was left

the former

officers in spite of
7 were advised by the Labor
Board as early as April,

Your Provisional Officers, in co-

tion with the International

are now sapered in the
1e

matter of |.

e increase in board rates. We
lave been successful in getting
ruling from the Labour Rela-
Board that the question of
(eal ae a was for proliects We
ing no employer can
alter the board rates without
consulting our Union. ‘
While the ruling in connection
with the board rates was made
at our est in connection with
our dispute with the Coast Op-
erators, we are now seeking to
have the Labour Relations Board
rule that the same ruling applies
to the Interior of the Province
where the employers, taking ad-
vantage of the split in our ranks,
have also increased the board
rates,
The ex-Officers of the District
deserted the membership and dis-
ipted the work of the District
uncil at the time negotiations
¢ Interior of the Province
¢ in progress. Our efforts to

4ccessfully complete negotiations
‘or the benefit of our members in
the Interior were greatly hamp-

ered by the deliberate acts of

B.C. LUMBER WORKER

fact that|\ —

i

J. L. McEWAN
President

Local I-71
———_—_—__
these ex-Officers — our records
gone, our funds removed from our

control and our membership in
confusion.

Added to this was the fact that
camps were closing down for the
winter season. In spite of all
these obstacles and despite the
fact that the operators rejected
the majority award of the Con-
ciliation Board, we secured an
eight-cent increase across the
board for most of the workers
in the Interior.

In connection with negotiations
for an agreement for the year
1949-50, .we propose to call a
Contract Conference in April.
Already there is some reason to
believe that we will be faced with
a struggle to maintain the gains
we have achieved in the past few
years.

B.C. LUMBERWORKER EXPANDS

IWA Will Fight With CI0,CCL
Against Anti-Labor Laws...

Tn connection with our official
organ the B.C. Lumberworker,
we wish to report that for a time

~ after .the secession move, the mi-
nority group managed to main-
tain control of the Lumberworker.
As a result of legal action, we
regained control of our official
organ and have since published
its as a four-page weekly edition.

Starting with the year 1949,
the Lumberworker will become an
eight-page paper, published semi-
monthly. The Table Officers of the
District will constitute the Edi-
torial Board, with one of them

* acting as Managing Editor.

Arrangements for printing and
‘ peneeiing: have been completed
a yy agreement with the Western
Printers and the Public Research
Bureau. It is our intention to
limit advertisement to 30 percent
of the column space. The paper
will deal strictly with matters of
interest and concern to the mem-
bership. It shall publicize poli-
‘ies of our union, the Interna-
tional, Canadian Congress of La-
bor and Congress of Industrial
“a ere eee per-
ie well-being of the
general public, ae

To date, it has been necessar,
subsidize the B.C. Lumber.
» as the per eapita of seven
cents was insufficient to defray
expenses of production. With the
re-organization of: the

to

weeks after dis-

For several
0 secession

We propose that the expenses
in connection with publicity and
education be defrayed from re-
venue allotted from the general
fund. In this way, the present ten
cents per capita may be retained
by the Locals to enable them to
meet the inerease in per capita
to the International which was
approved by recent referendum
vote of the membership.

To supplement the present pub-
licity and advertising campaign
conducted through the medium of
the Lumberworker, we intend to
publish special bulletins as the
need arises. Special editions of
the Lumberworker will be pub-
lished if and when the District
Officers deem it necessary.

LABOR LEGISLATION

We shall endeavour, in co-
operation with all sections of the
recognized labor movement in
British Columbia and Ganada, to
elect to the various legislative
bodies, genuine representatives
of the working class. With equal
vigor, we shall work to prevent
the election of those who have
opposed the enactment of laws
beneficial to workers and in the
interests of the welfare of the
whole public.

To this end we give whole-
hearted support to the political
action program of the Canadian
Congress of Labour. Your Dis-
trict Council is, therefore, co-
operating with the British Co-
lumbia affiliates of the Canadian
Congress of Labour in support-
ing the educational classes of the
Congress to be held in Vancou-
ver and Nanaimo during Febru-
ary.

It is our hope that these
classes will prove so successful
as to warrant their continuance

(See top of next column.)

on a more comprehensive scale

"Jin the future.

SAFETY

Your District Officers have co-
operated with other bodies inter-
ested in safety in the lumbering
and other industries. Immediately
after this Convention, the kind
of safety program deemed essen-
tial by the District Council will
be publicized in the B.C. Lum-
berworker.

STRUGGLE AT IRON RIVER

Your District Officers have no
apologies to offer for their sup-
port of the membership in elimi-
nating the political picket line at
Tron River.

Nor will such picket lines be
tolerated in the future. All agree-
ments will be observed faithfully
by us and all grievances will be
settled in accordance with the
provisions of our agreements
with the operators. All expenses
incurred in connection with the
dispute at Iron River will be paid
from the Iron River Emergency
Fund now being set up.

Faced with the fiasco of their
illegal picket lines at Iron River,
faced with dwindling membership
and discredited in the eyes of the
vast majority of lumberworkers,
the secession group will, no
doubt, make further attempts to
sabotage our union. We urge the
delegates and the general mem-
bership to be alert and on guard.

CONCLUSION

In this brief report, we have
directed your attention to the
trying difficulties we have had to
surmount during recent months
and to the major problems to be
alert and on guard.

Your Provisional Officers wish
to point out that to achieve com-
plete and lasting success, the

whole membership must de-
vote their time, energy and ef-
forts to assist in the building of
a strong, united and forceful
union.

We urge most strongly that
the Delegates and membership
give deep and careful considera-
tion to the qualities of the men

and women whom they shall
place in the charge of the admi-

nistration of their union affairs.
These men and women who shall
guide your union activities for
the next two years must possess
sound judgment, sincerity, integ-
rity, demonstrated leadership

ability, diligence and courage.

On the delegates assembled
here, representing the member-
ship of the B.C. District No. 1 of
the IWA, is placed the responsi-
bility of formulating at this 12th
Annual Convention an aggressive
worthwhile and realistic program
of action for the coming year.

And, lastly, you Delegates are
charged with the important task
of inspiring the membership in
your Locals to carry into prac-
tice that program which will be
the fruits of your labors during
the ensuing two days.

Fraternally and respectfully
submitted,

Provisional Officers,

J. Stewart Alsbury, Pres.
Lloyd Whalen, Vice-pres.
J, Squire, Vice-pres,

G, McEntree, Vice-pres.
Mike Sekora, Sec.-Treas.

KYLE TAXI
(NEXT B,C. CAFE)

24-Hour Service

Anywhere - Anytime
T axi - Charter Bus
Ambulance Service

The District has assisted, and
will continue to assist, in organiz-
ing Ladies’ Auxiliaries in al
cals, in line with the Interna-
tional Policy. When necessary, fi-
nancial assistance will be
granted,

Tt is our intention to embark

RATES FIGHT.

TOLERATED.

All Assistance to Form —
Ladies Auxiliaries

stematic and long-range
Grogram that will, build up =

Lo-|strong Ladies’ Auxiliary section

of our union in British Columbia.
It is intended to devote space in
the Lumberworker for pul lishing
articles of special interest to the
members of the Ladies’ Aux-

iliary.

« On This Page »

IWA WINS FIRST STEP OF BOARD

WAGES CONFERENCE IN APRIL
SPECIAL BULLETINS FOR MEMBERS:
ALL-OUT SAFETY CAMPAIGN.

NO MORE “IRON RIVERS’’ TO BE

The B.C.
Lumber Worker
is the Official
Publication of

“The IWA

and Capitol

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