_ “SAFETY DIRECTOR'S REPORT” | a to eee eran cn at the Hearings. Labour must speak with one voice and let it be known we will not accept a reduction in quality of services to our members. A meeting of representatives of the I.W.A., B.C. Fed., C.P.U., W.C.B. and Manage- ment groups; C.O.F.I. and 1.L.M.A. was held on August 16 to discuss Cedar Dust Asthma. The meeting billed as a “working session’’ dealt mainly with the relocation of the diseased worker. It is diffi- cult to assess at present if this type of meeting was actually worthwhile. To date there has been no response to sugges- tions made at the session. However the Board has said it intends to reconsider the whole policy on ‘‘predisposition to an Industrial Disease’’ (the Board’s term). The areas of negotiation, legislation and education must be the targets of the I.W.A. if the problems discussed are to be resolved to the satisfaction of our members. The resolutions dealt with by this Convention must be con- sidered seriously as policy decisions of prime importance. Many gains made for work- ers in the health and safety field have been achieved first at the bargaining table. Re- search into short and long term effects of all new compounds and chemicals prior to their being introduced into the work- place should be the right of all workers. Perhaps the I.W.A. can become the leader in this area if we are successful in negotiations. The I.W.A.’s efforts in politi- cal action must be supported and strengthened by Safety Councils and concerned membership if we are to make the Legislative gains so im- perative to the development of solutions to occupational health and safety problems. The right to refuse, is one of the major pieces of legislation ee | hg the B.C. Fed. Occupational Health and Safety Committee in their brief to the Minister .of Labour. Words from that brief bear re- peating. ‘In this day of placing the mask of science over the reality of the situation and promulgating such notions as threshold limit values, degenerative changes, pre- disposing disabilities, accident proneness and worker care- lessness and a variety of other excuses conveniently develop- ed, the only certainty is that workers must decide for them- selves if the workplace is -healthy and safe.” Our goal must be a better educated work force and more questioning workers, thus equipping our members to raise these questions where they work. Walls of ignorance must be pushed back, workers must fight to reorganize the workplace and promote more worker involvement in decis- ion making. RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE: W. Kozij, B. Rogers, M. Kokura, A. Carle, L. Featherstone, W.-Pooghkay, R. Richards, T. Smith, N. Chernoff, E. Wood, M. Eggie, J. Kerssens, D. Welder, D. Muirhead and B. Symmes. ED BROADBENT, NDP Federal Leader, gives 1-118, waits his turn to speak. Trudeau and friends, as Regional President Jack Regional! 2nd Vice-President Neil Menard and Vice-President Ernie Clarke — , ee x MIKE KOKURA, Ist Vice-President of Local 1-85, speaks on — one of the resolutions while Roger Lewis, President of Local