THE WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER

7) LOCAL 1-405 HOLDS SUCCESSFUL 8th ANNUAL

A resolution authorizing
the Local executive board to
conduct a referendum ballot
for a 50 cent dues increase,
if necessary, was given un-
animous approval at the 8th
Annual Delegated Meeting of
Local 1-405 IWA, July 15,
in Nelson.

The resolution was among
the 29 resolutions dealt with
by the approximately 70
delegates from both the East
and West Kootenays during
the one-day stay.

Guest speakers were re-
gional president Jack Moore,
Local 1-423 president Bill
Schumaker, Local 1-417 fin-
ancial secretary Art Kelly,
Rev.-Slocan NDP - MLA Ran
Harding, and John Hecker,
business agent in Nelson for
the United Carpenters and
Joiners.

Delegates elected to attend
the IWA Regional Conven-
tion in Vancouver Septem-
ber 25-29 are as follows: J.
Paluck, L. Fietz, W. Craig,
W. Semenuk, E. Atwood, A.
Damstrom, E. DeAnna.

Delegates elected to attend
the IWA International Con-
stitutional Convention in
Portland September 11 - 15
are as follows: J. Paluck, L.
Fietz, J. Munro, E. Atwood,
J. Tegart, J. Gillies, P.
Weatherby, A. Garic.

President Moore bluntly
warned the delegates in his

ey address to the meeting
that their militancy would
determine how success-
ful they would be in winning
wage parity with the Coast
woodworkers.

He told them that the ne-
gotiating committee expected
conciliation officer John Sher-
lock to recommend a “no
board” report. ;

“Tf such a report is hande
down,” he stated, “the Union
would immediately » conduct
a strike vote among the
members.”

He impressed on them the
importance of every member
voting for strike action. He
pointed out that the employ-
ers wouldn’t make a move
until they could gauge the
militancy of their workers

and a strong “yes” vote
would show the Union meant
business.

“A vote in favour of strike
action,” he added, “wouldn’t
mean an automatic strike.
What it would do is provide
the Union with the necessary
strength to win its bargain-
ing demands.”

To illustrate this, he point-
ed out, that on every occa-
sion where the Union re-
ceived a small “yes” vote for
strike, the employers were
able to dictate the terms of
settlement.

An ugly picture of a large
company attempting to domi-
nate the woodworking indus-
try in the jurisdiction of Lo-
cal 1-423, was painted by Bill
Schumaker in his address to
the meeting. He stated that
the Noranda Mining com-
pany’s subsidiary (Northwood
Mills Ltd.) was buying out
small sawmill operations in
the Local to obtain the timber
rights and was then closing
down the mills.

The company, he said, was
indifferent to the fact that a
large number of long-time
employees were being
thrown out of work and en-
tire communities tragically
affected by the action.

He also stated that the
company was taking a “hard
line” in negotiations and was
out to prevent the Interior
woodworkers from obtaining
a decent wage settlement not-
withstanding the fact that its
profits were multiplying year
by year.

John Hecker suggested to
the delegates that a merger
should be effected between
the IWA and the United Car-
penters & Joiners. He admit-
ted that his organization had
made serious mistakes in the
past with the logging and
sawmill workers. Attempts
were being made now to clean
out the rot in his union and
when this was-accomplished,
a merger such as he proposed
would be a fine thing for
both organizations.

Ran Harding MLA inform-
ed the meeting that the pres-
ent labour legislation was

slanted against the workers
and the only way in which
they could hope to achieve
social justice was to elect a
government free from the
employers’ influence.

“Organized labour,’’ he
said, “was taking an active
and positive approach to poli-
tical action. However, too
many rank-and-file members
still persisted in voting for
parties and candidates whose
platforms and beliefs pre-
vented them from having any
sympathy for the working
man.”

He went on to criticize the
Social Credit government’s
atrocious conservation policy
in British Columbia. He de-
scribed the vast areas
throughout the province
where lakes, streams and
parks were being polluted
and destroyed because the
government was more inter-
ested in keeping on good
terms with the mining and
logging companies, than
worrying about the future
heritage of the people.

The last speaker, Art
Kelly, brought greetings from
his Local Union and wished
the delegates success in their
annual meeting.

A> resolution— requiring a
By-law change — proposed
raising the Local’s initiation
fee from $10 to $20. The
motion after considerable de-
bate was concurred in prin-
ciple by the delegates and re-
ferred to the Local execu-
tive board for action.

The delegates also approv-
ed a resolution calling for a
special assessment of $5 per
day, in addition to the norm-
al dues and strike assessment,
for members working in the
Local’s jurisdiction during an
industry strike.

Three resolutions seeking
to increase the per diem paid
officers and members on
Union business were defeat-
ed. However, the delegates
gave their approval to a reso-
lution which would raise the
lost time wages paid mem-
bers on Union business from
the present $20 per day to
$25 per day.

A resolution submitted by
the Celgar, Nakusp Sub-
Local calling for the Region-
al Council to withdraw from
the International, was sound-
ly defeated by the meeting.

Other resolutions approved
by the delegates called for:
e The closing of game re-

serves in the East Koot-

enay.
A complete dental care pro-

gram. ~

The standardization of traf-
fic signals in B.C.

The government to sponsor
birth control clinics and to
distribute medically ap-
proved devices and litera-
ture to the public and to
undeveloped. countries who
desire them.

The comprehensive Offic-
ers’ Report impressed on the
delegates the crucial need of
rank-and-file support in the
contract battle now being
waged by stating in part:

“We must impress on the
assembled delegates that we
have no hope of achieving
our goal — parity with the
Coast — without the complete
support and determination of
the rank-and-file members.

“Tf every member in this
hall accepts his responsibility
by joining the negotiating
team, and a proper job is
done at the plant level, we
cannot lose.”

The Report noted that the
Local Union had held a num-
ber of highly successful Shop
Stewards’ Seminars during
the past year and tribute was
paid by the officers to the
assistance given by president
Jack Moore, regional educa-
tion director Grant MacNeil,
International assistant direc-
tor of organization Clayton
Walls, CLC education direc-
tor Dan Radford, and Inter-
national assistant director of
education and research
Oliver McMillan.

The Report stated that a
marked improvement was
shown in safety during the
past year and “we feel that
this is primarily due to the
increased activity on the part
of the Joint Safety Commit-
tees and the membership as
a whole.”

In other affairs of the Los :
cal Union, the Report noted ©
that more attention was be:
ing paid by the members to
political action and a ,
ber of them were very acti
in the 1966 provincial
tion.

Appreciation was also ex
pressed for the fine work ©
the Ladies Auxiliary at Ja -
fray and Galloway. Ki

The Officers devoted e ‘|
siderable space in their Ui
port to the number of griev3 |
ances and arbitration case.

during the past year.
cause these cases make in’

reprinting
section of the Report alm
in its entirety.

in Calgary, where she
undergoing a serious op
tion.
“Since that date
Meyers has been under
tinual harassment from
employer, especially th
Superintendent Mr. Wally
McKenna. The Union ap
pointed its member to an /
bitration Board, however the
company failed to appoint its
member until forced by the
Department of Labour.
that time they agreed to the |)
reinstatement of Bro. Meye: |
seniority and a few months
later he was laid off for two
days when he refused
start the saw on his owr
time. These and other g
ances concerning Bro. Mey7 |
ers were resolved on Jun
27th as a result of the Unio
entering ten separate c
under the Labo tion
Act and the Criminal Code 6
British Columbia. -
“The charges involved)
three separate dates fom
failing to post jobs, failing te
appoint a member to an Ar-
bitration Board and an ik)
legal lockout. Seventeem
employees involved in the,
lockout, were paid ‘lost time
wages. -