Bi-monthly Bulletin Published by The B.C. District Council, International Woodworkers of America, Affiliated to Congress of Industrial Organizations (CIO) = Vol. XTIT. VANCOUVER, B.C., MONDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1944 Broadway

Printers Led. (331) Negotiations Start Nov. 21 Pictured above is Nigel Morgan, Labor candidate in the Comox-Alberni Federal riding-being signed up as an honorary life member of the Native Brotherhood of B.C. by Guy Williams, secretary. Looking on is Austin Smith, International representative of the Longshoremen’s union, See story of the Native Brotherhood convention on Page 4. TWA, CCL Woodworkers Present Joint Wage Brief CRANBROOK, B.C.—Final draft of the joint wage brief for interior lumber received endorsation of CCL woodworkers at Kelowna November 7 and 8. Two meetings of B.C. Wood- workers’ Local No. 4 held on these dates, were attended by TWA Representative W. Langmead. Tuesday, Nov. 7, he brought greetings from the newly formed IWA local at Cranbrook and from B.C. District Council No. 1.~ First reading was given of the IWA wage proposals for interior lumber. Wednesday's meeting was at-© tended by CCL regional director D. O'Brien who outlined the im- portance of labor unity and point- ed out the outstanding gains made by the IWA in B.C. He stated that now was the time for the Kelowna local to unite with their Cranbrook brothers in joint ac- tion to improve their wages and working conditions. Following unanimous endorsa- tion of these wage proposals after a few slight changes had been agreed to, the meeting appointed their president, Bro. McInroy to appear, before the Regional War Labor Board jointly with repre- sentatives of the IWA, In commenting on this achieve- ment Pat Walsh, secretary of Cranbrook local IWA stated: “The Cranbrook brothers welcome this expression of solidarity from the Kelowna local and look forward to the closest cooperation with the CCL in solving common prob- tems in the Interior. These broth- ers have met on common ground and anticipate the coming IWA organizational drive in the inter- jor, knowing that it will be demo- eratically conducted on a program ditions irrespective of the color, ereed or political belief of their some 200 members.” MORGAN AT NAT. PAC MEET Acting under Instructions from the executive board of IWA Dis- trict Council No. 1, Nigel Morgan, International Board Member, left Vancouver for Ottawa by plane ‘Tuesday, November 14. Purpose of the trip is to attend the CCL Poli- tical Action Committee meeting, November 16. Particular import- ance is attributed to this meeting in view of the stand taken for in- dependent political action by the IWA International Convention. It is feared that an attempt will be made to harness CCL political ac- tion to one political party. The IWA has definitely come out in support of non-partisan political action and it is this stand that Morgan will take at the PAC meeting. While in Ottawa, Nigel Morgan will interview the chairman of the National War Labor Board on the question of the long delayed de- cision on the Hammond Cedar ease. Revision Of Industry Contract Affects 20,000 Woodworkers Negotiations will begin between representatives of IWA-CIO District No. 1 and representa- tives of B.C. lumber operators for revision of the existing industry-wide agreement on Tues- day, November 21, at the office of Mr. R. V. Stuart. This date has been agreed upon by both parties and a copy of the union’s proposals are now in the hands of the operators’ representa- URGES ACTION ON B.CE. ISSUE « Public ownership of the propet- ties of the B.C. Electric in the interests of planned development of hydro-electric power ..in this province was urged in a résolutio: adopted by local 1-80 at the regu-_, Jar méeting held in Duncan Nov‘ 10. The resolution aiso urged “all sub-locals, ladies’ auxiliaries and Political action committees to or- *ganize campaigns to acquaint the public with the Issues at stake.” ‘The meeting heard reports on the IWA and CCL. conventions and adopted the petition request- ing a referendum on article 1 of the constitution. With five members dissenting, a motion was passed to have a jury established at the next meeting of the local to hear charges against John Ulinder. Charges of planned disruption in the IWA were laid in writing by Geo. Grafton, mem- ber of local 1-80. Dist. & Locals Adopt Petition Meeting in joint caucus follow- ing the recent IWA-CIO conven- tion held in Vancouver, delegates from six districts appointéd a committee to draft a petition in line with the IWA constitution. Purpose of the petition was to cause a referendum to go out to the membership of this union on the question of article 1, section 4b, 4c and 4d, of the IWA con- stitution, the issue most debated in the convention. The committee brought in its proposals and they have been adopted by the execu- tive of IWA, District No. 1. The petition and statement prepared has been sent out to local unions and several have already held meetings, endorsed the proposal and established committees charged with canvassing their membership. Statement of the Pe- titioners’ Committee, the petition and the proposed ballot form to go before the entire membership are produced on this page. The| constitution provides that five per- cent of the membership can in this manner cause a ballot to be so ® tives for study. be held, to present a clear picture of the possibilities. Many of the union’s proposals if agreed to by the operators must also be ap- proved by the Regional War La- bor Board. Proposals submitted by the union are the outcome of a ne- gotiations conference held in Nanaimo, September 24. Some re- search; has been conducted since that ‘time in order to enablé the union to present a comprehensive case before the employers. Dis- Sltrict, officers are of the opinion that ,suMicient progress will have It is expected that some hun- dred and fifty logging camps and mills will come under these ne- gotiations’ and that over twenty thousand woodworkers will be af- |been’ nfade by Di efember 3. when a full district cou.cil meeting will > fected. This does not include lum- ber operations in interior B.C. Petitioners’ Statement Constitutional rights of members of the International Woodworkers of America have been abrogated by the interpretive action of our. International President in ordering the expulsion .of Brothers Wm/ Wallace, Local 2-4, and Ralph Nelson, Local 2-75, which action was supported by a majority of the Executive Board and although upheld by a majority of the Convention was disputed by more than 20,000 members represented in the Convention. Significantly, Article V, “Charges, Trials and Penalties” was entirely ignored (1) by the In- ternational President's order of expulsion without trial; (2) by the unconstitutional removal of elected representatives from Convention. Such procedure and action likewise abrogates and abridges the fundamental democratic right of the individual to self-determination of lawful political affiliation as guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution and British Common Law, fundamental law recognized by all English- speaking people, and places unlimited authority in the hands of the International President to extend his interpretation of our Constitu- tion to such an extent that he could discharge or expel any number of members and officers of our Union merely by affixing a party label on them and issuing an order for their expulsion under his title as President. Article 1, Sections 4b, 4c, and 4d, as interpreted by our Interna- tional President, has been and can befused to discriminate by merely labelling any member of our Union as Communist, Nazi or Fascist. Individual rights, guaranteed by constitution, provide that indi- viduals charged with activity detrimental to the Union are innocent until otherwise proven guilty by the process of charges, evidence and fair trial, and only where a member's activities are proven to be contrary to the best interests of our Union is expulsion in order. PETITION We, the undersigned members of the International Woodworkers of America, do hereby petition the International Secretary-Treasurer, in accordance with Article VI, Section 2, “Initiative, Recall and Referendum” of our Constitution, to submit as provided by the Con- stitution, a referendum ballot on the following proposition: Do you favor amending Article 1, Section 4, of the Constitution of the International Woodworkers of America, by striking there- from Sections 4b, 4c and 4d and leaving said section to read as follows: ° “No worker otherwise eligible to membership in this union shall be discriminated against or denied membership by reason of race, color or religion. All members shall have equal rights within this union and are charged with equal responsibility there- 0.” YES : NO Name —. Local No. —... submitted.