At right, catching up on news from left are: Robert Bunis, Ottawa 588M; International Pres. James J. Norton; St. John's 441S Pres. Rod Noseworthy; and Halifax 506M Pres. Darrel G. Elliott.

Interwoven discussions on organizing, contract negotiations and settlements, health and safety, union education, and political action topped business and workshops at the 3rd Annual Canadian Joint Conference of the GCIU.

The conference, which was hosted by Edmonton 255C, combines delegates from the Canadian Conference of the GCIU and the Canadian Federation and Specialty Conference. Co-chairing the joint meeting were GCIU Vice Pres. James J. Cowan, who leads the Canadian Conference, and Toronto 100M Secy.-Treas. and General Board Member George Novak, who leads the Federation and Specialty Conference.

Delegates to the conference reported an increase in organizing activity that appeared to stem from a growing interest among workers in Canada to enjoy the benefits and protections of a collective bargaining agreement. In local reports, they called for stepped-up efforts to organize at both the local and International union levels.

In an address to the conference, Alberta Federation of Labour Pres. Audrey M. Cormack urged delegates to be politically active. She pointed to the Conservatives' decimation of the worker compensation system in Alberta as proof of the damage that an anti-worker political agenda can cause.

At the Canadian Joint Conference in Edmonton, from left, are: Nassau County 406C Pres. George Tedeschi; Toronto 100M Secy.-Treas. George Novak, conference co-chair; and Montreal 41M Pres. Michel Cote.

GCIU Canadian Organizing Coordinator Duncan K. Brown and GCIU Rep. Alan M. Tate lead a workshop using the new steward handbook they developed. From left are Brown, Tate, Vice Pres. Glenn Turner and Secy.-Treas. Paul Buchanan of Edmonton 255C.

Pres. Ray Wade, right, of Edmonton 255C, which hosted the conference, welcomes GCIU Vice Pres. James J. Cowan, center, and Toronto 500M Executive Vice Pres. Frank O'Reilly.

Noting that workplace deaths in Alberta are at the highest level since records have been kept, Cormack said that "without doubt, workplace safety in Alberta has deteriorated to the point of crisis." Unions have been frustrated by the lack of pro-worker action by the Tory government of Premier Ralph Klein, she said, adding: "There are times when we need to take our issues to the street."

Cormack praised the "street" action by Brad Tilley, the former president of Calgary 34M and now an Edmonton 255C member who was severely injured while operating a press. Turned down for worker compensation, Tilley and his wife Betty joined other workplace accident victims in protest demonstrations.

Delegates at the joint conference and at the meeting of the Federation and Specialty Conference raised more than $3,000 to help Local 255C with its $10,000 in legal fees related to Tilley's accident.

Local 255C Pres. Ray Wade noted that Tilley's situation underscores the need to change the worker compensation system. "It's time for groups like this to talk about what we do about the Workers Compensation Board," he said.

Delegates to both GCIU conferences in Canada continued to work on plans to merge into one conference. Cowan and Novak said they hope to present the merger proposal for a vote by delegates at a joint meeting in the spring.

In workshops, GCIU Canadian Organizing Coordinator Duncan K. Brown and GCIU Rep. Alan M. Tate led delegates through a series of exercises on union education and new member orientation and introduced the new steward handbook they developed in coordination with the Canadian Labour Congress.

Toronto 100M Health and Safety Coordinator Dan Huziak led a workshop designed to increase awareness about cancer hazards in GCIU shops related to exposure to cancer-causing chemicals.

In addition to reports on local union activities, delegates received reports from International officers and candidates for the upcoming GCIU elections.

At a reception during the conference, delegates surprised Frank Barbour with a presentation honoring his two decades of service as an International representative and his 30 years of union activism. At the reception and from the conference floor, local leaders praised Barbour, who retired in April, for his contributions to organizing campaigns, contract negotiations, and with solutions for day-to-day problems.