Page 16

B.C. LUMBER WORKER

o

February 1, 1951

Geo. Mitchell Reports

The UNION’S BUSINESS

SOUND FINANCING

"THE determination of the delegates to ensure the success of
our Union’s program for the year ahead, was one of the most
gratifying features of the recent District Convention. IWA mem-
bers made it abundantly clear that they desired expanded
services. At the same time they took pains to provide that the
District organization would be able to fulfil these additional

responsibilities.

The decision to
request authoriza-
tion from the mem-
bership to levy one
assessment of $2
during 1951, for
purposes of the
District Council, is
proof that the dele-
gates meant what
they said about a
bigger and better
Union program.

Plans to increase the revenue
of the District Council make com-
monsense, in view of the in-
creased demands placed upon the
Union at the provincial level.
There is only one source from
which Union revenue can be de-
rived. The whole question was:
how and for what purpose?

In some quarters the proposal
to increase membership dues was
favorably considered. Undoubt-
edly, this would have strengthen-
ed the financial position of the
Local Unions. The opinion pre-
vailed, however, that the time
was not yet ripe for such a move,
and first and exclusive consider-

ear,

ation was given the needs of the |;

District by providing for direct
and definite supplementary in-
come.

District Program

As the International President

pointed out when he addressed |:

the convention, we have willingly
accepted the responsibility for
organizing the unorganized. The
unorganized are always a weak

spot in necessary protective unity. |’

For this reason we must continue
in still more vigorous fashion our

plans to complete organization in | ~

the Interior of the province, while
we round out our work in this re-
spect at the Coast.

Additional services always re-
quire additional staff. More rev-
enue will enable the District office
to employ a sufficient number of
persons to keep pace with the in-
creasing volume of work, in ser-
vicing membership needs.

The convention committed the
District organization to a more
vigorous program to establish
safe working conditions. Such a
program will require the full-time
work of competent men familiar
with conditions in the industry.
We expect the sanction of the
members for this vitally neces-
sary service.

Education s

A strong and progressive trade
union is required to conduct
training of more and more mem-
bers in the aims and purposes for
which we organize. More mem-
bers must acquire familiarity
with labor legislation and bar-
gaining procedures. We must
train the younger men in the ‘in-
dustry in the administration of
trade union affairs,

It is with these purposes in
mind that the convention in-
structed forward steps in the im-
provement of our training
program. Again this will require
staff with provision for their live
Tihood.

As President Fadling stated,
“If you want action, pay up, and
let’s go.” *

Ed Linder

ED LINDER, Financial Secre-
tary, Local 1-80, IWA, and Sec-
tary of the convention committee
on Credit Unions and Co-opera-
tives.

ATTEND Y
MEETINGS

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B.C.

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PUBLISHED TWICE MONTHLY BY
INTERNATIONAL WOODWORKERS OF AMERICA (CIO-CCL)
B.C DISTRICT COUNCIL No. 1.

DISTRICT OFFICERS:

President
ist Vi
2nd Vice-President ..
jce-President ..
ry-Treasurer
International Board

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Address all communications to
GEORGE H. MITCHELL, Secretary-Treasurer
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--G, A, Spencer

— FADLING

Blunt and emphatic warning
that wages must be adjusted
for lumber workers before any
wage freeze, was given by
International President J. E.
Fadling before the 14th Annual
District Convention, Victoria,
January 19, Workers haye a
right to fair conditions if ex-
pected to meet new production
demands for security reasons,
he contended.

A further condition outlined by
the Infernational President in
dealing with the defense program
was that organized labor should
be accorded representation on
planning boards dealing with eco-
nomic adjustments required by
any stabilization program. “We
will not sell our organization
short,” he declared, “nor will we
pursue disastrous policies at this
time of crisis.” =

The International Union, its
President stated, had found cause
for gratification in the marked
growth accomplished by the B. C.
District IWA. In the fact that
many new faces had appeared at
the convention he found evidence
that the job of organization had
been well done. He considered
that the marked growth in all
sections of the IWA was proof
that due consideration had been
given the needs of the members.

No Boundary

The IWA was, he emphasized,
an international union in fact as
well as in name. IWA members

:|both in Canada and the United

States have in effect wiped out
the international boundary. The
IWA is in no degree isolationist,
he added.

Negotiations

In the 1949 negotiations the
IWA in B.C. had been on trial,
said the President. Though sadly
handicapped, due to the legacy
left by LPP-Communist traitors,
it had come through with flying
colors.

In 1950, the accomplishments
of the B.C. District set a high
record of performance. The
Negotiating Committee had held
the reins, and no man could allege
|any “selling-out” of the workers’
| interests.

He stated that the B.C. Dis-
trict had worked wonders in
its program of administration
and organization. There would
be found a need for additional
revenue to meet an expanding
program, desired by the mem-
bership. There was only one
source for such revenue—the

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dues-dollar. “If the members
want action—yery well— pay
up and let’s go.”

Pacific North West

The speaker traced the course
of negotiations in the Pacific
North West States, where em-
phasis had been placed on other
contract provisions as well as
wages.

Although booming production
based on defence needs may last
for some time, the head of the
IWA warned that another de-
pression may be experienced dur-
ing the life of the present gene-
ration. If so, he said, wage cuts
will, be attempted, and it will
be more difficult to take away
from the unions such benefits.as
health and welfare plans, paid

statutory holidays, and like bene-
fits.

Continued vigilance was neces-
sary, he asserted, in outlining the
Union’s program to continue or-
ganizing the unorganized. “We
have willingly assessed ourselves
for this purpose,” he stated, “in
recognition that the workers’
problems are the same wherever
men sweat and toil, ,

“Tt is the duty of each delega’
to take back to his fellows
Workers the facts and the mean-
ing of the actual struggle, There
will always be the time when any
of us may need help from one
another,” he warned.

SERVICE IN
PUBLIC JOBS
CLARIFIED

Official attitude of the IWA
toward the status-of full-time
Union officials seeking public
office was defined in a resolu-
tion adopted by the District
Convention as follows:

WHEREAS: It is in the interes
of the Trade Union movement!
and the IWA in particular, to
have its members serve on
school boards, municipal coun-

cils, the Provincial Legisla-
tures and in the House of
Commons.

THEREFORE BE IT RE-
SOLVED: That this convention
go on record as encouraging
IWA members to serve on such
public bodies and no member
or official shall be discrimi-
nated against in any way be-
cause he accepts nomination or
is elected to public office, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:
That any District Official on
full-time pay, upon being
elected to a full-time Civic or
Legislative position must r

sign from office in the Uni
and ¥

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED:
That we recommend to the
Locals that this policy be
adopted at Local levels.

MAL sabe

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