LOCAL 1-268 DISBANDS Local 1-288 IWA (Lumber Inspectors) whose members over the years controlled the quality of export lumber in Coastal B.C. saw- mills, has now ceased to exist. The smallest and most unique of IWA locals has been forced to disband because of a declining membership. The lumber inspectors came into existence in 1905 when the forest industry, alarmed at the poor grading of export lumber, formed the Pacific Lumber Inspection Bureau. The purpose of the Bureau was to providea service to the mills by supplying competent lumber inspectors authorized to set uniform standards for grades of lumber. The inspectors established a proud record for their integrity in grading lumber and over the years very few claims or complaints have been made by customers. The inspectors have not always been members of the IWA. They were first organ- ized under the Societies Act and it was not until the 1940’s that they applied to join the IWA. Their request was refused by the IWA District Council, led at that time by Harold Pritchett, because they wanted the inspectors to join IWA locals where they worked. Still wanting to be part of the labour move- ment, the inspectors in 1949 applied for and were granted a CCL Charter. While this move satisfied the majority of the inspectors others who were originally from the IWA and helped organize the Union wanted to make another application for membership. However, the affiliation move was defeated by a number of inspectors who bitterly res- ented the treatment they had received from the Pritchett regime. In early 1961 further talks were initiated with the Regional Council and following a number of amicable meetings with the Regional executive board the inspectors became IWA Local 1-288. For the first five years the Local bargained independently with Forest Industrial Rela- tions Ltd., who acted for the Pacific Lumber Inspection Bureau, in negotiations. Finally, in 1966 they joined with the other Coast locals in broad negotiations with voice and vote. The demise of Local 1-288 can be blamed on the short-sighted policies of the forest indus- try. A few years ago “Licenced Stamps” were introduced which allowed the mills to grade their own lumber without the services of a PLIB inspector. Leasing the “Licenced Stamps” to indi- vidual mills set a dangerous precedent. A number of companies put pressure on their graders to upgrade poor quality lumber which resulted in a large number of customer complaints. The inspectors fought the leased stamp sys- tem and were successful in keeping them out of companies represented by FIR on the Coast. However, in 1975 they were forced to 6/Lumber Worker/September, 1980 Regional president Jack Munro installing the executive officers of Local 1-288. Group left, Munro; financial secretary Ron Grant; president Roy Zoost; recording secretary Frank Kettner; trustee Ralph Cochran; trustee Bill Bruin; second vice-president Terry Grouhel; first vice-president Lorne Price; third vice-president Bill Hunter; warden John Manulack; trustee Henry McCutcheon. Ja RA aac Local 1-288 delegates pose for their picture following one of the early Annual Meetings held in Nanaimo. conclude an agreement which allowed the mills to use either a PLIB inspector or a “Grade Stamp Licenced Agreement”. While this Agreement was supposed to pro- tect the members of Local 1-288, it in fact had the opposite effect. The Bureau stopped hir- ing inspectors and it wa only a matter of time until the Local was depleted to its present membership. It’s a tragic ending for the members of AFL-CIO BACKS HUSKY BOYCOTT The AFL-CIO Executive Council has called for consumer boycotts in support of workers at the Michelin Tire Corporation, Cotress & Leonard Inc. of Albany, N.Y., and Husky Oil Ltd. The council cited “unrelenting anti-labour policies” of Michelin at its plantsin Canada and the U.S. At the request of the Rubber Workers, the federation said, Michelin was put on the list of those ‘‘unfair to organized labour”. Consumers will be informed that Michelin tires and radial tires sold under the Sears Allstate label are not union made. The council said that “as a result of the Local 1-288 whose dedication to their work was beyond question. It is also tragic that the integrity of B.C.’s export lumber has been placed in jeopardy by the greed of the forest industry. On a happier note, Ron Grant, long-time financial secretary of the Local Union, reports that a party is being held December 6th, at the Villa Motel in Nanaimo, for all past members of the inspectors’ Local. illegal intimidation and coercion efforts” of Cotrell & Leonard, workers seeking to join the Ladies’ Garment Workers went on strike August 8, 1979. The National Labor Rela- tions Board has since charged the company with more than 50 violations of law and ordered it to bargain. The council endorsed the ILGWU boycott and called on the academic community and churches to refuse to buy caps, gowns, vestments and robes made by the company. The council noted that when the oil-based conglomerate, Husky Oil, acquired a char- coal briquette plant in Pachuta, Miss., it “sought to destroy” the existing contract with Local 5-443 of the Woodworkers. The 80 union members at the plant struck November 8, 1978. Endorsing the IWA boycott, the council called on union members not to buy briquettes with the labels Royal Oak, Charketts, Grill Time and Sparky.