(tl Ne ( I) | | \ F THE WESTERN CANADIAN beta My be | Incorporating “7ée B.C. Lambermorker Official Publication of the Iateraattonal Woodworkers of p¥mertea Regional Council No. 1 2nd Issue VOL. XXVII, No. 24 Dec., 1960 VANCOUVER, B.C. Sc PER COPY @ WE EXTEND TO OUR MEMBERSHIP... ° BEST WISHES FOR A SAFE ie AND PROSPEROUS | 1961 Union Members Ask Better M.S.A. Plans By IWA CORRESPONDENT Four hundred and fifty-eight employee delegates attend- ed the 20th Annual Meeting of the Medical Services Assoc- iation in Vancouver December 12. This pre-dominantly trade union representation gave evidence of a growing interest in MSA management and the determination to secure accept- ance of policies based on workers medical needs, and econ- omic circumstances. IWA Takes Lead It should be said that the spokesmen for the large IWA delegation acquitted themselves well. They scored on points which had brought defeat at the previous meeting. They made it clear that the members of the association cannot safely be denied their con- Stitution right of access to detailed information regarding the admini- stration of the plan. It cannot be said that the spokesmen for the professional and employer groups acted with a degree of tolerance that might be expected. At times it seemed as though the necessary degree of co-operation between the three groups was in danger of collapse. Unfortunately, some members of the professional and employer groups tended to regard proposed improyements as being motivated WHAT'S INSIDE cnly by antagonisms arising from industrial’ relations. The fact of the matter is that any objective report on the pro- ceedings must say that the public relations policy of MSA is either non-existent or is operating in See “M.S.A.” Page 2 Region Elects Heads IWA Regional Officers for the ensuing year were installed at the December 14th meeting of the Regional Executive Board. The report of the tabu- lating committee appointed for the membership referendum was received and approved. Re-elected: President, Joe Morris; 1st Vice-President, Jack Moore; 2nd Vice-Presi- dent, Bob Ross; 3rd Vice- President, Fred Fieber; Secre- tary-Treasurer, George H. Mitchell; Trustee, Ed Haw. Elected: International Board Members, Jack Holst, Joe Madden. LISTEN TO Green Gold—CJ0 Coast Ripen Special powers have been conferred upon a committee named “The Provincial Com- mittee for the New Party” by consent of the B.C. Federation of Labour and the CCF (B.C.- Yukon Section). These powers concern preparations for the national founding convention in July next, as well as the B.C. founding convention to follow. Trade union representatives on the Committee include IWA Regional President Joe Morris, and ‘Vice-President Jack Moore. ‘President Bob Smeal, and Secre- tary Pat O’Neal of the B.C. Federation of Labour are the eather trade union members. Chairman of the Committee is barrister Frank MacKenzie, formerly chairman of the joint CCF-B.C. Federation of Labour Campaign Committee. Important Functions This committee will have the right to certify the suitability of candidates nominated prior to the national founding con- vention. The provincial commit- tee has been delegated this right by the National Commit- tee. The. ground rules for nominating conventions to in- clude trade union representation will also be determined by the provincial committee. President Joe Morris advised this publication in an interview that procedures will be outlined See “PLANS” Page 3 7:00 p.m. Thursday By JOE MORRIS IWA Regional President he determination that all members of the IWA and their families should have the right to enjoy a Happy and Prosperous New Year is’ the mainspring of thought and action on the part of the Regional Officers at this time. That the Union may get what our people need and desire in 1961, we must all aim only at the total good of all our members. We must act with wisdom and unity, or risk hurt to all of us. We face new threats to the well-being of our mem- bership in all phases of our Union’s activity. As I state each major problem here and the Union’s fight for a solu- tion, it will be seen that solidarity is a necessary and com- monsense condition. In our homes, on the job, and in the approaching negotiations we face the many headed threats of unem- ployment. The humiliating misery of enforced idleness has darkened too many of our homes. The job security of those still working is being steadily undermined by de- clining demand on our production. Employers are taking advantage of the situation to press for a wage freeze, and wage cuts. The Regional Officers acting as required by the Union, are committed to a course of action which requires more than phrase-making. They have assisted in the devel- opment of an emergency employment program to create jobs at normal wage rates, through the programme of the Canadian Labor Congress. They continue to share in a steady promotion of public pressure on the authorities to provide conditions of full employment. We are assisting in the organization and care of the unemployed, that a dangerous division of interests may not arise. The organized employérs are renewing their cam- paign to destroy the right to free collective bargaining. They hope to find our defences weakened this year be- cause of unemployment. Employers’ organizations expect to increase the damage to our interests already done by See “OUTLOOK” Page 2 : UKP Ist and Last Thursday 6:00 p.m.