THE WESTERN CANADIAN

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Incorporating 7ée @.C. Lumberaorker Official Publication of the Jnternattonal Woodworkers of r¥mertea Regional Council No. 1

VOL. XXIX, No. 8 VANCOUVER, B.C.

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2nd Issue
April, 1962

Joe Morris Elected
To Ottawa Post

IWA Regional President Joe Morris was elected by acclamation
as one of the two Executive Vice-Presidents of the Canadian Labour

Congress at its 4th Constitutional Convention in Vancouver, April
1S.

The newly-elected Executive Vice-President will not assume his
new duties until the transfer of all Administrative responsibilities
to Ist Vice-President Jack Moore, who will succeed to the office of
President, has been completed.

The delegates’ unanimous
choice elevated the [WA officer
from the rank of Regional Vice-
President to fill one of the top,
full-time administrative posts in
the national labour centre. He
succeeds Stanley Knowles who
retired to enter the political
arena as a Winnipeg New
Democratic Party candidate in
the approaching federal elec-
tion.

At the biennial elections, Joe
Morris shared the honors with
Claude Jodoin, re-elected Presi-
dent; William Dodge, re-elected
Executive Vice-President; and
Donald MacDonald, re-elected
Secretary-Treasurer; now the
salaried administrative officers
of the Congress.

JOE MORRIS

General Vice-Presidents elected were: Wm. Mahoney, U.S.A.,
Wm. Jenoves, Bricklayers, Geo. Burt, UAW, and Frank Hall, Rail-
way Clerks.

Ed Sims, Brewery Workers, and Wm. Black, Hospital Employees,
were named Regional Vice-Presidents for B.C.

The election of Joe Morris as an Executive Vice-President of the
Congress opens another chapter in thirty years of service to the
labour movement. Born in Lancashire in 1913, he migrated to
Canada during the depression of the thirties. Influenced by his
father, who was active in the British Labour movement, he immedi-
ately became active in organizing his fellow-workers. When dis-
missed for his organizing activity, he became active in the Van-
couver Island Unemployed Workers’ Association.

During World War II he served in the Canadian Army and rose
to the rank of Lieutenant. Upon demobilization he returned to em-
ployment as a logger.

When the IWA was founded in 1937 Joe Morris was a member
and served as a job-steward, In 1946 he was elected Chairman of
the IWA Camp Committee at Ladysmith. Later he was elected
President of Local 1-80 IWA in Duncan, in a vigorous fight against
the attempted secessionist move of the LPP-Communist group, pre-
viously in control of the Union. Upon the defeat of the secessionists,
he was active im the re-organization of the IWA.

In 1949 he was elected Second Vice-President of the District
Council. Two years later he was elected First Vice-President, and
See “MORRIS ELECTED” Page 2

Interior Wage Conference
In Kelowna May 5-6

The Wages and Contract Confer-

The IWA Regional Policy Com-
mittee will meet in the Capri Motor
inn, Kelowna, May 3-4. Meetings
of the IWA Regional Executive

Board may also be scheduled for
the same dates.

The 1962 Wages and Contract
Conference will formulate the de-
mands of Interior Local Unions for
revision of the Northern and South-
ern Interior master agreements which

expire August 31.

Registration of delegates will start
at 9:00 a.m. at the Kelowna Aquatic

, }
Ag Se
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IWA Regional Ist Vice-
President, Jack Moore, who will
succeed Joe Morris in the office
of Regional President, will now
act as chief spokesman for the
IWA Negotiating Committee in

current negotiations between
the Union and the coast lumber
operators.

President Joe Morris will re-
main a member of the Negoti-
ating Committee, to enable
transfer of all administrative
responsibilities.

The outcome of discussions
between both parties directed
by Conciliation Officer Fisher
is now a matter of considera-
tion by Mr. Fisher. The Union’s
negotiators are exerting every
effort to expedite clarification
of the issues involved for mem-
bership consideration prior to
June 14, date of the contract’s
expiration.

Labour
Demands

New Deal

The largest convention yet
held in Vancouver, the 4th Con-
stitutional Convention of the
Canadian Labour Congress, was
impressive not only for its size,
the efficient conduct of business,
but also for its statesmanlike
approach to national prob-
lems. It could be called “Lab-
our’s Parliament” in truth.

The proceedings moved at a se-
date and steady pace until livened
by clashes on jurisdictional prob-
lems, notably those which have
arisen in Sudbury and Newfound-
land. A speech by Tommy Douglas,
leader of the New Democratic Party,
evoked a cheering and standing
ovation. The elections, which con-
cluded the convention proceedings,
provided few surprises.

The arrangements in the Vancou-
ver PNE Showmart Building were
excellent. Provision for the conven-
ience of the delegates was beyond
criticism, even to the provision of
nifty briefcases to hold the numer-
ous convention documents issued,

The hum-drum routine of conven-
tion business was broken at intervals
by significant speeches from fraternal
visitors, President Arne Geijer,
ICFTU; J. L. Simons and J. H.
Southall from Britain’s TUC; L. F.
Raftery, AFL-CIO; and Isaiah Av-
rech, representing Israel’s Histradrut.

Political speakers Hon. L. R.
Peterson and Hon. Michael Starr
got a cool reception compared to
the rousing welcome accorded
Tommy Douglas.

See “NEW DEAL” Page 5

Canadian Labour Congress Approves

¥ x * ¥

New Democratic Party Policies;

x ¥ * ¥
Urges Support Of Federal Candidates
¥ * ¥ *

Canadian trade unions will fight under the New
Democratic Party bannerefor planned economic
growth and full employment. This political declara-
tion by the Canadian Labour Congress convention in
Vancouver April 9-13, came only a few days before
the announcement of a federal election on June 18th.

. Labour seized a golden opportunity to state its legis-

lative aims and claim its right to a voice in the future
government of Canada. The third day after the con-
vention’s adjournment saw speedy action by trade

unions in this and other provinces to energize a work-
ers’ political action program.

Within a half-hour of the first

radio flash announcing the election
date, trade union officials were in
session with the Campaign Com-
mittee of the New Democratic Party.
The campaign organization immedi-
ately swung into action. Eighteen
of the required twenty-two candi-
dates were already in the field, with
the four remaining nominations in
the offing. Campaign staff and prem-
ises were provided. Co-ordination of
the work of national, provincial and
constituency committees was com-
menced. Organizers’ and speakers’
itineraries were arranged. At the
starter’s gun, the unions and the
party were fast off the mark.

Trade Union Conference
Trade union political action plans

will be further developed at a con-
ference of Political Education Com-
mittees under the auspices of the
B.C. Federation of Labour on May
12th. The call for action issued by
the Canadian Labour Congress: found
a ready response in British. Colum-
bia.

Although not realized at the time,
President Bob Smeal, B.C. Federa-
tion of Labour, fired the opening
shot in the.campaign during the
opening ceremonies of the Congress’
convention. He followed Hon. L. R.
Peterson, Minister of Labour, who
expressed his belief in a strong trade
union movement. Smeal declared
that trade unionists:in B.C. had ex-
perienced “the worst anti-union legis-

See “CAMPAIGN” Page 2

IWA States Newt'd Claim
Ait Congress Meet

Delegates at the Canadian Labour Congress convention decided
that the loggers of Newfoundland should have the right to choose
freely the union which will represent them. IWA spokesmen agreed:
Delegates from the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners
withdrew before the issue was heard. Their attitude, so indicated,
won little sympathy from the convention although on all sides ©
regret was expressed that the step had been taken. It was made

possible for the Carpenters to remain within the Congress, if they

so desire.

The clash between the two unions
led to tense moments on the floor
of the convention. The IWA had
filed raiding charges before a special
committee of the Executive Council.
The report of this committee recog-
nized that bargaining relationships,
originally secured by the IWA in
Newfoundland, had been to a large
extent destroyed by Premier Small-
wood when he had de-certified the
IWA, and attempted to organize a
state-controlled union. On these
grounds, the Carpenters were not
held guilty of raiding.

Truce Proposed

The Executive Council of Con-
gress recommended that a truce be
observed for the period of one year.
During this truce, the Congress
would charter a union for the log-
gers. At the end of the period pro-
vision would be made for a vote, by
means of which the loggers would
themselves exercise a free choice.
Both unions would have equal access
to the loggers before the vote.

It was reported that advance in-
formation on this report caused the
Carpenters to walk out of the con-
vention on the afternoon prior to
convention debate on the report,
alleging unfair treatment.

No indication has yet been given
as to whether the Carpenters and
Joiners will remain within the Con-
gress. Canadian Labour Congress
officials took a conciliatory attitude
and made it plain that every effort
would be made to heal the breach.
On the other hand, speakers close
to the Carpenters stated that at-
tempts were being made to persuade
all the building trades to secede from

the Congress. It was reported that
the decision on this point will be
made at International headquarters
in the United States.

The IWA position in the matter
was presented by President Joe Mor-
ris, Region 1; President H. Landon
Ladd, Region 2; and Financial Sec-
retary Stuart M. Hodgson, Local 1-
217. These IWA spokesmen re-
affirmed our union’s intention to
accept the report of the Executive
Council and urged its acceptance by
the convention.

See “IWA” Page 3

Jodoin
Hits
C.of' G

“Operation Freedom” laun-

~ ched by the Canadian Chamber

of Commerce was roundly con-
demned by President Claude
Jodoin in his keynote address as
the Canadian Labour Congress
convention opened. His words
on this topic are here quoted
verbatim.

“Speaking of the Chamber of
Commerce, let me just add a word
here about their latest venture, this
program they call “Operation Free-
dom”—this battle of the Chamber
of Commerce against a sharing of
the better things of life among all

people.
See “JODOIN” Page 5