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[IN MEMORIAM

By JACK MOORE
IWA REGIONAL PRESIDENT

The entire Union mourns the loss of Brother John T. Atkin-

of 61, after a lingering illness. The memory of his life and work
will live on in the results of his fourteen-year crusade for safe
working conditions in our industry. An untold number of lumber
workers owe their lives to his dedicated and unceasing effort to
establish safe conditions in their working environment. We shall
greatly miss his genial personality and unflagging zeal as our
Union carries on the safety program which he was largely instru-
mental in founding and inspiring.

Our Union extends its deepest sympathy to his widow and
family in their great sorrow. John T. was a man who radiated
kindness and generosity in all his relations. Because of this we
fully understand their grief.

The finest tribute we can pay to the late Brother John T.
Atkinson is to place on record his unique and valuable contribu-
tion to the cause of safety in Canada and the United States.

John T. first became prominent in the field of accident pre-
vention when he was Vice-President of Local 1-80 IWA, Dun-
r can and while he was employed as edgerman in the Youbou
mill. Aroused by the frequency of needless accidents he was a
one-man crusade for safety in labour circles on Vancouver
Island.

In recognition of his work for safety in the Union, he was
later elected Chairman of the IWA District Safety Council. Sub-
sequently, he was appointed full-time District Safety Director, a

: post which he has held since 1951. It was the first appointment
of this kind in the Canadian trade union movement, and John
. T. gave his work distinction. ‘

The safety program, which he successfully co-ordinated,
attracted continent-wide attention. As a result he was honored

with various appointments on bodies of international scope. He
served as Chairman of the Union’s International Safety Council.

, and later was made a member of the Executive Committee of
the Woods Products Section of the National Safety Council. In
. this capacity, his inspirational talks on the subject of safety pro-

foundly influenced progress in safety throughout AFL-CIO

unions. Upon the formation of the Standing Committee on Safety
: and Occupation Health by the Canadian Labour Congress he
became a member and trusted advisor.

No one can measure the extent to which his enthusiasm for
safety instituted a new philosophy of safety in our own and other
industries.

John T. specialized in the problems of claimants for Work-
men’s Compensation. He was never too busy to hear patiently

‘ the problems of those bereaved or crippled by industrial acci-

dents. The Union's records bear silent witness to his inexhaust-

: ible sympathy for the victims of accidents. Just prior to his death,

§ his greatest desire was that the Union should make a determined

, stand for the extension of benefits under the Workmen’s Com-
pensation Act.

§ Because of his unswerving loyalty to trade union principles

; and objectives, we shall sadly miss John T. He has carved a

-Bniche uniquely his own in the history of our Union.

rs By ARTHUR FRANCIS
ACCIDENT PREVENTION DIRECTOR,
WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION BOARD

uent death of John T. Atkinson came
of people who have had con-

ty
many people in all ranks and
, his unselfish devotion to
namic ty, earned him a position of
ty movement that will remain a challenge

” will be perpetuated in the strength

ogramme. The improving safety
attain can never revert to the

son, our Regional Safety Director, who died June 3, at the age }}-

WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER 3

LARGEST POLITICAL MEETING IN CANADA. The more than 5,500 people who turned out to hear T. C. (Tommy) Douglas

speak in the New Westminster Arena May 16, was the biggest crowd up to that time to attend any political rally of the cur-
rent federal campaign.

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