CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

“REPORT"

lems. A report will be made
to the Board and the Coast
Wages and Contract Confer-
ence.

A review of the Coast For-
est Industry Health and Wel-

fare Plan since its inception
on October 1, 1961, shows that
the membership of the coastal
area of British Columbia have
benefited greatly from this
plan.

Health & Welfare +»

Related to this Plan is For-
est Industry Health and Wel-
fare Plan 2, which has paral-
leled the big plan identically
in benefits, portability, eligi-
bility and lay-off coverage.

These plans have paid ap-
proximately $2,500,000 in thee
efits since their inception, and
have standardized health and
welfare benefits in the Coast
industry. Woodworkers in any
organized Coast operation,
large or small, have the full
protection of the Health and
Welfare Plan, with eligibility,
portability and lay-off cover-
age identical from one opera-
tion to another.

One of the good features of
the Forest Industry Health
and Welfare Plan has been
that the Union has equal right
with Management in the ap-
plication and administration
of the Plan. Gone is the fine
print that permits an individ-
ual employer, at his discre-
tion, to allow or disallow ben-
efits. Every woodworker on
the Coast is now entitled to
the full benefits as provided
under the text of the plans,
and no individual employer

can use benefits of a plan as —

a threat to future employment
of any member. Reserve funds
are now the property of the
participants.

Interior |WA Covered

In the early months of 1963,
discussions took place be-
tween trustees representing
the Union and the associa-
tions in the Northern and
Southern Interior; and the
same benefits as contained in
the Coast plans have been
implemented effective Sep-
tember 1, 1963. The member-
ship in the Northern and
Southern Interior are now
likewise covered in industry

Health and Welfare Plans.
Now that a solid foundation
has been built, it becomes a
simple matter of negotiations
to improve Health and Wel-
fare benefits.

The same features have
been extended to apply be-
tween prepaid medical plans
with representatives of the
Union finally having a voice
in the application of these
benefits.

Financial Position Poor

The financial position of Re-
gional Council No. 1 merits a
thorough analysis and discus-
sion at this Convention. The
Officers of the Regional Coun-
cil request that the financial
position of the Region be im-
proved to give the assistance
required from the Regional
Council.

In order to analyze our fin-
ancial position intelligently,
we must realize that our pres-
ent income may be fictitious

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insofar as the last year has
experienced an unprecedent-
ed boom in the lumber and
plywood industry, which has
resulted in many Local
Unions increasing their mem-
bership substantially because
of extra shifts and expanding
of operations. The following
is the average membership
over the last four years:
The year ending

June 30, 1960
The year ending

33,909

June30, 1961
The year ending

31,964

June 30, 1962 32,796
The year ending

June 30, 1963

FRED FIEBER

Regional Secretary-Treasurer

This fluctuation in the in-
dustry does result in a rise
and fall of average member-
ship of the Regional Council,
and affects its income.

While thousands of workers
have been displaced due to
automation and technological
changes, the Regional Coun-
cil has extended its coverage
by a strong organizational
campaign.

A review of the audit for
the 12-month period ending
June 30, 1963, will show a
number of interesting points.

Because we were not en-
gaged in industry negotiations
during the last year, there

was a reduction of approxi-:~

mately $5,000 in this expendi-
ture.

Salaries have increased in
the amount of $14,715.05,
which was largely due to an
increase in staff in the last
year. The Regional Council
has employed additional or-
ganizers, who have been as-
signed to the interior of Brit-
ish Columbia and Alberta.

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REGIONAL CONVENTION DELEGATES, LOCAL 1-288

The excess of expenditure
over revenue for the year was
$5,233.01.

Organizing and travel ex-

penses have increased approx-
imately $9,500, which also was
a result of additional coverage
being required in organiza-
tional work, implementation
of health and welfare plans,
negotiating with independent
employers in the Interior of
British Columbia, Alberta
and Saskatchewan, etc.

The, actual cash balance on
June 30, 1963, in the General
Fund was $19,775.52. This is
far from a proper reserve for

2

4

an organization as large as
Regional Council No. 1 to
function effectively. This is
especially true when you con-
sider that more and more re-
quests are being made of the
Regional Council, with in-
creased service on Health and
Welfare, Apprenticeship, Rate
Revision, and Plywood Eval-
uation. Local Unions have ex-
perienced that their hope of
maximum in benefits, wages,
hours of work and conditions,
can only be obtained through
a united effort of the Local
Unions and the Reg vera
Council.

Legal Expenses High

In analyzing financial state-
ments and audits and contact-
ing Local Unions, we find that
Local Unions are spending
considerable money on legal

Local 1-71 $ 976.17
Local 1-80 not available
Local 1-85 2,624.00
Local 1-118 165.23
Local 1-184 85.00
Local 1-206 nt
Local 1-207

Local 1-217 not coat

This problem has two im-
portant aspects.

(1) The amount of money

paid on legal costs.

(2) The importance of uni-
form application on many
legal problems in the Lo-
cal Unions and Regional
Council.

The position of the Union
in presenting cases before the
Labour Relations Board, in
court, or to an Arbitration

Board, is important, especial-
ly that it be a uniform posi-
tion in line with Regional

expenses. The following is a
breakdown of information
available to us from Local
Unions, showing their expen-
ditures.

Local 1-288 $ 175.00
Local 1-357 338.93
Local 1-363 nil
Local 1-367 656.83
Local 1-405 - 1,737.00
Local 1-417 - 1,640.12
Local 1-423 1,321.25
Local 1-424 2,102.95
Regional Council aa; 943. 63
TOTAL $15,766.11

policy. It therefore becomes a
point of concern to all of us
to consider engaging legal
counsel that will assist all Lo-
cal Unions who desire this
assistance, to use a uniform
approach to their legal prob-
lems.

The Regional Council has
an outstanding debt in the
amount of $85,000.00 on the

uilding.

The audit shows an out-
standing loan from the Inter-
national Union in the amount
of $15,000.00.

Points to Consider

Delegates should consider

the following two points.
(1) The demands on the Re-
gion for additional ser-
vices will necessitate the
hiring of additional staff.
If we had not had the
substantial increase in
membership partially due
to the boom in the indus-
try, your Regional Coun-
cil would have had to
curtail its activities in
the last year.

Your Regional Council
must be put on a sound finan-
cial basis.

The Regional Strike Fund
as of June 30, 1963, lists total
assets at $2,053,491.30. A
number of securities were
purchased that are gilt-edged,

(2

—

are liquid to make the money
available if required, and
earned an unusually high rate
of return on investment. In-
terest earned on investments
for the year ending June 30,
was $90,509.90. Gain on dis-'
posal of investments was $1,-
123.32.

The Regional Council, in
conjunction with the Research
and Education Department of
the International Union, con-
ducted in Kelowna, BC,, a

“Pilot Course” designed for
the future leadership cadre in -

Local Unions. This course
lasted three days and was at-
tended by Paige pees | fifty

students. Mr. Henry Hutch- |
eon, lawyer, instructed the _

See “REPORT” — Page 10 _

Ra ieee 5 2