Western Pulp and Paper

 April 1968 Page 7 STEWARD'S REPORT by Bill Donald Chief Shop Steward Local 312

 Shop stewards' training courses were held in the Local 312 board room, and the small dining room in the afternoon and evenings of February 21, 22 and 23. The classes were conducted by Brother Pat O'Neal and were very well attended by shop stewards, co-shop stewards and brothers and sisters of Local 312.

[photo] Sister and brother Gaulet attend 312 shop stewards training course. [photo] Agnes Sonne, Bill Philips, Bros. Buburuz and Bro. Rozenkie follow course. [photo] Dick Haas, Mary McLaughlin, Fred Ruttan, Mary Meegan and Sister Gaulet listen attentively.

OCEAN FALLS REPORT by George Nairn Local 312 Apologies to the readers for lack of report form Ocean Falls for the last few months, but the executive of Local 312 have been extremely busy. CZ are going to lay 150 people off due to curtailment in production.

This was announced on January 25, in a letter to all employees to take effect on April 25. To make this easier, the company offered severance pay to voluntary quitters of one weeks' wages for each year's service, and household effects and fares paid to Greater Vancouver.

This was open to the hourly paid people in the mill, hotel and staff. The response was so overwhelming that they had to move the cut-off date for voluntary quitters up to March 11. People who voluntarily severed were: 135 mill, 13 hotel and 13 staff.

Through the International and the company, arrangements were made with Manpower to come up to Ocean Falls. Quite a number of people got jobs elsewhere through Manpower, also moving assistance, and some went to school for retraining.

Any person wishing to leave his family so the children could finish the school term has the option of staying in their house or apartment for a further period of two months. A number of people who were thinking of early retirement took advantage of this opportunity.

Through the union and the company arrangements have been made through the Department of Labour, apprenticeship branch, for tradesmen to sit for their TQ's in Ocean Falls. Forty-six tradesmen are taking advantage of this and the company has agreed to pay the $10 fee. This is a great asset to the tradesmen, as the fare from Ocean Falls to Vancouver is $100 return for the 350 mile trip, over and above their expenses in the city.

The Hudson Bay company announced they are pulling out of Ocean Falls on March 30. Super-Valu have agreed to accept the contract and the business as a whole in the groceteria and drugstore. Columbia Stores are taking over the upstairs dry goods section of the store.

Other changes in the townsite are, as the people are moving out of, the company is pulling down the older houses. Two streets of old houses on the flat were taken down and a garden apartment was built on that site. Quite a number of the old houses in the rest of the town were pulled down and part of the space will be used for car parking and children's playground. The old No.1 apartment has been demolished and No. 2 apartment will be demolished this year, including more houses as people vacate them.

April 1968 Page 8

OCEAN FALLS KILLS HOMES - Local 312 down to 350 from 1,000 members While most Canadian communities are experiencing a sever housing shortage, Ocean Falls is busy demolishing many of the houses that provided homes for thousands of employees and their families who at various times since its establishment during the first wold war worked at the mill.

By the time the smoke is all clear, Local 312, which once boasted more than 1,000 members, will be reduced to approximately 350.

[9 photos with photo credits to Bill Donald and J. Forrest] One photo is of George Nairn (president 312) and L. Powell (vice -president 312) in conversation with Pat O'Neil; a second photo shows George Nairn on the phone with the caption "George Nairn, president 312 grapples with another problem". A third photo has the caption "Brother McKenzie and cat" beside a demolished house.