Premier Bennett to investigate union-busting of lumber bosses Premier W. A. C. Bennett said this week that he will receive a delegation from the B.C. Federation of Labor and the International Woodworkers of America to discuss charges that the Interior. Lumber Manufacturers’ Association is using “‘union-busting’’ tactics in an attemp! to smash the southern Interior strike of [WA members. At a “‘support the strike’ rally in Pender Auditorium here Thursday last week IW. president Joe Morris produced a photostatic copy of instructions for anti-strike action sent by the ILMA to operators before the end of negotié tions in the southern section of the industry. . L The union delegation will ask the government to order the ILMA to cease such propaganda; to hold a full investigation of activities 0 the ILMA in relation to the charge of union-busting and to have Labor Minister Lyle Wicks order the ILMA to “bargain in good faith.” Premier Bennett has promised that he will “personally investi- gate” the union demand for legal action under Section Four of the ICA Act which deals specifically with unfair labor practices. Here is the full text of the ILMA secret document: 608 Marine Building Vancouver 1, B.C. Telephone MArine 8131 Bulletin No. 111 To Members with IWA certifications 17th October, 1953 HIGHLY CONFIDENTIAL IMPORTANT PLEASE READ CAREFULLY In order to deal. effectively with probable strike action by the IWA, your association has retained the best legal counsel available in lab- our matters. While we are not yet sure of what action, if any, the union intends to take, there are a number of methods — some legal, some illegal — that they could use to effect a work stoppage. We must be ready at any time to counteract any action by the union that ex- ceeds their legal rights. “Speed is of the essence.” We have asked you in a previous bulletin to re- port any strike action; today we ask your complete confidence and cooperation in obtaining and re- porting certain information which may be required for legal action later. For purposes of simplification, we have segregated the informa- tion required into two sections. The first section (part A) is infor- mation that we would ask you to supply immediately regardless of any action taken by the union. The success of any legal action may well depend on having this infor- mation available before any action is taken by the union. Please com- plete section A and return it to your association office immediate- ly. The second section (part B) con- tains information that should be gathered as and when you encoun- ter union action that hampers your production or shipping in any way. The information required should be submitted in as much detail as is humanly possible. It is far bet- ter that we receive pages of irrele- vant material rather than miss one small item. If you *have glanced at the re- quests.on the next few pages, you will realise that the task will be enormous. Please remember that the success of our whole cause may rest with the manner in which each individual operation supplies’ us with this information. We have passed the point of “no return”; failure now would be disastrous. CONFIDENTIAL AND URGENT SECTION A Note: Supply as much informa- tion as possible—if unable to com- plete, -mail anyway—another mem- ber will probably have obtained the information you have omitted. (1) The accurate corporate name of your operation, be it company, partnership, etc. (2) The exact name and num- ber of the local and sub-local of the union at your operation. (3) An exact transcript of all wording in the certificate issued “by the Labour Relations Board author- ising the union as the certified bar- gaining agency for your employees. Make sure that this includes the date of certification. (4) The names and positions of all executive members of the local and sub-locals of the union includ- ing president, vice-presidents, sec- retary, business agent, job steward and trustees of the union funds. If there is a policy committee with- in the local the names of the mem- bers. (5) The dates and places of any meetings within the local and sub- local in which you believe discus- sions relating to negotiations, strike action, etc., were held and, if pos- sible, an outline of what was dis- cussed and determined at. such meetings. (Report any informa- tion you have of this nature. In- dicate which information you feel is accurate and which is only rum- oured.) | HOME OF | UMON MADE WR'S WEAR and PRIENDLY SERVICE WHAT — HE TRIED Toe SELL YOW A SUIT THAT DIONT FIT? 7RY THE HUB,-/7y¥ Boy, AN YOURS WIFH EASY CREDIT 45 EAST HASTINGS VANCOUVER 4, B.C tions taken by the union—times, Names, dates, photos of pickets, descriptions of operations— like that shown above—all the information required for strike- breaking and union-busting in the southern Interior woodworkers’ strike is asked for in the “highly te operators by the Interior Lumber Manufacturers’ Association. (6) Report any increased union activity in your plant within the last 6 months, names of union of- ficers appearing at plant and the purposes of their visits. (7) Any other information that you feel is pertinent. CONFIDENTIAL SECTION B Information to be gathered should the union take any action that af- fects your production or shipping regardless of the result of the gov- ernment supervised strike vote. Most, if not all, action will prob- ably involve picketing. Under the law persons may locate. themselves anywhere outside of private pro- perty to “impart information” to anyone, but the actions of such per- son or persons determines the ex- tent to which such person or per- sons are obeying or breaking the law. This all varies of course with different circumstances, and must be determined by a court. In order to ensure that we protect our legal rights under all conditions, please, regardless of whether your opera- tion voted in. favour or against strike action, record and supply your association with the follow- ing information. This information will be screen- ed by our lawyers who are thor- oughly experienced in such mat- ters, and will take the appropriate action: e.g. injunctions for illegal picketing, de-certification of the union for illegal acts, conspiracy to prevent a contract between an employer and employee being car- ried out, etc. Note: No legal action will be taken unless it is the recommen- dation of the association’s execu- tive, and the expressed desire of the member involved. (1) A full statement of the ac- confidential” document sent out dates, acts, number of persons in- volved, ete. (2) The names of all the pickets or persons involved in the action and their position in the union. Where names are impossible to ob- tain, a detailed description, includ- ing clothing worn, identifying feat- ures, etc. If possible actual pic- tures of such pickets in action. Length of time persons are on the picket line, hours and times pickets change, any new persons on picket line, and who they are. (3) Any information that will connect each picket with the union. (A) The name of the company for whom he works, and if he is on union checkoff. If persons on picket line are strangers, find out who they are, if they are brought in from another | - plant or another area. Obtain all information. Identifying arm bands, cards and badges worn by the pick- et containing the union name, initials, crests) ete. If possible obtain samples of these for exhibits. mC?) A description of the plant site, preferably with a rough dia- gram, outlining all normal and pos- sible routes of access to the opera- tion (roads, walks, railway bridges, ete.), the location of fences or other natural or contructed barriers and the location of pickets or picket lines “on strike” signs, ete, (5) An account of the conduct of the pickets, including such points as (B ~ (A) Manner of assembly—singly, doubly, in groups, arrayed physically to prevent entry, obstructive tactics, etc. (B) Method of picketing — how each talks to persons ap- proaching the picket line or the premises — record word for word all possible conver- 2|pearing before an operation é as well-organised body who havé */ been challenged in their actions *|fore and have the idea that y individuals and the labour la 2\this province, then their de sations, abusive language (give words actually used — the courts have heard them all before), statements that pickets are present to vent persons from entering the premises — any physic?” violence, etc. (Connect names of persons with all such cords—obtain pictures if Po sible.) q (6) In the case of pickets voted against strike, in addition all the above, try to have pice admit that they are picketing, ° that it is a picket line—name per son or persons who made the § the ment (it is important to get + admittance that it is a picket Une —if necessary get into an ment to get the admittance). All this information is most ee sential. We realise that this big task, but we are up against t can disregard the law to © their unreasonable demands te {0 industry. If this union is mae | behave and respect the rign of aliné® with us in the future will be one business like basis and they riot realise that the Southern Intel) lumber industry is not an a¢ unio three-ring circus where the ‘ym? cracks the whip and we J°— through the hoop. : e If in doubt on any point ba phone the association rePres™ oy tives at any time of the OT voy night at the following vance phone numbers: Association Office (9 2-™ OG p.m.)—MaArine 8131. 7 L. J. A. Rees—DExter 1790 K. R. Martin—CEdar 3766. i jah Keep this bulletin confiderin —we must not allow the to become informed of ovr egy. ie guar ; ion is yo Your cooperation 1 nture: antee of success in this V@ Yours truly, va L. J. A. REES: 1 Secretary-Maneo” , re Interior Lumber Manufact¥ Assoclatl a Y | ZENITH CAFE — 105 E. Hastings S Vancouver, B.C. UNION HOUSE _ ——{_> S. H. BROWN PLUMBING & HEATING 371 Johnson Road 44 R.R.1 White Rock - Phoné *_ at STANTON MUNRO & DEAN BARRISTERS — SOLICITORS NOTARIES Suite 515 FORD BUILDING.) (Corner Main and Has : 193 East Hastings MArine 5746 PACIFIC TRIBUNE — NOVEMBER 13, 1053 —