10 B.C. LUMBER WORKER March 20, 1952 I-80 NOW THIRD | LARGEST IN IWA Average membership of 4600 during 1951 established by Local 1-80, IWA, made possible the claim in the Officers’ Report submitted to the Annual Meeting, Duncan, March 16, that the Local Union is now the third largest in the International Union. A remarkable year of expansion was attributed to the loyal acceptance of and adher- ence to the policies of the IWA by job committees, shop stewards and rank and file members, The report stated: “At our last annual meeting we reported that the preceding year had shown an average mem- bership’ of 4100, At that time, that was the highest average ever attained by the Local Union. “This year at this meeting we are happy to report that although the first four months of 1951 showed a considerable drop in the membership for the last por- tion of 1950, due to weather con- $15,000 “In fact, we can point with| pride to the fact that there are | several Districts in the Interna- tional Woodworkers of America, whose entire membership is not as great as the membership of our Local Union, “For most of the months of 1951, our per capita statements to the International, showed a membership roll well in excess of 5,000 and we see no reason why this high level of membership cannot be maintained, in fact, it Policies “Part of this, of course, has been diverted to the Building Re- serve Fund which at the end of the year had reached $7,800, the Death Benefit Fund Account $3,- 150, and the Special Reserve Ac- count which had approximtaely $3,200, and the rest of the opera- tional surplus is shown by the in- crease in the General*Account. “The net over-all gain of as- sets, fluid and fixed, was approxi- mately $15,000. This after the Local Union had paid one-half of its obligations to the District as a result of the $2.00 Assessment Referendum. ‘We believe that the record will show, that the policies which have been adopted and followed by the Local Union have proven Union Security In Effect “The Business Agents have continued to follow the Organiza- tional program laid down by the Executive Officers and the suc- cess of this is reflected in the numerous number of certifica- tions that we have received dur- ing the past year. . “We have in the past year as in former years, received the cheerful co-operation of the Job Stewards and Committeemen who have spared no effort during the ditions which closed most of the logging camps and the drought of this summer which caused a considerable decrease in membe) ship for that period, we can r port that the average member- ship for the year was approxi- mately 4600 and within the struc- ture of the International Uhion there are only two Locals larger than this one and they are the two urban Locals on the Lower Mainland of this Province. Surplus is our considered opinion that the membership of the Local Union can be increased still fur- ther if there is no recession in the lumber industry of British Columbia in the future. “The finances of the Local Union have showed remarkable growth during the past year. This in part was accountable to the increase in dues which became effective on May 1. The Local Union had an operating surplus for the year 1951 of approximate- ly $15,000, Proven to be of a sound and constructive nature, and we believe also, that our Organization at the present time enjoys a prestige and re- spect among the general public that is greater than at any time during our history. “The Union has been repre- sented at all important Conven- tions of our Union and all Fed- erations and Congresses. Our Delegates have taken part in the discussions of these bodies. They have introduced to the attending Delegates the views and desires of our membership and most im- portant of all, they have had no small say in deciding the policies and programs of those bodies, Provincial, National and and In- ternational of which we are a part. strengthening our Union in all organized operations. “Tt should be noted that an exceptionally high degree of organization now exists in all operations under contract to the Local Union. In fact, we are rapidly establishing full Union Organization and parti- cipation by all workers in the jurisdiction of this Local Union, and to us Union Secur- past year in maintaining and Good Co-operation “Again at this time your Of- cers would like to extend to all Camp and Mill Committees, Job Stewards and rank-and-file mem- » «Our grateful thanks for support in the projection of the ideas and icles of the Lo- eal Union on job, for without support their belief in | ti the aims and objectives of “this ata surmountable ‘or the Union to organize and build at the speed that it has in the past ! Uni ity is becoming a reality by Job Organization. 12 months, “Again this year as in previ- ous years, a great deal of assist- ance has heen given your Camp and Mill Committees in their ne- gotiations for revisions of the wage schedules in various opera- ions and as a result of these negotiations we are rapidly es- tablishing a process of wage standardization in the operations under contract to- the Local ion, On Laurels ture of our Organization. Soon we will be entering into our An- nual Contract Negotiations. We cannot predict what line our Con- tract demands for the coming year will take. However, what- ever demands that are decided upon by the Wage and Contract Conference we urge all of our Members to fulfill their obliga- tions to our Organization by sup- porting the demands that are de- cided upon.” \f Lake Cowichan ‘Annual Meeting of the Lake Cowichan Sub-local of Local 1-80, IWA, was held on March 9, when ee following were elected to of- ce: Chairman, Ernest Thomas; Ist vice-chairman, Gunnar Neilson; 2nd _ vice - chairman, George Grimshaw; 3rd vice- chairman. Bill Dragan; finan- cial secretary, James Bailey; recording secretary, Nelson La- Forge; conductor, Dave Pey- erett; warden, R. Alberts; trus- tees, Neil Aldred, J. Sheaf, and J. Cornish, Guest speakers on the occasion were Financial Secretary Ed Lin- der, and Business Agent Ernest Boulet, who outlined the Union’s Policies as developed at the Dis- trict Convention, and the propos- ed aniendments to the District By-laws. Numerous questions were asked and answered to achieve a better understanding of preparations for the approaching Wages and Contract Conference. _ The newly-elected officers were installed by Business Agent Bou- General Alert By J. STEWART ALSBURY, IWA District President ‘Tals next week-end the delegates from Iwa Local Unions in British Columbia will prepare the final outline of their contract demands. Within a few weeks the Union’s designated representa- tives will meet the representatives of the lumber operators across the bargaining table. It is too early to predict what type of bargain- ing strategy will © be required. The final demands are yet to be for- mulated and pri- orities are not yet determined. We can only guess with re- gard to the attitude of the em- ployers. We do know that the outcome of negotiations must be finally decided before June 15. Bargaining on an industry- wide basis is always difficult. Contract improvements are never handed to a Union on a platter. Every demand is at first opposed by the employers, mainly con- cerned with the maintenance of their profits. It is therefore the part of wisdom on the part of the IWA to prepare for a battle, This year IWA members desire the inclusion in the contract of provisions that have never been welcomed by B.C. employers al- though in vogue elsewhere on the continent. Opposition may be ex- pected and can be overcome only by the exercise of bargaining strength based the unified deter- mination of the workers involved. Alert It is my duty at this time to alert IWA members with regard *|to the immediate tasks in prep- aration of any eventuality. By this time, the proposed con- tract demands have been discuss- ed in all Local Unions, Delegates will have been instructed with regard to the views of the work- ers which they will represent. The next step will be to orga- nize for a united and loyal sup- port of the demands shaped by majority decision. All that is in- volved should be made known to all our fellow-workers on the job. Every lumber worker should keep in close touch with his Local Union officials and meetings, that prompt support may be given any call for action. The attitude toward the de- mands should invite the loyalty of all the workers on the job. Carping criticism weakens ow united effort, when after full and democratic discussion decisions have been made. Our real bargaining strength lies in 100% organization on the job, with an enlightened presen- tation of the Union’s purposes to all fellow-workers and the gen- eral public. The Union’s decisions are as effective as the active par- ticipation of individual members make them. With all that is at stake, we need every man at his post, ready for action. FOR SALE Landing craft houseboat 52‘ x 18’ co utility 3 piece bathroom, cabinet kitchen, bi cold water, ample cupboard and locker space, duroid roof, new guttering, insulated. $3,750.00 cash. 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