APRIL-MAY, 1975 THE WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER Five of the top officers of Local 1-423 IWA, Kelowna, were re-elected by acclama- tion at the Local’s 3rd Annual Delegated Meeting held May 10-11 in the Capri Hotel in Kelowna. Re-elected were President Bill Schumaker, ist. Vice- President Jack Welder, 2nd Vice-President Ray Ottenbreit, Financial Secretary Dell Welder, Recording Secretary Bill Oner. Des Hickey was elected to the post of Warden which was vacant due to the untimely death of John Alex Chernoff, the incumbent. Incumbent 3rd _ Vice-Presi- ' dent Paul Sofonoff is being opposed by Richard O’Grady and Del Cemulini, the incumb- ent Conductor is being opposed by Brian Casement. Financial Secretary Dell Welder was elected Regional Exectutive Board Member and ‘Ist Vice-President Jack Welder was elected Alternate Board Member. Jack Welder was also re- elected the Local Union’s Safety Director. Guest speakers included In- ternational President Keith Johnson, Regional President Jack Munro, Local 1-80 Presi- dent Ferni Viala, Local. 1-424 President Don Muirhead, Local 1-405 First Vice-Presi- dent John Paluck, Local 1-357 Conductor Dave Rauser. Business of the meeting included electing delegates to the various conventions and conferences, approving the Officers’ and Financial Reports, and dealing with 36 resolutions and three Execu- tive Board recommendations. The delegates gave their approval to increase the per diam of the officers and delegates while on Union business; to hold a one-day seminar for Plant Committee Members in September and October; and to give their full support to the proposed in- crease to the International per capita tax and.dues formula. Highlighting the resolutions were demands to publish a regular Local paper; to press for improved secondary roads; seek increased personal in- come tax exemptions and dependent allowances and have working expenses in- creased to $500. The delegates also called for stricter controls on harvesting and re-forestation to prevent the forest companies leaving debris in the forests. President Johnson informed the meeting in his address that the International office was in financial straights and the new proposed per capita tax for- mula must be approved by the members if they were to continue to receive the present service from the International. Regional President Jack Munro covered a number. of subjects in his hour-long ad- dress but his discussion on the need for labour to support the NDP government aroused the most interest and he was given a standing ovation by a great number of the delegates. He told the delegates in no uncertain words what they could expect if they supported any of the so-called free en- terprise parties. He reminded them how labour was the whipping boy under former governments and that it wasn’t until the NDP came into office it was accorded any respect. He dwelt at length on the fine social legislation now in effect in B.C., which he pointed out, QUEBEC COPIES B.C. FARM PROGRAM Agriculture Minister Dave Stupich said in the Legislature that the Quebec government is planning a farm income assurance program patterned after the B.C. plan and that two other provinces are also considering similar programs. He recalled opposition objections to the bill and said that the B.C. Federation of Agriculture now recognizes that it has resulted in greater stability in the industry. ae For ten years farmers were dropping out of agriculture a the rate of one per day, but now that exodus has come toa halt. The number of farms is increasing and young people are moving into the industry. no other party would dare repeal. He concluded by saying that labour had an obligation to support and yes work for the re-election of the NDP, the only government that has gone out of its way to stand up for labour and those in the low income. bracket. The Officers’ Report covered the activities of the Officers and Business. Agents during the past year and showed the hard and at .times frustrating work involved in looking after the affairs of the Local Union and the members. The Safety Report noted with satisfaction that there had been no fatalities in the Local British Columbia Government News. An Information Service. The British Columbia Government News is an information service designed to make the same information available to every citizen. Send this coupon today and we'll put your name on our free mailing Mail to: British Columbia Government News Department of the Provincial Secretary Parliament Buildings Victoria, B.C. provided to the news media, list. Bulk mailing services are also available for businesses, community groups and other organizations. Please sendme....... copies of the British Columbia . Government News each month. | RoW Gx sR y ee saca ss POSTAL CODE....... | for the past three years. This accomplishment was clouded a little by a rise in the accident rate which the Local has put down to the uncertainty in the _ industry associated with the heavy lay-offs during the past winter and spring. On the Saturday evening, the Local hosted a_ splendid Banquet followed by a dance which was enjoyed by the large gathering in attendance. MORE CANCER IN FOREST WORKERS A study of mortality patterns in certain parts of the U.S. wood products industry and in carpenters suggests their work environments contain cancer- causing agents, says a report made public recently. “Whether the carcinogenic agents are the woods them- selves, chemical and physical breakdown products of wood, or agents associated with wood processing or treatment, remains to be resolved,’’ the report says. ‘ The report is based on a study by Dr. Samuel Milham of the Washington state depart- ment of social and health ser- vices. Stomach cancer shows. ‘“‘a modest” increase in almost all categories of wood industry employees, says the study. | The study covers about 300,000 death records filed in the state for the. years 1950 to 1971. : Loggers, for example, showed a low over-all cancer rate, but with cancers of the stomach and prostate showing mortality in excess of what would be expected. Professional foresters showed elevated rates of can- cer, with 40 deaths observed where there was a statistical expectation of 22. “Professional foresters spend considerable time in mills and offices as well as in the forest, so their environ- mental exposures may be quite varied,” the report says. For workers in sawmills, and other types of wood machining operations, tumors of the tes- tes, with 15 deaths where nine would be expected, and cancer of the pancrease showed mor- tality increases. “This is a very heterogenen- ous group — sawmills, shake- mills, pole, sash, doormills, etc. — and excess mortality in a specific group may be hid- den,”’ the report says. “The fact that stomach can- cer shows a modest increase in all these groups, with the possible exception of the miscellaneous millworker category, suggests that in- gested, or inhaled and swal- lowed, wood particles may cause gastric cancer,’”’ the report says. CS ee ee Monologue: A conversation between husband and wife.