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Page 9, News, Tuesday, May 15, 1990 Letter- "I've just about had it with CPU" Dear Editor; I have just about had it with the Canadian Paperworkers Union (CPU) propaganda. It is the policy of the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) not to slander other unions by using the press. The reason for this is obvi- ous. The trade union movement in this country wants to ensure that the goals and. objectives of its affiliates are common. However. that does not appear to be the case for all Unions. Some are not satisfied with this. A few Unions want to control all. Labour Unions' chief goals should be to represent their members by improving working conditions, ensure safety in the workplace, improve wages and benefits as a means of helping working men and women to live in the standard of living they deserve and also to organize the unorganized workers in this country. Human resources are the most important facet employers have and it is the job of the labour movement to ensure that the working people are represented fairly--not monopolized. One of the CPU's main goals appears to be just that--they want to monopolize representation of the Pulp and Paper Industry. Traditionally, monopolies have only benefitted a few high-rank- ing individuals, not the employ- ees or the consumer. I believe there would be no difference in the Union monopolizing the human resources of an industry than there would be a petroleum products company monopolizing the oil industry. The raiding tactics of the CPU disrupts Union representatives from devoting their time to where it should be--formulating an agenda for negotiating a new col- lective agreement. Raiding is not in the best interest of the Canadian workers. The CPU are not true union- ists, but pretend to be the savior of the Canadian worker. They wrap themselves in the Canadian flag and attempt to make a mem- ber of an International Union less of a Canadian because of their affiliation. Believe me, I am as much of a Canadian as any CPU member. People who are intimi- dated by this tactic often ignore become complacent; things are running too smooth; and as a result, they are uninvolved with likely the most important part of their working lives. How many times have you heard the ques- tion,"What has the union done for me?" Usually, this individual has a boat, camper, new house fur- nished to the nines, an ATV, a truck and car, snowmachine, and kids who are dressed in the latest fashions. They don't have to hold two or three jobs to make ends meet. If, by chance, this employ- ee does work overtime to pay for his next order to Cabela's (anoth- er good Canadian company), he thanked the Company for the meal tickets and premium time his foreman gave him. These people should work for a nonunion employer, then they may be able to answer that partic- ular question. The representation that mem- bers of the United Paperworkers International Union (UPIU) receive is excellent. Your repre- sentative is only a phone call away. The professional help from our International headquarters is the same. Our Canadian locals continually use the Pensions and Benefits Director for pension negotiations, etc. We use the legal department which also has a Canadian lawyer at its disposal, we use our Education Director who is just as fluent in Canadian labour law as he is in the U.S. These people assist us to educate our executives and shop stewards. In addition, we have the support of some 225,000 members of the UPIU in the U.S. and Canada, not just 70,000 Canadian members. the majority of the pulp and paper companies are American-based (Boise-Cascade, James-River, Kimberly-Clark, Stone Container, Georgia Pacific, only to. mention a few). As a member of UPIU, I have the ability to get all first-hand information on any of these com- panies by picking up the tele- phone and calling headquarters. In addition, we are able to attend councils annually such as the Boise Council, the Kimberly- Clark Council, the James-River Council, at which there are groups of UPIU local representa- tives who have the same employ- er and can discuss business directly related to your particular Company. In 1987 after we lost Local 228 to the CPU by one vote, I invited Jack Monroe, President of the International Woodworkers of America ([WA), to Terrace Bay to talk to our local executive regard- ing raiding. Because I was an International Representative prior to this meeting, I also was aware of the cost to the International to support six unions in Canada. I felt I could give UPIU President Wayne Glenn and the Executive Board a means to resolve this economic problem. Mr. Monroe indicated to me that their Union did not raid but would be willing to discuss the possible merger with President Glenn. Wayne Glenn indicated to Jack Monroe that as long as there was one UPIU in Canada, he would repre- sent that local to the fullest. Asa result, this ended the talks and is certainly an indication of the ded- ication of our President and the Executive Board members. Mergers are approved by the CLC, not raiding. Since that time, we attended an international convention where we agreed to add one more representative to service and organize the Candian workers. this was supported unanimously by 2,500 delegated. I must say that this was a very proud day for the Canadian dele- gates seated at the convention. In 1987, in Thunder Bay and Fort Frances while I was the International Representative for UPIU, I was approached by paid CPU national representatives to raid my own members and, for this, I would be guaranteed a job with the CPU. This is the "back- door" approach so typical of the CPU leadership. The CPu holds, in its defense, a 1974 letter writ- ten by then UPIU President Tonelli stating he would not stand in the way of the Canadian people who wanted to separate and become the CPU. This letter was written prior to separation and was intended for that particular Jurpose as was, too, the ruling of Mr. Goldberg, the CLC's impar- tial umpire in 1987, after charges were laid against the CPU for raiding Local 228 in Thorold, Ontario. Yet, they continue to use these false statements to disrupt the UPIU membership. They even use these false statements to disrupt the UPIU membership. They even go as far as placing full-ads in newspapers, encourag- ing our membership to "get. the facts" by contacting a CPU orga- nizer. What facts are they get- ting? Why are the CPU viewed by over a dozen locals in the Thunder Bay area as unwanted trade unionists? Is it truly unfortunate that the labour movement is tarnished by raiding activities which are taking place across the country. The labour movement is blamed for enough wrongdoing without aid- ing anti-union groups to destroy our credibility. In 1987, the CPU encouraged the Lumber & Sawmill Workers Union (LSWU) to come to the house of labour for at that time they belonged to the Carpenters Union who also then were affili- ated with the- Canadian Federation of Labour. Since that time, the LSWU have merged with the IWA and the Carpenters have reaffiliated themselves with CLC. If the CPU want to use the CLC.to boost their disorganizing campaign, why don't they follow the rules set by the House of Labour that they are so proudly affiliated to? As far as strikes are concerned, many locals have been fortunate not to have to strike in order to achieve a negotiated settlement but not all of us are that fortunate. To say the UPIU doesn't strike would by ludicrous. As a last resort, a strike may be inevitable in order to achieve what we feel we deserve with our employer. Our decision to use this measure, however, will come from the membership once we reach an impass with our Company. We will not assess our members in the advent of a strike with a guar- antee of greater strike pay. We may, however, ask non-striking locals to support striking mem- bers as we have done in the past. Economic strikes should not be planned, rather a settlement should be the intent to collective bargaining. If a strike occurs, it will be because of reasons incurred during the negotiating process and viewed as serious enough by the members to vote in favor of strike action. The CPU, in the past, have been known not to achieve strike action by the process I have just explained, In conclusion, the CPU claim that members of the UPIU have called on them to represent them or to raid the UPIU locals. I can honestly say that I have had calls from Domtar members in Red Rock, Canadian Pacific Forest Products in Thunder Bay, Abitibi members in a number of loca- tions, including Quebec, only to mention a few. The UPIU have indicated to these individuals that although we are interested in their problems, we do not condone raiding as it is in violation of the beliefs of organized labour. Our efforts have been directed to attempting to organize the unor- ganized as a means to increase the income at headquarters. How much does it cost to have "disorganizers" live in hotels, eat in restaurants, and entertain those who visit for weeks on end, and continue paying their wages? In the long run, who will it benefit? The members they have raided whose local union account may have been put in trusteeship? If they are successful, what have they guaranteed? They guarantee that your present contract will be in effect until a new one has been negotiated. What have the CPU gained in Fort Frances and Georgetowni? The only thing benefitted from all of this is that the CPU have gained more in terms of union dues. By the way, ask a CPU member what he pays sin dues Over a one year period. Ask a CPU member what he gets that is different than what you now get. It's time that Unions get down to business and do what they are supposed to do--represent their members and organize the unor- ganized. If a particular local Union is dissatisfied with the rep- resentation it is getting from its governing body, there are means through the CLC to decertify. properly and in an orderly fash- ion. Raiding defaces what the labour movement in Canada is all about! Frank Hurley Heirloom the fact that their pay cheques may come from an international or multinational corporation. Should this make you feel less Canadian? Of course not! The time is right, however, for those Union who are flag wavers. Local membership does not attend union meetings; they have SCHREIBER-TERRACE BAY COMMUNITY FUTURES ORGANIZATION ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING to be held Thursday May 30, 1990, at 7p.m., in the Conference Room of the Terrace Bay Recreation Centre. Agenda to Include: * Minutes of Annual General Meeting, 1989 * Audit * Chairperson's Annual Report * Installation of New Committee Members * Old Business * New Business $14.95 plus $2.00 sitting fee. 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