= David Tones (below) moved
from national vice-president to
the key role of national
secretary-treasurer by
acclamation.

= Norm Rivard, elected as the
union’s new national second
vice-president, answers
questions from a Radio-
Canada journalist.

= National union president Dave Haggard
answers questions on softwood lumber ina
media scrum following his opening speech.

= Ontario’s Wilf Mcintyre (above) was elected
to the position of third national vice-president,
and will assume new roles in western Canada.

= Right: Cranbrook, B.C. Local 1-405 president Bob

Matters (I.) and Williams Lake, B.C. Local 1-425,

president Wade Fisher read out recommendations
on behalf of the national political action committee.

Union’s policies and programs debated and discussed

The IWA’s policies and programs were open to
delegate debate and discussion. A resolution passed
calling on locals to elect or designate a women as a
liason to the national women’s committee. The com-
mittee gave a report calling on more IWA women to
get involved in union activities including education
and organizing.

Delegates passed a resolution to pressure the B.C.
Liberals to rethink their proposed changes to gut key
parts of the Forest Act, like severing the link between

tenure and manufacturing facilities, abolishing cut

controls and moving to a timber auction system.

In addition to debating legislative and health and
safety resolutions, the national office and Coast
locals unveiled a task force report on coastal logging
safety which contains sound recommendations for
the WCB, industry/employers and the union (see
page ten.)

A political action committee delivered a report
which was adopted by delegates calling on the union
to continue to evaluate its role in community and
political action, support candidates where they sup-

port labour, contribute to a national fund and estab-
lish local and community political action commit-
tees, and develop a two-day course on political action.

The delegates also spoke on motherhood issues,
like putting an end to the export of logs and cants, the
defense of Employment Insurance, opposition to low
minimum wages and cuts to social programs.

The softwood lumber dispute was widely discussed
and the convention viewed an excellent video on the
impact on workers produced by Local 1-425’s Terry
Tate, with some national funding and assistance.

20 | THE ALLIED WORKER DECEMBER 2002