Emil Grover Bjarnason

BJARNASON _ Emil (born Virgil) Grover b. 1918/10/10 Wynyard, Sask. d. 2006/10/12 Vancouver BA (UBC), MA (Queens), PHD (SFU) Emil was predeceased by his 1st wife Gladise, two sisters Betty and Mona, and two brothers, Arlan and Erling. He is survived by his 2nd wife Millie, brothers Val and Leon, and his son Paul (Anna), grandchildren Kelsey and Signy, and stepson Eric (Patricia) Leyland. After graduating from UBC he worked through the war years as chief statistician in the Department of Labour's Mobilization section. In 1945 he returned to Vancouver and founded the Trade Union Research Bureau. During the next 44 years Emil distinguished himself for his research on behalf of many unions including the International Woodworkers of America (IWA), the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU), Mine Mill and Smelter Workers, United Fishermen and Allied Workers (UFAWU), and many locals of both the Firefighters and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE). He was instrumental in developing the pension plans still enjoyed by the retirees of the ILWU, the Marine Workers and Boiler Makers, the Carpenters, the Grain Workers, the Electrical Workers (IBEW) unions. He became an expert in guiding unions through the collective agreement approval processes of the federal Anti Inflation Board and the provincial Compensation Stabilization Program. One of the services he offered to unions was accounting and auditing. As a keen observer of technological change he aided a number of unions in the transition from pen and ink bookkeeping to electro-mechanical methods in the 50's. In 1971 TURB bought a mini computer to supply time share computer services to unions, and their welfare and pension plans at a time when this was typically too expensive for the individual plans. In the late 60's he founded Pacific Employee Benefit Plans in order to help union benefit plans minimize the commission costs of benefits. As an observer of international affairs he became a co-founder of the Canada-Cuba Friendship Association in 1961. Proud of his heritage he was awarded a Life membership in the Icelandic Canadian Club (BC). Upon retirement he was refining a family genealogy back to the 900s. He wrote two more books, The Whole Truth, humourous episodes from his youth and a bilingual translation of some of the Icelandic Saga. He traveled widely and lectured on his beloved topic - labour economics. During his career he published many pamphlets on topical economics. In 1973 he co-founded the Dogwood Foundation for Socialist Education to further the dissemination of labour-left works and ideas. As a life long Communist from a family of communists he dedicated his life to the betterment of working people world wide. Upon his retirement in 1989 at age 71, in recognition of his work many unions made him an honourary member. As a caring member of an extended family, he will be sadly missed by us all. A memorial service will be held at 1:00 pm, Sunday November 12 at the Maritime Labour Centre, 1880 Triumph, Vancouver. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Dogwood Foundation, 5435 Kincaid St., Burnaby, B.C. V5G 1W4 would be much appreciated.