THE WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER

- LOOKING AFTER eae

day, against any IWA mem-
ber crossing an IWA picket
line and scabbing on his fel-
low member.

© The president of the B.C.
Federation of Labour to ex-
tend an invitation to all non-
member unions in B.C. to join
the Federation.

@ The CBC to carry a Regi-
onal News Broadcast to un-
manned TV stations.

@ The Local Union to hold
annual safety seminars.

e The meeting to again
thank the Canadian Pulp and
Paper Workers Local No. 1,
for their all-out support to
IWA Interior strikers.

@ The Local Union to con-
tinue its affiliation with the
New Democratic Party.

A resolution submitted by
the Celgar Sub-Local to split

e Local into two local un-
ions was defeated after
lengthy debate. The argument
used by the Celgar delegates
for pressing the proposal was
that the geographical area of
the Local Union was too large
and forced a hardship on
West Kootenay and Golden
members attending the vari-
ous conferences.

Financial secretary Elmer
Atwood, while opposing the
resolution, stated that-the
time. was not far off when
serious consideration would
have to be given to the move.
He said that the Local’s fin-
ances prohibited such an un-
dertaking at the moment but

when these improved, the ex-
ecutive would be well advised
to check out its feasibility.

The extensive officers’ re-
port dealt mainly with a his-
tory of the Southern Interior
strike. It pointed up the prob-
lems faced by the officers in
trying to look after the affairs
of the Local Union during
the bitter seven and one-half
month period.

The report stated that due
to the strike, the organiza-
tional activities of the Local
were naturally curbed as also
were the numerous seminars
and shop stewards’ classes
usually conducted throughout

e year.

An unusual item reported
in the grievance section of the
report mentioned that the Lo-
cal was able to force the Cel-
gar Company to provide a
free meal (hot if available)
for employees at Castlegar
required to work in excess of
two hours overtime during
the shift.

The report praised the re-
gional officers for the major
role they played during the
strike in providing continuous
MSA and.Health and Welfare
coverage as the employers
balked at cooperating.

The Credit Unions were
also praised for their cooper-
ation in allowing the members
to go the entire length of the
strike without making pay-
ments on the principal or in-
terest owed.

The reported noted that this

BALLOTING COMMITTEE counting the vote during the
nominations for new Local officers.

was in ‘marked contrast to
the attitude of the Avco Delta
Finance Corporation, LA.C.,
G.M.A.C., and the T. Eaton
Company who all demanded
prompt payment of their bills
and refused to extend credit.

The Local’s safety pro-
gramme, the report stated,
was difficult to assess because
of the long layoff. However,
it pointed out that the crew
of the Pacific Logging Com-
pany had been accident-free
for one year and had been
awarded the W.C.B. Pacific
Overland Safety Trophy for
working a total of 535,000
man hours without a com-
pensible accident.

In the political action sec-
tion of the report tribute was
paid to NDP-MLA Leo Nim-
sick for his work on behalf
of the strikers. This the re-
port noted, was again in
marked contrast to the efforts
of the Liberal M.P. Jim Byrne
and the Columbia Social

strikers for their stand.

The Ladies’ Auxiliary came
in for high praise in the re-
port. It stated that a new
Auxiliary was formed at
Canal Flats in the early stages
of the strike and the Cran-
brook Auxiliary was also re-
organized at that time. These
two Auxiliaries along with
Auxiliaries at Jaffray and
Galloway made.an invaluable
contribution during the strike
which will never be forgotten.

... THE LOCAL'S...

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rh

ee

RESOLUTION COMMITTEE
left, and Ezner DeAnna.

The ladies were also highly
paised for their very generous
gesture in coming to the aid
of the executive board by
serving the buffet supper dur-
ing the Local’s dance when
the Legion Auxiliary refused
to serve at that time.

The dance, which was held
in the Royal Canadian Le-
gion Saturday night, provided
a fine evening of entertain-

;

BA;
members Walter Semeniuk,

ment for the delegates, their
wives an and was
thoroughly enjoyed. by all.

Editor’s note: The Lumber
Worker wishes to thank the
Rothermel’s Portraits firm in
Cranbrook for the kind loan
of their camera equipment
without which the pictures of
the meeting displayed in this
issue could not have been
taken.

SA VARIED PROBLEMS