THE WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER

ist Issue “a
February, 1967

1-85,

IWA

MEMBERSHIP FORUM

AND CLC WINTER SCHOOL

Surveys indicate that 43%
of those now in the industrial
work force are under 25 years
of age. By 1970 this percent-
age will rise to 50%. Local
Union officials report that a
high percentage of this group
have only vague conceptions
of trade union purposes and
administration.

The above situation was
emphasized in a recent re-
port by Education Director
Grant MacNeil to the Region-
al Executive Board, The im-
portance of equipping job
stewards and committee men
to inform young and inex-
perienced members on the
union’s development and ob-
jectives was urged.

Membership forums are
rapidly displacing the old
type educational seminars,
the director reported. These
are designed to escape a for-
mal classroom atmosphere
and to encourage member-
ship participation. Programs
are now planned with visual
aids, discussion group tech-
niques, and reference notes
for continued use by mem-
bers in attendance.

Such programs are planned
in consultation with the Local
Union officers who preside.
Because of this, membership
forums have proved to be
morale builders because of
the better understanding
gained of the Local Union ob-
jectives. New members learn
how they got what they have
in contract benefits and why
continued solidarity of action
is essential.

LOCAL 1-85 FORUM

A successful membership
forum was sponsored by Lo-
eal 1-85 IWA, January 28th.
The excellent arrangements
made by the Local Union of-
ficers in advance made the
day’s program interesting and
eongenial. When queried at
the conclusion of the day’s
discussions by President Wal-
ter Allen, the 40 or more

GRANT MacNEI ional education director, watches as
mid ee ere to the discussion questions.

members in attendance unan-
imously agreed to support a
further two-day session.

A lively discussion on trade
union progress resulted from
the presentation of the film,
“The Inheritance”. President
Walter Allen outlined steps
taken to combat the use of
injunctions during industrial
disputes. Financial Secretary
Maurice Corbeil answered all
questions on the union’s ad-
ministration.

The central theme was “our
Trade Union Job”. Interest
centred on material relating
to technological change in the
industry, supplied by former
International Assistant Edu-
cation Director Frank Fuller
and Regional Education Di-
rector Grant MacNeil.

The Port Alberni member-
ship forum followed immedi-
ately after the CLC Winter
School at Parksville. This was
pronounced to be the best in
recent years for program con-
tent and attendance. Over 100
students registered.

School director was B.C.
Education Director Dan Rad-
ford, CLC. Alan Schroeder,
UAW Education Director,
and Gordon Wilkinson, CLC
representative, held classes
on “Shop Stewards’ Responsi-
bilities”. International Assist-
ant Education Director Frank
Fuller, IWA, dealt with
“Automation”. IWA Regional
Education Director Grant
MacNeil conducted the
course on “Conduct of Union
Meetings.”

All instructors this year
used visual aids and discus-
sion group techniques, which
proved popular with union
members in attendance.

A social evening staged to-
ward the end of the week’s
session featured lively enter-
tainment provided by the
“students,” which demon-
strated the exceptional tal-
ent found among trade union
members.

. LOCAL PRESIDENT Walter Allen stands by to give advice to this group
day forum. He also assisted instructors on questions dealing with policy

MAURICE CORBEIL, Local financial secretary and regional 3rd vice-pr
a question directed to him by one of the discussion groups.

FORMER INTERNATIONAL assistant director of research and educa 53
is shown listening as this group discusses the effect of technological change in the forest
industry.

during the one-
matters.

q ty ea
‘ ean

esident answers e

tion Frank Fuller