S Orta Petition ot the Ieetornational Weeduorhers of America vt. risa Cove te 1 Vol. XXIII, No. 3 >> ®3 Ist ISSUE, FEB. 1955 - VANCOUVER, B.C. UNI RECORD, STATES REPORT Three major questions loomed up as the predominat- ing issues in the deliberations of the IWA 18th Annual District Convention, which quickly swung into action on Monday, February 14, to deal with a formidable list of reports and resolutions relating to the future welfare of the Union. They were, the 1955 bargaining strategy, labor legislation, and administrative policy. The contents of an exhaustive report on the past year’s activi- ties, submitted by the District Officers, promised to touch off discussions on the best possible approach in 1955 to problems un- covered in 1954. The report introduced early in the proceedings, and referred to the Officers’ Report Committee, presented a picture of intense activity during 1954. The report pointed to the evidence of a steady growth in strength and bargaining power which had placed the Union in readiness for a convention program of action, Dealing with activities as they related to the work of the con- vention the report stated in part: “In presenting this report, briefly reviewing the activities which have centered in the District Of- fice, your District Officers extend cordial fraternal greetings to all delegates, fraternal delegates, and visitors in attendance at the 18th Annual Convention of the B.C. District Council No. 1, In- ternational Woodworkers of America, CIO-CCL. We welcome them to a convention which marks another year of achieve- ment for our Union, and which gives promise of continued prog- ress in the year to come, We have confidence that the deliberations of this assembly will again map out and secure new and import- ant advances in the interests of the organized lumber workers. WHAT'S _ INSIDE At the outset, your officers wish to express their warm apprecia- tion for the cooperation which has been extended to them by the officers and members of the Local Unions in the District dur- ing the past year. It has been possible. to deal satisfactorily with many vexatious ‘problems solely because of this faithful team-work in the service of the Union’s purposes, As indicated in the convention call, the delegates will be requir- ed to examine the affairs of the District Council, and determine what further steps will be neces- sary to promote the Union’s ad- ministration, organization, educa- tion, accident prevention, and legislative program. Your officers submit this report with the belief that the past year’s experience will furnish many important landmarks for continued progress. The decisions to be made at this convention must necessarily take into consideration the gen- eral economic trends in the prov- ince. In soe industries serious unemployment has appeared to an extent which has provoked concern in the minds of lumber workers. In cooperation with af- filiated unions, pressure has been exercised upon the authorities to take prompt and effective meas- ures to arrest unemployment before it assumes more disastrous See “REPORT” Page 2 LOGGERS WIN RATE DEAL IWA Meet Maps Out Advance “IWA organization in British Columbia is poised and ready to map out and occupy new ground, which will place the lumber workers of this province in a posi- tion of much greater economic and social security,” said District President Joe Morris, as he keynoted the February 14 proceedings of the 18th Annual ‘District Convention of the IWA with an attitude of confidence in the mobilized strength of [WA members to meet and defeat threatening opposition. In his demand for clear, yet bold vision, the IWA President declared that convention decisions should be based on an accurate appraisal.of three factors, ie, the need of the workers for greater security, the potential strength of Union action, and the state of the economy. He forcefully expressed the view that the lumber workers’ bread and butter should have “more jam on it”. His words were acclaimed by the assembled delegates, who obviously approved their President’s sentiments. As they turned to the more than 150 resolutions on the order paper, they commenced four days of strenuous work required to shape the Union’s program in conformity with the wishes of the membership, ex- pressed in their proposals. President Lloyd Whalen, Local 1-217, IWA, presided at the open- ing ceremonies, during which S. Blackburn, of St. Dan Radford; Delegate, Adolph Germer; Inter- national 2nd Vice-President, CIO Fraternal, resbyterian Church, Westminster, pronounced ‘Acting-Mayor New the invocation. Wm. Orr extended a civic wel- come, Before handing the gavel over to the District President, Presi- dent Lloyd Whalen, speaking for the host Local Union, welcomed the delegates to the convention, and reminded them of the great public interest riveted upon them. President Whalen, in his capacity as President of the Vancouver Labor Council, also conveyed to the convention fraternal greet- ings from affiliated unions in the metropolitan area. The convention heard greetings from’ the IWA Members of the Legislature and the House of Commons; John Squire, MLA; Tony Gargrave, MLA; Frank Howard, MLA; Rae Eddie, MLA; and Tom Barnett, M.P. List of guest speakers sched- uled to appear included the In- ternational President, A. F. Har- tung; CCL Regional Director, Claude Ballard; International Secretary-Treasurer, Bill Botkin; and Eastern Regional Director, H. Landon Ladd, Contingent upon his release from legislative duties, the Min- ister of Labor was expected to speak, Chairman Adam Bell, of the Workmen’s Compensation Board, was designated to repre- sent that government agency. Announcement was made that International Research and Edu- cation Director, Ed Kenney, would conduct an evening’s pro- gram on automation in the lum- ber industry, Wednesday eve- nig, in the Georgia Hotel at 7:30 p.m. The program developed by the Research Director, and al- ready given its premiere in the United States, forecasts condi- tions in the industry as they are likely to be in 1975, and social conditions as shaped in 1965. Upon expressing his welcome to the delegates, the fraternal delegates and visitors, the Dis- trict President said: Completion of category rate revisions in Coast logging camps of the larger companies was announced this week by the officers of Local 1-71, IWA, as camps allied with Alaska Pine Co. Ltd. and Powell River Co. Ltd. conceded the standard agreement. This marks the successful end of a determined struggle waged by the Local Union over a period of several years. Fred Fieber, Financial Secre- tary of the Loggers’ Local, re- ported on recent developments in the logging camps in a radio ad- dress recently, and stated: “Agreement has been reached on the revision of category rates in operations of Alaska Pine Co. Ltd., Alaska Pine & Cellulose Co. Ltd. at Holberg, Mahatta River, Frazer Bay, Port McNeill, Mores- by Island, and Pacofi Camps as well as in the camps of the Pow- ell River Co. subsidiaries, Kelley Logging Co. at Aero and Just- katla Camps, Alice Lake Logging Co., Rotter Logging Co. Ltd., and O’Brien Logging Co. Ltd., as well as some other camps. We are now in the midst of completing similar revisions of the rates in the smaller inde- pendent camps. This Local Union attaches a great deal of import- ance to these revisions, attained only after months of intense struggle, because for the first time in many years, the loggers in Coast camps are assured of a uniform rate for the same clas- sifications of work. Daily Rate Adjustment Another matter which has caus- ed us considerable gratification is “A Good Convention” “I welcome delegates, members, and friends to this convention with complete confidence that they will find it a good convention, I know that it will be a good convention to work with as a dele- gate. I know that it will be a good convention for the observing public. The reason I say so, is that all the necessary ingredients for a successful convention are here in more generous proportions than ever before... . Let’s all quit being romanticists. We should be militant, and I hope that we become even more militant than we have ever been, But, I want to see this union militant in an intelligent way. Militancy, that is militancy for the sake of effect, is not militancy. It is merely froth. * The Real Test > The only sane attitude with regard to our work is to set our- selves a reasonable target of achievement, outlining it exclusively in the realism of more bread and butter, ‘with jam on it’ for our brothers and sisters. Let us move toward the target objective, with all the determination, singleness of purpose, and courage, that makes for a real militancy. And, in the name of common- sense, let us move forward with all the skill we can muster, for the final test of our efforts must be the actual winning of our goal. We may not get there overnight, we may not get there this See “RATES” Page 12 LISTEN TO 7.00 p.m. ¢ See “ADVANCE” Page 4 CKNW2 252.2, CJAVS222:2; ° CKPG- Ist and 3rd a.