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THE WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER

SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER, 1974

LOCAL 1-357 BEATS COMPANY'S “GOON” TACTICS

Union busting tactics out of the Thirties didn’t stop ten members of Local 1-357 from getting a first agreement at Consumer Pallet Co. in New Westminster. A strike, which lasted two weeks and saw the company use “‘goon”’ tactics on the picket line, was necessary to bring the company to the table.

A number of pickets were injured by pipe swinging management personnel who came out of the plant yelling insults at the pickets. A number of members’ cars were also damaged when they tried to follow a truckload of “hot” pallets from the plant. That truck eventually ended up in the interior where workers refused to unload the shipment after the B.C. Federation of Labour had declared the com- pany’s products ‘“‘hot’’.

The tactics of management

to try to break the strike even surprised the local union’s Business Agents, most of whom have been through more strikes than they can remember.

The company accused the union members of entering the plant at night and damaging some of the equipment but no- charges were laid after the RCMP had done a complete in- vestigation.

Local 1-357 representatives refused to sign an agreement until all charges against the union and the members in- volved were dropped. In return the union agreed to drop a number of assault charges that it had laid against manage- ment personnel, In addition the company agreed to reinstate all those employees fired as a result of the organization and strike.

REGIONAL TRUSTEES making their annual report to the Convention. From left is Erik Wood, Financial Secretary of Local 1-367, Haney, Art Damstrom, Financial Secretary of Local 1-405, Cranbrook, Toby Mogensen, Financial Secretary of Local 1-424, Prince George.

We have made quarterly examinations of the books, records and vouchers of the fgg Council up to June 30,

and find them to be in good order. All expenditures

been made in accordance with established Regional policy and/or authorized by the Regional Executive Board. We have had full co-operation from the office personnel in earrying out our duties as Trustees

GENERAL FUND

The average membership in the Region has risen from 46,169 in 1973 to 50,256 which, combined with the increase in per capita, has resulted in additional income for the Re- gional Council. The bank bal- ance at the end of June was $59,709.77 as compared to $99,405.46 at this time last year. delegates should note that incurred for pub-

licity 1974 negotiations have not yet been transferred

from the Negotiations and Fund to the General

Publicity Fund now

-

STRIKE FUND We have, during the past year, examined the Strike Fund vouchers and expendi- tures submitted by the various Local Unions and found them to be administered in line with

Regional Strike Policy.

The balance in the strike

fund as of June 30, 1973 was $2,493,024 compared with $2,678, 303 as of June 30, 1974, an increase of $185, 279, Total expenditures from the Strike Fund in the past year were $617,860.

The Trustees hope that the additional one dollar strike assessment will be of assist- ance to our members in any future strikes.

In conclusion, we wish to acknowledge the courteous assistance and co-operation extended to us by the officers and office personnel during the course of our inspections over the past year.

Respectfully submitted:

at pene

NOTICE

IWA members laid off due to the depressed state of the forest in- dustry are reminded that they should apply now to their Local Union

or Job Steward for a dues exoneration card.

The Union’‘s Constitution provides that laid off members filling in an exoneration card are exempt from paying Union dues.

IWA members leaving the industry who may return in the future should take out a retirement card to avoid paying another initiation

fee.

The B.C. Federation of Labour has strongly reiterated its opposition to the Van-

couver-Garibaldi Winter Olympics proposal. The statement was made October 2nd at a press conference at- tended by several environ- mental groups supporting the Provincial Government’s refusal to endorse the Olym- pics bid.

Federation Secretary-Trea- surer Len Guy said: ‘‘Since the Provincial Government initially turned down the Olympic Committee’s request for endorsation no significant changes in the proposal have been made. The Provincial Governmentis still expected to guarantee any shortfall in the raising of funds. Such a guarantee could cost B.C. tax- payers millions of dollars. The upgrading of highways to the proposed Olympics site would be a necessity and has been estimated to cost as much as 80 to 100 million dollars.

“While millions and millions of taxpayers’ dollars would have to be spent by the Provin- cial Government a small group of developers would reap enormous windfall profits. Furthermore, once the Games are over, the facilities would in the main be used by the ski ‘jet set’ and upper income groups while the vast majority of citizens would receive little if any: benefits.

“It is our firm belief that the money that would be required for the Olympics could better be spent on recreational

facilities throughout the province that could be used by a much larger share of the population.

“For all these reasons the

_B.C. Federation of Labour con-

tinues to strongly support the stand taken by the Provincial Government and rejects the pleas by the Vancouver-Gari- baldi Olympics Committee. We believe the Committee’s only real concern is the vast amount of profit they see slipping from their grasp.”

FINE | “EIXERS”

The new Consumer Affairs Minister, Andre Ouellet, has told the House of Commons that price fixers should be dealt with by severe fines and even jail terms. He wants a tougher Combines Investiga- tion Act which allows for stiffer penalties.

But amendments to the Com- bines Act introduced were the same as those which were left over from the pre-election session. They are aimed at promoting truth in advertising and protecting the small busin- essman from being over- exploited by large corpora- tions.

Nothing about heavy fines and jail sentences for price- fixing.

SEGRE EE Chery } (

HOUSING STARTS DOWN

Housing started late last year and completed this year has raised the number of available dwellings over a year ago. But urban housing starts this year are well down from 1973, boding ill for the future. Builders take from nine to twelve months to complete housing units. By August total starts were down 9% from a year ago, but starts on apart- ment rental units were down 18%. In the one month of August starts were down 24% compared with August 1973.

A large real estate financier in Canada, Credit Suisse (Canada) Ltd., believes that the real estate market in this country is vulnerable in a serious recession. It says the situation as. between. stocks and real estate is the reverse of the 1930s depression period. In those years, stocks were held on margin while real estate was often held outright. Today stocks are held outright. while real estate is heavily mor- tgaged. A spokesman for the company predicted that many home owners would have difficulty keeping up with their mortgage payments because of the large mortgages relative to small down payments en- couraged by the government.

To fight inflation, Credit Suisse believes that Canada should hold down oil prices by increasing production while reducing consumption. But Canada is doing just the op- posite — by increasing con- sumption by 10.5% in the first half of this year while production and exploration are

lagging.

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