Western Pulp and Paper

 June 1967 Page 5 OCEAN FALLS by Peter Freund

Although the daily menu here at the Falls is loss of security, uncertainty, and layoffs the spirits of the people are high. Social activities are so numerous lately that it's hard to know which to choose. We have banquets, bake sales, bingos, buncos, beauty queen contests, centennial events, and just recently we had a ball being entertained for three hours by various national groups, children, etc. in a folk festival.

However, at the beginning of June the first layoffs occurred. There will be others, which will have a snowball effect. Our hotel workers will have less work with fewer single men in the hotel; employees in the Bay, Johnston Terminals and Nelson's Laundry are facing short time work. Hit hard too are summer students home from universities and schools with absolutely no summer work up here to help them with their fees for the coming year.

We certainly got the press interested and the recent large article in the Vancouver Sun by Miss Pat Carney summed up the situation Ocean Falls quite aptly.

July 1967 Page 1 [photo Local 312 protest line in front of mill - photo by Buchanan] Mechanics - Members of Local 312 protest management's practices in the plant. The protest was honoured by members of the building trades unions working on construction at the Ocean Falls plant of CZ

July 1967 Page 6 OCEAN FALLS by Peter Freund History was made in Ocean Falls recently when, after numerous years of operation, our sulphite and kraft mill department closed down.

The remaining personnel have been given other jobs: some temporary, some on a more permanent basis, but this in no way compensates for the large number of years spend working in these departments, with experience and qualifications gained now wasted.

Some of our members have had to take lower paid jobs, others were offered alternate jobs with very little chance of "working up" to higher paid categories. With respect to seniority, each person, irrespective of former departmental seniority, now goes to the bottom of the field of employment.

Now to explain the photograph on page one. Over the past month, the executive of Local 312 has been continually frustrated with many problems arising from the cutbacks in employment up here in dealing with CZ. On numerous occasions, we have found supervisors doing hourly paid work, which is a direct infringement of Local 312's jurisdictional rights. The mill here is top heavy with staff people who will do much to try and justify their existence, particularly by taking over as much work as the think is permissible from our people.

Therefore, at approximately 1:45 pm on Friday, June 23 about 150 journeymen mechanics walked off the job in protest against management's attitude. The executive of 312 had brought the many infringements to Crown's attention, but the company's attitude left much to be desired. A picket line was established and a particular vote of thanks must be given to all those outside construction workers up here who refused to cross the picket line.

Later that day it was agreed to return to work, with the understanding that Mr. RH Butler, vice-president of CZ would come to Ocean Falls in order to discuss the matter. It was resolved after Mr. Butler's visit, that the problem was a local one and must be concluded up here.