lat Issue December, 1962

MB & PR Prosecution

Penalizes Boommen

Forty-seven boommen, members of Local 1-85 IWA, Port Alberni, Were found guilty of an illegal work stoppage and limitation of pro- duction by Magistrate W. E. Macleod on December 8. They were fined $20 on each count, with the alternative of five days in jail.

The Magistrate dismissed the Union’s charge against the com- pany, MacMillan, Bloedel and Powell River Ltd., for conducting an illegal lock-out.

The IWA and the corporation had each obtained permission from the Labour Relations Board to prosecute each other as a result of a dispute regarding seniority which lead to a work stoppage at the Somass sawmill in the period between August 27 and September 5.

The sawmill was closed for 2% days during the trial of the boommen as it cannot operate without boommen.

The corporation asked for the maximum penalty under the law, stating a verdict of guilty would establish a principle in its relations with employees. ‘

IWA lawyer, Alex Macdonald, MLA, contended during the trial that the boommen had not struck, but had ceased work because they believed that the company did not intend to fulfill the terms of their contract.

The company, he said, had shut down the plant in order to secure from the Union an assurance that a company decision would

be observed. The Magistrate’s judgment was reported to the membership

meeting of Local 1-85 on December 9 and was received with biiter

indignation at the vengeful attitude taken by the company.

Membership reaction was indicated by a decision to reimburse the boommen for the $1,880 in fines imposed on them. Defence counsel was authorized to launch an appeal against the sentence, if grounds for appeal existed.

The convicted boommen were prepared to serve the five-day jail sentences by way of protest against the company’s aititude. They finally elected to pay the fines rather than deprive their fellow- workers of employment during the Christmas season.

See “PROSECUTION” — Page 6

t, eo ty

\

A PAIR OF THE FINEST ' LOGGING BOOTS MADE...

No. 6401 “Light Cruiser”

DAYTON SHOE MFG. CO.

50 EAST HASTINGS ST., VANCOUVER, B.C.

45 AQ £446 -

WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER

IF HE’S NOT THE TYPE TO APPRECIATE A GIFT-WRAPPED ALLIGATOR .. . (A SOMEWHAT SPECIALIZED LEATHER ITEM) . . . THEN WHY NOT SOME- THING MORE CONVENTIONAL IN LEATHER THAT HE'LL REALLY GO FOR:

3

UMBER WORKERS FACE ATTACKS

Board's Edict Allows Compulsory Overtime

Notification was served on the IWA Regional Council, December 7, of an amendment to the regulations under the Hours of Work Act which, in the opinion of the Union, will allow compulsory over- time in all important phases of logging production.

The proposal made by the employers at a hearing before the Board of Industrial Relations earlier in the year had been vigorously opposed by the Union. The recent amendment indicates that the employers’ demand has prevailed with the Board.

The Hours of Work Act stipulates that an employer may not demand more than eight hours a day or forty-four hours a week from any employee, but with exceptions that are set forth in the regulations in order to meet emergent conditions. In addition, the IWA has negotiated a forty-hour work week.

The Union has consistently maintained the position’ that over- time should not be compulsory, and that overtime permits should be granted only by agreement with the Union when justified by emer- gencies.

Hitherto, the exceptions stated in the regulations applied to

“(a) Booming operations, or,

(b) transporting logs by logging railway, motor-truck, flume,

horse, or river-driving, or,

(c) the occupation of boatman, or, «

(e)} the occupation of emergency firefighters.”

The section of the regulations, quoted above, is now deleted and the following substituted therefor:

“(1) The logging industry in maintenance and preparatory work which is necessary to prevent interruption of normal production schedules including, but without limiting the generality of the fore- going, the following:

(a) Log dumping and booming operations;

(b) Transportation of workmen and supplies;

(c) Transportation of logs;

(d) Occupation of boatman;

(e} Fire watching, control, and suppression;

See “EDICT” — Page 6

Dyes ses eh Dah AD ees pe ee De PDP Ee NEN aE Le EN ND

omething Special for Christmas? 3

Ns

(B.C.) LTD.