Labour Activism History: Textual Records

An excerpt of the 1946 IWA publication Proceedings: Ninth Annual Convention , including the cover and pages 31, 32 and 33. These pages cover the end of a discussion concerning budgeting for union members' medical bills, the entirety of resolution no. 1, where Darshan Singh discusses the impact that the ongoing Chinese Civil War is having on North American Trade and advocates for the protest… more

An excerpt of the 1944 IWA publication Proceedings of the Eighth Constitutional Convention , including the cover and pages 56, 57 and 58. Over these pages, an uniedentified union member raises his concern regarding members of the Communist Party who also hold union membership, whom he believes are out to subvert the union and use their meetings as covert recruitment venues. In response, a Union… more

An excerpt of the 1944 IWA publication Proceedings: Seventh Annual Convention , including the cover and pages 17, 52 and 53. Page 17 includes resolutions 17 through 20, with the focus being No. 18, where Darshan Singh advocates for adding the phrase "Anti-Fascist National Government" to a resolution concerning the government of India. Resolution No. 18 is revisited on pages 52 through… more

An excerpt from a printed document, possibly IWA's 1946 publication Proceedings: Ninth Annual Convention , including pages 60, 61, 62 and 63. These pages primarily cover resolution No. 17, concerning the treatment of Black IWA delegates who were denied access to proper rooms in various Vancouver hotels and instead sequestered into cramped and substandard lodgings. The discussion of this… more

A three-page missive written in blue pen cursive on notebook paper. The missive is credited to G. Brawn and concerns an address by Trustee Darshan Singh to the IWA. Singh provides context for the union's objectives, alluding to the Haymarket Riot of 1886. Singh presents two conclusions regarding the Union's desire for "peace and prosperity". One is that this desire is in… more

Front page of the April, 1979 issue of the IWA publication Green Gold News . One of the headlining stories covers the recent appointment of Bill Hutchison and Surinder Malhotra to the Local Union's Executive Board on March 12th, 1979. Another headline advocates for union members to vote for the New Democratic party in the upcoming Provinicial election. Further down the page, an article… more

Front page of the December, 1979 issue of the IWA publication Green Gold News . One of the headlining stories covers a recent negotiation of pay rate determination, and includes a photo of union representative Surinder Malhotra conferring with Empire Lumber's plant chairman Hari Bhatti. more

The front page of the November 4th, 1946 issue of the IWA publication The B.C. Lumber Worker . This page includes an article written by IWA Trustee Darshan Singh covering Alberta's woodworking industry. Singh's article recounts efforts by the IWA to establish itself in Alberta and incorporate Albertan woodworkers, and describes the conditions workers face in Albertan lumber camps as… more

The front page of the June, 1985 issue of the IWA publication Green Gold News. The headliner covers a recent gaffe by the B.C. Minister of Forests, who failed to provide correct answers to a surprise quiz about B.C.'s forestry industry issued to them by the NDP. The article then includes the quiz itself, continuing onto the next page. The front page also includes the beginning of an article… more

An excerpt of a publication, possibly an issue of Green Gold News , outlining the IWA's 1975 contract demands. This page includes clauses 4 through 27, covering demands pertaining to work hours, wages, health benefits, workplace equipment and hiring practices. more

A two-page leaflet providing information on an IWA Local 1-357 election. The bulk of the written text is in Punjabi. The leaflet appears to provide voting instructions and a list of the candidates' names rendered in Punjabi. more

A three-page leaflet from the IWA Local 1-357's "357 for Change" campaign. The leaflet outlines the candidates' grievances with present Union leadership and the issues they are prepared to act upon. The leaflet concludes with photos and brief profiles of the campaign's candidates for each union leadership position. more

Two pages of the June 8th, 1946 issue of the IWA publication The B.C. Lumber Worker , including the front page and page 4. These pages include coverage of the British Columbia Woodworker's Strike which ran from May 15th to June 20th 1946. more

Front page of the April, 1975 issue of the IWA publication Green Gold News . The headlining story concerns an ongoing conflict with another union. At the Canadian Cellulose Company's Sawmill in Terrace, B.C., the PPWC (Pulp, Paper and Woodworkers of Canada) staged a "raid" where they attempted to convince a majority of the mill's employees to sign up for their union instead of… more

Front page of the May, 1978 issue of the IWA publication Green Gold News . The headlining story concerns a settlement between Ranjit Bhatti and his employer, Empire Lumber. Bhatti's grievances with the company were over two suspensions, one for refusal of a work order and one for his insistence on bringing a kirpan to his workplace. Bhatti would eventually recieve pay equal to the duration… more

Page 5 of the November 1st, 1943 issue of the IWA publication The B.C. Lumber Worker . This page includes an article covering the accomplishments of South Asian workers in a Youbou Sawmill, which the article identifies as the first group of Asian workers in said mill to be one-hundred percent unionized. Through organization, they were able to achieve equal pay and improved living standards.

The front page of the December 16th, 1946 issue of the IWA publication The B.C. Lumber Worker . The front page features an illustration of two lumber workers shaking hands over the IWA logo, and includes a "Seasons Greetings" message rendered in French, English, Swedish, Punjabi, Ukranian, and Chinese. more

Two pages of the March 8th, 1943 issue of the IWA publication The B.C. Lumber Worker , including the front page and page 3. The third page includes a story covering the efforts of Indian and Chinese workers at the Youbou Sawmill to attain equal pay for their work. Also mentioned is their endorsement of the plea for Ghandi's release from prison and for the granting of self-government to the… more

Two pages of the July 12th, 1943 issue of the IWA publication The B.C. Lumber Worker , including pages 3 and 6. Page 3 includes a brief article covering a gathering of Sikhs at the town of Paldi, B.C. Page 6 includes an article covering the continuing fight for equal pay among Youbou labourers, which is accompanied by a statement regarding Youbou wages rendered in Chinese and in Hindi.