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October 2003 On the Level
Spotlight on organizing by Josh Coles, provincial organizer
When the International commanded in 1996 that we restructure our union to their 33 bylaws they said it was for the good of the Brotherhood. They said that centralizing power to Washington, DC was the only way for the whole International to organize new members, including Canadians. But they did not and still have not, allowed us a chance to vote on those bylaw proposals. Even though their proposals would have fired our elected Business Agents, altered our dues structures, removed our Pension trustees, and canned our Presidents and Executives � they said we were not allowed to vote on their �great idea.�

Restructuring is good for organizing, they say repeatedly, so you do not get a right to vote on the deal. But restructuring has been a disaster for organizing in nearly all areas where the International has taken over in Canada.

According to their own reporting of membership levels to the Canadian Labour Congress, the International now only has 26, 000 members in Canada, compared to over 50,000 in 1996. And that includes BC. In Canada, the International has fewer members now than when they started restructuring. This proves at least one thing: American unions cannot, and should not, organize Canadian workers.

Canadians need to talk to Canadians about unions. We do not need the American government, American corporations, or our American parent union, the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America telling us how to talk to each other. The International�s plummeting membership numbers in Canada are unfortunate, but understandable.

American control of our union will not help organizing. For once and for all we need to build our union in BC, for British Columbians.

The current referendum is about protecting our sovereignty as Canadians. It is about protecting our union from American politics and American economics.

If we are serious about organizing and building our union, then lets find the answers within ourselves and not in a foreign land. Let build our province, our country and our union�our way.

I am voting Yes for Canadian autonomy because I am Canadian.



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