THE WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER

IWA

By WAYNE A. SCOTT
Int'l Editor

TORONTO, Ont. — The
position taken by the IWA
with regard to the Association
of Western Pulp and Paper
Workers was unanimously en-
dorsed here by delegates to
the 24th International Consti-
tutional Convention. .

The vote came on a motion
by Walter Allen, president of
Local 1-85 in Port Alberni,
B.C., that “this convention en-
dorse the action taken by
Western States Regional
Council No. 3 and the Inter-
national Union in this mat-
ter.”

Allen’s motion followed a
detailed report by Harvey R.
Nelson, president of Regional
Council No. 3, on relations
between the Regional Council
and International Union with
the AWPPW, which was
formed by members who
broke away from the interna-
tional pulp and paper unions.

In his report, Nelson dis-
cussed the fight waged by the
rebel group to obtain a repre-
sentation vote from the Na-
tional Labor Relations Board
for workers in pulp and paper
plants in Washington, Oregon,
California and Alaska.

Assistance to the fledgling
union from the IWA ‘began
the day the AWPPW was cer-
tified as bargaining agent,
Nelson said, and included a
$25,000 loan authorized by the
Region No. 3 Executive Board.
Nelson added that most_ of
the loan has been repaid.

Nelson also pointed out that
the international officers and
International Executive Board
were kept up to date on de-
velopments in contacts be-

tween the IWA and AWPPW.

“The AWPPW was forced
to strike to win its initial con-
tract,” Nelson said, “and I am
proud to’ report that the IWA
recognized the picket lines
without exception. Our offic-
ers and rank and file mem-
bers joined hands with the
new union members to win
an honorable settlement of
their dispute.

“They didn’t win all they
asked, but they did win their
self-respect as union people,”

he added.

Nelson recounted his testi-

mony as a witness for the
AWPPW at the trial of a law-
suit brought by the pulp and
paper international unions in
regard to funds of the rebel

local unions.

Nelson said he testified at
the request of the AWPPW
attorney, only on the opera-
tion of the IWA as a democra-
tic union. He urged those who
have heard untrue rumors
about his testimony to read
the official record of the trial.

The Pulp and Sulphite
Union and United Papermak-
ers have filed charges against
the IWA under the AFL-CIO
Constitution in connection
with the AWPPW revolt.

International President A.
F. Hartung told the conven-
tion that the charges allege

POSITION BACKED

that the IWA gave “aid and
comfort” to the rebel group.
He will present the IWA case
before David Cole, impartial
umpire for the AFL - CIO,
next month in New York.

Looking toward industry-
wide negotiations in 1966, the
charges have caused “appre-
hension” among IWA mem-
bers in British Columbia, the
convention was told by Jack
Moore, president of Western
Canadian Regional Council
No. 1. He said the IWA must
work closely with the interna-
tional pulp and paper unions
in the negotiations.

Before making his motion,
which was adopted on a unan-
imous vote, Allen told the
convention that “false re-
ports” on relations between
the IWA and AWPPW had
been circulated in British
Columbia. f

“Now that we know the
truth, I believe that we in
Western Canada can work
with the international pulp
and paper unions in coordin-
ated bargaining next year,
just as our union in the West-
ern United States can work
with the new pulp and paper
union,” Allen said.

DAVID LEWIS, Q.C. and NDP Federal candidate, second
from left, chats with unidentified delegate at the IWA
Toronto Convention as International President Hartung,
standing, pins a fraternal delegates badge on Emil Mazey,

Secretary-Treasurer of the Auto Workers Union.
International Woodworker

1ANT
RALLY

HEAR

T.C.(Tommy) DOUGLAS |

Federal Leader of the New Democratic Party

AGRODOME -- P.N.E.

VANCOUVER, B.C.

FRIDAY, NOV. 5th, at 8:00 P.M.

Issued by the New Democratic Party
Federal Campaign Committee

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