The ILWA.

Rebuilds and.. .

1949

The year 1949 was a year of reorganization for the IWA. A
magnificent effort was made by the officers and members to
rebuild the organization, which had been all but wrecked by the
Communists.

The first convention after the October 1948 backstairs
revolution was the Twelfth Annual District Convention, January
15-16, 1949.

The nature of the problems confronting the Union are in-
dicated by the following excerpts from the report of the
provisional officers to the convention:

“Your provisional officers, upon assuming office, faced
overwhelming obstacles in their efforts to administer the affairs
of the Union. The former officers, before surrendering office,
carefully plotted to throw the affairs of the District Council into
complete confusion. Without authorization from the membership,
these individuals removed from the control of their successors,
office records, furniture and equipment, funds and in some cases
the use of office space. It was necessary to apply to the courts of
British Columbia for permission to repossess this rightful
property of the Union. At this time we are happy to report that
approximately $15,000 of the funds, wrongfully removed, have
been restored to our control. On several occasions, vague offers
to return over $100,000 were made by representatives of this
minority group, headed by the ex-officers of the District.

‘\.. . We were faced, in addition to the many problems
mentioned previously, with the gigantic task of rebuilding the
framework of organization within the Locals. At the same time,
this minority group was waging an aggressive campaign to smash
our Union and to entice our members into their splinter group in
an effort to replace our Union as the bargaining agent in the
lumber industry.

*.. From evidence now in our possession, it is apparent that
negotiations in 1948 carried on by the ex-officers of the District
were purposely sabotaged in several ways ..... In spite of the
objections by our International president and the present
Provisional president, the first offer of the operators was sent out
on a ballot, unnecessarily delaying negotiations. The smear
campaign conducted during the negotiations by the former
District officers against those who objected to these delaying
tactics, hampered the securing of a favorable agreement ..... The
board question was left out of negotiations by the former officers

We are now engaged in settling the matter of board rates.”

The officers also reported that the B.C. Lumber Worker and
the Green Gold radio program were returned to the Union, and
would be continued under the direction of the District Council
officers.

The Union demanded a wage increase of 15 cents an hour,
but the state of the organization made it difficult to dispute the
employers’ refusal. The base rate remained at $1.08 an hour.
New contract clauses clarified such matters as board rates and
the status of the Union as the bargaining agency for workers in
the industry.

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42/The Western Canadian Lumber Worker — Special Edition

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1950

At the 13th Annual District Convention, Nanaimo, January 6-
7-8, 1950, the officers were able to report “striking and gratifying
progress.”

‘Complete control of the Union has been returned to the
rank and file membership.”

The Loggers’ Navy had been recovered for Local 1-71, it was
reported. The sum of $130,032.55 had been recovered from the
LPP defaulters, but with court costs amounting to $16,000, plus
$3,000 unpaid debts of the former officers.

Negotiations were carried to a Conciliation Board, with Dr.
Eugene Forsey as the Union’s nominee.

The settlement in 1950 gained a wage increase of 12% cents
an hour, bringing the base rate up to $1.20% an hour. The 40-
hour week was firmly established in the contract, with time and
one-half for all overtime. Maintenance of membership was made
a condition of employment.

1951

Negotiations in 1951 took an unusual course. The operators’
representatives made an offer early in the year, and settlement
was reached by direct negotiations.

The wage increase amounted to nine cents an hour, setting
the base rate at $1.29'%. A series of differential increases ad-
justed category rates. Fallers and buckers gained $1.00 a day
increase, shingle sawyers 4 cents per square, shingle packers 3
canes per square, and sawmill graders an additional 3 cents an

our.

A cost of living bonus was provided in an escalator clause —
1 cent per hour for every rise in the COL of 1.3 points; vacation
pay was fixed at 2’ percent up to five years’ service, and 5
percent for over five years’ service.

The cost of living bonus brought a wage incre
an noe before the end of the year. : ae. aah

seven-week strike at Quesnel in Western PI
settlement which established the same base ai ara
effect at the coast. Local 1-217 fought and won a seven-week
sinks at rae mond Products in the same year.

uring t ie latter part of the year, the Union -
attempt to wipe out the differential between tenes ee
wages. Negotiations were rough. At one Stage the operators