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About Vernonia eagle. (Vernonia, Or.) 1922-1974 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 29, 1939)
PAGE EIGHT FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 1939 VERNONIA, COLUMBIA COUNTY, OREGON Due to numerous rumors and considerable misinformation regarding the present labor situation in VERNONIA, we deem it essential for our own good and your own good to place the facts directly before you. In order to do this it becomes necessary to take you back to the year of 1937 at which time we were chartered by the “Carpenters and Joiners of America,” an American Federation of Labor Affiliate. The value we received from that “AFFILIATION” was not sufficient to keep us intact and after several meetings and considerable discussion, it was decided by REFERENDUM VOTE to form our own, “INTERNATIONAL,” which is now known as the “INTERNATIONAL WOODWORKERS OF AMERICA,” the (IWA), affiliated with the Congress of Industrial Organizations. This REFERENDUM VOTE was held Wednesday, June 30; Thursday, July 1; Fri day, July 2, and Saturday, July 3 of 1937, and during these dates all members of our local in good standing had the right to vote. An OVER-WHELMING MAJORITY approved the change that was made at that time. A SPECIAL MEETING 1250 Was called for the evening of August 19, 1937, for the purpose of installing the NEW I.W.A. Charter. Membership in the Vernonia Local at that time was approximately However, 16 of these members walked out of the hall, and ever since have been the cause of dissension among the workers in this locality. In the past 25 MONTHS we have used every possible means to appease and bring back into our organization these men. . Our organization is a DEMOCRATIC ONE as the following facts will reveal:— , ONE—Five members can petition the President for a special meeting and it must be called. TWO—All officers of our International, District Council and Local Unions are elected by SECRET BALLOT with all members in good stand ing having the opportunity to vote. THREE—All actions of our officials are subject to the approval of the rank and file. FOUR—No member is denied the privilege of FREE SPEECH. * FIVE—All meetings are conducted under Roberts Rules of Order. (These rules are used by the Congress of the United States of America.) • NOW At the meeting of LOCAL NO. 37 on the evening of September 7, 1939, the question of correcting this dissension was discussed. It was decided that a specially advertised meeting would be held on the evening of September 14th to consider t his matter. At the September 14th meeting the membership of Local No. 37 voted by a FOUR TO ONE MAJORITY to take steps to correct this un bearable situation. A letter making known the decision of this loca 1 was sent to every member of this minority group. Some of the men of this minority group refused to r espond, so the mandate of Local No. 37 was carried out. On the morning of September 25, 1939, the me mbers of Local No. 37 working at the Oregon- American Mill refused to work with the men in this minority group until such time as satisfactory results were brought about. All That Is Demanded Is a Correction of This Condition LOCAL NO. 37, which is the BARGAINING AGENT AT THE OREGON-AMERICAN MILL MAINTAINS THAT IT HAS NOT VIOLATED the contract which is in existence between the Union and the Company. The following operations are working with 100 per cent I W A CREWS OREGON-AMERICAN CAMP SUNSET LOGGING COMPANY CLARK & WILSON LOGGING CO “DOC” JONES LOGGING OPERATIONS BENNETTS MILL WE EXTEND TO ALL WORKERS In the Lumbering Industry in the Jurisdiction of Local No. 37 an Invitation to ecome Members of Our Union PRESS COMMITTEE LOCAL NO. 37, I. W. A.
