The Daily Alaska empire., 1948-06-05


 everyone tries to get along with everyone else. The Longshoremen and Sawmill workers are both c. l. o. Unions. The barge loading over which the dispute arose is a very small percentage of the Saw mill operation. This work was not definitely assigned to us in our contract so we did not wish to become involved. We felt the best way to avoid trouble was to walk away from it. We had no griev- ance with anyone and we didn't care to get into one Furthermore, no working man ever desires to cross picket line. It is a stigma on his character. Therefore, the IVA respected the Longshoremen's picket line, thereby giving them 1 indirect support.
 No Progress Made
 1 After the first week of the dis pute, it became apparent to us that the Juneau Spruce Corpora tion and the ILWU were not mak- ing any headway or coming to any agreement. At that point we step ped in as neutral and injured third party to do anything possible to settle the dispute. Our Execu- tive Board spent day after day trying to bring the two parties to an agreement. Also, our Interna- tional President in Portland, Ore | gon, visited Juneau, and later as- | signed a man from the Interna- | tional Office, who spent nearly | two weeks in Juneau in an attempt to arrive at an amicable settle ment. Later, officials of the IVA met in Portland and consulted with the International legal staff. The Company's legal staff was also con tacted, but it was apparent that l the situation was deadlocked. EconGmic Security Endangered Realizing that the economic se- curity of the Sawmill workers and | the Cities of Juneau and Douglas was endangered, Local President 1 Flint went to Portland to confer with our International officers, but the IVA having no dispute with the Juneau Spruce Corporation could not enter into any negotia- tions with the Company and ar rive at any settlement.
 It was at about that time that Mayor Hendrickson offered his proposal to the disputing parties and also to the IVA, who although not involved in the dispute, is di- rectly affected It was the studied opinion of the local IVA officers that the proposal was fair. Our members and the community in general was suffering. The propos- al would first give the Longshore- men a legal right to establish their jurisdiction between now and April 1, 1949. Secondly, it would not breakdown wages or conditions | in the area as the rate of pay for this type of work would be l comparable to similar work in Ju- neau. Further, that the Company had agreed it would withdraw the unfair labor charge. It might be noted at this point that the NLRB the day previously had tenn porarily dismissed the charges against the Longshoremen, but it is our understanding that the Cor poration is appealing that decision. Furthermore, in line with the pro- posal the jurisdiction Of the IVA and the Longshoremen would be clearly defined for the period of the IVA contract year which ends April l. 1949.
 The IVA officers and members regret that ILWU Local Is has not accepted this proposal We sincerely believe that it would be best for all parties concerned. We do not blame any union for fighting for what they believe is right, but we believe their position has gone beyond the bounds of fairness to the IVA if they persist in keeping their picket line on the plant.
 IVA Has No Grievance
 Our position is that we have no grievance with the longshoremen nor the company. We are a disin- terested third party who refuse, as good union men, to cross picket lines. We know that our members are out of work, that they have been denied unemployment insurance, and a dispute which would shut the Juneau Spruce Corporation all summer would result in calamity for our members in Juneau in gen. eral.
 There are legal means for estab- fishing the jurisdiction of anyone. The IVA went through certain pro- cedures under the Hartley Act of submitting financial reports and the officers signed non- Communist affidavits, so they would have the right to use the facilities of the NLRB. The longshoremen have an equal right to do likewise. If they choose to use NLRB, they may fol- low the same procedure and legally establish their jurisdiction