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A resolution requesting the
International Executive
Board to draft a constitution-
al change to provide for a roll
call vote in delegated meet-
ings was approved by the
eighty delegates attending the
6th Annual Delegated Meet-
ing of Local 1-405 IWA, July
10, in Nelson.

The delegates from both the
East and West Kootenays,
during the one-day confer-
ence, dealt with 46 resolu-

tions, approved the Officers’:

and Financial Reports and
heard three guest speakers.
They also elected delegates
to the Regional Convention in
Vancouver and the Interna-
tional Convention in Toronto.

The guest speakers were
International Ist Vice-Presi-
dent Claude Ballard; Region-
al Secretary-Treasurer Fred
Fieber; and Regional Safety
Director Andy Smith.

THE WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER

Regional Convention dele-
gates elected were: J. Mun-
ro, E. DeAnna, E. Atwood,
J. Inglis, B. Brown, C. John-
son, L, Fraser, L. Fietz.

International Convention
delegates elected were: E. De-
Anna, E. Atwood, A. Dam-
strom, J. Johnson, B. Brown.

Vice-President Ballard in
his address described how the
Taft-Hartley Act restrained
the political action activities
of American unions. In dis-
cussing negotiations, he sug-
gested that it would be high-
ly desirable for the officers
on both sides of the border to
maintain a closer working re-
lationship because they dealt
with the same employers.

Speaking on future condi-
tions in the industry, he told
the delegates that Canadian
plywood plants could be in for
lean times. There is at the
moment, he stated, at least

Why the Thunderbird ?

Through legend born before the day the white
man was known in North America, the
Thunderbird has survived the ages as a symbol

of good among the native inhabitants of the
British Columbia coast. A descendant of

the lightning and thunder for which it was
named, this mighty creature was believed to
be a messenger of the Great Spirit, representing
prosperity, acting as a powerful force of good
against evils that threatened the peoples of this
primitive world. It is because of the high regard
in which the Thunderbird is held, that it has
been chosen to symbolize the service offered by
B.C. Air Lines to British Columbia coastal residents.

NELSON CONFERENCE

OF LOCAL 1-405 IWA

forty plywood plants now un-
der construction in the low-
wage area of the Southern
United States. When these
plants are in operation they
could drastically affect Cana-
dian sales of plywood to the
U.S., he warned.

Regional Secretary Treas-
urer Fred Fieber in a brief

address complimented the Lo- °

cal for its sound financial
position and the manner in
which it has handled its af-
fairs following the dissolve-
ment of the I.R.O.

He stated that if the Local
ran into any problem it felt
it couldn’t -handle, the Re-
gional Council was there to
help. He added, however, the
Local had proved in the past
year it was more than cap-
able of looking after its own
affairs.

Speaking on industry nego-
tiations, he suggested that
those who were critical of the

a

B. BROWN

present method of negotiating
should take another look at
their Southern Interior Mas-
ter Agreement. Through such
an Agreement, he stated, it
was possible to conclude a
contract with the majority of

the employers on a certain .

date and have the rest of the
year to look after other vital
affairs of the Union.

It is these Master Agree-
ments, he added, that made
Regional Council No. 1, the
best organized regional coun-
cil in the IWA. Too many of
the other regional. councils
disperse their time and ener-
gy fighting individual employ-
ers for contracts while their
locals remain static or shrink,
he concluded.

The last guest speaker,
Safety Director Andy Smith
reported that he was present-
ly on a tour of the Interior
and Alberta. Because he was
new to the safety job, he
stated, most of his time would
be spent observing conditions
in the various operations.

He added that following the
tour he would submit a de-
tailed report of his observa-
tions for publication in the
Lumber Worker.

Among the more important
resolutions approved was the
proposal to adopt a new policy
for Interior Negotiations. The
resolution calls for the Nego-
tiating Committee to be com-
prised of the Regional Presi-
dent, one other Regional of-
ficer and the Regional Board
Member from each of the four
Interior Local Unions.

L. FRASER

> |

EVERYBODY’S HAPPY. Officers at the 6th Annual Dele-
gated Meeting of Local 1-405 IWA, are left Art Damstrom,
President; Jack Munro, 1st Vice-President; Fred Fieber,

Regional Council
Financial Secretary.

This Committee would be
responsible for conducting all
negotiations on the Master
Agreement in both the North-
ern and Southern Interior.

Other Important resolu-
tions demanded:

e A percentage wage in-
crease instead of an hourly
increase in the next contract.

e The B.C. Government
complete pre-flood clearance
of all potential reservoirs.

© The right of WCB claim-
ants to have access to all in-

formation relating to their
claims.

e A comprehensive pre -
paid medical care plan for
every person in B.C.

Secretary-Treasurer;

Elmer Atwood,

A. SMITH

e Free education at all

_ levels.
e The B.C. Government
fence all Provincial highways.

© The B.C. Government
bring in a government spon-
sored car insurance plan.

Resolutions on political ac-

.tion and disarmament
sparked lively debates and in-
dicated the concern the dele-
gates had for national and
international affairs.

The extensive Officers’ Re-
port, in its review of the past
year’s activities, stated in
part: p

“New developments, par-
ticularly in the East Koote-

See “NELSON’—Page 8

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