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Historical Highlights of the Carpenter Locals in Victoria

It may be said the Victoria Carpenters were the first group of Carpenters in B.C. to realize that if they had an organization it would be to their advantage.

That reasoning, no doubt, is responsible for the first Carpenters Union in B.C. of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, Local 48 of Victoria. This came about just two years after the founding of the Brotherhood by Peter McGuire in 1881.

There was also a rival carpenters organization in Victoria after 1880. The other was called the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners, who had their Headquarters in Britain. Many of our more progressive members were originally members of the Amalgamated.

For over 25 years there was a constant friction between the two organizations. Several attempts over the years were made to unite the two organizations but nothing was accomplished until 1917 in Victoria, although in the U.S.A. the Brotherhood took over the Amalgamated in 1913.

As stated above a Charter was granted to the 60-70 members in Victoria on July 25th, 1883, Local No. 48. Dues were 50 cents per month, $1.00 Initiation Fee, ten hour day, six days per week.

The members of this new Union were determined to reduce hours of work from ten to nine.

1884	The local sent a telegram to head office reporting 200 carpenters on strike in Victoria - the demands - a nine hour day. A mass meeting received good support from Union and non-Union alike. June reports nearly all jobs working the nine hour day.
	Then the Federal Government opened the Immigration gates and a deluge of workers came to Victoria and Vancouver. This made it impossible to hold onto the nine hour day. Work was also done on Saturday Mornings. Wages were also declining.
1890	Victoria Unions established their first Central Labour Body calling it Victoria Trades Assembly.
1891	Carpenter Convention in Seattle. Number one priority was the eight hour day. There was also mention of forming a Building Trades Council.
1893	The Canadian Federal Government had made the eight hour day mandatory on all construction done for the government.
1899	The eight hour day became effective June 12th, 1899 in B.C.
1903	A request from the Trades and Labour Council to form a Building Trades Council also involving the Amalgamated branches, who by the way voted to comply, as result it was established November 9th, 1903.
1911	Mass meeting April 29th asking support for $4.50 for eight hour day. Request from Mayor of Victoria for a committee to meet with Builders Exchange resulted in settlement May 16th.
1913	Request from Toronto to the Amalgamated to join the United Brotherhood was rejected.
	Branch No. 2 of Amalgamated voted 57-0 to join the Brotherhood. This was the year that the United Brotherhood took over the Amalgamated in the U.S.A.
	A firm effort was made to form a District Council. There was to be two paid officers at a rate of $5.00 per day for five and one-half days per week including expenses. Application for District Council Charter was made to General Secretary Duffy, December 22nd.
1917	Local 1598 charter July 2nd, 1917.
1919	Local 1598 made a donation of $1,000.00 to defense committee of Winnipeg General Strike.
1920	Trouble with some companies not paying fair wage, namely Esquimalt Dry Dock, C.N.R. and Cholby Shipyards.
1921	Request from District Council asking Local 1598 to assist in forming a Building Trades Council was approved and three delegates were sent to attend. Also problem re: Yarrows pay scale. This problem together with proof was sent to the fair wage office and as a result an Order to Yarrows to pay fair wage scale was adhered to.
	Local 1598 offered to pay $10.00 per month towards the salary of a part time secretary for the Trades and Labour Council.
1922	From minutes of meeting, discussion on the question of the Workman's Compensation Board not accepting their responsibility, each case has to be fought before any payments made.
1923	Reports from all over America asking for help as result of very high unemployment.
1924	Members of the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters initiated into Local 1598.
1925	Meeting of May 4th, resulting in a motion that all property belonging to Amalgamated Society of Carpenters be turned over to Local 1598.
1926	Carpenters demanded $7.00 per day for a 44 hour week. Builders Exchange offer of less was rejected 90-0. The vote results were sent to Builders Exchange through the Minister of Labour, Mr. McNiven, settlement was reached, wages $6.50 per day till September 1st, $7.00 per day to July 1st, 1927.
1927	Eight hours daily, four hours Saturday morning; overtime one and one-half first four hours, double time over four hours, Sundays and holidays.
1938	Local 1598 sent a letter to Ottawa protesting the Quebec Padlock Law. Copy of letter sent to all Councils requesting they also protest this law. Members of Local 1598 unanimously endorsed the proposal to form a B.C. Federation of Labour.
1939	First phone was installed in the Labour Hall. Letter sent to Headquarters asking permission to accept lathers into the Local, it was also requested Headquarters keep in good standing members who joined the Armed Forces. This was confirmed in December 4th, 1939.
1940	Local decided to elect a Business Agent and invited applications. Brother Alex Simms was elected as the Local's first full time Business Agent, $25.00 per week ... plus $5.00 per week expenses and plus $1.00 for each new member.
	Local 1598 endorsed the principle of Contractors Licensing Act and informed the Builders Exchange of their intent to support the Act.
	Letter received from Builders Exchange agreement to pay 90 cents per hour September, 1940.
1941	Marwell Construction concedes to pay double time for work done on Remembrance Day. Local agreed to affiliate to the New Building Trades Council when formed. At this time Local 1598 favoured a uniform wage scale from Winnipeg to West Coast.
1942	Local 1598 demanded that women working in shipyards be paid same wage as men.
	Shipyard to work 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Executive recommendation to comply on two conditions:
	1.	Restriction on profits.
	2.	Joint Management and Production Committee be formed with representation from Labour on Committee.
	Meeting of April, passed two motions:
	1.	Carpenters on defence projects not to work overtime unless proper wages paid.
	2.	Carpenters not to work on jobs not covered by Workman's Compensation.
	Local 1598 supports Government State Health Insurance. New Agreements with Builders Exchange $1.00 per hour for two years.
	Marwell Construction now supplying free transportation to and from Pat Bay.
1943	Endorsed principle of Joint Carpenters Conference of B. C.
	Result of concerted organizing, Local 1598 brought in 89 new members in three month period. May meeting endorsed a resolution to set up a B.C. Provincial Council of Carpenters. From March 18th, 1941-March 2nd, 1942, 359 new members initiated in Local 1598.
	Regional War Board had approved the $1.00 hourly rate but Victoria Builders Exchange refused to pay it. The Local appealed to the Board and as result the Builders Exchange had to pay the $1.00 rate. November 29th, first B. C. Provincial Council of Carpenters convention held in Vancouver.
1944	Local 1598 denounces the Federal Government way of doing their business by "Order in Council" in a letter to the Federal Government with copies going to all M.P.'s. July Motion backing joint shipyard council that all trade unions claim their applicable men in the shipyards in order to break up the Amalgamated. December, 1944 Motion passed stating that members who are working on Union Shop jobs and who fall out of benefit be required to pay arrears in excess of six months grace period in addition to initiation and fines.
	Local began donating to Arena Fund; a per capita of 15 cents per member also paid wages of two men for one day.
1946	Successful in having night courses for training apprentices.
	Two instructors two nights a week - cost $5.00 per night. Local strongly opposed to week shutdown of Construction for holidays.
1947	Late Brother Victor Midgley appointed organizer for Carpenters organization. May 19th Motion that we hire office help - wages to be $80.00 monthly. Local 2527 Floorlayers chartered April 16th, 1947.
1948	Local 1598 went on strike December 6th, for increase in wages and Union Shop. Strike ended December 23rd, with wage increase of 15 cents and maintenance of membership clause.
1949	Local 786 Shinglers chartered April 1st.
	First Apprentice Committee Local 1598, September 19th.
1952	The Carpenters went on strike in June 1952 and ended September 12th after 87 days, increases of 25 cents and 10 cents.
1956	Shinglers Local 786 consolidated with Local 1598 in July.
1960	First Journeyman Certificate to a member of Local 1598, January 6th.
1963	Wages to increase to $3.00 per hour by September 1963.
1965	Local 1598 hires second full time Business Agent, June 21st.
1968	A testimonial tea was attended by many Trade Union members to honour Jim Moffat, September.
1969	Acceptance of revised ritual, October 20th.
1970	No smoking at Executive meetings, February 26th.
1971	March 22nd, Local 2527 Floorlayers voted to consolidate with Local 1598. Start of quarterly meetings, November 10th.
	Brother Chris Cottier places first in International Apprenticeship Contest.
1972	With the Provincial Government introducing Compulsory Arbitration during negotiations, the Building Trades were united in their fundamental and historical denouncement of this Legislation. As a result of a united effort of non-compliance, with this Legislation, and its back to work order, several Building Trade Unions offices were raided by the R.C.M.P. including Local 1598.
	July 25th, Local 1598 ratified the new agreement, 1972-74.
1980	Brother George Zeeman places first in International Apprenticeship Contest.

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