Vol. XLVI No. 5

VANCOUVER, B.C.

UNTIL FALL SESSION

IWA-TLA SUBMIT JOINT REQUEST FOR DELAY OF NEW FOREST ACT

IWA Regional President Jack Munro and Dave O’Con- ner, President of the Truck Loggers Association, issued a joint release June 19th, urging Premier Bennett to delay third reading of the government’s new Forest Act until the fall session.

The release, in specifying reasons for the delay, stated:

“Fxecutives of our groups are scheduling meetings to plan strategy to obtain amend- ments to the new Forest Act.”’

“Our studies, done indepen- dently, agree Bill 14 as written will not intensify the degree of manufacturing or expand pro- duction to provide jobs to re-

place those lost in moderniza- ion. It will not create new jobs, it will threaten existing jobs.”’

“Moreover, without. amend- ment to Bill 14 there will not be a solid foundation of job secur- ity based upon modern tech-* nology and assured ability to compete in world markets.”

“We want legislation that serves British Columbians and

MACINTYRE

FED. SECRETARY

Dave MacIntyre, a former business agent for the Press- men’s Union, has been ap- pointed Secretary-Treasurer of the B.C. Federation of Labour following the msignation of Len Guy.

Guy, ip announced his res- ignation May 12th, stated he was leaving ae Federation’s top post for personal reasons.

Macintyre will serve as Sec- retary until the next Federa- tion convention scheduled for November, 1978, in Vancouver.

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which does not give advantage, privilege and monopoly to foreign companies without as- sured commitment to B.C.”

“While it is unusual for a union and an employer group to join in opposing legislation, it underlines the fact that Bill 14 is bad.”’ Mr. Waterland mis- understands when he says op- position toitis partisan pdlitics by “rent a crowd,” protestors. This is grass roots opposition from citizens, both employers and workers, whose interests are threatneed.

The IWA at the outset gave cautious approval to the Act but further study has forced the Union to change its opinion until a number of major amendments are made.

The IWA believes the matter of releasing unused Allowable Annual Cut from the Coast Tree Farm licences is the centre-piece of reforms ur- gently required. The Bill initially provided that these TFL’s could be reduced to the size required to sustain. the licencee’s manufacturing re- newal of the licence only after an automatic 5-yr. renewal of the licence.

Since then, the Minister has introduced an amendment which permits hime to reduce the TFL at the turnover of the licence; that is, five years earlier.

The IWA believes that that provision should be strengthened in two respects: first, the reduction in the TFL’s should be mandatory, not permissive; and second,

Another first for the TWA is

the recent certification granted to Local 1-324 covering the employees of the Wescana Inn, at The Pas, Manitoba.

Approximately fifty em- ployees are involved in the certification.

Local President Bill Benson stated that the employees will

be given the status of a Sub-

Local of the Local Union to avoid being affected by any strikes that may occur at the

Manfor complex. In granting certification the

Labour Board excluded from the bargaining unit, the positions of manager, assistant manager, confidential secretary.

The Local Union will be

negotiating terms of a first

; ome in the near future.

chief chef and

companies now holding TFL’s should be prohibited from ac- quiring the excess timber re- leased from any other TFL. Moreover, the timber released should to the greatest extent possible be representative of the timber throughout the TFL; at least, measures must be undertaken to ensure that the timber released is not ‘‘the junk.”

The IWA advocates these changes for a number of rea- sons. First, the estimated “undercut” in Coast TFL’s (about 25% of the total) would then provide from some expan- sion in the Industry, or at least for jobs replacing those lost when the Coast Industry begins modernizing its plants.

Second, the release of this log supply, managed by outfits that don’t now hold a TFL, would provide for the first time a reliable supply for the Howe

See “DELAY” — page 2

BOYCOTT PRODUCTS SOLD IN B.C.

It has hemi Aiscos ero that products from the violently anti-union J. P. Stevens Com- pany are being sold in retail outlets in British Columbia.

The company is the second largest textile firm in North

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. America and has been for

some time under international

’ boycott by a number of

agencies for its treatment to its employees.

At the moment, the Supreme Court of the United States has refused the company’s request to set aside a sweeping con- tempt decision in which it was found guilty of numerous viola- tions of labour laws.

The lower courts had found the company guilty of the violations and ordered it to “start a programme for the proper education of supervis- ory and management person- nel in the legal rights of workers; mail copies and explanations of the contempt- of-court order to employees; and pay all court costs associated with the cases.”

The courts also informed the company that any future viola- tions would make it liable for fines of $100,000 for each viola- tion and $5,000 a day for ‘‘con- tinuing violations,”

B.C. stores, handling J. P. Stevens Products are Eatons of B.C., Accent Shoppes (fashions for bed, bath, kit- chen). The locations are White Rock, Langley, Richmond and Burnaby.

esta) Stoney: President of Local 1-357 IWA, New West-

minster; was unanimously. elected Provincial President of. .

the New Democratic Party during the PRarty’s annual con- vention May 19-22, in Victoria.

- Gerry, who was the NDP’s.

GERRY STONEY ELECTED NDP PROV. PRESIDENT

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ist Viceeresiient has been _ highly active in the Party for a number of*years.

His election, it’ is believed, will bring an even closer rela- tionship between the Party and the labour movement in British Columbia.

NDP HOLDS BEST CONVENTION IN YEARS

By GARTH BROWN Local 1-217

On May 19 through 22nd more than 700 delegates atten- ded the 1978 Provincial Con- vention of the B.C. New Demo- cratic Party at the University of Victoria. The Convention was one of the more united conventions in recent years. There was little of the divisive infighting that has marked NDP Provincial Conventions in the recent past. Deep rooted determination was evident however, determination to defeat Trudeau and his lack- lustre crew in the postponed federal election and deter- mination to replace Bennetts’ motley collection in Victoria.

The united mood of the con- vention became very apparent with the election of officers. Gerry Stoney, President Local 1-357 IWA was elected Presi- dent of the B.C. NDP by accla- mation. Colin Gabelmann, Political Education Director of the B.C. Federation of. Labour was acclaimed 2nd Vice Presi- dent. These acclamations strongly suggest that rumours of a continuing rift between the NDP and labour are wrong. The four candidates put for- ward or endorsed by the labour caucus were acclaimed or elected by very substantial

margins. The election of Executive Members at large saw all 10 positions filled on the first ballot, something | unheard of in the NDP.

Most of the convention’s plenary session time was spent debating policy resolutions. Major policy statements pre- pared by the Agriculture Policy Committee and_ the Health’ Policy Advisory Com- mittee were debated and adopted.

The Economic Development Policy Committee presented a draft economic plan which was discussed in panel sessions and referred back to the Commit- tee to prepare a final draft for the 1979 Convention. The referral includes instructions to seek input from labour, economists,‘ party members and business people; revision of the plan where necessary; further discussion at regional conferences and Provincial Council; and presentation of a final draft to Convention.

The most lively debate on the Convention floor came on the issue of “right to work’’. There was no opposition to the resolu- tion from the floor, but speaker after speaker, many of them delegates from affiliated local

See “CONVENTION”’ page 2