For the information of the membership, changes to the Regional Constitution were adopted by the Regional Convention held in Vancouver, B.C., October 2 to 6, 1972. . Amendments to the Regional Constitution adopted by Convention action shall not be finalized until sixty (60) days from the close of the Convention, and such proposed Convention changes shall be published in the “Lumber Worker” and copies of such proposed constitutional changes shall be sent to each Local Union within ten (10) days after the close of the Convention. Any time within this specified sixty-day period, the membership through their Local Unions may petition the Regional Secretary- Treasurer to initiate a referendum on any amendment adopted by such Convention action. If the Regional Secretary-Treasurer receives a number of petitions represen- tative of one-third (1/3) of the total Regional Council membership, he shall proceed with the referendum within ten (10) days follow- ing the sixty (60) day period specified. The following constitutional changes were adopted by the Regional Convention. PER CAPITA TAX ARTICLE VI, Section (4) Section presently reads as follows: “(4) The per capita tax of the Regional Council shall be one dollar and five cents ($1.05) per dues month collected. Five cents (5c) of the per capita tax shall _ be allocated to a Negotiations Fund to be ex- pended upon the authorization of the | Regional Executive Board for the purpose of : publicity, advertising of meetings and recommendations to the membership during contract negotiations and strikes. This five cents (5c) shall remain in effect until the fund reaches fifty thousand dollars ($50,000.00), and then the five cents (5c) : shall revert to the General Fund of the Regional Council. When the fund reaches a A low of thirty-five thousand dollars s ($35,000.00) the five cents (5c) will auto- 5 matically be put into effect until the ] Negotiating Fund reaches fifty thousand dol- lars ($50,000.00). Any proposed changes in the per capita tax to the Regional Council shall only be sub- ject to change by the Regional Convention, approved by the membership of the Local Unions by Referendum Ballot.” Following is the proposed change: “(4) The per capita tax of the Regional Council shall be one dollar and twenty-five cents ($1.25) per dues month collected. Five cents (5c) of the per capita tax shall be allocated to a Negotiations Fund to be ex- pended upon the authorization of the ‘ay nal Executive Board for the purpose of ae publicity, advertising of meetings and recom- mendations to the membership during contract negotiations and strikes. This five cents (5c) shall remain in effect until the fund reaches fifty thousand dollars $50,000.00), and then the five cents (5c) shall revert to the General Fund of the Regional Council. When the fund reaches a ow of thirty-five thousand dollars $35,000.00) the five cents (5c) will auto- tically be put into effect until the ting i diye goatog fifty thousand ce = bn Be THE WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER “Any proposed changes in the per capita tax to the Regional Council shall only be sub- ject to change by the Regional Convention, approved by the membership of the Local Unions by Referendum Ballot.” STRIKE FUND RULES ARTICLE VI, Section (6) Section presently reads as follows: “STRIKE ASSISTANCE (6) 1. Strike assistance is to be paid only in cases of need. Strike Assistance Com- mittees are to interview applicants to determine whether assistance is necessary. 2. Applications are to be _ received, considered and paid on a weekly basis. Assistance is not to be paid until at least four (4) full weeks have elapsed since the first day of the strike. Unusual cases will only be considered on receiving the approval of proper Local and Regional authorities. 3. The Local Union will determine en- titlement to payment of Strike Assistance in accordance with these rules and the Regional Constitution. 4.(a) The amount of assistance shall be determined by the Regional Executive Board with a minimum of: ‘Single — $12.00 - Married — $18.00 Dependents — $3.00 the payment of these amounts subject to Strike Fund money being available. (b) The Regional Executive Board is authorized to reduce the four (4) week wait- ing period for the purpose of Strike Assist- ance payments during spot strikes. 5. Amember must have done picket duty or other duties which may have been assigned by the Local Union Strike Com- mittee or the Central Strike Committee. 6. All strike cards are to be kept up to date and authorized by proper officials, as a basis of receiving strike assistance.” Following is the proposed change: “STRIKE ASSISTANCE ~ (6) 1. Applications are to be received, considered and paid on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. Assistance is to be paid after two weeks have elapsed since the first day of the strike. 2. The Local Union will determine en- titlement to payment of Strike Assistance in accordance with these rules and the Regional Constitution. Unusual cases will only be considered on receiving the approval of proper Local and Regional authorities. 3. The amount of assistance shall be determined by the Regional 2 MING Board with a minimum of: Single—$35.00 Married with working spouse—$35.00 Married with dependent spouse—$50.00 * Dependents—$5.00 The payment of these amounts subject to strike fund money being available. 4. The Regional authorized to reduce the two (2) week wait- ing period for the purpose of strike assist- ance for newly organized operations negotiating their first agreement. 5. No member on strike will be eligible for strike relief if they are receiving income from some other active source of employ- ment. 6. Amember must have done picket du- ty or other duties which may have been Executive Board is . OCTOBER, 1972 assigned by the Local Union strike committee or the central strike committee. 7. All strike cards are to be kept up to date and authorized by proper officials, as a basis of receiving strike assistance.”’ ARTICLE VI, Section (6) Section presently reads as follows: “TRANSPORTATION (6) 1. All cars that.are to be used must be authorized by the Local Union. 2. Necessary mileage will be paid at the rate of five cents (5c) per mile. 3. Vouchers approved -by the Recon! Council must be used for submitting mileage for payment. Local Unions must carefully scrutinize mileage vouchers to prevent un- necessary mileage. 4. Travelling expenses incurred in normal administrative work will not be paid from the Regional Strike Fund.” Following is the proposed change: “TRANSPORTATION (6) 1. All cars that are to be used must be authorized by the Local Union. 2. Necessary mileage will be paid at the rate of ten cents (10c) per mile. 3. Vouchers approved by the Regional Council must be used for submitting mileage for payment. Local Unions must carefully - scrutinize mileage vouchers to prevent un- _ necessary mileage. . 4 Travelling expenses incurred in normal administrative work will not be paid from the Regional Strike Fund.” REGIONAL STANDING COMMITTEES ARTICLE X Article presently reads as follows: (1) The Regional Executive Board shall set up a Political Action Committee and an Educational Committee. These Committees to be set up on the following basis: Two (2) . representatives from the Regional Executive Officers and one (1) representative from each Local Union. (2) Meeting of these committees shall be held at a time set by the Regional Director. The Regional Director or Secretary- Treasurer or the Executive Board may call emergency meetings of the Standing Com- mittee at any time. (3) Wages, expenses, ‘hotel and per diem of Local Union representatives to these meetings shall be the responsibility of the Local Unions sending these representatives. (4) All actions and decisions of any Regional Committee shall be subject to the approval of the Regional Executive Board.” Following is the proposed change: “(1) The Regional Executive Board shall set up a Political Action Committee and an Educational Committee. These Committees to be set up on the following basis: Two (2) representatives from the Regional Executive Officers and one (1) representative from each Local Union, and shall meet at least twice annually. (2) Meeting of these committees shall be held ata dima. set by the Regional Director. The Regional Director or Secretary- Treasurer or the Executive Board may call emergency meetings of the Standing Com- mittee at any time. See "CHANGES" Page 15