International Woodworkers of America (IWA) was an industrial union of lumbermen, sawmill workers, timber transportation workers and others formed in 1937.
The IWA quickly moved into Canada, where it absorbed a number of smaller unions which had formed in the 1930s, and the Lumber Workers Industrial Union, one of the industrial unions of the Industrial Workers of the World. Harold Pritchett was elected president.[1] A successful strike and organizing drive in 1946 established the IWA as western Canada's largest union, a position that it has generally held since then. The union entered Newfoundland in 1956, but was expelled in 1959 after the Newfoundland Loggers' Strike.
The IWA was staunchly Democratic, and avoided left-wing politics throughout its history. Most of its members lived and worked in the American and Canadian West. Its membership reached as high as 115,000 in the early 1970s.
In the 1980s, raids, mergers and anti-union actions by employers decimated the IWA's membership. The burgeoning environmental movement also restricted access to public lands, where most old-growth timber existed. As the timber industry lost access to public land, timber companies shed thousands of jobs as well.
In 1987, the Canadian branch of the IWA separated from union, retaining the IWA initials but with the new name Industrial, Wood and Allied Workers of Canada (IWA Canada).
By 1994, the remainder of the U.S.-based IWA had just over 20,000 members. The IWA leadership felt the union was no longer viable on its own, and the IWA merged with the International Association of Machinists (IAM) on May 1, 1994. Today, the IWA is the Woodworking Department of the IAM. IWA Canada remained an independent Canadian union until 2004, when it merged with the United Steelworkers.
Christie, Robert. Empire in Wood: A History of the Carpenters' Union. Ithaca, N.Y.: Cornell University Press, 1956.
Deibler, Frederick Shipp. The Amalgamated Wood Workers' International Union of America. Madison, Wisc.: University of Wisconsin, 1912.
Lembcke, Jerry and Tattam, William M. One Union in Wood: A Political History of the International Woodworkers of America. Madeira Park, British Columbia: Harbour Publishing, 1983. ISBN0-920080-43-X
^"IWA locals map - Mapping American Social Movements". depts.washington.edu. Retrieved 2021-10-11.
^ abcdefgNotable Names in American History. Clifton, New Jersey: James T. White & Company. 1973. p. 558. ISBN0883710021.
^"Keith Johnson, 1930-2012". nwLaborPress. 12 June 2012.
External linksedit
United Steelworkers Canadian Wood Division
Timber Worker (1936–1942) and the International Woodworker (1942–1987), from the Labor Press Project
Archivesedit
International Woodworkers of America Records, 1936–1987. 10 cubic feet. At the Labor Archives of Washington State, University of Washington Libraries Special Collections.
International Woodworkers of America, Local 3-101 Records (Everett, Wash.), 1935–1987. 23 cubic feet. At the Labor Archives of Washington State, University of Washington Libraries Special Collections.
Records of International Woodworkers of America Association are held by Simon Fraser University's Special Collections and Rare Books
February 16, 2024
international, woodworkers, america, other, uses, disambiguation, industrial, union, lumbermen, sawmill, workers, timber, transportation, workers, others, formed, 1937, woodworkers, district, lodge, w1iwamergerinternational, association, machinists, aerospace,. For other uses see IWA disambiguation International Woodworkers of America IWA was an industrial union of lumbermen sawmill workers timber transportation workers and others formed in 1937 International Woodworkers of AmericaWoodworkers District Lodge W1IWAMergerInternational Association of Machinists and Aerospace WorkersFounded1937Dissolved1994LocationUnited States CanadaMembers20 000AffiliationsCongress of Industrial Organizations Contents 1 History 2 Presidents 3 See also 4 References 5 External links 6 ArchivesHistory editThe IWA was formed when members of the Sawmill and Timber Workers Union division of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America voted to disaffiliate their local unions and form their own union The IWA subsequently affiliated with the Congress of Industrial Organizations CIO The IWA quickly moved into Canada where it absorbed a number of smaller unions which had formed in the 1930s and the Lumber Workers Industrial Union one of the industrial unions of the Industrial Workers of the World Harold Pritchett was elected president 1 A successful strike and organizing drive in 1946 established the IWA as western Canada s largest union a position that it has generally held since then The union entered Newfoundland in 1956 but was expelled in 1959 after the Newfoundland Loggers Strike The IWA was staunchly Democratic and avoided left wing politics throughout its history Most of its members lived and worked in the American and Canadian West Its membership reached as high as 115 000 in the early 1970s In the 1980s raids mergers and anti union actions by employers decimated the IWA s membership The burgeoning environmental movement also restricted access to public lands where most old growth timber existed As the timber industry lost access to public land timber companies shed thousands of jobs as well In 1987 the Canadian branch of the IWA separated from union retaining the IWA initials but with the new name Industrial Wood and Allied Workers of Canada IWA Canada By 1994 the remainder of the U S based IWA had just over 20 000 members The IWA leadership felt the union was no longer viable on its own and the IWA merged with the International Association of Machinists IAM on May 1 1994 Today the IWA is the Woodworking Department of the IAM IWA Canada remained an independent Canadian union until 2004 when it merged with the United Steelworkers Presidents edit1937 Harold Pritchett 2 1940 O M Orton 2 1941 Worth Lowery 2 1943 Claude Ballard 2 1944 J E Fadling 2 1951 Al Hartung 2 1967 Ronald F Roley 2 1970s Keith W Johnson 3 1980s Bill HubbellSee also edit nbsp Organized labour portalIWA v Consolidated Bathurst Packaging Ltd References editChristie Robert Empire in Wood A History of the Carpenters Union Ithaca N Y Cornell University Press 1956 Deibler Frederick Shipp The Amalgamated Wood Workers International Union of America Madison Wisc University of Wisconsin 1912 Lembcke Jerry and Tattam William M One Union in Wood A Political History of the International Woodworkers of America Madeira Park British Columbia Harbour Publishing 1983 ISBN 0 920080 43 X IWA locals map Mapping American Social Movements depts washington edu Retrieved 2021 10 11 a b c d e f g Notable Names in American History Clifton New Jersey James T White amp Company 1973 p 558 ISBN 0883710021 Keith Johnson 1930 2012 nwLaborPress 12 June 2012 External links editWoodworking Department of the IAM United Steelworkers Canadian Wood Division Timber Worker 1936 1942 and the International Woodworker 1942 1987 from the Labor Press ProjectArchives editInternational Woodworkers of America Records 1936 1987 10 cubic feet At the Labor Archives of Washington State University of Washington Libraries Special Collections International Woodworkers of America Local 3 101 Records Everett Wash 1935 1987 23 cubic feet At the Labor Archives of Washington State University of Washington Libraries Special Collections Records of International Woodworkers of America Association are held by Simon Fraser University s Special Collections and Rare Books Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title International Woodworkers of America amp oldid 1183338820, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
