THE B.C.

LUMBER WORKER

Published Every Second Monday by
INTERNATIONAL WOODWORKERS OF AMERICA (CIO)
DISTRICT COUNCIL NO. 1
Editor: BERT MELSNESS (on leave, Canadian Army)

3 Managing Editor: JACK GREENALL
Room 504 Holden Building — enone PAcific 4151 — Vancouver, B.C.
The deadline for stories for the coming issue is 4 p.m., Thursday,
November 16. z

Disunity A Menace

‘HE Eighth Annual Convention of the International Woodworkers

of America is over, and members throughout this International

Union are now faced with the task of weighing carefully the issues

that were raised, decisions that were arrived at and the problems
still to be overcome if this union is to function and grow.

In spite of impressions that may have been gained as a result of
the publicity given by the daily newspapers to the more spectacular
issues, the facts are that a constructive program was adopted by the
convention. It is significant also that out of 42 constructive resolutions
adopted by the assembled delegates, 29 of them were presented by
two districts. Two districts out of twelve and these were B.C. District
No. 1 and Northern Washington District No. 2. The same two districts
that voted almost solidly for democracy within the IWA.

The issues most bitterly contested in the convention was Section 4-b
of the IWA Constitution, under which “communists” are barred from
IWA membership. The issue arose over an appeal from the Interna-
tional Executive Board majority decision, sustaining President Worth
Lowery’s order for expulsion of three members under the clause.

As a result of the convention’s decision, two charter members of
our organization were expelled from the convention without trial, or
even charges being formulated against them.

There is no doubt the adoption of this resolution concurring in the
officers’ decision can only serve to disunite the IWA. Labor-baiting,
red-baiting, Jew-baiting, Negro-baiting, or religious-baiting is only fol-
lowing Hitler's course on this continent. It is the last resort of a
scoundrel and that goes whether it is Nazi Germany or in the Do-
minion of Canada. Scapegoating can achieve nothing but disunity,
confusion and ill-feeling.

The IWA is a.trade union which should unite in membership all
woodworkers, regardless of race, color, creed and regardless of re-
ligious or political belief. We want and need unity to make a great
organization greater. Those who oppose unity, those who would deny
membership to any woodworkers for the reason he belonged to the
CCF, the Liberal, the Conservative, or the Labor-Progressive Party;
because he is Catholic or Protestant or even a vegetarian, are weaken-
ing the strength of our union and thereby preventing us from making
the progress we should.

It is not enough that we condemn such action on the part of these
people. The threat to our organization is too serious for that. We must
continue the struggle so ably conducted by most of our delegates on
the floor of the convention for the final elimination of these discrim-
inatory clauses from our otherwise democratic constitution. It is up
to our District Council to give the lead toward this end. It is up to
our membership to provide the action.

Union Hiring Depends
On Your Support :

By DON BARBOUR, Hiring Hall Manager

To have read in the large Vancouver daily newspapers the proceed-
ings of the Eighth Annual Convention of the IWA commencing Oc-
tober 24th last and ending October 28th at approximately 3:30 p.m., 1944,
one would almost have believed the Hatfields and McCoys had met
again in the beautiful Crystal Ballroom of the Hotel Vancouver. As a
rule IWA conventions are in keeping with the fighting spirit always
displayed by our organization and again following the same course of
laying down an ambitious program the Eighth Annual Convention
adopted forty-two resolutions which will mean progress for the TWA
when carried into life during this coming year of change, regardless
of those who would have the general public as well as our membership
believe the issue over Clause 4-B in our constitution overshadowed
all else. e

I claim the distinction of being the most unique delegate at the
Convention for the two following reasons. First, because there was
no other Hiring Hall manager in every-day life there. Secondly, 1
was the only delegate to the Eighth Annual Convention of the four
delegates from B.C. who attended the IWA Convention at Everett,
Wash., in October, 1941, when Section 4B received convention action
and went out to be voted on by the membership of that time. In
passing I wish to state that the 1941 convention on the question of 4B
was also a stormy one, to say the least.

Noting the large number of delegates representing B.C. this year,
which included Brother Allan Parkin from the new Local in Cran-
brook, I realized more clearly just how much the IWA has grown in
B,C. during the past three years in spite of the fact that so many of
our members have joined the armed forces and left for other war
jobs, such as shipyards, ete. Also our delegation was larger and
stronger because we did not have to cross that imaginary boundary
line this year.

No doubt the Convention report will be dealt with in other parts
of this paper, but I would like to call to the attention of our mem-
bers and readers that Brother Phil Doyan, now over 70 years of age,
was the most attentive visitor. He never missed a moment of any of
the’ sessions and to realize the fact, that the struggle in which he and
other like him worked so faithfully and consistently for so many years,
has been a big factor in making the IWA the organization it is today,
must have been a great source of pride and satisfaction to him.

I have to admit the Union Hiring Hall did not receive all the at-
tention it deserved during convention week, but with the able help
of the office staff it was possible for me, between sessions, to go to
206 Holden Building and take care of the business that came in from
day to day.

To have had the honor to serve as a delegate to previous conven-
tions as well as this last one, coupled with intimate talks with Brother
Phil Doyan, makes one realize that Tennyson, besides being a poet,
was a realist also when he wrote, “For men may come and men may
go, but I go on forever.”. Our organization, including the Hiring Hall,
is very similar to The Brook—we must go on forever.

fascist regime in Spain; recom-| Continued
mending research by the Interna-
tional Executive Board with a

view to the establishment of a

Continued

CONVENTION

the. resolution

sively defeated,”
concluded.

In the field of political action,
the convention urged extension
of PAC (Political Action Commit-
tee) into the period after the
election, to ensure adequate con-

sideration of labor problems.
Without a dissenting vote dele-

gates decisively turned down a}

proposal from a Southern Oregon
local, advocating formation of a
third party. which would in ef
fect have tied the IWA-CIO to one
political party as the CCF are en-
deayoring to tie CCL unions in
Canada. In spite of an hour-long
speech from C. H. Millard, CCF-
MPP from Ontario, who is also
CL Political Action Director, the
convention refused to consider any
form of political action which
might be dominated by a political
party, unanimously endorsing the
CIO Political Action formula of a
non-partisan program for Canada.
The IWA Convention thereby en-
dorsed the official position of all

of Labor, in opposition to affilia-
tions of unions to the CCF and
instead of urging a broadening of
Political action work which would
would unite union memberships
on a common program for the
welfare of organized labor, regard-
Jess of political affiliation.

A permanent place for women
in industry was also endorsed in
a motion calling for provision of
child-care-centres and rest rooms
with meals at cost and transporta-
tion.

The convention demanded the
right to vote for the armed ser-
vices and merchant marine of
Canada and the U.S. who are oyer-
seas; endorsed the IWA program
for waiving of union initiation
fees for returning’ veterans; de-
manded appeal of the United
States Poll Tax laws, which would
give the franchise to many thou-
sands of negroes in the Southern
States; and gave full endorsation
to the Dumbarton Oaks program,
which urged the United Nations
to participate fully in setting up
a world organization to guarantee
a just and lasting peace by stop-
ping aggressor nations by any
means necessary, including force.

Other important resolutions
adopted by the five day Conven-

Canadian locals of the IWA, asftion included the following: Con-

well as the CCL’s B.C. Federation

demnation of General Franco's

Death Benefit Plan; equal pay for
equal work and equal rights in
industry; support to CIO, Presi-
dent Phil Murray and CIO's PAC;
Support of the Canadian East In-
dian demand for the franchise;
Greater support and attention to
the establishment of Ladies Auxil-
jaries; establishment of a _Cana-
dian ‘minimum wage of 55¢ per
hour; continuation -and improve-
ment of the National Labor Code,
PC 1003 as a permanent labor
statute; endorsation of the con-
tinuation of the government-spon-
sored Payroll Savings Plan; con-
demnation of William C. Bullitt’s
slanderous attack in Life maga-
zine on our Soviet Allies; support
of the Canadian demand for the
Union Shop, the Check-off and a
National Health Plan; urging re-
moval of the U.S. Smith-Connally
Bill (anti-labor), and more effi-
cient price ‘control, safety regula-
tions, and forest conservation,

Twenty-nine of the forty-two
(nearly three-quarters) of the
resolutions adopted by the con-
vention were from Districts 1 and
2 (B.C. and Northern Washing-
ton), two of the districts which
vigorously opposed political dis-
crimination, and negation of the
IWA democratic trial procedure
in the convention, and two of the
districts which haye made best
organizational gains and union
consolidation during the past year,

DISAGREEMENT

George Mitchell, of New West-
minster, who was ably supported
by Stewart Alsbury of the same
local in a red-bating tirade against
officials of District No. 1, whom he
charged with being “Communists”
and “disrupters” of trade unionism,
was tersely countered by Don
Hammeraquist, of 2-96, Forks, Wash,

“From 1400 to 20,000 member-
ships,” exclaimed Don, referring to
District No, 1. “That's some dis-
ruption! I wonder how much part
the brothers who have just spoken
had in that? We could sure stand
a little of that disruption in some
of the districts south of the line!”

Along with Mitchell and Als-
bury, T. S. Barnett of Port Alberni,
and T. Kipp of New Westminster,
voted with the international presi-
dent on the three divisions.
~ By a vote of 27,914 to 19,957, the
discriminatory clauses were re-
tained in the constitution.

When in Town Register
at the

UNION HIRING HALL
204 Holden Bldg.

Hello, Boys! tas
I think there should be a
against holding conventions duri
Hallowe'en Week. Take for
stance our IWA convention hel
few days before the feast. Why
must have been influenced by
spirit of this holiday because
of the delegates went on a 2
rampage of witch hunting. They
formed what they called “the te
block” and went on a red-baiting
campaign, unparalled in the history
of the IWA. =

It was really spooky, Lowery,
pipe in mouth, waving the scepter
of anti-communism, was leading the
expedition followed closely by
Benedict. Their crusaders were!
milling all over the hotel. From
caucus room to convention hall, —
from telephone booth to telegraph
office. From mezzanine to beer —
parlor. Every time you looked in
the convention room you think
they had just adjourned.

The microphone on the floor was
well guarded by these soldiers of
freedom. The odds on getting the
floor from the Jack o’Lanterns
were 1 to 5, When it finally came
to discuss proposals to build the
union it was easy to get the floor
because most of the white blocks
were in the hotel beer parlor. I
sat in the parlor myself after one
of these rattle snake sessions and
I see four delegates enter the par-
lor, The white block delegates
sitting around, clicking their
glasses, hollered together: Hale!
Hale! And half the Fraser Mill
delegates are here.

The funny part of this conglom-
eration is that only 4 B.C. dele-
gates joined the vigilant crusad-
ers. The other 37 were just com-
mon ordinary delegates who spent
their time building a program for
1945. These other four delegates
were self-made biggies who actu-
ally pulled themselves up by their
booth-licks. As a matter of fact,
one of these apostles was appoint-
ed trustee of the IWA by the In-
ternational Board. This in spite
of the protest of the other 37 dele-
gates _of B.C. Another one named
Barnett from Local 1-85, an un-
known in this district, was elected
as delegate to the CIO convention
in spite of the fact that he only
received 3 votes from B.C.

This reminds me of the story
of the western town sheriff, who
got badly defeated in an election
for office. He received a handful
of votes out of some 3,500. Next
morning he was parading the
street, guns high in their holsters.
A few citizens approached him
and reminded him that he was no’
more a sheriff and was not al-
lowed to carry guns. Citizen, he
says: “A man with as few friends
as I have in this town certainly —
needs to carry a gun.” ;

Coming back to the convention,
the puritans even carried their
good will and good neighbor pol- —
icy into their social function. At
the banquet they did not even —
have the courtesy of having

(Continued on Page 4)