Interior Boards

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Vol. XXV, No. 17

eS Ist ISSUE, SEPT. 1958 - VANCOUVER, B.C. SS

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Get Ready!

The signs of the times make very plain to every trade unionist that it would be folly of the worst kind to be influenced unduly by the many critics and would-be ad- visors who are now breaking into print with variations of the popular refrain, “Save the unions from themselves.”

In the majority of instances, this attempted pawing of trade unionists is prompted by the assumptions estab- lished by the organized employers in their campaign to “curb the power of the trade unions”, as stated earlier in a CMA bulletin.

Steering a middle course between apathy and hy- steria, the whole trade union movement must develop its own counter-offensive, with attention centered on its own pre-determined objectives.

It is imperative that the whole trade union move- ment should take immediate steps to check the em- ployers’ offensive.

Viewing the whole scene, and adding together the experiences of all unions, the main effects of the em- ployers’ campaign have been as follows.

They have so organized opposition to all union con- tract demands that contract gains required to keep pace with rising living costs and increased productivity have been blocked or pared down unjustly, and future gains have been threatened.

Their provocative tactics caused strike situations. These were prolonged to the point which rendered them costly and weakening to the trade union movement. Al- ways the greatest care was taken to arouse public antag- onism.

Their Br ocacaida attacking trade unions was de- signed to undermine the confidence of workers and their families in trade union struggle, and to build and use an unfriendly community opinion to undermine old trade union loyalties.

And now THIS IS THE PAY-OFF.

They anticipate that they have sufficient public sup- port to secure for them government intervention, govern- men penalties for unions on strike, and legislation to outlaw strikes. They are organizing a high-pressure lobby for the next session of the Legislature. The stage is now set for the introduction of such legislation, unless Mr. Bennett is given cause for alarm that by so doing he will alienate all working-class support.

If B.C. unions are deprived of such rights as the right to strike when conciliation fails, the right to the union shop, then unions will be forced to forfeit further contract gains or strike illegally, and suffer the heavy penalties involved.

Trade unions have only to realize the danger to see clearly what must be done. The members of every union must demand full support of labour’s campaign to preserve its rights in a manner that will make the em- ployers realize that their proposed cannabalism will be aus too, too dangerous to their own profits. Fe

“Be Glad You Can Give”

Organized labour on the Lower j Mainland of British Columbia has placed its full support behind the United Red Feather Campaign, it

WHAT'S INSIDE

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Congress

was indicated, when the Vancou- ver Labour Council unanimously passed the following resolution:

“RESOLVED That in accord- ance with the Resolution on COMMUNITY SERVICES which was unanimously adopted at the founding Convention of the Canadian Labour Congress, this Council supports the 1958 UNIT- ED RED FEATHER APPEAL drive 100%, and requests the af- filiated Unions and the members thereof, to contribute to this worthwhile cause to the extent that their finances will permit.”

LISTEN TO

Unions Fight Threat

Challenge made by Mr. R. A. Pitre, Sierra Development Co. Ltd., of the certification granted the United Steel- workers of America, in the plant sold by Industrial En- gineering Ltd. to Outboard Marine Ltd., and later to Sierra Development Ltd. has attracted widespread atten- tion as raising an issue of more than ordinary import- ance to trade union interests.

Mr. Pitre protested the Steel- workers’ certification on the ground that he and some of the employees preferred a profit-shar- ing plan in which the employees would purchase stock in the new company and participate in the profits.

The plant which formerly manu- factured Pioneer Saws under Steel- workers certification is now being re-tooled to manufacture plastic sports goods.

Baskin Refrains

The Labour Relations Board will hear Mr. Pitre’s appeal on September 25. One reason for his protest in his allegation is that Pen Baskin representative of the Steelworkers, he claims, sits on the application as a member of the Board. This is denied by Steel- worker Baskin, as he refrains from participating in Board decisions

See “THREAT” Page 3

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Savona Settlement Sparks Southern Interior Hopes

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Preparations for presentation of the Union’s case before Conciliation Boards in the Northern and Sourthern Interior, made necessary by the employers opposition to all the union’s contract demands, are now engaging the attention of the Interior Negotiating Committee, and indicate that no satisfac- tory settlement is yet in the making.

With the appointment of Mr. Phillip Fleming of Victoria as Chairman, it is anticipated that the Board for the Southern In- terior will commence its hearings at an early date. George Home, secretary of the B.C. Federation of Labour is the Union’s nomin-e on the Board.

Production Expanding

Active in representing the em- ployer’s interests is George G. Robson, Vancouver barrister, who was a member of the coast Con- ciliation Board which advocated a wage freeze and in addition at- tempted to weaken existing con- tract benefits.

In the case of the Southern In- terior, however, it is now impos- sible for the employers to conceal the tremendous expansion of pro- duction and shipments occasioned by Canadian and American hous- ing programs, it is said by Local Union officials.

Sayona Settlement

As an indication that.some em- ployers recognize the justice of the Union’s demand to adjust wage rates that are now decidedly sub- standard at $1.53 an hour, In- terior Local Unions- are pointing to the settlement negotiated at the Savona Timber Co. Ltd. by Regional Director Clayton Walls and District Executive Assistant Jack Moore.

In the agreement reached with an operator bargaining independ- ently, the base rate of $1.65 an hour was established, effective for a one year contract commencing

September 1, 1958.

In Short

Southern Interior Concilia- tion Board, with Phillip Flem- ings as Chairman, and George Home as IWA board member is commencing hearings.

Preparations necessary, in- dicate that IWA Negotiating Committee members antici- pate tough battle with em- ployers.

Employers are compelled to admit flourishing business in the South.

Savona settlement with an independent operator set base rate at $1.65 with fringes. This could be equalled or bettered in the other operations say IWA officials.

A shift differential of 6 cents an hour was introduced, and the vaca- tion policy was liberalized to pro- vide three weeks after five years with 614 per cent of total earnings during the working year.

Other demands granted similar to those now about to be presented by the IWA to a Conciliation Board in the Southern Interior were: two 10-minute rest periods per shift; full union shop condi- tions applicable to all new em- ployees as at September 1, 1958; full application of contract terms on work assigned to contractors; regular job posting; and contribu- tory M.S.A. on a 50-50 basis.

IWA officials in the Southern Interior commented that all mills in the area are equally able to grant a similar or better agreement to

their employees.

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MEXICO CITY following the August rioting that occurred when the bus companies attempted to raise fares by three cents per ticket. The buses shown here were taken over by students and defiantly driven through the stranded city of 4,000,000 persons.

Green Gold-CJOR

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—Photo by Jim Bury

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