SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Marjorie Storm : women's rights and the IWA RECORDED: Surrey (B.C.), 1979-07 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mrs. Storm was and is a member of the IWA, and has been involved in organizing for women's rights in both the IWA and the BCFL. In this interview, she compares work in organized and unorganized wood plants; sexual harassment on the job; women in union positions; seniority; weight limits; the BC Human Rights Code; child care; women's caucuses; and racism in the wood industry. Mrs. Storm left her first job at Fraser Mills because of sexual harassment. She moved to Pacific Veneer when women were represented both in the workforce, as stewards, and on plant committees. Mrs. Storm was asked to be a steward and represent the 350 women in the plant in 1953. She was elected to the plant committee and served as recording secretary, because of her work representing all workers as a steward. There was a long-term fight for equality for women; the plants kept separate seniority lists for women and men, and women were only allowed entrance into a limited number of jobs, within the sub-department where they worked. TRACK 2: In 1966, the IWA established equal pay for equal work in convention. As well, a struggle occurred against a thirty-pound weight limit for women. During the 1946 strike, women were very active, taking on graveyard picket duty. Women were very militant, often jumping the gun on strike deadlines and starting wildcats. One equal work struggle occurred when women were refused the right to relieve workers on the spreader, which was a higher paying job, and the foreman had refused the senior woman worker. Women stood around the spreader and closed it down to establish the right to relieve on breaks. Women played important roles on safety and plant committees.
