IWA

(The following article is based upon the report by Clayton Walls, International Assistant Director of Organ- ization in Region No. 1, to the Regional Executive Board meeting of July 7 and 8, 1966.)

LOCAL 1-423

Over the past ten or more years many unsuccessful at- tempts have been made by Local 1-423 to organize the

Cooke Lumber Co. Ltd. plant.

at Greenwood, B.C,

In an effort to unionize the operation in the spring of 1964 two union members of the crew were fired. The un- ion immediately launched a legal action before the Brit- ish Columbia Labour Re- lations Board on April 3, 1964 seeking orders to:

(a) reinstate the two dis- charged employees with reimbursement of lost wages by reason of the discharge, and

(b) restrain the company from interfering in the formation of the union by requesting a “cease and desist” order.

Split Decision

On May 5, 1964 a hearing was held into the IWA charges and the Labour Re- lations Board handed down a split decision on the case. The Board rejected the Un- ion’s application for rein- statement of the two dis- charged union men “as in the opinion of the Board this com- plaint is without merit.”

However, the Board did is- sue an order against the company “to cease and desist” from interfering with union organization of the plant.

Obviously, this split deci- sion of the Labour Relations Board had a negative effect on the crew and it was de- cided to abandon the organi- zational campaign for the time being.

Renewed Campaign

Successful culmination of some two months of organiza- tional activity resulted in the application for certification covering all employees of the Cooke Lumber Co. Ltd. em- ployed within the geograph- ical boundaries of Local 1-423. At the time of application more than 80% of the 78 em- ployees had joined the Union. Since then this figure has risen to over 90%.

Organizer R. E. Larson headed up the overall organi-

ORGANIZATION REPORT

zational campaign and — in the final stages — was assist- ed by Organizers Frank Stich, Jim Rouw and Mike Sekora, while Local IWA members at Greenwood and Grand Forks gave tremendous assistance to the organizing staff.

LOCAL 1-184

Further progress has been

made in organization in the

Province of Saskatchewan. Application for certification has been made on behalf of Local 1-184 to cover employ- ees of the Boychuk Lumber Co. Ltd. at Saskatoon. The unit embraces all employees in the retail yard, cabinet shop, the warehouse ‘and com- ponent plant situated in var- ious parts of the city. Pres- ently there are 32 employees.

“Lay-off’

In an apparent attempt to stop union organization of the plants, the company “laid-off” nine employees known to be active in the campaign. Local President Glen Thompson and Organizer Vern Griffith pro- tected these employees by lay- ing unfair labour practices charges against the company after garnering sufficient evi- dence to prove that the em- ployees were laid off for un- ion activity. The company has now re-employed these men

‘and payment of nine or ten

days lost time pay is required before this matter is settled satisfactorily.

Hearing

The Saskatchewan Labour Relations Board set July 6, 1966 as the date for a Hear- ing into the Union’s applica- tion for certification. (Sas- katchewan’s Labour Laws re- quire that a Hearing be held on every application for cer- tification. and that a Union official must be present at such Hearings to answer any questions put by the Labour Relations Board).

LOCAL 1-417

Another forest land clear- ing project on the Columbia River Hydro System has been organized. Local 1-417 has now received certification for the above unit which covers employees working on the forest land clearing contracts

THE WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER

ORGANIZATIONAL GROUP from right to left: seated, Ron Roley, International Second Vice President and International Director of Organization; Clayton Walls, International Assistant Director of Organization in Region No, 1; standing, Jim Rouw; Vern Griffith; Frank Stitch; R. E. “Dick” Larson and Mike Sekora, Regional Organizers.

SS SSS SSS SSS aaa)

held by this company, pres- ently working south of Revel- stoke, B.C.

Organizer R. E. Larson headed up the organizational campaign.

Recent certifications receiv- ed by Local Unions or appli- cations for certification pend- ing:

CERTIFICATIONS Local 1-71

1. Clark & Wells Logging

Ltd., Powell River, B.C.* Certified for all employees

‘in Local Union’s geographical

area. Local 1-80

2. F. Morris & Sons Log- ging Ltd., R.R. 1, Nanoose,

B.C.* Certified for all employees

in Local Union’s geographical area. Local 1-357

3. Griff Building Supplies Ltd., New Westminster, B.C.*

Certified for those employ- ed in the lumber yard.

4. Wesco Lumber Distrib- utors Ltd., New Westminster, B.C.*

Applied for all employees of the company.

5. Pat Power Lumber Lid., New Westminster, B.C.*

Certified for all employees

at 1041 Terminal Avenue. Local 1-367

6. Orion Bowman & Sons Ltd., Sardis, B.C. (Org. Mike Sekora).

Blanket certification cover- ing all loggers in Local Union.

7. Pretty’s Ltd. Harrison Lake, B.C. (Org. Mike Se- kora).

Certified for all employees in and around area known as Mile 20 on Harrison Lake.

Local 1-424

8. Stolberg Mill Construc- tion (Northern) Ltd., Prince George, B.C.*

_ Application for Blanket Certification made on June

10, 1966.

9. Alexandra Forest Indus- :

tries Ltd., MacKenzie, B,.C.* Application made for those employed at MacKenzie, B.C.,

June 23, 1966.

10. Lakeland Mills Ltd, —

Prince George, B.C. (Orgs. Stich & Rouw).

Certified for all employees employed in sawmill and yard.

Note: Those marked with * organized by the Local Un- ion.

INTERIOR RATE COMPARISON

On July 18, 1966, a meeting was held in Kelowna between Del Pratt: Regional Second- Vice-President, A. Damstrom and J. Munro: Local 1-405, R. Schlosser and R. C. Ross: Local 1-417 and W. Schu- maker and S. A. Muir: Local

1-423. .

It was decided that a de- tailed examination of five categories would be under- taken to determine the fluc- tuation of the related job rates between the Southern Interior and the B. C. Coastal area.

While it must be appreci- ated that the results of this examination cannot be re- garded as “scientifically” cor- rect because of lack of detail- ed job information—such as

Following are the results of

this examination:

Sawyer: 2% “=o see Ae ae

Edgerman .

job duties, responsibilities, type and size of machines operated—it is correct to state that the calculated differences in category rates are definite indications of present trends.

It is further correct to state that the present differences in rates for all other categories follow this very same trend in comparison with the B.C. Coast.

These differences will be further accentuated by the terms of both the Coast Mas- ter Agreement—providing for a 20c increase per hour effec- tive June 15, 1967—and the Southern Interior Master Agreement—providing for a 9c increase per hour effective December 1, 1966.

Highest Interior Rate

Lowest Interior Rate

$2.70 $2.32

$3.60 $2.66

Saw Bilers- = 3 se Forklift and Carrier Operators.

Cat Operators (all types)

$3.48 $2.47

$2.95

$2.60 $2.30 $2.32

It is therefore not surpris- ing to see that the entire mem- bership is up in arms over the adamant attitude by manage- ment members of the South- ern Interior Joint Industry Committee with regard to category rate revisions in the face of a sky-rocketing cost of living and the flagrant dis- crepancies between the Southern Interior and Coast rates for comparable jobs.

The Union members of this Joint Committee once again strongly advise the interior lumber operators to instruct their negotiators—the IFLRA —to get down to bargaining in good faith in line with the 1964 Raguin report or face the otherwise unavoidable consequences from this highly explosive situation.

Difference by Comparison

$0.7044 - $1.60% — $0.61 -$0.95 - $1.10 $0.32 -$0.49 — $0.3544 - $0.98%

:

$0.22