LOCAL 483
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LOCAL 483
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Union begins at Canada Starch Co. By: David Black, Peggy Gladstone and Tyler DesChamps For those of the WW II generation, it is difficult to imagine a time when Cardinal had no Union. Its rhythm seems as basic and familiar to life here as the shift-work cycle. In the tension and release that regular contract negotiation brings, the pain of strike action and the pleasure of Labour Day celebration, the village finds much of what makes it “tick”. George Forrester, 78, can remember such a time. A charter member of Local No.1, forerunner to the present Local No.483, he recalls a seven day work week, no paid holidays, and foreman who "could fire you and there would be nothing about it." Certified in 1943, the first documental local in Cardinal was formed to "do something" for the employees of the Canada Starch Company Ltd. Though opinion differs among pensioners as to what needed to be done, complaints against the Company included arbitrary dismissal, poor wages and unpleasant working conditions. Attempts to organize a Union in Cardinal were made as early as 1938. However, it wasn't until the early 1940s that the mix of politics, economics and personalities was just right. Those personalities included Elmer "Dude" Raycroft, who would be elected the first president of Local No.1 and T.B. "Tommy" MacLachlan, a representative of the Canadian Congress of Labour (CCL) and, reportedly, a relative of a local family. MacLachlan had come to the village for a visit, and found here people willing to risk a union in a company town. And a risk it was. The 1940s was a challenging decade for would be union organizers in Canada. Through the war had created a labour shortage and thus a favourable negotiating position for Canadian workers, wartime legislation acted to limit labour activity. Not until 1944 did the federal government legislatively support the principle of collective bargaining, or provide the means by which unions could be certified or recognized by employers. Pressure from striking workers certainly helped matters along; in 1943 alone, 218,000 of them staged a record 402 strikes across the country. In such turbulent times, the employees of the Canada Starch Company had to organize by the seat of their pants. Union cards were signed in alley ways. Husbands and wives kept news of their membership from each other. Forrester, then a shipper in the syrup department, said secrecy was so tight that the names of other signed-up members were concealed from him. Workers were told that those found by the company to have joined the union could lose their jobs. "No one knew what was going on," Forrester said. "I never knew of one member that was on the Charter except the executive." Members of that first executive are the unsung heroes of Cardinal's own labour history. In addition to Raycroft - known as 'Dude" for his elegant taste of clothing - they included vice-president Jack Burnside, secretary-treasurer Earl Mason, Harold Johnston, George "Pouts" Galbraith, Angus O'Brien, Don Dugan, Bill Cameron Jr., Ellery Andrews, Earl Byers and Arnold Fletcher. Among the first stewards nominated in 1943 were four women members: Idolene Linnen, Marjory Prosser, Nellie Gladstone and Patricia Bush. Said George Forrester's wife, Addie; "When the right people got behind the union, it wasn't difficult to get it going." The "right" people made their fledging union public in a meeting held at the old town hall, August 20, 1943. Keynote speaker that historic evening was Norman S. Dowd, executive secretary of the CCL. A journalist for the Cardinal News was on hand in the packed hall and made the following report: "Mr. Dowd expressed appreciation of the opportunity to visit Cardinal and address such an enthusiastic union meeting." Workers became organized in labour unions, he said, in order to protect and promote their interests. As individuals they were virtually helpless but through labour organization, they developed economic strength by which to bargain collectively with their employers. Labour unions were not antagonistic to employers or managements, said Mr. Dowd. They recognized the function which managements had to perform, but labour also had a function: the development of sound employer-employee relationships through collective agreements. The Canadian Congress of Labour, continued Mr. Dowd, comprised over 200,000 workers in every basic industry in Canada. They welcomed new groups of workers to their ranks because the larger the labour movement became, the greater its influence would be in obtaining economic and social reforms. What was necessary in Canada was the establishment of a social order in which the human and material resources of the nation would be utilized to provide the highest possible standard of living. Labour organization was a factor in the country which could help bring this about. Local No.1 of the National Food Processors Union, an affiliate of the Congress, concluded its first agreement with the Company on January 28, 1944. The contract provided a five cent per hour wage increase to male and female employees, but would soon prove to be a source of division rather than harmony for union and company. As required by law, the new rates were submitted to the Regional War Labour Board, a body formed to judge on labour issues during the war. Though both company and union were advised that the wage increase was acceptable to the board, the Canada Starch submitted an appeal to the National War Labour Board, asking that the increase be reduced to three cents. At the same time, the company forwarded to the regional board request that it authorize an incentive plan as a supplement to the newly proposed three cent increase. Tommy MacLachlan learning of the company's proposal, complained that any such plan was to be submitted jointly by company and union. Local No.1 charged Canada Starch management with violating their hard-won agreement. The rest of 1944 and early 1945 saw an elaborate "paper chase" ensued between the union, the company, and the labour boards. The union petitioned the regional board in October 1944, arguing that the three cent increase plus the incentive bonus added up to an inadequate wage. MacLachlan was asked by the local to file a protest with the board as CCL rep. Unaccountably, MacLachlan failed to make the formal complaint. More over, with time and travel heavily weighted against him, MacLachlan often found it necessary to act on Local No.1's behalf without informing the union's executive. Feeling that their Congress representative was not acting in their best interests, union members demanded that MacLachlan be replaced. In a bid to improve on the contentious first contract, union and company staff met in early 1945 to negotiate a second agreement. Assisting the union team in MacLachlan's place was Norman Dowd, CCL executive-secretary. Negotiations were tense, Harold Johnston, Local No.1 recording secretary, informed the CCL in a letter dated January 18, 1945 that: "The Company has refused to consider our bid for maintenance of membership, union shop with 60 day limit, (and) the extension of the vacation period.... A few of our members suggested forcing acceptance by means of a strike if necessary. We don’t want to make any bad plays if we can avoid it...." The union also became concerned that the Plant Manager, Andrew S. Frazer, had been authorized only to sign the contract on the company's behalf rather than having been given the power to act flexibly and independently as a negotiator. Contradictory communications from Canada Starch Company president George F. Benson, Jr. waffled as to Mr. Fraser's ability to decide on what was perhaps the issue most vital to Canadian labour in the 1940s - union security. In a letter to Dowd, Benson clarified Fraser's position in the matter of negotiating "maintenance of membership," a system in which payment of was crucial. Local No.1 demanded that maintenance of membership be established. However, the company just as stubbornly contested the plan. Bargaining stalled until Benson threatened to bring in a government conciliator. Dowd countered by filing for conciliation on the union's behalf. Heeding Dowd's bluff, Canada Starch management asked the regional board to put off conciliation while both parties met again at the bargaining table. The meeting was a success. Signed on March 13, 1945, a second agreement saw the wage dispute of the first contract settled, and a concession made in the issue of union security. Instead of mandatory payment of dues a less secure means of dues gathering called "voluntary check-off" was agreed upon. This meant that union members could freely opt to pay their dues - totalling 41 per month in 1945 - by signing a card. A year later, "Dude" Raycroft affiliated Local No.1 members with the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU), a leading organizer of blue-collar workers in the late 1940s, and re-registered the union under its present name - Local No.483. "Dude," by this time employed as a union organizer with the RWDSU, had such a following among Cardinal unionist that they switched their allegiance to stay with the man who was respected, in George Forrester's words, as "an outspoken but honourable man." The National archives in Ottawa houses a collection of documents relating to the history of Local No.1/483 and the company, all of which may be viewed by the public. Information on Canadian labour history contained in this article was taken from Working People by Desmond Morton and Terry Copp, and Working-class Experience by Bryan D. Palmer. This article appeared in the Prescott Journal in August of 1988.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF LOCAL 483 Our Union was formed in August 1943. The Company, The Canada Starch Company Limited at that time, was already 85 years old. Our Union was first called “The National Union of Food Processors, Local 1. The top job in the factory in March 1945,
was Machinist Specialist, Rate 9, at 83 cents per hour.
We, The National Union of Food Processors Local 1, became a chartered member of Retail Wholesale, and Department Store Union (R.W.D.S.U.) and received its Certificate of Affiliation on September 23, 1946. On this date we became the “United Food Processors Union, Local 483. First Strike: Local 483 conducted its first work stoppage on April 25, 1969. The Strike, with approximately 394 members at that time, lasted 2 months and ended in June of that year. Second Strike: Local 483 conducted its second work stoppage on August 5, 1973. This strike is known as the big one, lasting 4 months. The Strike ended in November with membership at approximately 321. The strike paved the way for better wages, benefits, and working conditions for years to come. In 1985-86 a new plant was built in Cardinal
called Best Foods.
Third Strike: Local 483 conducted a third work stoppage in April 1992. The Strike, which included both Casco Inc. and Best Foods, lasted only 10 days. Membership walked off their jobs, with approximately 180 members walking the picket line. The United Foods Processors' Union separated
from the R.W.D.S.U., on July 11, 1993.
RW/Canada, which included Local 483, joined
the United Steelworkers of America on July 11, 1993.
Forth Strike: Local 483 conducted a forth strike in their history in May 1996. This time only the Best Foods plant was affected. Approximately 55 members took to the streets in a strike that lasted only one week. January 1998, Best Foods Plant Closes. After layoffs and retirement packages were given out a total of 13 members returned to Casco Inc. On November 1, 1999 after a 6 year engagement with the Steelworkers. The RW/Canada Locals from across Canada voted to disband from the Steelworkers. The RW/Canada Locals once again declared they would go it alone. November 1, 1999. RW/Canada Director Tom Collins
knew that things with the Steelworkers were not working out as expected
and that trouble was in store if we were alone for very long. Once again
there was a plan in place. This time it was with the biggest Private Sector
Union in Canada, The Canadian Auto Workers Union.
Fifth Strike: Local 483 was forced to resort to strike action again on May 14, 2004. Approximately 160 members struck until the Union's Bargaining Committee was able to bring a contract back that it could recommend. The tentative agreement was ratified on the 7th day to a resounding 97% approval rate.
August
2008
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