= David Tones (below) moved from national vice-president to the key role of national secretary-treasurer by acclamation.

= Norm Rivard, elected as the union’s new national second vice-president, answers questions from a Radio- Canada journalist.

= National union president Dave Haggard answers questions on softwood lumber ina media scrum following his opening speech.

= Ontario’s Wilf Mcintyre (above) was elected to the position of third national vice-president, and will assume new roles in western Canada.

= Right: Cranbrook, B.C. Local 1-405 president Bob

Matters (I.) and Williams Lake, B.C. Local 1-425,

president Wade Fisher read out recommendations on behalf of the national political action committee.

Union’s policies and programs debated and discussed

The IWA’s policies and programs were open to delegate debate and discussion. A resolution passed calling on locals to elect or designate a women as a liason to the national women’s committee. The com- mittee gave a report calling on more IWA women to get involved in union activities including education and organizing.

Delegates passed a resolution to pressure the B.C. Liberals to rethink their proposed changes to gut key parts of the Forest Act, like severing the link between

tenure and manufacturing facilities, abolishing cut

controls and moving to a timber auction system.

In addition to debating legislative and health and safety resolutions, the national office and Coast locals unveiled a task force report on coastal logging safety which contains sound recommendations for the WCB, industry/employers and the union (see page ten.)

A political action committee delivered a report which was adopted by delegates calling on the union to continue to evaluate its role in community and political action, support candidates where they sup-

port labour, contribute to a national fund and estab- lish local and community political action commit- tees, and develop a two-day course on political action.

The delegates also spoke on motherhood issues, like putting an end to the export of logs and cants, the defense of Employment Insurance, opposition to low minimum wages and cuts to social programs.

The softwood lumber dispute was widely discussed and the convention viewed an excellent video on the impact on workers produced by Local 1-425’s Terry Tate, with some national funding and assistance.

20 | THE ALLIED WORKER DECEMBER 2002