A OMA . : od = ~ o 7 a a +i eae r 2 4 THE WESTERN CANADIAN j Wi Lio UP Ss Kal {Ue | \ ) iD I Incorporating Phe @.C, Lumberworker Official Publication of the Jeterwatlenal Woodworkers of ¥mertea Regional Council No. 1 Authorized as Second Class Mail, ‘Post Office Dept., Ottawa, and for Payment of Postage in Cash. VANCOUVER, B.C. 5c PER COPY ist Issue Sept. 1964 =’ Vol. XXX, No. 17 UNION'S AIMS ENDANGERED Officers urge co-operation instead of dissension Persistent and malicious attacks on the Regional Officers now requires that we ask IWA members to consider the harm these at- tacks have done to the Union. Constructive criticism is always in order. Competition for office is normal in the IWA. But dissension will never build unity and obstruction will never promote member- ship welfare. Little has been said in defence of the Regional Officers although they have been subjected to unfair criticism constantly. As endless argument tended to impede important work in hand, we consi- dered it our responsibility to do the job entrusted to us with a mini- mum of friction. After all points of view were considered, majority decisions were made by ithe Regional Executive Board. From time to time, these decisions were reviewed as desired by the Local Unions. It is detri- mental to the Union that iis officers should be openly attacked for loyalty to decisions rendered in this democratic manner. No one claims perfection, nor is this statement intended as a defence of personal competency. It is our duty, however, to defend the interests of the Union. The Union stands at the dan- ger point when any minority group resorts to irresponsible tac- tics to gain control of the Regional Council with policies that have not gained full membership approval. Sectional domina- tion is not democracy. Every member, every Local and every group has equal oppor- tunity to advocate sound alternative policies to those which have been instructed by the Union. The onus resis on critics to present constructive alternatives in specific terms rather than try to wreck everything for a chance fo get in the saddle.. The members have a right to ask why these critics, are prepared to split the Union and weaken its effectiveness to serve membership needs. The attacks on the Regional Officers are actually attacks on the Union‘s majority decisions. Everything done has been wrong. Everybody has been out of step except these self-appointed spokesmen for the member- ship. They have been so intent upon organizing a purge of the Regional Executive Board that they have regrettably overlooked the extent to which they have been damaging the Union. DAMAGING CONSEQUENCES @ Membership confidence in the Union’s ability to serve rank and. file interests has been seriously undermined. Every legitimate regional activity has been clouded with groundless suspicion. Too many members are turning their backs on what they call “dirty pool politicking” as they know that name-calling accom- plishes nothing for them. @ The necessary work of the Union is being seriously hampered by unreasonable obstruction. As will be shown, important plans have been wrecked for no good reason. Obviously the purpose was to discredit the Regional Officers in order to replace them. The Union’s necessary work suffers when such political motives are brought into play to block performance. @ Open attacks have lowered the ‘prestige of the Union in the, public mind. The impression has been given that the adminis- tration of the IWA is corrupt and undemocratic. Nothing could be farther from the truth. @ The public spectacle of a divided Union has delighted the em- ployers. They were prepared to take advantage of the situa- tion during negotiations when they asked who spoke for the Union. @ Local Unions that have been loyal to majority decisions have been slandered in a way that causes bitterness and handicaps cooperation. @ Well-tested policies of industry-wide co-ordination and action in matters of common interest have been obstructed to the dis- advantage of the membership as a whole. NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS The Union is exposed to the dangers of dissension when it is at the peak of its achievements. Reports and audited statements for submission to the Regional Council will show: @ The Union’s membership strength is the highest in years. @ An expanded and vigorous organizational program is being developed to keep pace with the industry's expansion. @ All negotiations this year secured the best settlements on record. @ The strike fund has been safeguarded to support strike action as and when ordered by the membership. @ A comprehensive program to protect job security threatened by automation is underway. These facts give the lie to statements alleging that the Union's affairs have been so badly handled that the Regional Officers must be condemned out of hand. The sound and steady progress made by the Union, which forms the basis for future accomplishments, makes it all the more important that it should not be sacrificed by de- liberately organized dissension. Co-operation instead of obstruction will make some vital forward steps possible immediately. We can keep a strong Union strong if we place the interests of the entire membership in first place with a more constructive approach to solutions of membership problems than that adopt- ed by the minority opposition. Elsewhere in this issue we provide more detailed information to illustrate the manner in which the Union’s interests have been damaged. JACK MOORE, President JACK MacKENZIE, Ist Vice-President JACK HOLST, 2nd Vice-President BOB ROSS, 3rd Vice-President FRED FIEBER, Secretary-Treasurer Irresponsible charges damaged Union's prestige BY THE REGIONAL OFFICERS An example of the manner in which the Union’s interests have been damaged by public and irresponsible statements is found in the contrived attack on the Regional Officers with regard to strike fund expenditure. The untrue statement, made publicly, that the Regional Execu- tive Board was making expenditures from the strike fund illegal- damaged the prestige of the Union. No expenditures were made as alleged. Every decision affecting the strike fund has been a majority decision of the Regional Executive Board, duly recorded and subject to audit. The public was left to be- Unfounded charges were later made that the Regional Executive sard had violated the Constitution. These charges could not be the for no such expenditures had been made. Differences Me of opinion could have been resolved within the Union without an airing in the public press. The suggestion that the Board might follow precedents approved in former years was most vehemently attacked by those who had demanded and consented to such expenditure in the past. They preferred to threaten the Union and sow suspicion rather than allow the membership to decide. The Regional Officers have taken the proper course by placing the question on the convention agenda that the members may decide and define exactly how they wish the fund administered. The Union has been placed in the position where it must clear its good name publicly by stating the facts openly about matters which are strictly Union business. Attacks on the Union from outside interests may be expect- ed but unfortunately the Union must now defend its good name against attacks from within the Union. By no stretch of the imagination can this be regarded as good for the Union.