_ THE WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER POST OFFICE DEPARTMENT, OTTAWA, AND FOR PAYMENT OF POSTAGE IN CASH. 7 Vv ol, XXXII, No. 18 AUTHORIZED AS SECOND CLASS MAIL, ay 4 PRESIDENT Weldon Jubenville of Local 1-80, the host Local Union at the Convention, is shown making his opening address to the delegates September 13, in the Hotel Georgia, Vancouver. Seated at the left is Regional President Jack Moore and Regional Ist Vice-President Jack MacKenzie. U THE EXPLANATION By JACK MOORE TO ALL IWA MEMBERS: Our Regional Convention recommended an in- crease of 15c in the per capita tax per dues month paid by Local Unions to the Regional Council. ‘It was further recommended that 5c of this pro- posed increase be ear-marked to back up member- ship negotiating demands. As required by our constitution, this reecommenda- tion will now be placed before you for approval in a membership referendum. You are therefore entitled to know our delegates’ reasons for their proposal. The convention delegates did not ask you to pay more dues. They simply asked that out of the dues now paid to Local Unions, a larger share be made available for the membership services coordinated on a regional basis. It was noted that Local Union members have vol- untarily. increased their dues in order to step up membership services across the board. The delegates reported a general membership demand for an exten- sion of the union’s activities in the fields of negotia- tions, research, organization, education, and safety — especially in preparations for the 1966 negotiations. This proposed increase will give you the services you have demanded. It was agreed that the Regional Council at this point lacks the funds to carry out your wishes. The recommendation, if approved by you, will make effective the will of the delegates to avoid any necessity of charging the Strike Fund for anything but strike purposes. It was considered by the delegates in connection with the Strike Fund regulations, also recommended, and now before you. Our Convention Constitution Committee (Walter Allen, Local 1-85, chairman; and Ben Thompson, Local 1-71, secretary) and the delegates took into considera- tion the following factors: (a) The present finances of the Regional Council do not permit any further extension of mem- ship services. (b) Negotiations to offset automation, now and later, will demand new and more costly ac- tivities. (c) The other Regions in the International Union now receive higher per capita tax for mem- bership services as indicated: Region I, Western Canada oo ee 3) Region II, Eastern Canada __._._._____._. $1.75 Region III, Pacific Northwest States $1.00 Region IV, Midwest States $1.00 Region V, Southern States —. $1.20 When you vote on this proposed constitutional amendment, you will answer the following major questions in your own interests. DO WE WANT TO STRENGTHEN OUR UN- ION FOR THE COMING NEGOTIATIONS? DO WE WANT TO STEP UP OUR UNION’S PROGRAM IN ALL IMPORTANT FIELDS? VANCOUVER, B.C. 5c PER COPY —S>* CONVENTION BACKS MILITANT ACTION FOR NEW GOALS PROPOSED PER CAPITA INCREASE; AMENDED NEGOTIATING PROCEDURE; SAFEGUARD STRIKE FUND; SPURRED RATE REVISION; READIED AUTOMATION PROTECTION By STAFF REPORTER The 300 delegates, alter- nates and fraternal visitors who took part in the IWA 28th Annual Regional Con- vention, Vancouver, Septem- ber 13 to 18, made it one of the most notable on record. It will be remembered mainly for its hard-hitting, problem-solving debates which required a day’s over- time. Convention committees la- boured long weary hours to present the consensus of membership opinion. Committees and local un- ion caucuses brought color and excitement to debates on the floor, always conducted with strict observance of the rules of order and with a high level of quality and spirit. From here on, no one dare say that the IWA is not a democratic organization, with the members in full control of their own affairs. During convention week the mem- bers made democracy work as they themselves deter- mined, notwithstanding press comment about factional battles. The convention closed on a note of united and militant determination to break new ground for the union’s growth and progress in promotion of membership welfare. FROLEK STRIKE ENDS IWA Regional President Jack Moore and David Rog- ers, counsel for Frolek Saw- mills Ltd., North Kamloops, announced Sept. 25 that all differences between the company and the union have been resolved. The standard IWA Southern In- terior agreement has been signed and operations at. the mill will recommence as soon as possible. After the opening formal- ities, Host President, Weldon Jubenville, Local 1-80, boldly stated the central issues. Regional President Jack Moore called for new con- cepts to develop solutions for new problems thrust upon the union by the advance of technology. From that point, the dele- gates centered their interest mainly on answers for the following questions: How must we bargain to cushion the impact of auto- mation on job security? This question loomed over all de- bates and partial answers were threaded through all de- cisions. How may we strengthen our bargaining procedures during and between broad negotiations? Shall the union negotiate job evaluation for the entire industry? How should we strengthen Regional capability to service membership needs? Does this need an increase in Regional per capita tax? Should we alter the basis of representation on the Re- gional Executive Board? What safeguards should be established for the Regional Strike Fund? Of greater importance than a blow-by-blow account of the week’s debates are the de- cisions which will have an over-riding influence on the union’s program for the next year. The major decisions listed below relate to the questions stated above. AUTOMATION The convention decided to: © Demand rigid govern- ment control of closure or re- location of industry, with fines imposed for violation. The same resolution asked for a one year adjustment period for purposes of transi- tion to new employment; ar- rangements to provide alter- native employment when ne- See “NEW GOALS” — Page 3 NOTICE As required by the IWA Constitution, ballots are now being issued to Local Unions in Western Canada for ratification of the Regional Convention’s recom- mendation to increase the Regional per capita tax from 75 cents per dues month to 90 cents, with 5 cents of this amount for negotiations. The proposed per capita tax increase is the only constitutional amendment that requires this direct and immediate approval. The Regional Constitution now provides: Article VI, Section (4) presently reads as follows: “The Per Capita Tax to the Regional Council shall be 75c per dues month collected. This amount shall only be subject to change by the Regional Conven- tion, approved by the membership of the Local Unions by referendum ballot.” The proposed amendment is as follows: “The Per Capita Tax of the Regional Council shall be ninety cents (90c) per dues month collected. Five cents (5c) of the Per Capita Tax shall be al- located to a negotiation fund to be expended upon the authorization of the Regional Executive Board for the purposes of publicity, advertising of meet- ings and recommendations to the membership dur- ing contract negotiations and strikes. “Any proposed changes in Per Capita Tax to the Regional Council shall only be subject to change by the Regional Convention, approved by the mem- bership of the Local Unions by ref um ballot.”