/ORKE

Ottcat Pattentioe rte Jnclormational Woodworkers of America wt. disse Cove Neb :
Vol. XXII, No. 3 BB = Ist ISSUE, FEBRUARY - VANCOUVER, B.C. “ee Sc PER COPY
a Hy if
y, es ; : .

Forthright denunciation of the organized employers’
offensive against trade unionism, keynoted the address
of District President Joe Morris as he opened the 17th
Annual Convention of B.C. District No. 1 in the Hotel
Georgia, Vancouver, February 15.

In a call for vigorous and united action, he declared
that wages and working conditions in the B. C. lumber in-
dustry. had not yet been raised to standards compatible
with the industry’s resources and profits.

That his views would be endorsed by the 200 delegates,

alternates, and fraternal delegates present was made clear
in the vocal response, and the 150 resolutions placed on the

IR

“UNION FORGING AHEAD”

..- OFFICERS’ REPORT

Strategy of this year’s contract negotiations held the
centre of the stage this week as the delegates attending
the Annual District Convention swung into action on the
numerous resolutions originating with the Local Unions.
Background of the discussion was the District Officers’
report which presented an analysis of relations with the
employers as experienced during the past year.

Negotiations

Dealing with negotiations for
the 1958-54 master contract, and
the Interior struggle the District
Officers reported:

“Last year’s negotiations in
the coast area were extended be-
yond the termination date of the
Master Contract, for reasons be-

The report, introduced early in
the proceedings of the Conven-
tion, and referred to the Officers’
Report Committee, presented a
picture of intense activity during
1958, with results which revealed
a steady growth of strength and
bargaining power in the Union’s
affairs,

yond the control of your Negoti-
ating Committee. It was made
obvious from the outset that the
employers had directed their pro-
paganda to create and cultivate
the impression in the public mind
that marketing conditions were
rapidly and ruinously deteriorat-
ing.

The same effort was made to
influence workers in the industry
with this false pessimism and
dampen their hopes for a com-
pletely satisfactory outcome of
our bargaining. Evidently, the
employers were trading on the

See “UNION” Page 4

Creston “Deal” Fought

Appeal lodged by the District Officers against the
decision of the Labor Relations Board to certify the AFL
Lumber and Sawmill Workers at the Creston Sawmills
instead of the IWA, was heard by the Board on Feb. 9.
Judgment was reserved.

Spokesmen for the Union were
District President Joe Morris,
Vice-President Wm. Gray, and
International representative Clay-
ton Walls. Five witnesses at-
tended from the Creston Sub-
Local 1-405,

The procedure followed by the

Board in granting certification to
the AFL Union was protested as
being highly irregular and con-
trary to the intent of the ICA
Act. It was made unmistakably

that they regarded the Board’s
action as distinctly biassed.
Thirty-two men have been
forced to remain on the IWA
picket line because the rival un-
ion organized “scabs” into the
operation to displace them.

The “yellow-dog” contract ne-
gotiated by the AFL deprives the
present crew of the gains secured
by the IWA in the recent strike
settlement, said the local IWA
members,

four days of arduous work.

President Frank Howard,
Local 1-71, presided at the
opening ceremonies, which in-
cluded the invocation by the
Very Reverend Northcote
Burke, D.D., Dean of Christ
Church Cathedral, Vancouver,
and a civic welcome extended
by Alderman-S. Bowman.

Before turning the gavel
over to the District President,
the President of the Loggers’
Local welcomed the delegates
on behalf of Local 1-71 and
Local 1-217. He also tendered
the good wishes of IWA mem-
bers in the Legislature and the
House of Commons, Jack
Squire, MLA; Tony Gargrave,
MLA; Rae Eddie, MLA; and
Tom Barnett, M.P.

Upon expressing his wel-
come to the delegates, Interna-
tional Officers, and the visitors,
District President Joe Morris
said:

“I know that we will not shrink
from, nor neglect, our responsi-
bilities, but will face them with
intelligence, courage, and unity.
All of us are conscious of the
fact that we have been entrusted
with the consideration of matters
which are of vital concern to our

convention’s order paper, as the assembly prepared for

fellow-workers.

The resolutions appearing on
our agenda reveal that they have
been given cause to feel concern
regarding.the outlook for their~
future well-being. The members
of this Union are not blind to
the signs of the times, and there-
fore, expect that we shall meas-
ure up to the demands which
present-day events place upon us.

Our business here is the pro-
motion of greater economic
security for the rank and file.
members. The results of our de-
liberations here must not fall
short of their legitimate expec-
tations nor must they fail to
meet the new and more exacting
crises in our affairs.

United in Purpose

Our Constitution, and the
structure of our oragnization,
place no barrier in the way of
expressing an honest, down-to-
earth, and practical declaration
of the aims of the membership
at this time, with respect to -
pressing problems. We ‘will re-
alize this opportunity in our dis-
cussions here, Our decisions must
be consistent with the needs and
aims of our members.

See “STANDARDS” Page 5

IN APPRECIATION

To All Mermbers Of The I.W.A. And To The
ens Generally Who Assisted Our
Strike In The Interior of British Columbia

The Officers and Executive Board of B.C.
District Council No. 1 take this opportunity to
thank everyone who made donations of either
clothing or money to assist ourBrothers on strike
in the Interior. \

We wish everyone had had the opportunity
to tour the Interior Locals during the strike’and
hear the people in the Interior express their ap-
preciation of the assistance they received’ from
the general public and our Coast membership.

This demonstration of solidarity has. welded
our Organization into a solid unit, which will do
much to build it, not only into a stronger Organi-
zation to fight for better wages, hours and work-
ing conditions, but will assist in our community
effort to build a better living standard for all the
working people throughout our Province.

Again may I express our appreciation for the
assistance given.

B. C. District Council No. 1, I.W.A.
Officers and Executive Board

SPECIAL
CONVENTION
EDITION

fren Gold-CJOR

7.00 p.m.
Thursday

LISTEN TO

A
L
s
°

7.05 p.m. ¢ (J AV 6.30 p.m.

Saturday § Thursday

CKNW