e At the union’s 1992 convention, Stoney greeted then B.C. NDP Premier
Mike Harcourt. Stoney was one of the labour’s strongest NDP supporters.

Memorial service
Continued from page six

sense of duty to working people and
unwavering sense of justice pre-
vailed,” he said.

“And when the pressure was on to
compromise and come up with rec-
ommendations that weren’t fair to
workers — Gerry was clear about
his position — he would not compro-
mise fairness for workers for muddy
regulations or any legislation that
would do nothing to help prevent
injuries or indeed help workers.”

Georgetti talked about Stoney’s
succinct personal style.

“If you could say it in four words,
Gerry could say it in three. And
what Gerry said you knew he
believed. He wouldn’t stray from his

beliefs and he would never forget.
He packed more into one day than
most people do in a week.”

Dick Martin, who served with
Stoney on a nuclear energy policy
committee, said that Stoney’s major
preoccupation during the 1980’s
was not only the dangerous and con-
tentious issue of nuclear power, but
the welfare of workers in Canada’s
uranium mining industry.

“You could have disagreement
with Gerry and I did. But never did
he hold a grudge against you per-
sonally. It was always on the issue
and not on a personality thing,”
added Martin.

“Gerry you did not deserve this.
But you deserve our everlasting
gratitude and thanks for your strug-
gle and gour accomplishments.”

Speaking via video tape, Bob
White, who knew Stoney when he
was a labour council president,
praised his life in the union move-
ment and the NDP.

“Following leaders like Joe Morris
and Jack Munro was no easy task,
but Gerry did it well in a sometimes
very difficult period for his union,”
added White. “You always knew
where he (Gerry) stood and how he
felt and he intended for you to hear
it whether you wanted to or not.”

“He was passionate about the
NDP. Boy, to criticize the NDP in
Gerry’s presence, especially pub-
licly, was tantamount to treason as
far as he was concerned.”

White ;pralbed. Stoney’s courage in
making the long journey to the CLC
convention in Toronto shortly before
his death. ‘

“I hope that Carol, Shelley, Rick
and all of Gerry’s family are
immensely proud of his contribu-
tions to the betterment of the human
family,” said White.

Joe LeClair, who started his career
in opposition to Stoney, grew to
become friends with the man. He
was familiar with Gerry’s personal

ide.
Gerry loved life. He loved the
outdoors. He loved his wife Carol
very much. And they were more

than husband and wife. They were
partners and they were friends.

“He loved his son and daughter
Shelly and Rick very much and he
was very proud of them. He loved
his grandchildren. As he told me
that he loved to watch them grow.

“He loved the I.W.A. He loved the
labour movement. He loved the NDP
— that was his life.”

Brother LeClair, who knew first
started working with Stoney at the
executive board of the former Local
1-357 in 1973 said that the IWA -
Forest Industry pension plan was
very important to Gerry and was
proud to play a role in helping nego-
tiate it.

“To me Gerry

represented the very
best of the kind of

values that we all
have in common.
He was just a
working guy.”
— Dan Miller

Deputy Premier of
British Columbia

Gerry saw his father and thou-
sands other workers in the forest
industry work all their lives and
wind up without retirement income.

LeClair said that Stoney’s pres-
ence as leader of the New Westmin-
ster and District Labour Councial
for 17 years helped build it into one
of the strongest labour councils in
the country — a legacy that stands
today.

Terry Smith, one of Gerry’s longest
time associates outlined some of
Stoney’s accomplishments and
beliefs (see story opposite).

Sister Joy Langan, now a staff
representative with the Communi-
cations, Energy and Paperworkers
Union, was elected and the first
women officer of the B.C. Federa-
tion of Labour and was also elected
as an NDP Member of Parliament
in 1988,

Stoney helped her break in to the
labour movement leadership which
was male-dominated and intimidat-
ing for Langan.

“Gerry took the time to walk me
through all of the issues. He didn’t
tell me what my position should be.
He just laid out the issues so I could
make what I hoped would be a good
decision.”

Over the years Sister Langan saw
Stoney at work many times. She
said she never saw igo into a
meeting unprepared and that he

Continued on page twenty

‘A good friend and a
long-time fellow worker’

—An excerpt from address deliv-
ered by Terry Smith

t is a real honour and a privi-

lege to say a few words about a

good friend and a long time fel-
low worker.

I worked with Gerry for about
83 years, starting back in October
1964 at Canfor’s Pacific Veneer
Division in New Westminster, first
as a production worker in the Hard-
board Plant to his last position as
National President of I.W.A.
CANADA.

As we travelled along through
various positions within the union,
Lhad many opportunities to watch
Gerry and admire his long term
vision and many of the goals that
he was able to achieve in improv-
ing wages, benefits and general
conditions for working people.

I would like to share some of
those achievements with you.

During the 1971 Local Union
Election one of the major issues
Gerry campaigned on was having
an I.W.A. Pension Plan. That was
not a popular issue among the
leadership at that time.

In 1972 negotiations, the I.W.A.
achieved a Pension Plan which
today provides decent pensions for
thousands of retired I.W.A. mem-
bers. We have Gerry to thank for
his vision of the I.W.A. Pension
Plan and his contribution to mak-
ing it happen.

In the summer of 1972 Dave
Barrett and the NDP were elected.
Gerry never made it a secret where
he stood on his support for the
NDP.

In almost every riding within
the local area, NDP members were
elected. Gerry took the campai;
into every major lunch room in the
local union and had the debate
about the issues. This wasn’t the
most popular thing in many quar-
ters but he was bound and deter-
mined to do what he could do to
get the party elected.

In the early 1970’s he became
President of the New Westminster
and District Labour Council and
held that position for 17 years. He
knew the importance of having
city councils that had members
that supported the union move-
ment. He worked hard to establish
an effective Political Action Com-
mittee and a process to endorse
candidates. Many locally elected
members have Gerry and the Coun-
cil to thank for their election victo-
ries.

Gerry played a major role and
held various positions within the
I.W.A., the Labour Council, B.C.
Federation of Labour and the
C.L.C. As well, he held positions
within the NDP both federal and
provincially including several
years as President of the Provin-
cial NDP and many years on the
Federal Executive Council.

First, Gerry was very honest
and up front with people and
demanded the same in return. He
never worried about how bad
things were but wanted to know
the whole story. From that point
he would do what was necessary
to get results. Gerry would never
let you down, to stand alone, even
when he was not sure you were
right. He would not criticize you
in public.

erry was not a good loser and
because of that a lot of people’s
lives are a little bit better today.
Gerry’s belief in doing the right
thing was far more important than
doing the popular thing on any
given day. Gerry was highly re-
spected both within and outside

the trade union movement.

The nineties were the most diffi-
cult for Gerry and his family. First,
he developed cancer of the throat.
He was successful in winning that
fight, he was then able to over-
come a series of personal problems
with a lot of support from family
and friends and then get on with
life again.

And then, during 1994 Negotia-
tions, Gerry was told he would
require open heart surgery, but
chose to set that aside until nego-
tiations were finished and a collec-
tive agreement was reached.

In 1996 Gerry made the deci-
sion to retire. During a conversa-
tion about that decision Gerry
said, “that Pve looked at all the
cards and I don’t like what I see
for I.W.A. members for the next
few years and I am not up to what
is necessary challenge to take it
on.”

However, that didn’t stop Gerry
from taking on another major pro-
ject on the W.C.B. Royal Commis-
sion on which he worked almost
up to the time of his recent illness.

For me, it has been an honour
and a privilege and real life expe-
rience to have been associated
with this fine outstanding person
and great trade unionist.

To Carol, and Shelly, and Rick
and all the family — thank you for
allowing us to share Gerry's time
with you.

To Gerry’s family and especially
his grandchildren. Your grandfa-
ther was once asked by a reporter,
“What influenced you to become a
trade union leader?” and Gerry

responded, “That my grandfather
was once the President of the B.C.
Federation of Labour.” He offered
you the challenge to become
involved in whatever cause you
choose. Always remember the sim-
ple principals that your grandfa-
ther followed. It was a lesson well
taught and easily learned.

A couple of months ago, Gerry
found out that cancer had returned *
but this time very serious and in
spite of Gerry’s positive attitude
about treatment it wasn’t to be.
He is now gone, but we never will
forget his work, and his dedication
to our union and our movement.

To the family our prayers and
thoughts have been with you dur-
ing your most difficult period.

I believe Gerry finished his jour-
ney in life when he attended the
C.L.C. Convention in Toronto two
short weeks ago.

Along the way as our paths
crossed, Gerry Stoney had some
effect on you in some fashion.

I would ask you to take a minute
and reflect back on how he touched
you in some way.

° Gerry Stoney and Terry Smith
together in the mid 1970's.

yy

LUMBERWORKERJJUNE, 1999/7