B.C. LUMBER WORKER Page Nine Seuenth Anticle By G. D. FERG ~- Local 1-357 IWA THE CO-OPERATIVE VIEW What union members can do in the way of co-operating in a financial Co-op is exem- plified in the IWA (1-357), New Westminster Credit Union. This is a very young and flourishing Co-operative financial institution. It was incor- porated only five years ago, (May 25th, 1944 $52.00. Of this $45.50 was in members’ shares. ) with 12 Charter Members and assets of Today, only five years later, it is an organization of 600 members, with assets in ex- cess of $100,000, members’ shares making up $90,000 of this amount. At the first Annual Meeting (February 22, 1945), the mem- bers decided *to pay 4% dividend on shares. At the last Annual Meeting (February 18, 1949), the membership voted to pay 342% dividend on members’ shares, and a rebate of 20% on interest col- lected for the year 1948. ‘The 12 Charter Members in- cluded such men as Alf Ringstad, W. Harris, Rae Eddie, Otto Ek- man and Tommy Kipp. Bro. Kipp was the first president of the or- ganization, and held that post until his death. The present capable president is Otto Ekman, who, along with HH, Schiefte, Gladys Alsbury, P. Power and N. Nelson, direct the affairs of the organization. Jimmy Vallance, who has been a member of the Supervisory Committee since its inception, is the present chairman of that committee. A. Wallace and Bro, Smallwood make up the rest of the committee. Loan Decisions As in all Credit Unions there is a Credit Committee, which de- cides whether a member gets the Joan he requests, and how much. G. Rosen, F. Bourdon, D. Grant and W. Iverson make up this very important committee, with Char- lie Spooner as chairman. Quarter Million Loaned In the five short years of its existence, the IWA (New West- minster) Credit Union has loaned to members over $250,- 000, (14 million dollars), About 1/33 of 1% has not been col- lected, which is an excellent record for any financial institu- tion. With these loans members have been able to take holidays they could not have afforded other- wise. It has eased the burdens of members by allowing them to spread the payments of doctors, dentists, opticians and hospitals, over a fairly long period. It has enabled members to build and furnish homes, while many members have used their Gredit Union for the consolidation of debts. Thrift Pays - Members are encouraged to make regular savings by buying ‘a number of shares each year. There are individual members with shares in the organization to the value of $5,000, and many with $1,000 each. Still other members with their $100 shares are just as essential to the insti- tution. ‘As in most Credit Unions, the IWA. (New Westminster) is affi- jiated with the Credit Union Na- tional Association, which is, in turn, an affiliate of the Credit Union of Canada and the U.S.A. Insurance Feature ‘The CUNA provides an insur- ance service for member Credit Unions whereby upon the death of a member, his or her savings are doubled, and any loans owing to the CU by the deceased at the time of death, become automati- eally cancelled. Yo illustrate. You, owe the Credit Union $500 on a loan and you have $200 in shares. Upon your death the $500 loan owed by you would be cancelled and would not be charged upon your estate, While your $200 in shares would become $400 in cash to the bene- it of your heirs, 5 i It sounds fantastic, but in the IWA Credit Union such debts, to ‘an amount of over $3,000, have Deen cancelled over the past five ears, with no loss to the organ- ition. Debt Cancelled Another illustration. A faith- ful member of the Credit Union borrowed a considerable sum to finance purchase of a car, some- thing he had never possessed. To protect. the other members of the organization, the CU took a mortgage on the man’s home.- | A few months after the transaction was completed, the man, who was also the bread- winner of the family, died. His widow, instead of being broke, and losing her home through the mortgage, had the mort- gage lifted ‘without further payment on the loan. This left her with a clear title to her home and car. She sold the lat- ter and with the proceeds was able to establish herself in a small business, which will pro- vide her with an adequate liveli- hood. But for the Credit Union this story might have had a financi- ally tragic ending. This is only one instance of many such cases, where real benefit has come to the member. The IWA Credit Union, (New Westminster), is affiliated with the 23 other Credit Unions in the Westminster Credit Union Chap- ter, where information and advice are exchanged. REFERENDUM WILL HANDLE FUTURE OF CRAFT COUNCILS A referendum ballot is to be taken of IWA membership in Dis- tricts 2, 8, 5, 7, 9 and 11 to ar- range the amalgamation of the two craft-type councils within the union (Nos. 9 and 11). This issue was one of the most contentious to reach the floor of the convention. i A special jurisdictional com- mittee set up at the 12th conven- tion presented its report. First, however, the convention disposed of a motion by District No. 5 that the two present’ sub- divisions, namely, the Plywood, Box Shook and Veneer District Council, and the Boommen and Rafters’ District Council, be dis- solved, After lengthy and heated dis- cussion, the proposition of the jurisdiction committee, was ac- cepted as follows: 5-POINT PLAN 1. To establish one District Council in western Washington, which will be comprised of all lo- cal unions in Districts 2 and 3 and those locals in Districts 5, 9 and 11 that are located in west- ern Washington, west of the Cas- cade range. 2. To establish one District Council in western Oregon which will be comprised of all local unions in District 7 and those lo- cals in Districts 5, 9 and 11 that are located in western Oregon west of the Cascade range. 3, This proposed re-alignment shall be submitted to a refer- endum vote of all districts af- ected after the mechanics to ac- complish this objective are worked out by the present Juris- dictional Committee. 4, If this proposed referendum meets the approval of the mem- bership by a majority vote of all districts affected, it shall be the basis for the International to send out a referendum to amend the Constitution to conform thereto and all of the local unions in western Washington and west- ern Oregon shall be called into separate Constitutional Conven- tions for the purpose of drafting by-laws and electing officers. ~"5, All local unions ‘shall imme- diately affiliate with the new Dis- trlet Councils. according to, their geographic tocation. ‘ QA 4444444444 MODERN-DONE Furniture Co. a. @ Custom-built Furniture © Recovering © Free Estimates in Your Home © All Work Guaranteed 1279 Kingsway ‘Vancouver, B.C. (STITT IIFIIT Ls, Les. Ls. hers Leds. Ler Ls. Ls. Lr. IVIVVIIVIVIVIVIT ~ HEAD’S LIGHT CRUISER Champion of All Lightweight Caulked Boots Featuring: High Carbon Steel Oil Tempered Boot Calks FOR SURE GRIP s Another Favorite... HEAD’S famous “SAFETY TOE BOOTS” for Mill Workers 21 East Hastings Sv. W. J. HEAD BOOT FACTORY LIMITED (PA. 4844) .“HEADS YOU WIN” Vancouver, B.C. SECESSION MOVES BRING CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE The attempted secession of the B.C. District from the IWA last October resulted in an amendment to Article III, Section 10-A of the International constitution. There was considerable discus- sion, including protests at the ob- ject of the resolution, sponsored by the Columbia River District Council No. 5, but the arguments of the B.C. situation won the day. The constitution will now be athended to read: “At any time a District Council, Local Union, or any subordinate organization char- tered under the IWA attempts to secede from the IWA, the International Executive Board may by its action, appoint an administrator or administra- tors, for a period determined by it to take possession of and administer the affairs, funds and properties of any Local Union, District Council, or sub- ordinate organization, and as- sume and perform the duties of its officers.” FREE TRADE - MORE WORK The convention rejected a proposal asking for high im- Port restrictions against Cana- dian logs and lumber being imported to the United States. President Fadling pointed out that Canadian imports of US. products was far greater than its exports to the U.S. and that free trade between the two nations was to the best interests of the workers on both sides of the international fine. At the bottom of every case of criticism and obstruction we have found some selfish interest, some private axe to grind, —Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1936. COURTENAY BUSINESS GUIDE SEARLES SHOES * ALWAYS BETTER FOOTWEAR * Foot X-ray included Courtenay - Cumberland WOODLAND’S DRUG STORE Prescriptions and First Aid Supplies COURTENAY, B.C. COURTENAY, B.C. HATT’S LIMITED MEN’S CLOTHING COURTENAY, B.C. (SNC enn ne CENTRAL GARAGE (Cyril Burns) General Automotive ~ Repairs Welding Tires Vulcanizing Phone 315 QUALITY MEANS GOOD VALUE This is a Point we like to Stress. QUALITY HOME FURNISHINGS BY RELIABLE MANUFACTURERS FOR SERVICE AND SATISFACTION MORRIS & GODLEY PHONE 281 MacGREGOR’S MEN’S WEAR For Everything a Man Wears WORK, SPORT or DRESS We can afford to Sell the BEST for LESS ALBERNI BUSINESS GUIDE MacDONALD'’S PHARMACY Prescriptions, Drug Sundries First Aid Supplies Registered Optometrist Argyle St. Port Alberni JORMACS CLEANERS We Specialize in Out of Town Business 240 Lansdowne Phone: 53. Kamloops, B. C. KAMLOOPS BUSINESS GUIDE BOOTS for Loggers and Millworkers made by Dayton Head Paris Leckie KENNELLS SHOES LTD. 233 Victoria KAMLOOPS, B.C. PERFECT CLEANERS ONE-DAY SERVICE REPAIRING Cash and Carry 20% Discount CLEANING @ Hastings and Clarke Drive Phone HAstings 2257 @ DYEING Vancouver, B.C. ROY CUMMINGS Ready-to-Wear 318 Victoria KAMLOOPS, B.C. JARDINE’S HARDWARE Tools and Heavy Hardware 263 Victoria KAMLOOPS, B.C. SALES REL Pioneer Power Chain Saws WARD POWER SAW & EQUIPMENT KAMLOOPS, B.C. SERVICE