THE WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER ist |

APPROVED AT ANNUAL MEETING

LOCAL 1-288 TO VOTE ON DUES INCREASE

Delegates attending the An- nual Meeting of Local 1-288 IWA, November 23, in Nanai- mo, approved an Executive recommendation to increase the Local’s dues by one dol- lar per member per month.

The proposed increase must be submitted to a referendum vote of the Local members, and if approved, would raise the dues to nine dollars a mont

The meeting held in the Shoreline Hotel was attended by forty-four delegates and officers, and guest speaker Regional Ist Vice - President Jack MacKenzie.

Business of the meeting in- cluded approving an exten- sive Officers’ Report, Officers’ and Trustees’ recommenda- tions, debating five resolu- tions, and listening to an ad- dress by the guest speaker.

In his address to the meet- ing Regional 1st Vice-Presi- dent Jack MacKenzie describ- ed the atrocious conditions under which lumber workers in Saskatchewan and Alberta were forced to work.

He stated that the compan- ies made no adequate provi- sion to shelter the woods

crews other than tents with wooden floors. They were ex- pected to get their water in winter from melted snow and in the summer from filthy sloughs.

On top of this their wages were low and job protection was nonexistent. He warned the meeting that if these con- ditions were allowed to con- tinue, employers in British Columbia would soon agitate for lower living ‘and wage standards for their employees.

The Officers’ Report cen- tred on a number of the Lo- cal’s outstanding problems. These included grading stand- ards, borrowed men, inspec- tors loaned to mills and the Local’s finances.

Two of, the bright spots in the Report were the Lumber

Inspectors Mutual Benefit As- .

sociation finances, and the Welfare Fund. The report stated that they had a good year and were in excellent shape.

Following the meeting, the delegates, their wives and vis- itors enjoyed a lovely smor- gasbord supper and an even- ing of dancing.

LOCAL 1-288 IWA PRESIDENT ROD BEATON reading the Officers’ Report at the

Annual Meeting of the Local Union, November 23, in Nanaimo. Group, left, Ron Grant,

een Secretary; Beaton; Paul Bentsen, 2nd Vice-President: Ernie Smith, Recording ecretary.

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POPULAR BILL OWENS, a long-time member of Local 1-288 IWA who recently retired from his job as lumber inspector at Hillcrest Lumber Company, Vancouver Island, was honored by his fellow members at the Local’s Annual Meeting November 23. Bill started in the industry March 1, 1929, at the Alberni Pacific Lumber Company, Port Alberni. During his time there, which was prior to the formation of the IWA, he saw his hourly wage rate drop from 70 cents an hour. to 46 cents an hour. He stated that he got fed up with this nonsense and quit. He worked at a number of other lumber operations until eventually landing up at Hillcrest Lumber. Here he is shown talking about his early experiences during his address to the meeting. -

1-85 WORKERS REINSTATED

Local 1-85 IWA members locked out at the MacMillan Bloedel Somass Shingle Divi- sion, Port Alberni, November 28, were reinstated to the job December 2nd.

Approximately 100 employ-

ees were locked out by the Comovany following a dispute over wage revisions.

Local officers and the com pany are holding meetings to resolve the issue.

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