Banners of this nature fell from favour as the twentieth century wore on, and like much of the material history and archival records of the early labour movement, became lost. The survival of this banner is a matter of good fortune. When the IBEW donated it to The Manitoba Museum it had suffered tears and breakage in its fibre, but it was sufficiently sound for museum conservation staff to restore it. The artifact’s delicate condition makes it unsuitable for hanging, but it can and has been displayed in a specially designed case that presents the banner lying flat at table height. According to sources at the IBEW headquarters in Washington, D.C., Winnipeg Local 435’s banner is likely the oldest IBEW banner still in existence.

More information is available from Sharon Reilly, curator of social history, at the Manitoba Museum, www.manitobamuseum.ca.

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) Employment Outlook (2004) draw on comprehensive new statistical evidence to confirm that countries with high levels of union density are much more equal than countries with low union density, but perform no worse in terms of creating jobs. This finding, which is in line with a recent major review of the evidence by the World Bank, shows that unions are still a force for greater fairness, which do not undermine economic performance. Countries with high union density have higher rather than lower overall rates of employment, especially for women, though there is a tendency for older workers to retire earlier in high union density countries.

The study provides a great deal of useful trends on union density in OECD countries. Union density (union members as a proportion of the workforce) has, from 1980 to 2000, fallen from 33% to 21% for all OECD countries (weighted by population) with particularly big declines in the UK (51% to 31%), the US (22% to 13%), Australia and New Zealand. Union density in Canada has slipped less than average, from 33% to 28%.

It is with sadness to report that former International Vice President Ken Rose has lost his wife Betty. Betty Rose lost her battle with cancer on November 30, 2004 and a memorial service was held on December 4, 2004.

Tributes to IBEW Local 625 for their great article in the latest journal about Labour’s march on downtown Halifax in support of striking telephone workers and to Local 1739 for their article on the new training facilities in their building after remodeling. Also, retired International Representative Bill Warchow writes a great article on behalf of Local 586 Retiree’s Club.

This is a reminder following up on the December 3, 2004 correspondence regarding the two Winter Labour Education and Training Schools. The course being offered at both sites is the New Member Orientation – Train the Trainer. The first school will be in Victoria, BC at the Coast Harbourside Hotel, February 21 and 22, 2005. The second will be at the Citadel Inn in Halifax, NS, March 7^th to 9^th. Members’ attitudes about the union are formed during their first year of employment and this orientation is designed to not only make our new members feel welcome, but also to help them understand the value and functions of the union and their responsibilities to the union.

The New Member Orientation is now available to construction and non-construction local unions. Our winter schools have been a great success and the target audience for this course, New Member Orientation Training, is Officers, Organizers and Trainers as well as rank and file members.

In closing, from the First District Staff, we extend to each and every Local, Officers and members a very safe and happy Christmas Holiday. Hopefully everyone can slow down their busy schedule to spend valuable time with family.

International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, AFL-CIO, CLC

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