ey DIN THE WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER NSION bas Ue “Social justice is a new dimension being expanded by our government in British Columbia,’’ Premier David Barrett told IWA delegates at the opening session of the 28th International Constitutional convention at the Hotel Van- couver. Barrett, who led the New . Democratic Party to victory in the provincial election a year ago, headed a list of guest speakers who discussed matters of concern to U.S. and Canadian members on the national and international levels. In summing up the NDP record over the past year, Bar- rett paid tribute to IWA mem- bers and other workers for the landslide election that “swept the vested interests” out of power after 40 years. Barrett spoke in favor of pension plans that will allow workers to retire at 60 years or less, and declared that govern- ment has an obligation to pro- tect its aging citizens. RETIREMENT WITH DIGNITY Earlier retirement with dig- nity has been earned ‘‘by the pioneers who created the wealth of this province,” he said, and it is up to younger people to take over the job. He criticized the other major political parties in Canada for policies that do nothing for the average citizen. As an example of business- oriented policies of the former provincial government, Bar- rett told the convention that a study has shown that B.C. has lost up to $100 million a year on natural gas exports and pledged that the NDP will not permit further giveaways of this type. While giving labor a large share of the credit in electing the NDP, Barrett urged wor- kers to continue their support -in the face of future assaults from the vested interests back- ing other parties. OTHER GUEST SPEAKERS Other guest speakers in- cluded Joe Morris, executive vice president of the Canadian Labour Congress; Alan Kist- ler, assistant director of organization of the national AFL-CIO; John Lofblad, general secretary of the Inter- national Federation of Build- ing and Wood Workers; Bill Becker, Arkansas AFL-CIO, and IWA General Counsel Jim Young- dahl. Morris, an IWA member and former president of Regional president of the Council No. 1 told the conven- tion he is ‘‘a firm and ardent supporter of international unionism — but I think it should go further, to span oceans and.continents because of the growth of multi-national corporations’ around the world.” ‘Like a number of other spea- kers, Morris sharply criticized nationalistic groups that ‘‘act as the standard-bearers for management,” in the cam- paign to divide workers. AS RAIDING GOES ‘As far as raiding goes, I' believe that if a union is not providing adequate service and is out of touch with its membership, it will lose mem- bers,’ he said. Morris also attacked the federal government of Canada for policies that have fostered inflation, placed housing out of reach of the average worker and permitted big business to enjoy a “‘tremendous ripoff”’ of profits at the expense of the wage-earner. The activities of multi- national corporations that know no border demands greater international coopera- tion and solidarity by the labor movement, Lofblad told the convention. “Many of these large com- panies are violently anti- union,” Lofblad said, ‘‘and even consider themselves above the law.” In this regard, he cited the ITT conspiracy in Chile as “frightening”’ and questioned whether multi-nationals have any social consequence. Lofblad expressed concern that nationalism is spreading through more nations at a time when more internationalism is needed. LEADERSHIP POSITION In his convention talk, Youngdahl emphasized the importance of ending indivi- dual discrimination in employ- ment under the 1964 Civil Rights Act in the United States. He praised the IWA Inter- national Executive Board for adopting a leadership position last year to seek out instances of discrimination and take action to correct them. Youngdahl said the union has had great success in correcting cases of discrimination, parti- cularly in seniority and job bidding, and several other international unions have since adopted similar programs. He also told delegates that unions in the U.S. face an uphill fight in organization and negotiations while labor laws are interpreted and adminis- tered by anti-labor members of the National Labor Relations Board and the courts. Kistler told delegates that OCTOBER, 1973 IWA plaques in recognition of long service to the Union were presented at the International convention banquet to five members of Regional Council No. 1, pictured here with Inter- national President Ron Roley and Secretary-Treasurer Bill Botkin, Group left, former evaluator Al Busch, retired organizer Mike Sekora, Roley, Regional Secretary-Treasurer Fred Fieber, who retires in 1974, retired International Trustee Rae Eddie and retired organizer Jim Rouw. the younger worker today has a “restless dissatisfaction with the way society operates, and the union is their natural ally in this move for change, because the same feelings of dissatis- faction led to formation of the labor movement.”’. “The great depression, World War II and the early struggle of workers are ancient history to the young worker,”’ he said. ‘‘The problems. of today are most important, and the labor movement can deal with these because it is sensi- ears ee ee 5 tive to change and its most flexible instrument is collec- tive bargaining.” The so-called ‘‘right to work” laws in the South were designed and are being used to shackle workers, Becker ex- plained to the delegates. These laws, which prohibit negotiation of union security provisions in contracts, have resulted in an average wage in Arkansas that is $1.09 an hour below the U.S. national aver- age, Becker said. Conservative economic policies and politicians in the | SPECIA \L STATUS PLANNED FOR RETIREES _ A constitutional amendment to provide special membership status for IWA retirees may be on the agenda of the 1975 Inter- national Convention in Mon- treal. At its meeting prior to the recent convention here, the International Executive Board received and discussed a resolution on retirees prepared by the international officers. The board referred. the matter back to the officers, with instructions to have the Department of Research and Education study retiree plans in effect in other unions, and bring back a recommended plan to the board prior to the 1975 convention. The Auto Workers and a number of other large unions have such programs, designed to keep retirees active in fields such as politics, community service and in volunteer pro- grams of assistance to local unions. Harvey R. Nelson, who retired four years ago as presi- dent of Regional Council No. 3 spoke to the Vancouver dele- gates on the value of involving “‘a reservoir of dedicated people” who want to help the union. “Politicians have recognized the strength of the thousands of retired workers in their campaigns,’ Nelson said. “TI believe there is a way that the IWA can utilize the dedication and desire of retirees to remain involved and active, whether it be in political ac- tion, volunteer organizing or other programs.” South led to enactment of the laws. These states have 28 per cent of the U.S. population, but only 22 percent of the income and the worst tax laws in the nation, he said. The cost of living is not low in the South, while wages are half or less the amount paid to wor- kers doing the same jobs in the Pacific Northwest or Western Canada. The forest products industry is expanding rapidly in this area and it poses a major threat to jobs of woodworkers in the West, Becker warned. TIMBER TENDERS CALLED The B.C. government has called for tenders on timber to support two new sawmills in the north-west sector of the province. The tenders are part of a policy to establish more saw- mills in that region. The government wants to provide for better transformation of trees into lumber and more residual chips for three regional pulp mills which have high fibre supply costs — and, of course, to create more jobs. Its advertisements state that preference will be given to the best combination of employ- ment, social benefit, wood utilization and revenue. ul (c————) | ea | BANK BY MAIL When you use our special bank-by-mail service there’s always a branch of the : Commerce as close as your mail box. CANADIAN IMPERIAL BANK OF COMMERCE.