THE WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER

LUMBER

PRICES

SOAR

IWA

A phenomenal increase in common lumber prices of all items in recent weeks has confirmed IWA predictions, made earlier, that the coast lumber industry is riding the crest of

a boom.

In the week during which negotiations opened, the daily price increases on green fir and dry white spruce averaged $100 per M for ten days consecutively.

This has been the quickest price rise in 20 years. At present the demand for B.C. lumber is in excess of the supply.

It is reported that building starts in the United States are such as to encourage retailers to build up inventories. Also, the U.S. government is buy- ing lumber heavily for the Viet Nam war procurement.

The threat of labour trou- ble in June is another factor in stimulating the present de- mand.

’ The trends reported at the IWA Wages & Contract Con- ference in February are con- tinuing upward.

LUMBER PRODUCTION

Coast lumber production in 1965 exceeded the 1964 pro-

duction by more than 201 million board feet. This up- ward trend is continuing.

LUMBER SHIPMENTS

Coast lumber shipments have been rising at an an- nual rate of more than six percent, and in 1965 rose by more than 250 million board feet. June 1965 shipments struck the new peak of 364.2 million board feet.

Waterborne shipments to the United States in 1965 ex- ceeded the 1964 shipments by 4814%. Increased shipments to Japan, Australia and Italy were also recorded. Exports

Financial Fost. {THE WAY Money POURING 1N FROM B.C. FORESTS Youd THINK TREES MADE OF GolZ**

~

HE MB.and RR. CANDY TREE —

to the United Kingdom re- mained at approximately the same high level.

ORDER FILE

Lumber orders on file were 645.1 million board feet in November 1965, and were rapidly ascending towards the peak of 747.7 million board feet in January 1965.

PROFIT POSITION

The improved profit posi- tion of the industry is indi- cated by the performance of seven corporations as shown below:

Performance of Seven Lumber and Wood Products Corporations*

Re ———EE G)et ee 1962-64 Change...

$2,035,800,000

Up 26.0%

1962-64

Income Net Sales

2,565,800,000 Up 40.7%

Before Taxes

$242,700,000 341,600,000

Income After Taxes

$140,400,000 203,500,000 Up 44.9%

*Including B.C. Forest Products, Celanese of America (Columbia Cellulose-Celgar Ltd.), Crown Zellerbach (including U.S. operation), Evans Products, MacMillan Bloedel and Powell River, Rayonier Inc., U.S. Plywood (Weldwood-Canadian Col- ~

lieries).

ON SEVEN-DAY WEEK ISSUE

COURT BACKS LOCAL 1-357

A favorable verdict was won by Local 1-357 IWA in the Supreme Court of British Columbia March 17th to set aside a regulation of the Board of Industrial Relations authorizing a continuous 7-day week in the hardboard mill of the Pacific Veneer Plywood Division of Canadian Forest Products

Limited, New Westminster.

Upon appearance before Mr. Justice McInnes, counsel agreed that the board was without jurisdiction in the matter. The Judge then is- sued an order accordingly.

proceeded to issue a regula- tion under Section 11 (4) of the Act which stipulated a crew schedule over a 28-day averaged period. This work schedule provided: 7 days on and 2 off on day shift, 7 days on and 2 off on afternoon shift, and 7 days on and 3 off on graveyard shift (with eighth day off on day shift). The Local Union contended that this regulation set aside

the terms of the master agree- ment on hours of work and thereby nullified the union’s collective bargaining rights.

The New Westminster Lo- cal Union has now been ad- vised that the company .in- tends to apply for re-consid- eration under Section 12 of the Hours of Work Act,

This test case has excited widespread interest through- out the industry in view of the fact that in broad nego- tiations the employers now propose general adoption of the 7-day continuous produc- tion schedule.

FROM PAGE 1

"LOCAL 1-405"

the base rate after thirty working days. At present, the majority of the Interior mills consider chain pulling a base rate job.

Another provision of the agreement provides that all employees in the Sawmill, re- gardless of classification, who obtain a grading ticket will receive their group rate plus 10 cents an hour for a “B” ticket and 20 cents an hour for an “A” ticket.

The Company has also agreed to meet with the Un- ion in the near future to dis- cuss a Job Training Plan, Job

Posting and the application of -

seniority.

The new revisions are con- sidered the finest ever ob- tained in the Interior and were negotiated by President Art Damstrom, Financial Sec- retary Elmer Atwood, and Committee Members Pete Palumbo, Tom Spears and Pete Boyko.

The Local, which has com- pleted a number of similar

‘revisions in other operations,

will now concentrate on two large companies, which so far have shown a complete lack of interest in making any such wage adjustments. The

Local officers have stated that if these companies persist in their attitude, the Local Un- ion will throw the problem into broad negotiations next year.

The Kicking Horse Ply- wood Plant is the first ply- wood operation in Local 1- 405 and the officers in nego- tiating the agreement were successful in getting rates higher than already establish- ed in other Southern Interior plywood plants.

The officers were also suc- cessful in eliminating female rates in the operation but agreed to keep the jobs of Dryer Off-Bearers and Rai- man patchers for women, pro- vided they received the men’s rates.

In the event of a reduction in the work force, the pro- vision was made that any per- son with more seniority could move into these jobs.

President Damstrom and Financial Secretary Atwood, along with Plant Committee member Joe Gilles, aided Re- gional 1st Vice-President Jack MacKenzie with the negotiations.

MINOR HOCKEY TEAM sponsored by Local 1-424 1WA, in the Bantam Division at Quesnel. The team was third in the League play-offs and the Local Union is proud of the showing these youngsters made in the stiff competitions held. Coach for the team is popular Harry Keen.

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