B.C. LUMBER WORKER

. Page 9

rt on the

‘Round The Island’

growth and activities of Vancouver Island

j nions of the IWA ii oe
fone eee was made by District Vice-President

. 11.
contact with IWA de

spoke oyer the Green Gold radio program,

The conclusions expressed by him after close

velopments on the Island was that all Island

Unions had shown increased strength and efficiency and would

ive a good

vention.

In a message of fraternal,
i to Mainland Local
_ Unions he stated, “We are proud
of the unity and strength of the
IWA and on Vancouver Island,
we will play our part in making
_ the IWA stronger in every sense
of the word. IWA members have
set their sights on higher objec-
tives and will score again as they
have in the past.”

Local 1-80, [WA

District Vice-President Morris
described the work of Local 1-80,
IWA, of which he is the Presi-
dent, and which is now the top
Local] Union in membership
strength on the Island.

Membership in Local 1-80 in-
creased during 1950 from 2,800
to the all-time high of 4,500
members, and the figure is still
climbing. Twelve new certifica-
tions were secured during the
year.

Both" loggers and sawmill
workers form the membership of
‘Local 1-80, in almost equal pro-
portions, Cordial relationships
exist in the promotion of a com-
mon endeavor.

As the jurisdiction of Local
1-80 extends from Port Renfrew
to the Alberni Summit to include
a large number of important
lumbering centres, the work of
the Local is partially decentraliz-
ed. Thirteen Sub-Locals have
been formed, each with a measure
of local autonomy.

Each Sub-Local, however, sends
representatives to the central
membership meeting at Duncan,

account of themselves at this week’s District ;

and participates in the election of
Local Union officers. It is claim-
ed that this form of decentraliza-
tion provides “grass roots” demo-
cratic control of union policy,
with all necessary centralization
of administrative work.

A full-time staff of five is now
employed and the two business
agents, Ernie Boulet and Tony
Poje, are constantly on the road
to contact the members in the 72
operations under certification,

President Morris gave full
credit for the growth of the Local
Union to the excellent plant and
camp committees, safety commit-
tees, and shop steward organiza-
tion.

Local 1-80 claims to have the
largest logging camps and saw-
mills in the country within its
jurisdiction, and proudly points
to the fact that these large
er anons are virtually 100%

Local 1-85, IWA

In the Port Alberni area, Local
1-85 has during the past year in-
creased the membership from
1,800 to 2,500 and will send 13
delegates to the District Conven-
tion. One of the important
achievements in this area has
been the organization of the
Tahsis-Zeballos area, transferred
to its jurisdiction in 1949. Or-
ganizational development has
been astonishing especially as
travel must be mainly undertaken
by airplane. The core of the
Local Union organization is
placed in and around the Alberni

Canal, in large mills and logging
operations, and has shown high
standards of efficiency and
vitality. Proof of this is’ found
in their determination to build
their own hall, for which they
have already accumulated a sub-
stantial sum, All branches of the
industry, logging, sawmills, ply-
wood plants and shingle ‘mills
are represented.

Local 1-363, [WA

At the close of 1948, Local
1-363, IWA, Courtenay, was
struggling to maintain its inde-
pendence, due to the damaging
disruption attempted by the
WIUC. Today it reports a mem-
bership of 1,500 and is fully self-
Sustaining, due to efficient
administration.

This Local Union holds certi-
fication in all the principal opera-
tions in the Fanny .Bay,
Courtenay, Campbell River and
adjacent island areas.

Plans are already well ad-
vanced for the building of an
IWA home for their activities.

Delegates to this year’s con-
vention from this Local Union
will number nine.

Local 1-118, IWA

Local 1-118 will act as host to
District Convention delegates in
those arrangements which will
assure a pleasant and sociable
atmosphere for the Convention.

It was said by District Vice-
President Joe Morris on behalf of
this Local Union that its main
achievement had been the suc-
cessful organization of the full
potential of membership in all
lumbering operations in and
around the City of Victoria.

It is regarded as a key Local
Union, because of its strategic
location, and under .able leader-
ship has played an important
part in trade union activities in
Victoria.

Membership increase reported
for 1950 is 500. This has been
aided by an increase in the num-
ber of shifts, especially in the

(See ISLAND—Page 11)

 PRESIDENT'S COLUMN By J. Stewart Alsbury

New Perspective .

E all haye the tendency to become so immersed in the details
of the daily round in our Union work, that we fail to see the
full perspective of the Union’s progress. The full value of the
achievements of the IWA since the last District Convention will,
I am sure, be a pleasant revelation to the delegates attending
this week’s District Convention when all reports are reviewed.

That 1950 was a year of
important progress for our Union
became very clear when the Dis-
trict Executive Board commenced
the preparations of reports re-
quired by the convention.

We are not given to boasting
in the IWA nor do we intend to
rest on our oars.
Nevertheless we
take pride in the ;
accomplish-
ments of our;
Union, and there-
by find greater
confidence
tackle the job:for »
1951, as it may
be defined by the
District Conven-!=
tion.

Elsewhere in this issue sum-
maries are given of the progress
made by the Local Unions, and
the District Council. It is my
intention to stress here some
features of the Union’s progress
which cannot be measured in
statistics.

Union Loyalty

‘We may take pride in the fact
that the IWA has inspired a high
standard of loyalty from the
membership throughout the prov-
ince. This loyalty to trade union
principles on the part of IWA
members has been the major fac-
tor in building the union’s pres-
ent strength.

It was the IWA members who
faithfully performed the many
humdrum tasks required of them,
on the job, and around their
Locals that’ made the Union
strong.

The fine spirit of fraternity in
the IWA is something of which
we may be very proud, and

which we should foster.
Clean Administration

We may be proud of the fact
that the Local Unions have
placed their affairs on a highly
efficient basis, and that all of
them have shown outstanding re-
sults in the improvement of
conditions in their certified opera-
tions.

We may have every confidence

in the future of the Union, when
».| we recognize that many young
‘|men have shown exceptional
‘|talént for administration in the
-\'affairs of the IWA, and qualities

which mark them for leadership.

IWA administration has been
not only efficient, but free from
all suspicion of irregularity, and
above all, devoted to the one
purpose — better conditions for
the lumber workers.

Greater Responsibilities

The inevitable result of in-
creasing strength is the assump-
tion of greater responsibilities.
We have a responsibility to still
further improve standards for the
lumber workers, and I am confi-
dent that more substantial pro-
gress will be made in this
direction “during the next few
months. Dee

As the leading trade union in
the province we will have im-
portant responsibilities with re-
gard to the general welfare of
the workers in the province. We
axe ready to meet these responsi-
bilities and will join other trade
unions in pressing for better
labor legislation and improved
social security. We will also work
as we may for the cause of world
peace.

peas

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Welcome Visitors from the U.S.A. to the 1.W.A.
Annual District Convention