THE WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER CAMP WOSS HOLDS MEMBERSHIP FORUM A highly successful mem- bership forum was held at Camp Woss, May 7-8, spon- sored by Local 1-71, Regional Council No. 1, and the Inter- national Union. The forum was the second sponsored by the Local Union in recent forts in B.C. and the present IWA goal to extend more or- ganization to the B.C. Interior and Prairie Provinces of Can- ada, He pointed to the rapid rise of wages in B.C. after the appearance of the IWA on the scene. He remarked that IWA INTERNATIONAL Assistant Research and Educa- tion Director Frank Fuller presented a detailed report on the economics of the forest products industry. Both Fuller and Ernie Freer, Local 1-71 President, were com- mended by International 2nd Vice-President Ron Roley for the informative way they made their presentation. weeks and drew a large class of approximately 50 loggers working in the Englewood Division of Canadian Forest Products. The purpose of the forum was to review the collective bargaining process, its his- tory, how it works, and how it is being used in the present coastwise contract ne gotia- tions to improve the wages and conditions of woodwork- ers. Local 1-71 President Ernie Freer, a member of the coast negotiating committee, re- viewed the contract demands and brought the membership up-to-date on the progress of wage and contract negotia- tions. Questions and com- ments indicated a sharp awareness of the issues, and enthusiastic support for the negotiators. International Vice Presi- dent Ron Roley discussed the role of the International Un- ion in early organizational ef- today, as a result, the wages of woodworkers in coastal B.C. ‘are at a par with the Pacific Northwest, whereas they lagged way behind twen- ty years ago. He emphasized that these wages and condi- tions are not secure unless the benefits of organization are extended to all wood- workers in Canada and the United States. Frank Fuller, Assistant Di- rector of Research and Edu- cation, presented a report on the economics of the Forest Products Industry. His report emphasized the sharp rise of. workers’ productivity in the industry and the resulting enormous rise in profits. Two movies were shown during the forum. One of these was “The Inheritance,” a film produced by the Amal- gamated Clothing Workers Union; the other was “Strike In Town,” a movie put out by the Canadian Film Board. / The importance of the strike vote in the collective bargaining process was em- phasized in the film and in the discussion following the showing of “Strike In Town.” The film’s theme centered around the negotiations be- tween an IWA Local Union and one large employer. The strike vote during these ne- gotiations was the big factor in bringing about a satis- factory settlement without a strike. Members discussed the importance of the present strike vote in coastwise ne- gotiations. “The Inheritance” told a moving story of the desperate struggle of workers in the early part of the 20th century on this continent to end em- ployer domination and con- trol of their wages and condi- tions. The discussion and com- ments on this film by the Ca- nadian Forest Products log- gers indicated a keen aware- ness on their part of the in- heritance that early day woodworkers have passed on to the present generation who work in woods and mills. Regional President Jack Moore had planned to attend the forum, but was unable to make it because of negotia- tions. Business Agent Walter Kozij- and Camp Chairman George Stiles assisted in the organization of the class. SAFETY IN LOGGING POSSIBLE By BEN THOMPSON 1st Vice-President, Local 1-71 Camp 2 of Weldwood of Canada has built up 583 ac- cident free days to date. This outstanding effort brought to this camp the Shield for Mer- itorious Performance, the B.C. Safety Council Silver Award and the B.C. Loggers’ Association Award. This camp is located in the remote Toba Inlet country with log- ging being conducted on the steep slopes of the Coastal Mountain Range. The crew average runs between 25 and 30 members. Due to the fairly short logging season and the “look” of the logging site, crew turnover is an attendant problem at the operation. The winning of these Safety BEN THOMPSON Awards is certainly a com- mendable performance. Empire Logging Division of the same company won the W.C.B. Meritorious Award (Group D) for 1965. The av- erage membership at this op- eration is 60. An additional factor affecting safe work performance is the time of travel to the work site. The 15 man boom sorting division of Okeover also went through 1965 without any in- jury and received the B.C. Loggers’ Association Award for their performance, This company has a policy of safety which is being put to work at the job site. It is proof that management and membership through active - safety committees can elim- inate accidents. SOME OF THE LOGGERS employed in the Englewood Division who attended the two-day membership forum sponsored by Local 1-71, the Regional Council and the International Union May 7-8, at Camp Woss. WOSS CAMP CHAIRMAN George Stiles (centre) who assisted Business Agent Walter Kozij in the class prepara- tions is shown above with Camp Secretary Al Pellegrin (right) and John Jefford who attended the forum from Camp Vernon. * aa “as ‘ / eS a , i Sahs we _— 3 ie a: : a ee ~i” a 3 . ou “» ? by + | S < ° gy 5 : bane ity , ¥ - B : ‘ 3 Ls, s = . * , ; - a , > ‘ i Aes cenae, WALTER KOZIJ, Local 1-71 Busi Roley, International 2nd Vice-President ante poe Fuller, International Assistant Director of Research and Education, are shown on the shores of beautiful Woss Lake.