Western Pulp and Paper

 September 1965 Page 5 OCEAN FALLS REPORT by Peter Marshall

Major Gains ?? Among the items that Local 312 Townsite Committee has been in to request from Management during the past month are: that benches be installed in a small area of grass outside the local Medical Clinic; and that the Local Crown Theatre start showing Sunday movies.

Martin Inn Situation Yesterday (August 25th) Martin Inn members of local 312 voted 72 to 47 in favour of strike action in a Government Supervised Strike Vote. The issues of contention are a 15 cent per hour differential for all work on a Sunday or holiday and for three days paid sick leave. The company has offered Floating holidays instead of sick leave, arguing that the Martin Inn is a hotel and as such is part of the Catering Industry. The Union's position is that the Martin Inn is a bunkhouse (which it is registered as) and is an integral part of the Pulp and Paper Industry.

August Meeting Dates of the last three of our small Labour Agreements (Johnston Terminals, Nelson's Laundry and Hudson's Bay Company) have been announced.

Frank Rowe has been awarded the annual $250 Local 312 scholarship. Frank is working in the Finishing Room during the summer and will be attending Victoria University. Frank's father is Howard Rowe, formerly of Powell River.

Assessment Referendum 67% of ballots opposed the one dollar per day per member assessment to go toward a Martin Inn Strike Fund. Only 35% of those eligible voted. To express his disappointment in the outcome of the assessment vote, Gunter Hogrefe resigned as 1st Vice-president of the Local; George Shaw will fill in for the balance of the term.

Exemption from Hours of Work Act Once again the Pulp and Paper Industry has received its blanket exemption from the Hours of Work Act.

Miscellaneous I hear disturbing reports coming or of the local Hospital in connection with the efforts of the Registered Nurses to become organized. If we can be of any help, just give us a shout girls.

Would like to make an appeal for a little more consideration be shown to the waitresses in the Martin Inn Coffee Shop and Cafeteria, especially immediately following closing time in the Pub and Legion.

Also, we appreciate Stan Thompson and the boys in Local 360 for taking over the organization of the Labor Day activities while Local 312 is battling out this Martin Inn problem.

A pat on the back for a job well done to local citizens: to Reg Blackwell for his efforts with the Crown Theatre; to Scottish lads Charlie Law, Norman Thompson and Doug Cargill for their work on weekends with the local youngsters, teaching them the finer arts of soccer; to Bob Fisher who is doing an outstanding job as coach of the swimming pool; to Jack Kelso (Captain of the Canadian team), Sandy Gilchrist and Ralph Hutton for an outstanding job during the recent swimming tour of Great Britain and Europe.