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‘Otnast Pettis ot tte Informational Woodworkers of America nt Diura Court Nei

Vol. XXI, No, 20

BP °° Ind ISSUE, OCTOBER 1953 - VANCOUVER, B.C, “@S>

5c PER COPY

IWA Fights Legal Tricks

South Interior
Enters Fight

Strike call issued by the IWA District Policy Commit-
tee for the Southern Interior became effective in that area
on October 28rd, following compilation of the results of

the government-supervised

strike vote, and was given

loyal support by the workers in all operations affected.

The Local Unions swung into
action with alacrity and precision
and brought production to a com-
plete standstill in the major key
operations with well organized
picket lines, They were assisted
by District President Joe Morris,
Vice-President William Gray and
Negotiating Committee Secretary
Walter Allen, District Secretary-
Treasurer George Mitchell, as
well as all District and Interna-
tional staff members.

Approximately one week elaps-
ed, between the date of the strike
vote and the strike deadline, dur-
ing which a number of confer-
ences were held with the employ-
ers, under the auspices of the La-
hor Relations Board. When these
conferences proved fruitless, due
to the uncompromising attitude
of the operators, the right to
strike was finally asserted.

Clear Mandate Given

In a public statement, District
President Joe Morris declared:
“The results of the government-
supervised strike vote indicate
yery clearly that a majority of
the lumber workers prefer strike
action to the re-imposition of the
1951 contract terms, which the
employers have attempted to
foist upon them.”

“The Union will act on the
mandate given by the workers
themselves, and which must, be
interpreted as a mandate for
strike action, now that a satisfac-
tory settlement is refused by the
employers.”

See “SOUTH INTERIOR” Page 3

WHAT’S
INSIDE

Page

Strike .. 3

Editorials
IWA Pix... 5

Reuther ... 10-12

IWA workers on strike in the Interior of B.C. this week faced vindic-
tive action by the operators designed to smash the strike and dislodge
the Union from its foothold in the strike-bound areas.

Applications have been made to the courts for injunctions. to restrain

" peaceful picketing at a number of points, and a series of charges have been
laid against IWA officials before the Labor Relations Board in order to
secure the right of prosecution.

Prompt action was taken by the Union’s officials to defend the Union’s
interests in court, and maintain the right of peaceful picketing.

Steps were taken to muster the full strength of the IWA for what is
now recognized as a life and death struggle for survival in the Interior.

In a number of instances, counsel for the IWA suc-

persed to the far corners of

future of their Union.

OFFICERS
HOLD
POSTS

Only contest looming in
the election of IWA Inter-
national officers by member-
ship referendum is for the
post of six-year Trustee.

The nomination of the
present incumbent, Tim Sul-
livan, District 6, was opposed
by that of Emmett Lawson,
District 13, at the recent In-
ternational Convention.

The ballot will carry the
following names:

For President: A. F. Har-
tung (unopposed).

For 1st Vice: E. J. Dicey
(unopposed).

For 2nd Vice: Claude Bal-
lard (unopposed),

For Sec.-Treasurer:
Winn (unopposed).

For 6-year Trustee: Em-
mett Lawson and Tim Sulli-

Carl

yan.
No write-in campaigns are
anticipated.

CONVENTION
ACCLAIMED

As President Hartung’s gavel signalled adjournment
of the 17th Annual Constitutional Convention of the IWA
in the Hotel Vancouver, October 16, the delegates dis-

the North American lumber

industry in a spirit of high optimism with regard to the

As remarked on all sides, the
gathering had been one of the
largest and most successful in
the Union’s history. The unity of
purpose expressed throughout the
proceedings had paved the way to
constructive and harmonious ac-
tion. The convention arrange-
ments had been outstanding in
their excellence, providing an at-
mosphere of cordial fraternity.

Walter Reuther

Highlight of the convention
was the speech of CIO President
Walter Reuther, which attracted
to the convention hall an overflow
audience representing a cross-
section of the Vancouver public
in addition to the accredited dele-
gates, including many leading
trade unionists of both TLC and
CCL affiliation.

Guest speakers who spoke from
the rostrum included, President
A. R. Mosher, CCL; Adolph Ger-
mer, veteran representative of
the CIO; Henry Wiesbach, Na-
tional PAC Director, CCL; Geo.
Home, Secretary, B.C, Federa-
tion of Labor; Dan Radford, Re-
gional Director, CCL; C. H. Mil-
lard, National Director, United
Steelworkers; Ben Schafer, Vice-

See “CONVENTION” Page 2

breen bold OR

LISTEN TO
7.00 p.m. 4

Thursday §

eeeded in gaining modification of the restraining orders

issued,
picketing.

which would enable a measure of peaceful

Charges levelled against IWA officials for breaches of

the ICA Act will be heard
Board on November 6.

before the Labor Relations

In the meantime, the IWA Interior strike organization
continues to function with an efficient and determined
resolution which has won admiration from the Coast lum-

ber workers.
To organize support for

the Interior IWA strike, a

joint meeting under the auspices of the B. C. Federation
of Labor and the Vancouver Labor Council will rally
CCL trade unionists in the Pender Auditorium at 8:00

p.m., November 5.

SPECIAL
LEVY
FAVORED

General support is now in-
dicated for the special one-
dollar-a-month per member
assessment proposed by the
IWA District Executive
Board. Approval has already
been given by the member-
ship in a number of Local
Unions, including Local 1-
217.

It has been pointed out
that the funds to be derived
from the special assessment
are required to supplement
the strike fund to ensure
that strike action in the In-
terior may be carried to
victory.

The urgency of the strike
situation was stressed due to
the employers’ union-smash-
ing tactics now likely to
cause a bitter life and death
struggle for the Union’s sur-
vival in the Interior,

Attack made by the operators
is based on the claim that certain
operations are strike-bound,
where no majority vote was se-
cured for strike action. The
Union has replied in defence that
as all such operations bargained
thfough one employers’ agency,
the over-all majority for strike
action should permit the workers
in such operations to respect the
IWA picket lines, if they so
desire—

District 8rd Vice-President
Fred Fieber, directing strike op-
erations in the Northern Interior
for the District Negotiating Com-
mittee outlined the situation in
that area when speaking over the
Green Gold radio program. He
said in part:

“I have just returned from the
Prince George area where the
whole lumber industry is strike-
bound, with the exception of
those operations which have sign-
ed agreements with the IWA.
Between designated points on all
sides of Prince George, opera-
tions have been closed down,
awaiting settlement of the strike
issues.

All lumber workers, as well as
the members of other unions have
respected the IWA picket lines, ’

See “BATTLE” Page 3

7.05 p.m.
Saturday

CKAW

(J AV 6.30 p.m.

Thursday