Local 1-424 could be the ‘mechanics’ local

In addition to being one of the
largest locals nationally in terms of
membership and the largest geo-
graphical local in the union, Prince
George Local 1-424 could very well
be called “the mechanics’ local.”

The local union has four automo-
bile mechanic shops organized. One
of those shops that the Lumber-
worker got to visit is the Fort Motors
shop in Ft. St. John.

The local represents 15 mechan-
ics and labourers at the shop, which
services a sizable community. Fort
St. John, which has a population of
17,000 is the largest city in B.C.,
north of Dawson Creek. Its main

economic base is the forest industry
(Local 1-424 represents workers a
the Canadian Forest Products
sawmill in town), the oil and gas
industry, and farming.

So there’s a lot of trucks on the
road that need to be serviced ona
regular basis, both for businesses
and for regular drivers.

Sub-local plant chairman Rob
Basisty told the Lumberworker that,
with only its third collective agree-
ment the union has already made
some important gains for the crew.
The plant went union in February
of 1994.

“The wages haven’t come up as

high as some of the guys would like
but we’re working on that,” he said.
“We’ve got a good benefit package
(including medical, dental and wage
indemnity protection) and a better
holiday scheduling system with
more holidays to enjoy.”

In the last contract, significant
holiday gains were won.

Those with four years seniority
will get three weeks off with pay.
Over 10 weeks will get them 4 weeks
and over 18 years will provide 5
weeks off.

It used to only be 2 weeks vaca-
tion up to 10 years, and a maximum
of 3 weeks after that.

“It’s a little better environment
here,” said Basisty. “Everybody is
not worried any more. They are get-
ting looked after by the union.”

Local union president Fred Car-
roll said that Fort Motors, like the
other bargaining units representing
mechanics, are solid ones for the

LW.A.

“These members really support
the I.W.A. and because of that we
have been able to make consider-
able headway in the collective agree-
ments,” he said. “Outside of the for-
est industry, we think that these
type of certifications are a solid and
stable service sector for our local.”

Women’s committee
meets to plan strategy

@.. 1.W.A. CANADA women are

becoming more active and are look-
ing for changes to facilitate their
full integration into the union. A
national women’s committee, which
met in Vancouver in January of this
year, is supporting a resolution
which is being submitted to various
local union conventions across the
country.

If the resolution, calling for the
constitutionalizing of an I.W.A.
CANADA Women’s Committee, is
adopted within at least one local
union, it will be forwarded to the
annual Constitutional Convention
in Vancouver in September of this
year.

The resolution is calling for a
women’s committee which would be

@ci¢ every two years at the I.W.A.

CANADA National Women’s Educa-
tional Conference, and that the del-
egates to the conference be elected
by local unions. :
The function of the committee
would include the right to act as an
advisory committee to the National
Executive Board on Women’s issues.
It would also formulate and adopt
policy matter of the women’s educa-
tional conference, develop and co-
ordinate training programs for
women and present recommenda-

tions on policy matter to the national
convention or national executive
board for approval.

In addition to the above resolu-
tion, the women’s committee, which
consists of Local 2171’s Brenda
Wagg, Local 1-424’s Bonnie Arm-
strong, Local 1-80’s Kathie Fox,
Local 1-417’s Sharon Herman, Local
324’s Marian Peterman, Local 500’s
Mary Lou Scott, Local 1000’s Martha
Ulch, and Local 1-3567’s Cheryl
Williams, has outlined some short
term goals to become more active in
the I.W.A.

Those recommendations, deliv-
ered to the National Executive Board
in December of last year, call for
basic and advanced education for
women in the I.W.A., the holding of
another National Women’s Educa-
tion Conference, and the education
of I.W.A. women organizers.

“As we said in our presentation to
the National Executive Board, I.W.A.
women want to participate more
and feel that they are an integral

art of the union movement,” says
Sister Wagg, who is acting as the
committee’s liason with the national
officers. “We think that the union
must show women that they are
valued members.”

Continued on page sixteen

is) Women’s committee members, seen here in Vancouver in January
include, l. to r., Local 1-80’s Kathy Fox, Local 1-3567’s Cheryl Williams,
Local 500’s Mary Lou Scott, Local 2171’s Brenda Wagg, and Local 1-424’s
Bonnie Armstrong.

LUMBERWORKER/APRIL, 2000/15