THE B.C. LUMBER WORKER will Eliminate Factions And Strengthen B.C. Negotiations On this page we publish the text of the agreement worked ‘out between officers of District Council No. 1, George Brown, Di- rector of Organization and Claude Ballard, International Vice- President TWA-CIO. Also on this page we publish a letter by International President J. E. Fadling in which he protests the opin- sions expressed in a letter to the membership on the question of elect- ing International Ofifcers published in our last issue, ‘While it is obvious that complete agreement on all questions affecting the IWA have not yet been resolved, as evidenced by Bro- ther Fadling’s letter and the position taken by B.C. wee in re~ convention which remains un- ved by spect to nominations at the Eugene changed, the importance of the unanimous agreement appro’ the CIO committee cannot be overestimated. ‘The agreement esi lived up to by all parties will E j : disputes within the B.C. District. With International Officers par- ticipating in B.C. negotiations, the employers will no Jonger be able to exploit differences of opinion within the union and give the impression that the membership is’ disunited on fundamental demands. : i istrict Council No. 1 we wish Uae elie Saye ct emite who helped in bring- to thank the members of the i) i it. ing about the unanimous agreemen' me Veet JACK GREENALL, Secretary. HAROLD The Agreement i ial committee We the undersigned, appearing before the special of the CIO, unanimously submit the following recommendations for the committets’ consideration. : : We believe the proposals set out herewith, will be the mea of uniting the memborship of District Number 1, International Woodworkers of America, and assist in eliminating all factionalism ‘and disharmony that may have been evident in the past, and be the means of uniting the membership of District Number 1, on ques- tions of vital concern to all. 1. With the opening of thi is evident the employers are p: e 1946 Industry Wide Agreement, it reparing to reject our just demands i hours, wages and_working conditions, and are at- for improved estroy our union, . We, therefore, strongly recommend that every effort be made to eliminate all factional disagreements, hnd.that the officers and members of District Number 1 do every- fing within their. power to develop the highest degree of unity and harmony possible, within the organization. 2. We recommend the fullest, participation of the officers of the International Woodworkers of America, in the formulation of a program beneficial to the entire membership in the coming Ninth District Convention, to be held in Vancouver, January 4th, 5th and 6th, 1946. specially as this applies to the 1946 Industry Wide Agreement. ° g We further recommend that at least one International officer participate fully with the District negotiating committee in the coming Industry Wide negotiations, for this District. . 8. We recommend that all local and district elections be taken on a referendum basis, by secret ballot, with the election of local and district balloting committees working on a full time basis, and responsible for the conducting of a proper ballot. No candidate for election shall be a member of the balloting committee. 4. That the Director of Organization George Brown, in con- sultation with District and International officers, designate an organizer to be in charge of organizational activities in District Number 1, to be under the overall direction of the International organizational department. 5. We recommend, that the B.C, Lumber Worker, official organ of District Number 1, IWA, concern itself with the expression of the membership’s economic and political needs on a non-partisan basis. 6. Party affiliation remains the prerogative of the individual member. However, such affiliation must remain separate and apart in identity from the International Woodworkers of America. 7, Any matters that may be in dispute, should be called to the attention of the District Officers, International Officers and if hecessary, to the Director of Organization, who shall meet as soon 25 conveniently possible, to resolve such questions, in the interest of the union, (Signed by) , CLAUDE BALLARD, Vice-President, IWA-CIO. GEORGE BROWN, Director of Organization, IWA-CIO. HAROLD PRITCHETT, President, District Number 1, IWA-CIO JACK GREENALL, Secretary, District Number 1 IWA-CIO. Does Not Agree With District One Position On Nominations December 5, 1945. Mr. Harold Pritchett, President. . Mr, H. Bergren, Vice President. B.C. District, Council No. 1 504 Holden Building Vancouver, B:C., Canada Dear Sirs and ‘Brothers: Your letter to all local unions: and sub-local unions of B.C. Dis- trict Council No. 1 under date of November 21, 1945, has been brought to my attention. While I grant you the right to present your ideas and posi- tion to the membership and to campaign for whomever you wish, it is regrettable that you did not confine your remarks to the truth and base your inferences and con- clusions on facts as shown in the record. The inferences and conclusions are so foreign to the trath that I believe a grave injustice would be done and a harmful impres- sion made upon the membership if an answer was not made to your letter. I would like to add that it is regrettable that you did not show this office the courtesy of. furnishing us with a copy of. this communication. First I must agree with your statement that the Ninth Annual Convention was the most united and constructive Convention ever held. But I am of the opinion that if your actions, such as writing this sort of a letter, are to continue, “you “will definitely nullify the unity and progress shown at the Convention. The record shows that the attempt to inject the disruptive issues which caused he trouble in the Ninth Annual Convention was made by you and the people you say are so eager for a “balanced slate.” I direct your attention to the Resolution requesting action on striking out Article 1, Sections 4b, 4c and 4d of the Internation- al Constitution and to the Reso- lution calling for a change in the organizational policy. Both of these Resolutions were supported by you and were only withdrawn after you found that they would not be supported by the majority of the delegates. Also, your ac- tion of supporting the minority report on the Officers Report. I note that you are sending out the minority report on the Offi- cers Report, but you make no mention that this report was re- jected by a roll call vote of the delegates in Convention. Rather, you make the untrue statement that the roll call was taken on the peceptance of the Officers Report. You also neglect to state that you are the people that suggested the minority. re- port. The minority report defin- itely threatened to disrupt the Convention and was a direct at- tack upon the Director of Or- ganization after the organiza- tional policies had been approved without opposition the previous day. In other words, you people voted to approve the organiza- tional program and the next day levelled an attack upon it through this minority report. You state that the delegates who were unseated at last year’s Convention were seated. This is correct, but you could have add- ed that this came about through the fact that the Communist Po- Tiieal Associaion has been dis- solved and not through any change in -International policy relative to the Communist Party. Your statement that Brother Ernie Dalskog was placed on the International payroll on the same basis as Nigel Morgan is entire- ly untrue and nothing could be further from the facts. In a com munication dated November 30, 1945, sent to all local unions in B.C., District No. 1, I set forth the understanding which was reached when Brother Dalskog was placed on the International payroll by the International Ex- ecutive Board, The understand- ing and agreement reached re!a- tive to Brother Dalskog being placed on the International pay- roll is as follows: 1, The paid Board Member is representing the International Office and is to carry out Inter- national policy at all times. 2. Brother Dalekog is to be under the direct supervision and direction of the International Of- fice. 8. Brother Dalskog is not to become involved in partisan pol- itics in any manner. 4, Brother Dalskog will con- tact this office before taking any trip which will 'take him out of the District and involve ex- penses beyond his regular duties. 5. Brother Dalskog will co- operate with thé International Secretary-Treasurer and assist in all problems that may arise in connection with that office. You discuss a program for a so-called “balanced slate”. which you state was for the purpose of promoting unity within the IWA. The record will show that the present officers have faithfully carried out: the policies and pro- grams as outlined by the Inter- national Conventions. The record will also show that any disunity and confusion that has existed has been caused by you and the people you are supporting for International officers, namely, Brothers Karly Larson and Ed Laux through the actions of op- posing International policy as outlined by Convention action. Your statement that by elect- ing Brothers’ Larsen, Laux, Greenall and Dalskog unity can be attained, is very dangerous as it definitely has the infer- ence that there can be no unity unless these Brothers are elect- ed. You must accept the respon- sibility of this statement. It is very regrettable that, your District and certain other Dis- tricts refused to represent the membership. in presenting their choice in the nominations of the important offices of International President and Second Interna- tional Vice-President, I charge that this move to nominate only two International Officers and then to concentrate on only those two, had nothing o do with es tablishing unity wihin the IWA, but is a desperate attempt on your part to accomplish what you hava tried to do in the past with “unity slates” and such. I am sure that the fine achievements of the past two years as indi- cated by the record as to the gains made in wages, hours and working conditions and organiz- ation show the membership that they did not make a mistake in their choice of International Of- ficers at the last International election. The record also shows that the Officers Have been well balanced for the past two years. Page Three ach Unity Agreement Around Program I can agree with you relative to the growth of District No. 1 even though we must take in consideration the large area which is covered. I believe this fine showing in the extending of organization in that area is due to the IWA organizational policies and to the adkerence to these policies at all times by the International Officers and Di- rector of Organization. It is my hope that when the CIO Com- mitte who is now making an in- vestigation of the situation in District Council No. 1 has reach- ed a conclusion, you will join with the International Officers in a concerted effort in carrying out International policy so that the dues paying membership may further benefit and the organiza- tion may be extended into the un- organized areas in District No. 1. I regret that this answer is ne- cessary, and that you people who ery “unity” so loud are the first to issue such a detrimental state- ment to the membership, which can have no other effect than to cause further confusion at a time + when we should be exerting every effort in putting into effect the fine Convention action in order that the IWA can take its right- ful place in the solving of the many serious postwar problems, I urge the membership to vote in the present election and insist that every member have the right to freely express his opin- ‘ion by casting a ballot in line with the voting procedure. I have consulted with Brother Botkin and find that his ideas in this matter coincide with this statement and he agrees with the principles stated herein. I intend to attend the Conven- tion of the B.C. District Council No. 1 at which time we will have an opportunity to discuss the many problems of the District. Fraternally yours, J. E. FADLING, International President. Gibson Mill Now Operating To the Editor: i The mill here is operating, and has’ already shipped out almost one million feet of lumber and timbers. It was quite a sight to see the first big freighter come up Tashsis Inlet, and quite an event for the Gibson boys. The present float camp is noth- ing to brag about; but if the boys will just have patience, we will, when we get the material, build a camp here which will be second to none in the whole Do- minion. I am the construction boss, and the Gibson boys have just given me the O.K. to com- mence three bunkhouses, which will have a modern bathroom in each one. They will contain 5 single rooms and 2 double rooms, with a large reading room. They will be situated on the hillside sith a splendid view of the In- let. : The cookhouse and dining-room staff are a fine bunch of boys and ‘the eats are good. I have a fine crew and will, I hope, be able to hold them for some time to come. Two of them are first- class finishers. Give my regards to all the boys. BILL BELL.