10

THE WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER

~LOCAL 1-207's

- Annual Delegated Meeting -

Despite the large layoffs in
many areas of the forest in-
dustry Local 1-207 IWA, Ed-
monton, has maintained a high
level of membership and sub-
stantially increased its
finances during the past year.

This was reported by the
officers at the Local’s Annual
Delegated Meeting June 14, in
Edmonton. :

The well attended meeting
also heard addresses from a
number of guest speakers,

dealt with resolutions and -

elected delegates to attend the
IWA International and
Regional Conventions, the Re-
gional Safety Conference and
the Alberta Federation of
Labour Convention.

Of unusual interest during
the meeting was the unexpec-
ted announcement by long time

' member and former president,
Arne Christensen, that he was
resigning as Local business
agent. Siig

Arne, who had been an of-

ficer of the Local for twelve
years, stated that he was re-

signing for personal reasons.
In a brief address he praised
the cooperation he had
received over the years from
his fellow officers, committee
members and the Local
membership and wished the
Local a successful future.

Guest speakers included
Regional 2nd Vice-President
Stan Parker, Local 1-424 1st .
Vice-President Gerry Wolf-.
ram, Regional evaluator Tony _
Vanderheide, Dean Mitchell,
Secretary of the Alberta
Federation of Labour, Ed.
Evasiuk, Executive Secretary
of the Edmonton Labour
Council.

Because of the impact a
general strike in the B.C. forest
industry would have on the
Local Union, Parker in his
address gave the delegates a
full report on what had hap-
pened to date on the coast and
Interior negotiations.

He stated that it was obvious
the employers wanted a strike
this year and the IWA was
equally determined not to
grant them their wish until

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These three guests are left, Arne Christensen, Tony Vanderheide, Re-
gional evaluator, Gerry Wolfman, Local 1-424 First Vice-President.

be

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5

such time as it best suited the
Union.

He informed the meeting
that the IWA had formed an
alliance with the two pulp
unions in B.C. for the express
purpose of shutting the entire
forest industry down at one
time, if it became necessary t
Strike.

He stated, however, that the
IWA’s negotiators were hope-
ful that a settlement could be
concluded short of striking. He
concluded by saying that if the
industry was not prepared to
bargain in good faith, then it
was going to be a long hot sum-
mer in British Columbia.

‘Following Parker’s address,
the First Vice-President of the
Local, Percy Cartwright, who
is shortly retiring from the
Local, was presented with a
beautiful clock for his many
years of dedication to the
Union.

Delegates elected to attend
the International Convention in
Montreal and the Regional
Convention in Vancouver
were:

International Convention —
Financial Secretary. Bob
DeLeeuw, Third Vice-Presi-

dent Joe Dygdala, President

Joe Parker and Sith Bomfield.

Regional Convention
President Joe Parker, Finan-
cial Secretary Bob DeLeeuw,
Conductor Ed Henry, Six-Year
Trustee Esther James.

A total of thirteen resolutions
were dealt with by the
meeting, the majority of which
called for improvements in the
field of housing, health. care,
car insurance, and ambulance
service.

Following the meeting the
delegates, guests and friends
were treated to a lovely ban-
quet followed by an evening of
dancing which was enjoyed by
all in attendance.

Prior to the dancing, Arne
and Mrs. Christensen, who
were special guests of honour,
were presented by the Local
with a very generous cheque in
appreciation of Arne’s service
to the Local Union over the
years.

>the Local for his years of dedicated service to the Union. Group left: Joe

Pirker, President; Arne Christensen, former officer and business agent,
Percy, Regional 2nd Vice-President Stan Parker; Financial Secretary

Bob DeLeeuw.

at

i

Local officers from left: Percy Cartwright, First Vice-President; Alex Yourston, Re i
tary; Joe Pirker, President; Bob DeLeeuw, Financial Secretary; oe Se
Dygdala, Third Vice-President.

NOVEMBER, 1975

OR Sea. Aa ee 2

-- ihe a nee: 7

Regional 2nd Vice-President Stan
Parker reports to the meeting on
the state of negotiations in British
Columbia.

Dean Mitchell, Alberta Federation
of Labour Secretary, who im-
pressed on the delegates the im-

portance of supporting the New
Democratic Party.

Bae <'

Bob Oftenbreit, Trustee; Joe