance

and Safety Committees; the establish-

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Hill Logging Company Signs Agreement With IW A Committee

LAKE COWICHAN, B.C.—Amicable negotiations with the manage- ment of the Hill Logging Company, formerly the Japanese-operated Ocean Operating Company, at the foot of Lake Cowichan, concluded last week

ent as that in effect at Lake Log.

ment of hours of work, holidays and a basic wage scale which is one of the highest in the industry; a no-discrimina- tion clause for union activities; check- off; seniority; leave of absence for sick- * ness, injury, national defense and over- seas service; as well as a union camp clause which provides that all employees must join the IWA within thirty days after being employed.

The negotiation of this contract was felt by Local and District officials of the IWA as another milestone in the forward march of the IWA for signed contracts in every camp and mill, It also provides a basis for stabilization and harmonious relations which mean continuous all-out production so essential in this world crisis,

CONDUCTOR KILLED AT LAKE LOG C0.

Frederick Thomas Hipwell, conductor of the logging train at Lake Logging Company operations, was killed last week in an accident which brought the total fatalities in the lumber industry to 26 this year,

Hipwell, according to information re-

ceived by relatives

here, was apparently boarding the train when he missed his

‘Woodworkers footing and fell. have been He served overseas Killed ij Cs in the first Great War anes ke zy with the 26th Bat-| gustry since talion and won the] Jan, 1, 1942

Military Medal. The

funeral is being held Saturday at Nunn and Thompson’s in Vancouver.

Lelund L. Hunt, employee of the Mis- sion Sawmill ,was drowned in the Fraser River this week when’ he slipped from a boom of logs. The body was recovered later.

Chilliwack Sub-Local

IWA Local 1-71 established a new Sub- Local last month for the Chilliwack dis- trict when more than a hundred loggers packed the Odd Fellows Hall. Arrange- ments have been made for regular month- ly meetings. The next meeting will be

een Committee Wins Agency In McMillan Plywood Plant

held Monday, June 8, in the same hall.

Dargaining

By W. BENNETT Secretary, IWA Local 1-217

The month-old dispute at the B.C. Plywoods over the bargaining agency

was finally settled this week in fav Thompson, Government Conciliator, pany premises and the results were

or of the IWA. On May 30 James conducted an election on the com- 369 votes in favor of the union, 143

for the company committee and three spoiled ballots.

This overwhelming majority in favoré of a union shop was cast in spite of the company committee which used every means at this disposal to confuse and split the ranks of the workers.

The most glaring and unscrupulous at- tempt to bribe the employees was a leaf- let drawn up and distributed by the com- pany committee, who have been working hand in hand with the management. This sterling example of company propaganda promised the employees all the terms in the union contract with additional bene- fits. These additional benefits included holidays with pay, call and stand-by time, and seniority rights. Mr. Morrison, chair- man of the (Regional War Labor Board, stated that holidays with pay constituted a raise in wages and therefore could not be granted without the consent of the Board. He also stated no application had been received from the management of MacMillan Industries for permission to grant this benefit. When asked to ex- plain this statement, an official of the company said, “No one said what holi- days were to be granted or how long they would be. These holidays could be an hour or half on hour, just whatever the management chooses.” The rest of the company promises would very likely be of the same nature.

Notice Of Meeting The next meeting of Local 1-217, International Woodworkers of Am- erica, will be held Sunday, June 14, at 2 p.m. in the Fishermen’s Hall, 138 East Cordova Street. All members are urged to attend this meeting in view of recent developments, Prove your solidarity—attend this meeting.

The company also stated that they have no objection to the union agreement, other than it is to be negotiated by peo- ple who are not connected with the plant, namely, Harold Pritchett, president of IWA-CIO District Council No. 1. This reluctance on the part of the manage- ment to accept Pritchett has shown the employees that their choice of repre- sentatives is definitely a wise one and they are determined that the commit- tee elected by them shall be the only bargaining agents.

James Thompson in his capacity of government conciliator is now attempting to bring both parties together for the purpose of negotiating the union con- tract. Should his efforts prove unsuccess- ful the problem will have to be arbitrated.

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