Woodworker's Glub union operated HANOVER, ONTARIO — In what must surely be the envy of every local union in Canada, IWA Local 1-500 can boast of its own union meeting hall and beer parlour. Since the early 1960s the local union has successfully operated its wholly owned union hall and licensed estab- lishment here in this rural community of 3,500 people, about a 2% hour drive northwest of Toronto. For nearly three decades the “Woodworkers’ Club” of the Hanover local has served as a meeting place for local union meetings and social gath- erings of different sorts. In fact, so successful have been the last couple of dance events, that the local business establishment is get- ting a little concerned that the local club may be drawing some of its business. That's no big concern for local union officials, however. “We'll run ours and we'll let them run theirs”, says Irvin Baetz, Secre- tary-Treasurer of the local. “If they can do a better job, then so be it”. A dance in mid January saw the downstairs part of the club so busy that they had to bring some chairs from the union hall upstairs. Although the Woodworkers’ Club doesn’t see itself in direct competition with the local business establishment, Brother Baetz does feel the local work- ing man or woman is getting a little “soaked” when they go to the other hotels or restaurants for refreshments. Prices at the Woodworkers’ Club vary from as little as 75 cents for a glass of draft beer to $2.00 for a shot of hard liquor. Brother Baetz says there’s no cus- tomer requirement for “fancy drinks”. But nevertheless, the hired bartender Jim Feltis keeps a pretty good eye out. that none of the customers get too much to drink if they’re driving. Retired local union officer Wilfred “Chelly Chalmers”, who along with the late Jim Rouw, played a key role in the construction of the club says the union hall played a big role in bring- ing the local closer in the 1960s. Brother Chalmers says groups of local unionists used to meet and formed a “furniture council” to coordi- nate bargaining strategies with the employers of those days. In the 60s, Knechtel’s Furniture (with more than 300 workers), Peppler Furniture, Heinzman Piano and Han- over Kitchens were all major employ- ers. Union members used to fill the hall and in fact an addition was put on in the late 60s to increase the upstairs holding capacity to over 200 people. © Bartender Jim Feltis pours a cold one as Dennis Byers, Irvin Baetz, and visitor observe the on-goings. Agreement sought at Weber Costello MISSISSAUGA, ONTARIO — In their third contract talks with a U.S.- owned office and school supplies firm, IWA-CANADA negotiators are trying to score a number of break-throughs. A two-year deal between 42 Local 1-500 members and Weber Costello Ltd., is being sought. “We are trying to seek a ‘mature agreement’ from what is now consid- ered as a weak collective agreement,” says union staff representative Tom Lowe. Among the demands being sought are a 10% pay raise and a package of benefits including life insurance, acci- dental death and dismemberment, and vision care. The union negotiating committee which also consists of plant chairman Ted Schuster, George Keslig and local president Tony Iannucci, has called a strike vote to back up their demands. One of the outstanding issues is wage indemnity benefits for the work- ers. “We anticipate a successful result without having to give up any ground that we have gained so far,” says Brother Lowe. Following a “no board” decision from an Ontario Labour Relations Board conciliator, the union and com- pany will meet with a mediator on March 22 to resolve outstanding issues. Union negotiators are also seeking new provisions to strictly detail over- time rates of pay, job posting and grievance procedures. The union is also seeking an increase in premiums for lead hands and a retroactive sum to cover differ- ences since the expiry date in mid- October 1989. © In front of the club on the main drag in Hanover are (I. to r.) Kevin MacArthur, first vice-president; Bruce Webber, president; service representatives Saul Marques and Dennis Byers; and secretary-treasurer Irvin Baetz. Today Local 1-500 holds its local annual meeting in the hall every May and routinely rents it out for various events such as weddings, parties and a singles club (which meets every 2 weeks). Other regular events in the beer parlour are card playing contests, a weekly dart tournament, and, of course, the dances. At one time the club had a pool table but it was eventually removed because, according to Brother Baetz, it was “causing too much contro- versy.” The establishments low ceil- ings also caused a few problems for some pool players during their han- dling of cue sticks. Over on a wall between the dart boards hangs a sign which reads “Excessive Foul Language Not Per- mitted.” Apparently the sign has been there for quite some time in order to contain the conduct of some patrons. Some foul language is heard occa- sionally but most visitors don’t get carried away. Environment 2000 conference May 25-7 VANCOUVER, B.C. — The Canada- Africa International Forestry Associ- ation has announced that it will be hosting a three-day conference at the University of British Columbia from May 25-7. The “Environment 2000 Confer- ence: The Environment and Third World Sustainable Development” will contain presentations and workshops. Four topical areas of concern at the conference will be agro-forestry in rural land use; tropical rain forests and the loss of biological diversity; the fuel wood energy crisis; and decer- tification and rural development. CAIFA is a non-profit association of African-Canadian foresters which is attempting to raise donations and public awareness for various restora- tion projects in Africa. CAIFA is involved in community- based forest projects through cooper- ation with non-governmental organi- zations and volunteers. For further information please write or call: CANADA-AFRICA INTERNATIONAL FORESTRY ASSOCIATION 2995 Waterloo Street Vancouver, B.C. V6R 334 Telephone (604) 731-2545. © Federal New Democratic Party leader Audrey McLaughlin stopped by at [WA -CANADA's national headquarters on February 22 to meet with union president Jack Munro and officials from the B.C. Federation of Labour. Ms. McLaughlin, ona brief tour of British Columbia, was also greeted by other IWA staffers. [WA- CANADA, nationwide, is a solid supporter of the NDP. sss. 14/LUMBERWORKER/MARCH, 1990