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J'Master Table Bis Issue Key're right out of their tree,*1 he said. If it came to the point where the company demanded a quick settlement or closure of the Bellveille plant, Mr. Nickrson said his union's attitude would be "OK let's sit down and see what the problem is." "If he (Belleville plant president. Dave Vice) is saying that the problem is centrallized in Belleville -- that the company can't pay the wages the union is asking for, why don't they come out and say it to us. We haven't been able to put our finger on the thing,"- said Mr. Nickerson. "We've always said our position is a negotiable position, unlike theirs, so we can get this thing moving," he said. "In Kingston they've said it's a brand-new plant and we can't pay those employees that kind of money because they're not fully trained yet, but the employees at Belleville have been working a long time." Mr. Nickerson denied company s comments that master talks had earlier been devoted almost entirely to local issues waith Kittle time given to discussing the contract. *'We began on April 23," he said. "There were no local issues talked at the table from the 23rd for two full weeks of solid bargaining." Both Northern Electric co. are not meeting on a master Ltd. and United Auto Workers basis', and calling it illegal," have reiterated their willing- said Mr; Nicker son. He showed ness to continue negotiates, a letter dated June 5 from asbut largely on t h e i r own sistant vice-president of personnel, A. J. Greg an, that most terms. While UA Wseeks master bargaining agents received bargaining for membership at Friday. "We reiterate our willingNorthern plants at Belevlle, London, Kingston and Brama- ness to meet with the approlea, the company has indepen- priate union repre;setatives dently announced the setting at the locale specified in the up of local meetings at these Certificate of Recognition," said the letter, the meaning centres. which was "local bargainAt a press conference late of yesterday, UAW's chief nego- ing only." It said the union's condition of master , bar gaintiator, Bob Nickerson, s a i d ing was "in our opinion a reason for his union's stand clear infringement upon the was to ensure wage parity be- Ontario L a b o r Relations tween the different plants. Board's jurisdiction". The job evaluation proced"Failure to accept this corure at Northern sets up a resipondece as notice of our a points system. The same desire to negotiate is, we begade draws different wages lieve, tantamount to failure at different plants under the to bargaib in good faith on contracts that expired Febru- behalf of the member® whom ary. you have been accredited to Mr. Nickerson said the un- represent," concluded the letion goal was to eliminate these ter. differences. "What I think the Mr. Nickerson said the recompany is saying is the dif- ply to UAW's tefegram had ferences are wages," he said. said the company would meet "If that's what they are say- representatives at 10 a.m. toing then we're in trouble, big day in London, on Wednestrouble, because our approach day at the Four Seasons in to this is that by the end of a Belleville osn Thursday at 10 three-year contract wages will a.m. in Toronto and Friday at be equal. 10 a.m. at Kingston. "If they "No-one in the corporation think for one damn minute ever compares work at one we're going to start all ovr plant versus work at another again after a six weeks' strike plant when paying a rate of | pay," said Mr. Nickerson. "All reference is to grades. "The corporation has a job evaluation system and a grading system and they evaluie j the jobs and place them within that grading system," he said. "How can they use their own evaluation system to pay a Grade 21 in Belleville 14 cents an hour less t h a n a Garde 21 in London is getting. "We have recognized differences -- for example Kingston's seven-day week," said Mr. Nicksrson. He said that following statements made by plant presidents June 8 to the press saying the company would, go back to the master table "if that was what it would take." UAW sent a telegram inviting the company to m e e t again at the master table al its own convenience. "Then their industrial relations department sends us a letter saying 'sorry fella: we