Continued From Page One

Six Board Members Resign

48 hours to disassociate them-
selves or stand suspended from
the union.

Shipyard managements were in-
formed by shop stewards that
only the new officers would be
recognized as acting for the
union.

On Monday, Chief Justice Far-
ris of the British Columbia Su-
preme Gourt granted Robert
Stephen, former union secret-
ary, an injunction restraining
the new executive officers from
carrying on the union’s affairs.
The new executive was given
the right to apply for discharge
of the injunction on 24 hours’
notice.

Boilermakers’ shop stewards in
each of the four city shipyards
elected committees to take
charge of union affairs. (See
page 6.)

GGL Secretary Pat Conroy in-
formed Secretary Harold Prit-

chett of Vancouver Labor Coun-
cil and E. E. Leary, business
agent for the Dock and Ship-
yard Workers Union, that the
Gongress was contemplating ac-
tion to suspend these organiza-
tions for claimed violation of
the constitution, and stated that
enarges would be considered by
the national executive council at
its meeting this weelend.
GCL Vice-President A. A. Mc-
Auslane announced he would
attend the national executive
council meeting and there
charge the B.C. District Coun-
cil of the International Wood-
workers of America with inter-
ference in the affairs of the
Boilermakers Union.

Gonroy -revealed that charges
against Vancouver Labor Coun-
cil, Dock and Shipyard Workers
Union and International Wood-
workers were based on the re-
ported attendance at the in-

stallation of the new Boiler-
makers’ officers of officials of
these affiliated CCl bodies. (E.
B. Leary, business agent for the
Dock and Shipyard Workers
Union and president of Van-
couver Labor Council, denied
that he attended the ceremony-
Harold Pritchett and Nigel
Morgan, IWA international
board member, both stated they
attended only as witnesses.)

With six of the 20 members

appointed to his board of ad-|

ministration, of which 2B}
O'Brien, GCL general organizer,
is chairman, having resigned,
McAuslane announced that its
membership had been increased
to 50, Six members who resigned
were: W. Griffin, A. Little, W-
Shearer, Joe Winship, Ken Ken-
nedy, and Angus Fiarley, who
stated: “I am quite willing to
continue to serve on behalf of
the men as a business agent,

Text @f Boilermakers’ Executive Statement

MeAuslane Charged By Union

Following is the text of the
statement submitted this week to
President A. R. Mosher by Presi-
dent William Stewart and Secret-
ary Malcolm MacLeod on behalf of
the new executives of the Boiler-
makers’ Union:

"We the duly elected president
and secretary of the Boilermakers’
and Iron Shipbuilders’ Union of
Ganada, Local No. 1, beg to submit
the following statement on behaif
of the recently-elected executive
committee as we feel that you have
been grossly misinformed as to the
true situation prevailing within the
organization.

“Tn the recently-conducted elec-
tions the successful candidates,
without exception, gained substan-
tial majorities. The elections were
conducted strictly in conformity
with the constitution of the Can-
adian Congress of Labor and the
referendum sanctioned by Pat
Conroy, secretary-treasurer of the
Congress.

“We might add that the elec-
tion was conducted by the qld
executive committee, and not by
us.

“On Dec. 30, 1942, the daily press
of Vancouver carried a despatch
under an Ottawa dateline, stating
that Vice-President A. McAuslane
had been appointed administrator
of our union for a period of one
year, and that he was given pow-
er to. set up a board to assist
him.

“This statement came like a bolt
from the blue as far as we were
concerned, as we had no intimation
that any such action was contem-
plated, or that there was anything
questionable in the election or in
any of the events prior to the elec-
tion.

“Since the first statement was
issued jmothing has been added
that could in any way justify,
the action taken. We have held
meetings of the newly-elected
executive committee and* none of
them had been contacted or
spoken to prior to the order be-
ing handed down by yourself.

“So when you state that your
action was based on an investi-
gation of the situation we can
not agree with you on that point.

‘Tndoubtedly you are aware
that your action which we be-
lieve, as previously stated, was
based on misinformation, has
ereated widespread resentment
on the part of the membership,
and in order to avoid mass with-
drawals from the union, we, the
elected executive, felt it was our
duty to immediately take over
the affairs of the union.

“Accordingly we were installed in
office on Jan. 1, 1943, by Jack Wwil-
son, business agent of the Burners

and Welders’ section of the union,
and an old-time member of the
Boilermakers, The installation cere—
money took place in the presence
of President E. B. Leary [Leary
has since stated that he did not
attend the installation ceremony]
and ‘Executive Secretary H. J.
Pritchett of the Vancouver Labor
Gouncil and Executive Member
Nigel Morgan of the Canadian
Congress of Labor.

“Qn Jan. 2, 1943,. we immediately
assumed our duties, and took over
a section of the Boilermakers’
offices, and intend to carry on the
lawful business of our organiza-
tion. This action has since been
endorsed by the shop stewards at
specially-called meetings on Sun-
day, Jan. 3, where all shifts in all
the shipyards were represented.

“We might also point out that
six of the eight business agents
are carrying on their duties under
the guidance and direction of the
new executive as they, together
with the membership, look upon
the so - called “sdministrative
board” as an insult.

“The personnel of the “board”’
is made up of the defeated can-
didates in the election and others
who have been repudiated by the
membership in previous elections,
and still others who had been
previously discharged as paid
representatives of the union.

“We charge that vice-president
A. MecAuslane deliberately and with
malicious forethought did endeavor
to split the Boilermakers’ and Iron
Shipbuilders’ Union of Canada, Lo-
eal No. 1, with the object in view
that once the fact was established
it would justify interference on the
part of the top officials of the
Canadian Congress of Labor.

“We make this charge knowing
full well its seriousness and re-
quest that yourself or Secretary-
Treasurer P. Conroy come to Van-
couver to personally investigate
the charge in the interests of the
Canadian Congress of Labor.

“We might add that the mass of
the membership are standing sol-
idly behind this executive commit-
tee and do not recognize any arbi-
trarily appointed ‘administration
board.’

“Statements have been made by
Vice-President McAuslane that the
membership has been falling off,
and your action now is certainly
not doing this any good.

“But we are thoroughly convinced
that with the announcement of a
definite program to include the
consolidation of the closed shop
conditions now enjoyed in the
major yards and the further de-
velopment of this throughout the
locality, the membership interest
will grow with a new vitality.

“The GCongress policy, unfortun-

ately, has not been carried out to
the best advantage under the old
administration, and a number of
open shop contracts have been
signed in some of the smaller shops
in this district. In the Hamilton
Bridge plant, a splendid opportun-
ity for an agreement to cover the
enttire plant was thrown away-

“The many problems such as
transportation, greater safety mea-
sures, industrial hygiene, housing,
ete., still only half attended to,
sweeps away any attempt by Vice-
President McAuslane to say the
union is torn by factions, which
he himself is manufacturing.

“The real trouble is that there
exists mass disappointment in the
leadership that has been given in
the past.

“The fact that many important
union decisions, passed several
times over, were disregarded by
the executive—for example, the
passer-boys were overwhelmingly
yoted full membership privileges
at least three times—similarly
with the women workers. Time
and time again elections of offi-
cers and delegates were ruled
out and disallowed.

“The first principle in our obli-
gations to the membership and to
the Gongress is to at once restore
in every way democratic procedure,
bring the several sub-local execu-
tives, shop stewards, and various
committees, and through them the
entire membership, in closer con-
tact with the local executive.

“We are absolutely convinced
that this will build a greater union
spirit we know exists in the hearts
of our membership.

“The Congress policy in regard
to working cooperation with other
Gongress locals (even in the same
yards), also in regard to coopera-
tion in the Vancouver Labor Coun-
cil and in connection with the build-
ing of labor management produc-
tion committees has been grossly
and criminally neglected by the past
executive.

“Aj of this work is paramount
to the building and eonsolidating
of the trade union movement, and
especially in its foremost job today,
that of taking its rightful place, and
aceepting its proper responsibility
in our war effort. The new execu-
tive committee pledges itself to
work unceasingly to build the union
around these things, of which only
a few are indicated here.

‘We accept and expect the lead-
ership of the Congress as guided
by the constitution which binds
us all.

“Fraternally yours,
‘WILLIAM STEWART,
“President.
“MALCOLM McLEOD,

“Secretary.”

but I refuse to act on, or be
a party to this administration.
Further, I may state that I
was never consulted in the mat-
ter of my appointment.”

Executive officers and shop
stewards representing the four
CCL unions in the shipyards,
Boilermakers, Blacksmiths, Op-

erating Emgineers and Dock
and Shipyard Workers, at a
meeting on Wednesday affirmed
their support of the stand taken
by the Boilermakers’ new execu-
tive and adopted a resolution
protesting the national execu-
tive’s decision. (See page 6.)
The meeting was addressed by
President William Stewart and
Secretary Malcolm Maciheod,
Boilermakers, E. E. Leary and
President Charles Saunders,
Dock and Shipyard Workers,
William Betts, Blacksmiths, and
President W. Ross, Operating
Engineers, who told the meet-
ing that his union had recently
elected a new slate of officers
and that an executive member
had been approached by McAus-
lane, who asked “if there is any
political influence in the union.”
McAuslane, according to Ross,
stated that if there were, the
Congress would take over the
union. A committee was named
to reconvene the meeting should
the decision of the CCL national
executive council prove contrary
to the wishes of the member-
ship.

Steward
Officials
Elected

An executive of five me f
J. Lucas, T. McKenzie, J. Ci | g
ham, GC. Stewart and Aust &
lany, has been elected to c- 3
business for the Boilermaker | ae:
stewards. S

Stewards elected in the
are: rt

Burrard South: T. McKer #
Stehelin, J. Cunningham, L. *
J. W. Williams and S. Mc

North Van Ship Repairs: —
Delaney, H. Archibald, BE.
low, W. Griffin, F. Crosby. #

Burrard North: W. Swa:)
Stewart, H. Carrey, W. G)
Lee, A. Hill.

West Coast: J. Bell, J. Ty
J. Lueas, CG. Perkins, D. Janz
M. Bowles. '

Boilershops: J. Winship, £E
ham, E. Kemp, R. MckKenz
J. J. Boner.

Hamilton Bridge: E. Bar &
Braten, F. Duncan, J. Pow fs
MeDonald and N. McRae.

i

Text Of Joint Resolution

Restoration
Democracy

“This conference of 16 local ex-
ecutive officers of the SBoiler-
makers’, Blacksmiths’, Operating
Engineers’ and Dock and Shipyard
Workers’ unions and 110 shop

affiliates having memberships in
the Vancouver shipyards, mindful
of the vital importance of ship-
building to Canada’s war effort
and the United Nations’ ultimate
victory over fascism, has fully
considered the graye situation
created following the recent elec-
tion in the Boilermakers’ and Iron
Shipbuilders’ Union, Local No. 1,
CCL, by the action of the executive
officers of the Canadian Congress
of Labor in refusing to recognize
the newly-elected officers of that
union, authorizing the appointment
of a board of administration com-
posed in the main of persons no
longer having the confidence of
the membership, and threatening
the suspension of the Dock and
Shipyard Workers’ Union, Local
Wo. 2, the Vancouver Labor Coun-

cil, GCL, and the International
Woodworkers of America.
“~2—If the constitution of the

Canadian Congress of Labor
was violated by the manner
in which the elections were
eonducted, the officers of the
Canadian Congress of Labor
were duty bound to have filed
charges against the old execu-
tive in compliance with Ar-
ticle 3, Section 9, a, b, ¢, d,
or instituted proceedings un-
der Article 6, Section 8, and
to have reprimanded their
vice-president, A. A. McAus-
lane, for having appointed to
the board of administration
certain of the outgoing offi-
cers who had so violated the
constitution. Further, the re-
sponsibility for haying au-
thorized a referendum ballot,
obviously the only practical
means of obtaining a repre-

stewards of-all Canadian Congress |)

© Uniot
Ursed |

the Boilermakers’ anc
Shipbuilders’ Union, Loi
1, CCL, did by a secret
over a period of three -
utive days, twenty-four
a day by a majority oj
voting, elect such offie
the ensuing year.

“@—We deplore the fact tl
officers of the Canadia
gress of Labor did nt
duct an investigation ii
affairs of the MBoilerr:

- and Iron Shipbuilders’
Local No. 1, and withor
fication to the duly
officers and with und
publicity, did suspend ~
trial the said officers =
point the vice-preside
ministrator with authc

extend his adminis
powers.
“_.—We wish to expres]

strongest disagreemen §
the action taken by th j
- gress executive in apE
McAuslane to adminis
affairs of the Boiler?
union. However, we 4g
the opinion that its }
was based on false irj
tion supplied by pec
Vancouver whose ident
been kept hidden.

“ea—We hereby appeal
executive council of t
nadian Congress of La
the interests of War
tion, of trade union or
tion and of harmoniov
tions in the shipbuild
dustry of Vancouver,
scind the action taken
permit the members
the Boilermakers’ un
choose their own office
further appeal to the
tive council of the Cz
Gongress of Labor not

sentative vote, must rest with
the national secretary, Pat
Conroy.

Oy referendum ballot afford-
ed full opportunity to every
member to east his vote, in-

any ill-considered aci
removing charters C
Congress affiliates ir
couver because of the —
ingly harmful effect Ss”
tion would have on al
ated unions at the

asmuch as the membership of

time,”