Western Pulp and Paper

 MARCH 1964 PAGE 6 OCEAN FALLS REPORT by G. Griffin

More than a few employees of Crown Zellerbach, Ocean Falls Division, are disturbed over the lack of rhyme or reason behind the recent transfers or lack of them between here and Elk Falls. A few weeks back a notice went up on the board at Ocean Falls asking for the names of persons wishing to transfer to Elk Falls.

A number of persons, such as I applied, specifically for "2 Maintenance Millwrights". Who did Elk Falls select? Not the ones with: (a) 17 years seniority approximately 10 years in the Millwright crew; (b) 11 years seniority - 7 years as lead hand - 18 years in the trade. They chose a carpenter millwright with only 2.5 years seniority at this mill for the transfer. Something smells fishy here. To top it off Elk Falls (Crown Zellerbach) hired a millwright from a rival Company to fill a position that could have been filled from the employees at Ocean Falls.

First Aid Guards Apparently these fellows have to write tests every so often. The minimum ticket required at Ocean Falls is the "C" and the test has to be written every year in Vancouver at a cost of approximately $50 not counting lost time or plane fare - $88 round trip.

Crown Zellerbach should contribute at least part of the money involved such as they do for employees taking correspondence courses which the Company pays 75% of the cost upon completion.

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Apparently there has been no "traffic" of "Community Council" Meetings for some time – not that they accomplished much as all the good ideas cost money and Crown Zellerbach is very cost conscious as of late.

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Congratulations are in order for Brother Peter Freund, who was elected as 1st vice-president and alternate Wage Delegate. Previously he was on the Standing Committee. Brother E. Pedersen was elected to the Standing Committee to fill the position vacated by Brother Freund as the 1st vice-president automatically assumes the duties of Chairman of the Standing Committee.

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The Company has still not discussed with the Wage Delegates the rate for the new Log Sorter, which has been at Ocean Falls for some time now.

Before Christmas a foreman was off sick and the Supervisor refused to promote the usual temporary or relief lead hand up. The foreman was off sick in excess of two days - the Company states that if after 5 days or at the discretion of the Supervisor, the relief lead hand may be put up - as usual the policy leaves a loop hole - "at the discretion of the Supervisor". This item still not settled.

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When it pleases them (Management) they go on regardless of rules, policy letters, agreements etc. Such as in the case in the welding shop when they promoted a junior welder out of the line of seniority. Another item for the Standing Committee.

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It has been brought to my attention that the juices that are poured into glasses for the contractors are returned to the steam table, if left by the contractors, to be sold to others - a very unhygienic practice. Only one of many.

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The Local would like a policy letter to cover the call out procedure in the mill. The Local submitted the original submission August 13, 1963. This was not acceptable to management so a revised submission was turned in August 14, 1963. The Company claims they lost the revised submission so we re-submitted it on September 13, 1963. To date, little or nothing has been done on this item.

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A petition was drawn up and circulated by the women of No. 6 Apartment in regards to the inadequate drying facilities. The petition, addressed to Mr. A.M. Harvey with copies to Local 312 and 360, states that there are now thirty five children in the apartment and on certain days it may take five to six hours to dry washing in the drying room. The present facilities are proving to be inadequate.

* * * A housing vacancy coming up in the near future is to be given to a relative new-comer to Ocean Falls while others have waited on the housing list for a great number of years.

* * * The hospital visiting committee is a committee of one (Mr. Harry Crowdis) who donates his time freely in order to purchase and distribute gifs to the patients in the hospital. Over the years, both Brothers Crowdis and Marchuk have done a good job with very little recognition for their time.