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Vol. XXV, No. 13

5c PER COPY

Vote Sanctions Strike Action

Mandate for strike action was given the IWA by a 65% majority in the government-supervised strike vote conducted throughout the coastal area on June 27th, it was announced by District President Joe Morris, in a recent report to the Union. Voting conducted earlier by the Union had rejected the majority report of the Conciliation Board, and authorized strike action by an 87% majority.

Examination of the returns from the supervised vote revealed that many operations that had prev- iously given a substantial majority in favour of strike action had been closed down. In a number of operations, which had been re- ported as closed down, the local officials in charge of the voting found small groups of mainten- ance personnel,

Report Proven Untrue

Employers’ statement that IWA Local Unions in the Pacific Northwest States have waived any wage in- crease this year, is not true, explains Joe Morris, District President,

Supervised vote gave a 65% majority in favour of strike action.

Union’s vote gave an 87% ma- jority in favour of rejecting the majority report, and to author- ize strike action.

Sixty-five per cent of the op erations which voted against a t strike in the supervised vote had } 25 or less eligible voters; of this number more than half had less

1 than ten. Negotiations on wages

, Many operations, which had commence on September voted overwhelmingly for strike 16th. If no settlement is action on the union’s ballot, reached, the Local Unions were closed down when the have the right to strike under | supervised vote was taken. the American code of labour

Earlier in the year, the Stateside Local Unions “but- toned up” all contract issues EXCEPT WAGES. This is possible under U.S. labour laws, but is not possible in B.C.

Discussions Under Way

Mr. William Fraser, Chief of the Conciliation Branch, De- partment of Labour has called the IWA Negotiating Committee and the employers’ representa- tiyes into conference, to deter- whether a last-minute

mine settlement might be reached without disruption of the indus- try. At press time, no announce- ment could be made regarding

the outcome.

Threat Tactics Charged

Employers in the lumber industry were accused of in- timidation prior to the gov- ernment - supervised _ strike vote, by Jack MacKenzie, President Local 1-118, IWA, Victoria.

He said that lumber workers had been “subjected to half-truths, innuendoes and intimidation from employers who hinted men who voted for a strike would be vot-

See “THREAT” Page 9

UNION ASKS AND GETS FURTHER CONCILIATION

IWA States Readiness

To Discuss

Settlement

No hasty strike action is contemplated by the IWA in the coastal area, stated District President Joe Morris, as he reported to the Union at the close of a one-day session of the District Policy Committee on the day following the govern-

ment-supervised strike vote.

“We have time to make our decisions with due delibera- tion, whether or not we exercise the strike mandate, and if . so, when and where. On the other hand, we do not intend to let matters be delayed indefinitely,” he stated.

He reported to the Union that the further services of the Provincial Government had been requested to open the way for discussions between the parties, so that further at- tempts may be made to resolve the existing dispute.

In a statement which was heard over five Mainland and Island radio stations simultaneously, he said:

IWA District Policy Committee, which met last Saturday, I am reporting on recent developments

—_——

Supervised strike vote gave a strike mandate by a 65% major- ity.

No hasty action will be taken to exercise this mandate, nor will indefinite delays be toler- ated.

All but three of ‘the larger operations voted in favour of a strike.

Union policy is determined by majority vote over the entire district, as the Union negotiates one master contract which gov- erns all contracts with individual operations.

Employers took threatening action to influence strike vote,- described as “contemptible

trickery.”

Acceptance of the majority report of the Conciliation Board would cut to shreds some of the important existing contract pro- visions.

Union is still prepared to con- fer with employers, and has re- quested government aid to this end.

If efforts to reach a just and honourable settlement fail, members of the Union will be asked to prepare for necessary action.

The interests of the whole community will be considered in conjunction with those of the Union’s members,

—

“My report this evening is di- rected mainly to my fellow-mem- bers in the IWA. At the same time, I am well aware that our Union’s course of action at this time is of direct concern to the general public. For this reason, we are fully prepared to state our views openly, and sincerely wel- come public consideration of our position at this time.

“This evening, on behalf of the

to the members of our Union. It will be seen as I proceed with my remarks that this representative Committee is not unmindful of the public interest.

“Last members

Friday, almost 17,000 in IWA-certified bar-

Gaining units gave their collective

answer to the question, ‘Are you

in favour of a strike?” The over- See “CONCILIATION” Page 3

* Operations reported as closed | JS down, voted small groups of

\ maintenance personnel against a strike.

<= Employers attempted to trick

employees with statement that the majority report of the Con- ciliation Board proposed a re- newal of the present contract. This was shown to be untrue. It proposes a much worse con- tract.

Sixty-five per cent of the op- erations which voted against strike action had twenty-five or less voters, and more than half of these had less than ten. With the exception of three, Chemain- us mill, Columbia Cellulose, and Victoria Plywood, the larger operations voted in favour of a $ strike,

Some confusion prevailed as to those entitled to vote. It became

See “VOTE” Page 2

WHAT'S INSIDE

Page Vote Discussions IWA Pix Safety ..... TVA

LISTEN TO

Green Gold—CJOR

7:00

Thursday

IWA Members Cast Ballots On Union Vote

CKPG-Ist & 3rd Thurs., 6:00 p.m CKEK-Thurs., 8:15-8:30 p.m.