FROM PAGE ONE

“I make no apology for the
progress made by the Union
during my term of office.

“The Coast base rate has
been raised from $1.92 an
hour to $3.12 an hour; in the
Interior from $1.75 an hour to
$2.98 an hour. Category and
tradesmen’s rates have been
revised upward to improve
vastly their relative position.

“Other important contract
improvements to be recog-
nized are those concerning
Health and Welfare, vaca-
tions, paid statutory holidays,
travel time, shift differentials,
etc.

“These gains were made by
the effort to maintain unity in
action, not by attempted dis-
ruption. Don’t be fooled into
believing that any ‘leadership’
could have done better.”

“Tt is unfortunate that dif-
ferences of opinion have again
been given publicity, to de-
stroy confidence in the Union.
This will delight the employ-
ers. Our conventions have
repeatedly instructed that
clashes of opinion about in-
ternal Union business be
settled within the Union. The
members have always repudi-
ated high-pressure tactics as

an attempt to stampede mem-
bership decisions.

“The caucus statement pre-
sents a principle of so-called
‘leadership’ that is in direct
conflict with policies that have
given vitality to IWA growth.
This principle is that on all
vital decisions the members
shall have absolute control of
the Union’s affairs. Our con-
stitution so stipulates.

“The members of the IWA
have never consented to
leadership’ that guides and
directs ‘from the top.’

“The reverse is the rule.
Officers, who are elected by
membership referendum, are
required to work with and for
the members to execute ma-
jority decisions.

“My record and that of my
fellow-officers will show that
we have adhered to majority
decisions, whether originating
with Conventions, Regional
Executive Boards, conferences
or negotiating committees. I
stand on this record and, as in
the past, I will oppose any dis-
guised form of dictatorship as
destructive of IWA declared
aims.”

Question: What do you say
about the accusation that
“bickering and fighting” oc-
curred?

LOOK MA .. . WILLIE’S BEATIN’ 7H’ SPEED CLIMBER.

5
4

THE WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER

Moore: “In view of what I
have already stated the
answer is simple. Differences
of opinion are bound to arise
in a healthy organization. The
conflict occurred when at-
tempts were made to impose
minority rule in place of ma-
jority rule. In all instances,
the issues were settled by ma-
jority membership decisions.
It was our duty as Regional
officers to make sure that
such decisions were carried
out. In no other way could
unity of action be secured.”

Question: Were you respon-
sible, as charged, for what is
described as the “disastrous
Interior strike?”

Moore: ‘‘This accusation
grossly down-grades the intel-
ligence and praiseworthy mili-
tancy of the Southern Interior
members. They formulated
their own demands, elected
their own negotiating commit-
tee, and by their own vote de-
cided on strike action. During
the strike they repeatedly ex-
pressed confidence in their
negotiating committee and
voted to accept a negotiated
settlement with gains that
would not have been achieved
without their endurance and
determination,

“Far from being ‘disastrous’
the Southern Interior mem-
bers, for the first time in his-
tory, succeeded in mobilizing
their full strength against no-
toriously anti-union employ-
ers. The whole Union, as well
as the Southern. Interior mem-
bers, gained as a result.

“This accusation implies
that the Regional officers
should have arbitrarily over-
ridden membership decisions
and called the strike off be-
fore a reasonably satisfactory
settlement was made possible.
The IWA in the past has bit-
terly condemned such be-
trayals during a trade union
struggle. If we are to remain
true to trade union principles,
the Union will give the high-
est praise to the membership
struggle in the Southern In-
terior and not condemnation.”

Question: Have you ever
“forced settlements down the
throats of the members?”

Moore: “Never. The accusa-
tion is ridiculous. The negoti-
ating teams are representative
of Local Unions involved. Ne-
gotiations- are pressed to the
limit of negotiating possibili-
ties. Any recommendations
for the membership are made
by majority decision of the

“MOORE ANSWERS CRITICS” _

members elected to the com-
mittee. The members of the
Union freely vote by secret
ballot to accept or reject the
recommendation. The Union's
members have full informa-
tion on developments, as well
as the various points of view.
They have always exercised
final judgment.

“Under established TWA
safeguards the opportunity
has never arisen, and never
should arise, to enable Re-
gional officers to ‘force their
opinions down the throats of
the members.’ As instructed
by the membership, I have
always opposed any deviation
from majority membership
decisions while allowing mi-
norities free expression of
opinion.

“It is on this central issue
that I must oppose the
changes in policy now advo-
cated by my critics.

“The onus now rests on
Syd Thompson to do more
than attempt merely to fix
blame for unresolved prob-
lems and to make constructive
proposals for united action in
pursuit of the Union’s objec-
tives as defined by the mem-
bership.”

FED. SCORES B.C. GOVERNMENT

B.C. Federation of Labour
secretary Ray Haynes accus-
ed the Attorney-General’s de-
partment of capitulating to
the employers’ wishes in the
current dispute at the Bay-
shore Inn and Hotel Georgia.

“Once again the govern-
ment is interpreting its own
legislation to assist the em-
ployers as it did during the
strike vote in the IWA inter-
ior dispute,” said Mr. Haynes.

“The management of the
Bayshore Inn alleges that they
requested a government su-

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pervised strike vote by tele-
gram and despite the tele-
graph company having no
record of any such wire the
Attorney - General’s depart-
ment has reversed the Labour
department’s decision and the
union has now been advised
that a government supervised
strike vote will be held. How

eco @
=

convenient it is that Mr.
Peterson is both Attorney-
General and Labour Minis-
ter,” added Mr. Haynes.

“The mounting number of
irregularities in the handling
of labour matters in this pro-
vince has destroyed any sem-
blance of impartiality by the
present government.”

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