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Communist Party of Canada Depressions--1929--British Columbia
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John Kelly interview

PERIOD COVERED: ;1929;-;1953 RECORDED: Castlegar (B.C.), 1983-06-11 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Where the International Union of Mine, Mill and Smelter Worker's Union came from. Birth date. Work on provincial relief road camp. Worked in federal relief camp. Anecdote about a relief camp strike and march into Nelson. More relief camp strike. Dealing with police; end of strike. Relief camp conditions; clothing; another walk out and arrest of men. Reasons for protests. Communist in relief camps; beginning of 15 and 5 at Cominco. WWII gearing up in 1934 and Cominco hires over 1000 people. Kelly gets elected to Workmen's Cooperative Committee; Kelly's feelings about workmen's Cooperative Committee; why Kelly joined the committee. TRACK 2: Kelly was on Workmen's Committee when CIO started to organize. Cominco was short of workers during war - explaining how Workmen's Committee worked . Workmen's Committee grievance anecdote. Workmen's Committee asks for raise and gets turned down. Explanation of wage structure and Cominco. Blaylock's philosophy of wages. Kelly goes too war. Demobilized in Vancouver in 1946. Reason Kelly joins TUMMSW; soon elected to shop steward. Steelworkers raid IUMMSW; raid lasts for three years; jurisdiction vote in 1953 which Mine/Mill wins.

Myrtle Bergren interview

CALL NUMBER: T3602:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Myrtle Bergren : working to build the IWA -- a staff person remembers RECORDED: Nanaimo (B.C.), 1979-06-28 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mrs. Bergren was born in England, coming to Canada in 1925 when her family came to farm in the Okanagan where they lived through the Depression. She left school at 13, working for fifteen cents a day on an asparagus farm. Later she worked at housework for ten dollars a month until 1939, when she worked in a bakeshop, attending stenography classes in the morning. She then worked at the Kelowna Courier for sixty-five dollars a month, moving on to the Princeton courthouse as a stenographer. There she joined the Civil Servants' Association, despite the anti-union atmosphere in her office and her own mistrust of unions. She spent two years in the air force during the war and in 1946 was offered a job with the International Woodworkers of America at thirty-five dollars a week, which she accepted. Her attitudes towards unions changed rapidly, and she became a strong union militant when she saw unions in the context of class society. She also joined the Communist Party. She worked for the IWA until the split in 1948. She studied with Becky Huhay about the role of women in society. TRACK 2: She married Hjlamer Bergren, an organiser for the IWA, moved with him to Lake Cowichan in 1946, and worked with the Women's Auxiliary there. In 1948, the IWA leadership led a split and formed the Woodworkers Industrial Union of Canada, a Canadian union. The Bergrens had relocated in Vancouver, but now returned to Lake Cowichan where they organised for the WIUC, and their house became the centre of union activity in the area until the dissolution of the WIUC. Women played a major role in many of the union's activities, including the 1946 march to Victoria during the strike. CALL NUMBER: T3602:0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Myrtle Bergren : working to build the IWA -- a staff person remembers [continued] RECORDED: Nanaimo (B.C.), 1979-06-28 SUMMARY: TRACK 2: Mrs. Bergren lent a hand in organising for the United Packinghouse Workers of America in her native Okanagan in 1946. She also wrote "Tough Timber", about the early organisation of the IWA, as well as many short stories.

Nels Bystrom interview

CALL NUMBER: T4135:0010 PERIOD COVERED: 1911-1929 RECORDED: Castlegar (B.C.), 1983-11-07 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Biographical information; father's first trip to Canada; father returns to Sweden during First World War; borrowed money to return to Canada in 1925; logging in Nelson; mother and brothers come to Canada; four days on immigrant train; father borrows money from the CPR to bring him over; route to Canada; immigrant trains; anecdote about trip; life in Sweden; logging in Sweden; anecdote about work; pay in Sweden; unions; workers; paper; union raiding; working for father on Silver King Mountain; driving horses; cut cedar poles and white pine for Mathes; prices and wages in 1928; anecdote; about supplying mine; anecdote about operation of mine; anecdote about supplying mine; anecdote about Eagan's eyeglasses; crew at mine; location and name; camp at Cahill Lake; anecdote about working log deck; anecdote about brutal foreman; camp conditions; wages and costs; flume to Slocan Lake; flume construction; ice chute for log; anecdote about brother's logging accident and hospitalization; compensation; brother loses leg; brother's life after accident; brother's life and family; father and Bystrom, piling lumber at Six Mile Lake, quit over pay dispute; Cotton Logging Company job above Boswell; tools for fallers; piecework cutting cedar poles; peeling poles; camp at Boswell, hot water, sinks. CALL NUMBER: T4135:0011 PERIOD COVERED: 1928-1935 RECORDED: Castlegar (B.C.), 1983-11-07 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Camp at Boswell; hot water tanks; camp quality; anecdote about cork boots; work hours; anecdote about hard worker; recreation in camps; stock crash of 1929; logging camps close; anecdote about trying for job outside of Castlegar; room and board; logging in Princeton; riding freight train to Vancouver; unemployment in Vancouver; hobos on train; freight train to Castlegar; CPR police; walking from Castlegar to Nelson; working in mine; packing equipment in; miners' candlestick; anecdote about packing steel out; father on relief; mother cutting wood; farm produce; homemade pipe boring machine; making pipes. TRACK 2: Wrapping pipe with wire; economics of pipe sales; homemade sawmill; Kootenay Landing; Proctor railroad; anecdote about poor wages; hand drilling for blasting; anecdote about diarrhea in camp; anecdote about driving to Hidden Creek; lived in trapper's cabin; anecdote about boss tricking them into working; work at China creek relief camp; work conditions at camp; anecdote about man being kicked out of camp and him leaving; people in camp; Willow Point relief work; prospectors classes and grubsteak relief program; groceries for a month; three weeks prospecting in Slocan area; came back for groceries; CMS called him to go to work --started June 27, 1934 in lead refinery; work hours; lead explosion; conditions in refinery; open transfer (fired) from refinery; labour gang; anecdote about Joe Fillapelli. CALL NUMBER: T4135:0012 PERIOD COVERED: 1934-1972 RECORDED: Castlegar (B.C.), 1983-11-07 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Anecdote about Joe Fillapelli; "barring down" the lead furnaces; anecdote about "safety first man"; construction with molten slag; lead contract; leaded work conditions; scrap yard; cutting shears; operation; meets wife; sick and crippled people in scrap yard; anecdote about quitting scrap yard; worked storage plant in Warfield until his retirement in 1972; 1942 work on Brilliant dam; work conditions on dam; anecdote about unloading cement; bicycling to work; contract system in storage plant; became shop steward; Castlegar board member; union split; reasons for not joining steel; Al King president; elected to convention in Olympia, Washington, barred from crossing into the U.S.; steelworkers and barring. TRACK 2: Stopped at border; Bert Herridge; anecdote about Herridge getting his border crossing privileges back; member of CCF; quit CCF because it was the political arm of the United Steelworkers Union; Murphy in Communist Party; met lots of Communist Party members; good men; approached to join the CP by Art Erins and Garfield Belenger; reminiscences about Belenger; anecdote about Harvey Murphy; benevolent society and six weeks of Murphy tries for better sick pay; vesting rights to pensions; 1940, moves to Castlegar; fresh air; terms and prices for lots; credit for lumber; built 14 x 20 shack; West owned water system; old lumber for new house; anecdote about pouring foundation; constructs an apartment building; layout of apartment building; sold apartments after he retired; present house bought as a kit from Vancouver; construction of house; contents of kit; agent helped assemble house; framed by nightfall; cost of kit. CALL NUMBER: T4135:0013 RECORDED: Castlegar (B.C.), 1983-11-07 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Food co-op; Sam Muirhead's idea; war rationed items were kept for storekeeper's friends; sold shares at 50 dollars each; bought three lots in Castlegar; lots cleared and building put up on volunteer basis; Cominco employees had two transportation societies; had garage by theatre; food co-op hired Walter Markin as first manager; later co-op in Vancouver recommended Jack Kirby for Manager; Kirby anti-union; first president was Muirhead; second was Bystrom; last president was Dalziel; co-op folded, Kirby fired, co-op liquidated; co-op expansion plans rejected; first co-op operated from his back porch; operations from porch; Transportation Society builds new building; operation of Transportation Society; NDP membership; anecdote about rejoining CCF-NDP; rejoined after merger with Steel; Columbo Lodge Hall meeting of Mine/Mill members where Murphy explained merger.

Pat Romaine interview

CALL NUMBER: T4101:0005 PERIOD COVERED: 1935-1983 RECORDED: Castlegar (B.C.), 1983-06-29 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Born 27 Aug 1914 in Nelson. Started work at Cominco in 1935 on labour gang. Company had lots of employee programs. No security. Pension plan. Fee milk; free seed potatoes. Work wasn't hard; heat, dust, fumes were bad. Company store; Cominco dairy. No security that benefits would stay. Wages fluctuated monthly. Efficiency bonus fluctuated without regard to anything. Fear of joining union and being fired. Evans faced a lot of difficulties getting union organised. Evans red-baited. Evans tried to break fear and intimidation. Romaine believed in preamble to IYUMMSW constitution. Joined union for health and wages. Men talked about union before. Talked of fear amongst workers. Organizing on the job. Fear was rampant. Whole way of life threatened. Very grassroots. Organising in IUMMSW. Physical description of Slim Evans. Singed into union #12; was scared he would get fired. Man in his department was fired for organising on the job. TRACK 2: Evans had a good sense of humour. Evans tells funny story of S.G. Blaylock. Trail Ad News only place to print union bulletins. Evans car destroyed. Workmen's Committee elections were influenced by company. Funny story about running a plumbers helper in election. Union dues were strictly voluntary in the beginning. Dues were half days wages. First contract provision. Straw bosses could fire without cause before contract. Company cut hours of work during Depression to ¾ time. "Pie Time" [i.e., coffee breaks] not recognized by company. Anecdote about pie time and war bond drive. CALL NUMBER: T4101:0006 PERIOD COVERED: 1940-1983 RECORDED: Castlegar (B.C.), 1983-06-29 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Anecdote about pie-time and war bond drive. Belenger was fired for passing out leaflets. CIO was organiser. CIO and its successes help the union organise. Romaine's philosophy of history. [T;RACK 2: blank.]

Ralph Hyssop interview

CALL NUMBER: T4101:0022 PERIOD COVERED: 1927-1945 RECORDED: Nelson (B.C.), 1983-10-19 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Biographical information. Coalhurst Altain 1927. United Mineworkers of Canada and Harvey Murphy. Executive jailed. President's name was Sloan. UMWC breakaway from American union. Worker's unity league. A.E. Smith from Nelson was prominent communist. Early union activities. United Mine Workers of America too over UMSC. Lost 3 brothers and father-in-law in mine explosion in 1935. Mines shut down in late 1929. Worked one day a week in 1930. Moved to Kimberly in 1931. Signs up in prairies saying, "Stay Away from Trail". City of Lethbridge paid to move his family to Kimberly to get them off relief. Elected to WCC. Hardrock mining less dangerous that coal mining. Union activity during the Depression. Met secretary and president of 1917 strike. Workmen's cooperative committee. WCC members always got promoted WCC destroyed. Members destroy WCC. Company refused to recognize Silicosis. "No Silicosis in Sullivan Mine" Meeting with Blaylock, Mr. Prince (IUMMSW) had an office in Vancouver in the late 1930's. Arthur Evans in Kimberly. Contacting Mr. Price. United for a complete defeat of fascism. All union members were Progressive. Evans holds open air meetings in Kimberly. No independent unions in Kimberly. Organised in units of five. Sit down strike in Bralorne and Pioneer. Kimberly raised money for them before they were certified. [TRACK 2: blank.] CALL NUMBER: T4101:0023 RECORDED: Nelson (B.C.), 1983-10-19 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: First bargaining with Blaylock. First contract. Anecdote about Murphy. Negotiating with Blaylock. WCS negotiations. OBU property in Kimberly. 1917 strike with Cominco. CMS officials with guns. Blaylock threatens Fred Henne. Fred Henne as organiser. Henne was a gambler. Henne blamed Drake for everything. John (Noisy) McPeake machinist on the hill. Loud talker. Reminiscences about Murphy. Born in Paris Ontario. Had a heart condition. Hard workers for CP. Anecdote about Murphy speaking. Murphy refused entry to BC. Murphy had to cataract operations. Coal miners to go to Moscow. Murphy fear CMS. Suspicions about Murphy. Bob Kever. Reid Robinson taking bribes. Bob Kever president of Labour Council. Garfield Belenger hard worker. John Osborne, Murphy and him on payroll. LPP members used him. [TRACK 2: blank.]

Robert "Steve" Brodie interview : [Peter Robin, 1982]

CALL NUMBER: T3998:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Robert Steve Brodie RECORDED: Victoria (B.C.), 1982-11-05 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Robert "Steve" Brodie comments on protest marches during the Depression, including the Vancouver Post Office sit-down. 500 single unemployed travelled to Victoria on June 19, 1938. Recruiting extra Provincial Police to handle protest. Possibilities of action by single unemployed in Victoria at time of the Vancouver Post Office eviction. Reasons for Vancouver Post Office eviction of June 19, 1938. Communist Party of Canada and Post Office sitdowners. Relationship of Brodie to Communist Party. Infiltration of single unemployed by RCMP. Brodie's view of the law and the sitdowners. Brodie and Col. Hill, Sunday morning June 19, 1938. Single unemployed travelling to Victoria via Nanaimo. Victoria soup kitchen and abandoned hotels. Possible attempt to occupy Empress Hotel. Single unemployed move to Beacon Hill Park, then back to hotels. Philosophy of opposing bureaucracy. Thoughts on poverty. "Robin Hoodism" and the Communist Party. Anti-war feelings of the 1930s and the Bolshevik Revolution. "Class" in Canada. TRACK 2: Sitdowners after moving back to hotels. Colin Cameron's part in the settlement. Firefighting by the single unemployed. Christmas money earned by firefighting. Sabotage on the fireline. Attorney General Wismer's reaction. Newspaper views of the incident. Hutchinson and the Regina Riot (Detective Miller's death). Saskatoon Riot and Inspector Sampson. Civil service towns and single unemployed. Women's emergency committee. Dr. Mitchell and his wife. Business community appeals to Ottawa for works program. Doctors admit fake birth (death) certificates. Bridge River incident and birth fatality. Warden Owen of Oakalla jail. Police Chief Anderson of Kamloops and sick man.

CALL NUMBER: T3998:0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Robert Steve Brodie RECORDED: Victoria (B.C.), 1982-11-05 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Steve Brodie discusses the Vancouver law court procedure and the unemployed. Victoria police and the unemployed. Vancouver police expert in Communism. Vancouver lawyer, Adam Smith-Johnson. Trial of men after the Post Office eviction. Provincial rights of travelling unemployed. Scam on railway tickets. Agreement for single unemployed not to return to B.C. for a year. Smith Johnson again. Comments on: Rev. Bob Matheson, Rev. Clem Davis, Rev. Andy Roddan, and Harold Winch and the Art Gallery eviction. Brodie's theory of the cure for unemployment. Brodie and Bishop Sexton. Dean Whitlow preaching against the unemployed. Radio on the prairie -- church services. TRACK 2: Radio church services. Church aid and attitude to the unemployed. Archbishop Duke (R.C.). Comments by Duke, Roddan, and McIntyre and the reaction of the unemployed. Brodie's orange sweater. Single unemployed women. Block committees. Stealing milk for the baby. Evictions and block committee help. Story of Scottish lady's eviction and result. Single unemployed women. Failure to organise single unemployed women. Accusations of boy and girl found in a boxcar. Frozen transients in boxcar. Brodie's theories of economics and unemployment. Administration of Royal Twenty Cent-ers.

Sheldon Rogers interview

CALL NUMBER: T0091:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Sheldon Rogers : life of an independent man PERIOD COVERED: 1900-1920 RECORDED: Burnaby (B.C.), 1972-07-08 SUMMARY: Sheldon L. Rogers was born in 1900 and talks about his personal background, entering the workforce, and the various jobs he held, which include: railroad repair, farm work in Saskatchewan, and shipbuilding. During shipbuilding phase he became involved in union activity. Also mentions effects of WWI. CALL NUMBER: T0091:0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Sheldon Rogers : life of an independent man PERIOD COVERED: 1920-1940 RECORDED: Burnaby (B.C.), 1972-07-29 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Sheldon Rogers discusses bootlegging in Vancouver in the 1920s; growing fruit in the Okanagan; pay-offs and protection while bootlegging; more about fruit growing, other jobs in Vancouver, bootlegging trial, and a set of stolen tires. TRACK 2: He discusses jail experience; work in the Okanagan during the Depression and the relief workers' organization; the C.C.F. in the 1930s; work as a mechanic in Vancouver and the Automotive Maintenance Workers' Union; the end of the Depression. CALL NUMBER: T0091:0003 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Sheldon Rogers : life of an independent man PERIOD COVERED: 1940-1950 RECORDED: Burnaby (B.C.), 1972-08-01 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Sheldon Rogers describes job in Vancouver shipyard during WWII; talks about relations between the Communist Party (C.P.) and unions. Lost job due to pressure from Machinists Union. Talks about C.P. and the war effort. TRACK 2: Gets job as a mechanic in a logging camp until asked by C.P. to go work at Mission and do organizing work. Describes reasons for the Communist Party changing name to the Labour Progressive Party (L.P.P.). Gets expelled from C.P. Talks about failure of Canadian I.W.A. to break away from I.W.A. Gets job at logging camp at Pitt Lake and longshoring. CALL NUMBER: T0091:0004 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Sheldon Rogers : life of an independent man PERIOD COVERED: 1940-1967 RECORDED: Burnaby (B.C.), 1972-08-03 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Sheldon Rogers discusses union conventions and opposing groups within. Explains reasons for changing name from C.P. to L.P.P. Discusses situation surrounding his expulsion from C.P. Discusses failure of Canadian I.W.A. to break away from I.W.A. Describes work in logging camp in Seymour Inlet. TRACK 2: Describes work longshoring. Personal attitudes toward overtime and retirement.

Thomas S. Barnett interview

CALL NUMBER: T1360:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Childhood and Youth in Alberta and British Columbia : 1909-1928 PERIOD COVERED: 1909-1928 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1977 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Born in 1909 in Red Deer, Alberta. Family background. The Barnett family in Alberta. Barnett family move to Vancouver, 1918. Barnett's education. TRACK 2: Eyewitnesses description of the return of Canadian troops to Vancouver. Growing up in Genoa Bay, Vancouver Island. Politics in the Barnett family. Barnett's uncle Alfred Speakman an MP. Barnett completed high school in 1925. Mother sick in the Provincial Hospital at Marpole/Oakridge. Worked in sawmills, 1925-26. Barnett spent one year in California, 1926-27. Entered UBC, 1927. CALL NUMBER: T1360:0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): A young man's experiences in B.C. : 1925-1942 PERIOD COVERED: 1925-1942 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1977 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Barnett as a student at UBC after 1927. The strong influence of Barnett's mother. Also influenced by his high school teacher, Arnold Webster. Met J.S. Woodsworth in 1929 and favourably impressed. Barnett considers entering the ministry, c. 1931. Barnett to the Cariboo as a lay minister, 1933. Effects of the Depression on the Cariboo. Barnett decides against the ministry. Activities of the Student Christian Movement at UBC. TRACK 2: The intellectual climate of Vancouver and UBC in the 1930s. Barnett not a member of any party in the 1930s. Barnett in the Central Interior, 1933-42. Barnett attracted to the Social Credit movement in the 1930s. Barnett a supporter but not a member of the C.C.F. in the 1930s. Friend of C.C.F. MLA John McInnis. Editor of the Wells Chronicle during the 1930s. Barnett moves to Port Alberni in 1942. CALL NUMBER: T1360:0003 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): The I.W.A. in the 1940s PERIOD COVERED: 1932-1953 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1977 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Barnett's observations on B.C. politics in the 1930s. Personal impressions of T. "Duff" Pattullo. Barnett a school trustee in Wells, c. 1937-1940. The educational system in Wells in the late 1930s. More about the Liberal government of Pattullo. Moved to Port Alberni in 1942. Joined C.C.F., 1943. Joined I.W.A. and became active in the union. Also on the executive of Credit Union and consumer co-op. TRACK 2: Barnett's work history, 1942-53. Barnett's opposition to the communist control of the Port Alberni local and the B.C. region of the I.W.A. The "cell" operation of the Communist Party. Barnett instrumental in the formation of an anti-communist "counter-caucus" within the Port Alberni local. Barnett tried and acquitted within the union as a union disrupter, 1945. Barnett a candidate in the 1945 federal and provincial elections. More on the communist / non-communist struggle within the Port Alberni local. Barnett's fundamental opposition to "monolithic" communism. Critique of the Communist Party of Canada by Malcolm Bruce. The defeat of the communists in the I.W.A., 1948. CALL NUMBER: T1360:0004 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Federal politics in the 1940s and 1950s PERIOD COVERED: 1942-1957 RECORDED: [location unknown], 1977 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Communist leaders in Port Alberni: Alfred Dewhurst, Mark Mosher, Nigel Morgan. Communists not successful in infiltrating the C.C.F. in Port Alberni. Relations between the C.C.F. and the Communist Party. Most Scandinavians were social democrats. The 1945 federal election. A.W. Neill, the former member for Comox-Alberni. More on the 1945 federal election. Did not run in 1949. The Japanese-Canadians as an issue in the 1945 election. TRACK 2: More on Japanese-Canadians. The federal election of 1953: Barnett elected for the first time. Election night, 1953. Took leave of absence from his job at Tahsis Company immediately after election. Barnett's personal financial situation, 1953. Salaries of MPs. Barnett's first trip to Ottawa, 1953. Initial impressions of Ottawa. Getting used to Ottawa. CALL NUMBER: T1360:0005 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): (untitled) PERIOD COVERED: 1953-[no date] RECORDED: [location unknown], 1977 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Living arrangements in Ottawa: The Coburg Street Caucus. Introduction to the House of Commons. Parliamentary openings described. Throne Speech debate described. Barnett's maiden address. Parliamentary decorum in the 1950s. The issue of the recognition of the People's Republic of China. The Quebec "Independents". Barnett's seat in the House of Commons. The "lobbies" of the House of Commons. Informal co-operation between the parties. The development of "question period". TRACK 2: [blank?] (End of interview.)

William Campbell interview

CALL NUMBER: T4101:0014 PERIOD COVERED: 1925-1945 RECORDED: Glenmerry (B.C.), 1983-08-22 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Biographical information. Started work at Cominco in 1925. Elected to Workmen's Cooperative Committee in 1934. General member for six months, then elected to Secretary. Elected from lead burners. List of full time positions. Benefits of WCC for workers on the hill; pension, coal, wood, Christmas turkey and bonus. Anecdote about Christmas bonus. Dealing with men was hard. Company shares. Company financed housing scheme. Rules of WCC. WCC never had any serious complaints. Lead poisoning. Company farm. Dealing with Blaylock. Blaylock and power. Delegate to War Prices and Trade Board. Anecdote about Blaylock's power. WCC lobbies anti-company union bill. Women on hill during the war. CIO comes to Trail. Slim Evans. Harvey Murphy good organiser. Murphy a "red rabble rouser". Dollar a day and got rid of bonus system. Blaylock would have gotten rid of union if he had lived. Campbell talked to CIO in Seattle. Tried to organise for CIO before he was elected to WCC. WCC met on company time to organise against Mine/Mill. WCC formed ISWU. Secretary of ISWU. TRACK 2: WCC bulletins printed by Trail Ad News. The Ad News owned by Elmer Hall. Anecdote about Hall. Campbell saved Hall's life. WCC intervened if men were fired. WCC on wage raises. Blaylock hated unions so paid good wages. WCC sets up ISWU. Jointed Mine Mill after they were certified. How he was elected to WCC. Mine Mill members on WCC. Turnover causes WCC decline. Anecdote about Blaylock and working conditions. Coal committee. Blaylock and WCC. 1917 strike. Profit sharing. WCC beginnings. Wage board. CALL NUMBER: T4101:0015 PERIOD COVERED: 1927-1945 RECORDED: Glenmerry (B.C.), 1983-08-22 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Workmen's Cooperative Committee on company wage board. Pension calculations. His wages and bonus. Satisfaction of men. Murphy tried to recruit him. Bulletins and Murphy. Elmer Hall and editorial comment. WCC and community chest. Patriotic and welfare society give money for Croatian relief. Blaylock offers company lawyers. Steelworkers organising in 1950. Billingsley remembered well. John ;McPeak took over as organiser. Meetings in Trail with Bert Herridge. Tom Uphill from Fernie. WCC lobbies for liquor law change. Uphill praises WCC. WCC lobbies for Workmen's Compensation changes. Silicosis in mines. Benevolent society payments. WCC medical committee and company medical care. Company helped with hospital maintenance. Work hours before the Depression. single men's hours. Company town. Steady work. Holidays lost during the Depression. Company store and West Kootenay Power's medical plan. [TRACK 2: blank.]

William Elio Canuel interview

CALL NUMBER: T0004:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): William Elio Canuel discusses his role as a harbour union organizer PERIOD COVERED: 1917-1950 RECORDED: Coquitlam (B.C.), 1972-03-28 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: William Elio Canuel discusses coming to Maillardville in 1917. Working for Fraser Mills until 1931. Organizing workers into a union for better working conditions and wages. Relations with Oriental community. Impact of the Depression in 1930s. Union organizer Harold Pritchet. Fraser Mill's strike in 1931. Violence during strike. Being blacklisted and losing job. Organizing people on relief during the Depression and the forming of a co-operative for people in Maillardville. TRACK 2: Problems people faced during the Depression. Organizing the unemployed during 1935. Description of the Battle of Ballantyne Pier, 1935; longshoremens' demonstration. Post Office Riot. Joining the Communist Party in 1933. Communist Party Organization in Coquitlam. Organizing Fraser Mills for the IWA. Work during WWII. Participation in the Roman Catholic Church. CALL NUMBER: T0004:0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): William Elio Canuel discusses Maillardville, ethnic groups and attitudes of 1917 PERIOD COVERED: 1917-1972 RECORDED: Coquitlam (B.C.), 1972-05-24 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: William Canuel discusses early life in Maillardville about 1917. Racial relations between different ethnic groups including: Japanese-Canadians, French-Canadians, Chinese-Canadians, East Indian-Canadians. Quality of life in Maillardville. TRACK 2: Description of Fraser Mills as a place to work, ethnic groups working there and racial relations in the early days. Description of various ethnic communities. Work in logging camps. CALL NUMBER: T0004:0003 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): William Elio Canuel discusses work as a carpenter and his personal philosophy PERIOD COVERED: 1920-1972 RECORDED: Coquitlam (B.C.), 1972-05-24 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: William Canuel discusses working in the construction industry during the 1930s. Working in the Cariboo region in the 1920s. TRACK 2: More details on the Communist Party of Canada. General discussion of his personal philosophy.