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Incorporating “Zhe B.C. Lamberworker Official Publication of the Taternattonal Woodworkers og famertea Regional Council No. 1

VOL. XXIX. No. 17. VANCOUVER, B.C. 5c PER COPY = «@” september, 1962

25% ANNIVERSARY

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INSIDE

The story of
the IWA
struggle to raise
wages and
better working
conditions.

Greefings:

The twenty-fifth Annual Regional Convention of the International Woodworkers of America
which opens in Woodworkers’ House, Vancouver, September 18, 1962, is another important mile-
stone in the history of our Union.

IWA members celebrate their Union's Silver Jubilee. It is an occasion for pride in progress
made during a rugged and strenuous twenty-five-year journey to reach the full unionization of
the lumber industry in British Columbia.

We mark the occasion with the publication in this Anniversary Issue of the Western Canadian Lumber Worker
of the story of the IWA in B.C. This story will refresh the memories of many old-timers, for many charter mem-
bers of the IWA are still active in the work of our Union. It should impress those members who have more recently

‘joined our Union with the fact that present-day benefits were won only through the struggle and sacrifice of IWA

pioneers.

The history of our Union, now the largest in Western Canada, is packed with exciting drama — the drama
of unrelenting struggle against powerful employers and anti-labour governments. It has been a constant battle
to win the right to organize, to bargain collectively and establish trade union democracy for the woodworkers.
Part of this drama was the ideological conflict within our organization which precipitated a crisis in 1948.

Organization of the woodworkers was born in the “hungry thirties,” when men slaved for as little as 25c
an hour in the woods and the mills. The enslavement of poverty and oppression, then endured, is now hard to
believe.

Men worked long and hazardous hours for a bare pittance. Workers who talked trade union organization”
were hounded, persecuted and blacklisted out of employment. Reckless speed-up methods of production took
a heavy toll of human lives. The Union brought iumber workers out of dark days of misery and degradation. The
courage and stamina shown by the loggers who fought the early battles for our trade union rights deserve our
warmest tribute. It was the loggers of British Colurnbia who laid the foundations of our Union as it now exists.

The remarkable progress made is seen in a contrast between the conditions established in the 1962 master
agreements and those which prevailed before 1937, the birth year of the IWA.

Men who once worked for 25 cents an hour, or for their board, are now assured of a base rate of $2.08 an
hour, with a much higher average rate in the Unien’s wage structure.

Those who were fired for Union membership, now enjoy such membership as a condition of employment,
with security.

The 70-80-hour work week has been displaced by the 40-hour week. Overtime for nothing or merely
straight time is a thing of the past. A 35-hour work week is just around the corner.

The only vacations known in 1937 were compulsory layoffs, with no pay, at the whim of the employers.
Today vacations range from two weeks to four weeks, with full pay.

In 1937, holidays were seldom ever observed, much less awarded pay. Now ‘the paid statutory holidays
number nine.

In the bad old days, the employers laughed at any seniority proposals. Now those with length of continu-
ous service have rights which we may defend.

Once the industry killed two workers every week of production. Now hazards of their employment are
shielded by a widespread safety program, promoted by the Union.

In the past, loggers were impoverished, exhausted and under-nourished by arduous and expensive travel
to their work sites, poor grub, unsanitary camp conditions, disproportionate board rates and commissary robbery.
Today, they may claim fare allowances, travel time, decent food, sanitary bunkhouses and stabilized board rates.

The loggers and mill workers who survived incredible and back-breaking toil were a proud and hardy
breed of men. But the skidroad was crowded with broken-backed and burnt-out men while thousands of desti-
tute families were forced to accept relief. In 1962, the sick or disabled lumber worker and his family may main-
tain self-respect and protection through a Health and Welfare Plan providing medical coverage, and a measure
of insurance against disaster.

In the dark early days, the man who stated a grievance was promptly fired and sent “down the road.” He
may now process his grievance, through channels, and even demand arbitration.

Any form of collective bargaining was at first fiercely opposed by the employers aided by succeeding pro-
vincial governments. A union agreement was a distinct rarity. The individual worker was lost in a mad scramble
for the available jobs at the employer's terms. The employer kept him on his knees. In 1962, every worker
may work under a collective agreement with the individual employer, with stated rights upheld by law. In ad-
dition, the advent of industry-wide bargaining has backed his demands with the combined strength of 35,000
lumber workers through three master agreements won by the Union.

We may well pause, as we enter our 26th year of growth and review this drama of struggle, sacrifice,
enterprise and fortitude with pride in the Union’s achievements. The IWA stands in the foremost rank of Can-
ada’s labour movement. The rewards of struggle have been well worthwhile and have evolved from steadfast
adherence to policies which placed the advantages of long-term and steady progress before those of short-
term opportunism. Working conditions, job security as well as wages have been given equal emphasis.

Legislative protection secured in concert with affiliated unions, has been demanded as firmly as the eco-
nomic protection made possible through IWA membership solidarity.

Although, at this time, we may point with pride to past achievements, we dare not grow complacent and
rest on our hard-won laurels. We must march with the times, and face new problems bringing new crises with
which we must grapple in the best traditions of the |WA’s “magnificent journey” from 1937 to 1962. We are con-
fident that the next 25 years will be as fruitful.

JACK MOORE, Regional President JACK MacKENZIE, Regional 2nd Vice-President
BOB ROSS, Regional Ist Vice-President JACK HOLST, Regional 3rd Vice-President

FRED FIEBER, Regional Secretary-Treasurer