FROM PAGE ONE “CONTRACT APPROVED" increase to $29,000. Weekly Indemnity increased to $245 per week effective June 15, 1981, and to $260 per week June 15, 1982. 9. Additional $6.50 per day coverage for hospitalization. 10. Effective June 15, 1982, vision care coverage for lenses, frames, contact lenses. 11. Effective June 15, 1982, a Long Term Disability Plan which will be jointly Trus- teed by the Union and Industry. 12. Maximum orthodontic premiums raised to $1,500. 13. Sixty days notice for plant closures. 14. Severance pay for both years and months of service for permanent plant closures. 15. Caulk boot allowance increased to $60 June 15, 1981, and to $70 June 15, 1982. 16. Rate Determination Programme for the Shake and Shingle industry. 17. Apprenticeship Training Programme. 18. Additional IWA representation on the Health Research Programme. 19. Top Level Standing Committee to deal with Contractors & Sub-Contractors. 20. Fourteen long-standing disputes settled in sawmill and logging categories. One of the most important items won was agreement by the employers on the coast, Southern and Northern Interiors to conduct joint negotiations with the Union in future negotiations. Published elsewhere in this issue is the complete text of the Coast Agreement and wage curves for the various sections of the industry. All the major items shown in the Coast Agreement are contained in the other Agreements. BARRETT’S EULOGY TO DAVID LEWIS The following is the eulogy paid by B.C. New Democratic Party Leader Dave Barrett to David Lewis, the former National Leader of the Party, who passed away May 23 in Ottawa. David Lewis’ journey through his life ended last Saturday in Ottawa, barely a month short of the 72nd anniversary of his birth in a small Polish town. It was a long journey, at times hard, but always filled with his zestful, productive energy. Though he often travelled alone, he never travelled lonely; his constant companions were the love of his family, the affection of his friends and the respect of everyone. For he was a special person, and his journey helped change this country and expand the boundaries of our understand- ing and our aspirations. We are all indebted to his selfless work and indebted, also, to his family, for sharing his time with the citizens of Canada. To those of us for whom he gave so much through the decades, there was a kind of: consolation in the sad announcement by the Ottawa Civic Hospital, which said simply: “He died peacefully, and his family was with him at the time.” We can be grateful for that. That may well have been all that David Lewis wanted for his journey’s end. But we want more. We gather here today because we want to share some part of his family’s grief in this sad hour, as they so generously shared the happy years with us. We want to remember his great gifts to our country’s development. And we want to dedicate our own journey through life, in his memory, to ensure that the work of improving the human condition goes on. David Lewis’ work began as a child, a child protected by the love of a close family, but challenged by the wonderful example of his father, Moishe Los, who instilled in him his sense of social dedication and an abid- ing belief that peaceful political activity can change the world for the better. His father was a democratic socialist, too. When he was 12, and already a committed socialist, David’s journey brought him to Montreal, as his family adopted a new nationality, a new name, a new hope, witha renewed depth in their convictions. It is a measure of his impressive talent that he not only completed public school in three short years — and went on to graduate from McGill University with a scholarship — but that, despite such a late start, he taught himself the English language so well that he elevated its use in our public affairs. How he used his talent for language is instructive. David Lewis did not use it as a platform orator, seeking ovation. He did not put it to his personal use, as a lawyer’s courtroom skill. He used it as a tool in the dialogue of debate aimed at bringing an increasing number of Canadians to self-awareness and understanding of their condition, so they could improve it with logic and humanity together. As a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford, he rein- forced his commitment, and honed his talent, graduating with his second degree and, characteristically, scaling a new height with his debating skill, by becoming the first’Canadian president of the Oxford Union. The following year, 1936, proved to be the most eventful in his life, in setting the course of his journey. He returned to Montreal, he married his life’s partner — Sophie Carson — and he became the unpaid secretary of the newly-formed Canadian Commonwealth Federation, while entering a law practice. Two years later, he made the decision that was to leave its mark on the political process in Canada and the history of our nation. He became the first full-time national secretary of the CCF and began the long years of helping it take root in our public life, eventually to form the first social demo- cratic government on this continent. During those years, David Lewis’ journey often took the form of lengthy train trips, sleeping sitting up in day coaches, munch- ing food prepared by his beloved partner, Sophie, keenly observing the changing landscape and society of Canada. Subsequently, with Sophie at his side as their family grew up, he served the New Democratic Party he had helped form, and the people of Canada, both as a leader and as a Member of Parliament. I will not dwell on those years, because they are, to us, well-known and their im- portance will be analyzed by historians for future generations. But my own perception of his work can be stated briefly: He helped create a new kind of Canada. David Lewis lived in interesting times for our country. In significant part, he helped to make them interesting. His work helped to weave the very fabric of our nation today — a multi-cultural society, with a mixed economy and social programs the envy of the international community, programs which are firmly based now in the public policies of every party, not only his own. In short, his work is a part of our history ... part of our common heritage, from this moment forth. I was among the privileged citizens to have known David Lewis personally. I knew him as a gentle, but determined, man, who thought not only about the present, but about the years ahead, which none of us here today will see out completely. He had vision. He had a deep faith in mankind’s journey and the part our nation could play in scouting the course ahead. And I knew his powerful love for his family: for his wife, Sophie; their daughters, Janet and Nina; and their sons, Michael and Stephen. It is to these, and to members of the larger family, that our thoughts and hearts turn today. Ours is a loss of a friend and cherished spokesman for millions of our people; but theirs is the even deeper loss of a member of the family. We’ve all lost a very dear friend. A mighty warrior has fallen in the on- going battle. But the struggle continues. And David Lewis would want us to pause here only a moment, before again taking up the cudgels he has laid down. NOTICE Because of negotiations and the mail strike the Lumber Worker has not published in the last few months. News submitted for publication during that period will not be published. However, we are publishing pictures taken at a number of Local Annual Delegated Meetings at the request of the Local Unions. FARMWORKERS JOIN CONGRESS The Canadian Farmworkers Union helda Special Convention in New Westminster Sunday, June 14, 1981 to deal with the questions of affiliation, fundraising and the current strike situation. Raj Chouhan, President of the Canadian Farmworkers Union said he was pleased to announce that the delegates at the Conven- tion voted to affiliate with the Canadian Labour Congress. “With this historic deci- sion, farmworkers across Canada have joined the mainstream of the Canadian labour movement and along with their other brothers and sisters will continue to fight to improve working conditions for all workers.” “Our struggle is at a crucial stage,” said Chouhan “we have successfully laid the groundwork to win contracts and improve working conditions but, some of the growers in B.C. are banding together to stop CFU and our organizing drives. Also, some Ontario growers are using scare tactics by spreading rumours that violence will occur if ‘outside agitators’ (organizers from B.C.) try to organize ‘their’ farmworkers. “Our struggle is not easy and itis going to be long but, with the continued support of the trade union movement we are certain to bring growers who have no concept of collective bargaining into the twentieth century,” he said. The Convention also established a fund- raising committee whose goal is to raise $142,000. Further strike strategy was also developed. ll 2/Lumber Worker/September, 1981 .