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BC Carpenters Union
Union Carpenters confirm their commitment to democracy

At the 61st Convention of the BC Provincial Council of Carpenters held in Vancouver, November 25 to 27, nearly 100 delegates and alternates from Local unions around the province resoundingly upheld recent efforts to complete wresting control of their organization away from the International Union in Washington, DC, and reaffirmed their faith in the leadership of Len Embree, re-electing him President for another three-year term.

Council President Len Embree outlined the challenges still facing the British Columbia membership, especially in the face of raids being mounted by the �International� � the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America � against BC Local Unions, and promised that the BC Carpenters Union will remain united on the issue of autonomy. �It�s time to finish the job and rebuild our union the Canadian way,� he told the convention. �We will remain united on the issue of maintaining our autonomy.�

John Davies, President of the Vancouver and Lower Mainland District Council and chair of the Carpentry Workers� Benefit & Pension Plans, said, �Our continuing fight for democracy�is the defining issue� within the union. �This fight must be continued until it is completely and unequivocally won,� he concluded.

Communications Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada President Brian Payne, pledging his support and recognizing the partnership of the BC Carpenters and CEP, said, �Together we have made a Canadian home for the members of this proud organization though they be carpenters, millwrights shipyard or industrial workers or school board employees. Therefore, an attack on the BC Provincial Council of Carpenters or any of its Local Unions is an attack on the CEP.� He then presented the convention with a framed copy of the Construction Maintenance and Allied Workers charter authorizing affiliation to the CEP.

Vancouver City Councillor Raymond Louie, recognizing the people who actually built the city, said, �It is far too often that politicians step right over the workers on their way to lunch with the bosses.� He declared that a presentation made to the COPE led City Council by Carpenter Representative Jan Noster prompted an amendment to the Woodwards� Project that �in essence will require the developer to build it union.�

The convention bid a fond adieu to longtime Secretary-Treasurer David Flynn, who stepped down from his post to concentrate his efforts on keeping his acute myeloid leukemia in remission. Flynn commented, �It has been an honour and a privilege over the last twenty years to serve the members of this union. I�m going to miss you but I will be around.�

Elected to a three-year term of office were: President, Len Embree; Secretary-Treasurer, Pat Haggarty; First Vice-President, Tony Heisterkamp.

According to Embree, the election of himself as President and Pat Haggarty as Secretary-Treasurer, �is a clear message that we intend to finalize the struggle for autonomy.�

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