B.C. LUMBER WORKER Impressions . Of Local 1-80 BY MAINLANDER Tt was all in the course of duty, but I spent a pleasant Sunday, in pleasant surroundings, and in pleasant com- pany. All this happened because I accepted an invitation to visit with the members of Local 1-80 IWA, at one of their regular meetings, which, by the way, is an all-day Sunday affair. As a lowly intruder from the Mainland, I had to feel my way carefully through a wall of pride, so thick, that it could almost be seen or even cut. The members of 1-80 ‘are proud of their Local Union, They’re proud of their new building. And they’re cer- tainly proud of the way they run their meetings and the af- fairs of the Local generally. After a few hours hanging around, I began to agree that they had good cause for their _enthusiastie and loyal pride in something they had built them- selves from the ground up. Like a Beacon In Vancouver, trade union pre- mises have a sort of back-alley atmosphere, created because they are placed against the back- ground of the palatial business blocks and penthouses of the multi-millionaire employers. In Duncan, the IWA Hall stands out like a beacon on a hill as one of the superior edi- fices in the community. There may be larger buildings in Dun- can, but few have such éye ap- peal. This is of course, because it is a structure devised by wood- workers for their own purposes against a background native to the woodworking industry. It looks genuine, and it is, when its utilitarian features are closely examined. The inhabitants of this build- ing are as genuine as the outer structure, and form an organiza- tion which is quite as unique. > A Composite Local They are recruited from log- ging camps, shingle mills, and sawmills, possibly with the log- gers in the ascendancy. The Local Union’s activities are cen- tralized in the Duncan building, but the real work of the Union is widely de-centralized, under this central direction, through- out 14 Sub-Locals. The territory governed by this Local Union extends across, and up and down all the central por- tion of Vancouver ‘Island, and I mean governed. It would be dif- ficult to find a woodworking oper- ation in this area that did not pay homage or tribute to the IWA, At least that’s what some say. “We're Different” One must attend a membership meeting to understand that this Local Union is “different”, just as its delegates always claim at Dis- triet Conferences. Heaven forbid, that I should give away any secrets discovered during my visit. I was impressed and even over-awed by the amaz- ing harmony with which the busi- ness of a formidable agenda was transacted. Part of this, I reasoned, was probably due to the commanding presence of the President, Tony Poje, whose height towered over the member$, as he gave the odd impatient and vicious side-swipe with a huge gavel, if perchance “OLD DOC” Dr. R. Llewellyn Douglas hes his Dental Office from some errant member from the point. Membership Informed strayed Two other factors‘ seemed im- |, portant to this desirable result, however. The members are kept well-in- formed, and as a matter of fact insist on being well-informed. I noticed that they didn’t hesitate to keep the District President, a member of this Local, on his feet until he answered every last question to their satisfaction. Woe betide the man who here forgets the rules of a workers’ democracy, although nobody brags very loudly about this democracy. : The second factor is that the activities are carried out on a representative basis. This is done, on occasion by a sensible system of “caucuses”. Says the Chairman, occasionally: “Will the members from here and there, north, south, east or west (as the case might be), please meet and come back here with their minds made up as to what they want, or who they want to nomi- nate to represent them, etc., etc.? No Secrecy There’s nothing secret about their meetings, I presume, be- cause they run their meetings like grown-up persons. The re- porters. from the dailies and neighborhood weekly were seated at the press table, and reported everything that happened with- out restraint. Result, a nice big story in the next day’s edition of the Vancouver Province. The ladies are also invited. That struck me as a sound idea. The attendance at Local Union meetings might be higher, if the women were encouraged to take some interest in matters as im- portant to them as the men. Leading representatives of the Women’s Auxiliaries were fol- lowing the proceedings even more intently than many of the male members of the assembly. The Ladies, Too While dealing with the femi- nine section of the meeting, I should mention that the two charming and youthful members of the stenographic staff are also members of the Union, by decree of the Union, and were voting with as fine a judicial mien as Joe Morris himself. I think I'd like to go visiting again in Local 1-80, if this rash comment does not incur bodily violence for me at the hands of Ed, Linder, whose wrath knows no bounds, if the affairs of this Local are not discussed with due reverence. ee SUPPORT OUR ADVERTISERS SS EE Alex B. Macdonald Barrister & Solicitor RE-ELECTED BOWLING LEAGUE OFFICERS of Local 1-357, IWA, at the League’s Annual Bowling Banquet, in the Flame Supper Club. Officials, left to right: Bob Carlyle, 1st Vice-President; Jimmy Abrams, President; Daphne Silk, Secretar y; Stan Jones, 2nd Vice-President. . : 1-357 BOWLING ENTHUSIASTS HEAD POPULAR IWA LEAGUE fe] Intensive organizing effort is now being conducted by Local 1-71 IWA in response to the general demand throughout the coast logging camps for the benefits of unionization and union policing of the contract. Organizing techniques will re- ceive special attention at the week-end Institute to be held in the Englewood and Beaver Cove Camps during the month of Sep- tember, with the co-operation of the Union’s Educational Depart- ment. President Frank Howard is at present on tour throughout the camps in the Queen Charlottes, en route to the Kitimat and Ter- race area. UB HUMOR “Oh, Cactus... stop playing!” Be smart and -take advantage of our FREE CREDIT PLAN thot saves you up to 12% on clothes and men’s furnishings. Special on 2-pant suits at $55 in all the newest styles and shades in a complete size range. COAST LOCAL COVERS CAMPS Bob Ross has been assigned to organization work which will take him through the Alice Lake, Hol- berg, Jeune Landing, and Ma- hatta River Camps. Jimmy Ray, as reported in the last issue of this publication, is serving temporarily on the Log- gers’ Navy, in order to service the camps in the Jervis Inlet dis- trict. VANCOUVER BIC JULY.30— AUGUST. BUDWORM SPRAYED A big aerial and ground sur- vey is underway over 15,000 sa. miles of rich timberland in New Brunswick and Quebec. Aim is to assess results of the 1954 attack on the spruce budworm, now com- pleted, and to size up the situa- tion for next year. Officials say that in some re- spects this year’s operation was the most successful since the first spraying project was launched in 1952. Favorable weather condi- tions made it possible to finish the job in record time, and the insect was hit at the most fayorable stage in its development, as well as in the growth of the trees. To date, 5,000 sq. miles have been sprayed in New Brunswick, 300 in Quebec, This year, 56 spray planes were used. PROVINCE MEN 1.T.U. OFFICERS Pictured above are five members of The Vancouver Province composing room staff, all of whom hold elected office on the executive of Vancouver Typographical Union No, 226. This, 1.T.U, Local covers all union newspapers and job printing shops in Vancouver. The Vancouver Province is proud to have so many of its valued employees holding this trade union. From left above Fred Franks, vice-president W. H, positions of responsibility with are executive committee member Watson, executive member Jim Wood, president H. T. Uce) Chambers, and assistant secretary Charlie Crompton, They are members of one of seven unions who work together each day to produce The Vancouver Provirice, @ newspaper that always gives labor a square deal and which is 100 percent union produced, eee