Clay Perry’s Logbook, Video collection,1988
Clay Perry (1934-2015) was passionate about preserving and promoting BC labour history. In 1988 he recorded humourous segments for a television program produced by the BC Federation of Labour titled “BC at Work” that presented issues from the perspective of working people.
Clay Perry began work with the International Woodworkers’ of America (IWA) Local 1-357 (New Westminster) and remained associated with that union for most of his career. He worked for the BC NDP government of David Barrett in 1972, serving with the Ministers of Health and Social Services. Clay then returned to work in the labour movement, finally becoming Legislative Director of the IWA’s national office.
Eleven segments of “Clay Perry’s Logbook” have survived.
● Ep 2, Swedish Loggers
○ This anecdote recounts how two Swedish loggers, who were part of the nascent IWA union, practiced their public speaking skills in the forest to overcome their worries about their accents and diction.
● Ep 3, Hastings Mill, Vancouver
○ Hastings Mills had significant timber leases, and loggers were expected to work long hours for minimal pay. When the mill superintendent announced he was running for Mayor, the workers ran an alternate candidate who ultimately won.
● Ep 4, Parable
○ Perry tells a story, the moral of which is that “sometimes it’s important to tell your own story,” which is what the BC Federation of Labor was trying to achieve with their TV show.
● EP 5 IWW
○ This episode discusses the “Wobblies,” members of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), who were active between 1907 and 1926.
● Ep 6 Fishing for Turkeys
○ The video illustrates “initiative” with a story from the 1930s where unemployed people used a modified Chinese technique to catch turkeys for Thanksgiving dinner.
● Ep 7 Women
○ Perry highlights the significant role women played in the BC labour movement around the turn of the 20th century.
● Ep 8 Organizing
○ This video shares two anecdotes from the Great Depression.
● Ep 9 Racism
○ This video discusses the historical context of racism in the British Columbia workplace, particularly concerning early unions.
● Ep 10 Ernie Dalskog
○ Perry recounts a protest against unemployment in Vancouver in 1935 and a young protester named Ernie Dalskog.
● Ep 12 BC Politics
○ This video discusses the importance of active political participation, and events that shaped the distinctive nature of BC politics that persists to this day.