President Morris Scores Outside Interference The newly-elected officers were installed by Regional President Joe Morris, pressing local problems were debated, and $100 was donated in aid of stranded Hillcrest loggers at the Annual Meeting of Local 1-118 I.W.A., Victoria, January 21. Consideration was given to resolutions for attention of the approaching Wages and Contract Conference. Installed in office for the coming term were; President, Jack MacKenzie; Ist Vice-President, Murray Drew; 2nd Vice-President, Bob Lowe; 3rd Vice- President, Jack Burt; Financial Secre- tary, Ed. Haw; Recording Secretary, Jack Groves; Warden, Darvis Cook; Conductor, Tom Ainsley; 6-Year Trustee, Cy Smith. The Regional President con- gratulated the officers and members of the Local Union on a year of excellent progress. He assured them, as he reviewed Regional Affairs, that the IWA on the whole was in good shape to assume fresh respon- sibilities. Membership strength has held up well — averaging around 33,000. Acute Problems Arising An acute problem facing the Union, he said, was the attempt of the employers to break down con- ditions of work. On the job and by public use of propaganda media they had attacked collective bar- gaining, hours of work; wage ad- justments and established contract conditions. The speaker said that the Union must recognize the extent to which the employers had been ‘successful in attempts to convince the public that trade unions are responsible for all social, economic and _ political ills. Some of the effects of such propaganda on the general public and the membership is of vital con- cern to the Union. Wages and Contract Conference With reference to preparations for the Wages and Contract Con- ference, March 3-4-5, he stated that no forecast could be made of mem- bership decisions. Negotiations were expected to open March 15, “It is the sole prerogative of the membership to call the shots,” he said. He anticipated that consideration would be given to a thorough-going analysis of the economic facts re- lating to the industry. The most re- liable forecast possible would be made as to the market potential. The Conference would be in poses- sion of all necessary facts regarding pensions, Hours of Work, Wage evaluation, automation, etc. Communist Party Interference “However, there are some people who think they know more about what our people need than they do themselves. The so-called “lumber commiftee’ of the Communist Party is quite active in advising our Union what to do. We also have others who take any and every opportunity to disagree with majority opinion through the public press and over the radio. This advice has a strange similarity to the disruptive advice given by the Communist Party. If it seems that the position they adyo- cate is more militant than stated in the WESTERN CANADIAN LUM- BER WORKER, remember that these people accept no responsibility to membership majority instructions. They ignore their obligations to the policy laid down by our Union. The WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER is the official organ of the Union and states only the policies laid’ down by our Union’s membership. From time to time, it sets forth the long-range ob- jectives of our people and in this regard functions as an instrument of education. It is the official voice of the IWA in this Region, and is used to express the will of the member- ship.” The speaker advocated support of the Union’s political education pro- gramme as necessary to protect economic objectives. Local Union Decisions The Local Union authorized its full-time officers to attend the Policy Wage Conference of the B.C. Fede- ration of Labour in Vancouver, Feb. 3-4. Other table officers were in- structed to attend the CLC Winter School in Parksville, Feb. 5-9. The meeting protested the arbit- rary action of B.C. Forest Prod- ucts Ltd. in staggering holidays -for 1962 without any reference to the plant committee. Another grievance aired against B.C. Forest Products was the ar- bitrary action taken by management to reduce the size of crews on the green chain. This was done in spite of the fact that the Local Union had established with evidence that normal production required crews of the original size. Said President John MacKenzie— “It would appear that the companies will go to any length to load addi- tional work on their employees to swell the coffers of absentee own- ers.” ae ate STILL ON CRUTCHES, Retail Wholesale striker, Don Stanton visits fellow strikers on the picket line at Taylor Pearson & Carson. Don was injured in icket Ii incident involving a Company truck driven by a scab. : a ee Teamsters Prolong Strike