SOMALI WOMEN FIGHTERS. gained independence the Somali Republic Since she has built up her-own army. Photo shaws By NIGEL MQRGAN Never have delegates to the annual convention of the B.C. Federation of Labor faced a bigger chal- lenge than they will next week in Victoria. At stake at this convention will be the question of whether B.C. labor is going to follow the sterile right- wing, divisive, class-collabor- ationist policies that are dic- tated by the cold war and U.S. integration,. and lead to one retreat after another, de- clining union membership and stagnation. Or, whether the trade union movement will begin to move forward again around effective policies and truly advance the interests of the working class. To measure up to today’s problems delegates will have to press decisively for a re- turn to the time-honored trade union practice of unity, solidarity, coordination, and the channelling of all the en- ergies and strength of this great movement into organiz- ing the unorganized and driv- ing home the economic and legislative demands of labor. CHANGES NEEDED The warning signals that very profound changes are needed can be clearly seen in the heavy assault labor has been subjected. to by the em- ployers, their governments, and the monopoly press and radio; the growing insecurity and unemployment; U.S.-im- posed austerity and skyrock- eting prices — no less than in the outcome olf the past year’s contract negotiations. Dwindling living standards; growing U.S. domination of. our economy and the domes- tic and foreign policies of our country; rising international - tensions and the grave threat of thermonuclear war, are driving the people to search for relief. Defence of the economic in- terests of the working class is inseparably bound up with the struggle against the dan- ger of a new war; against the arms race. Whether any ser- ious action will be taken to solve today’s problems de- pends entirely upon whether the democratic forees which desire such measures will muster enough strength to overcome the resistance of those attempting to continue the shortsighted, suicidal pol- icy of staking everything on the cold war perspectives. TOP PROBLEM The number one problem the first contingent of women fighters in the Somali national army. facing Canadian labor every- where, is the domination of our country by the U.S. mon- opolies. Can jobs be provid- ed for B.C.’s unemployed and markets for B.C.- farmers? Can we lift our economy out - of stagnation and decline? YES, but only if we break the stranglehold the US. monopolies have on it, halt the ‘‘give-aways”’ of our re- sources, and chart an inde- pendent course for its growth and expansion. Can we win: back our former trade posi- tion and meet the challenge of the European Common Market? Yes, but only if we break with the U.S. cold war and ‘made - in - Washington” trade restrictions and begin trading on a free and equal basis with all countries. editorial has stated. their crimes.” Border climax neaf: People’s China has protested in strong terms agai India’s aggression on the border and has appealed Premier Nehru to “rein in at the edge of the precipi China still wants to solve the dispute throu negotiations but would never withdraw from Fer ° territory as a pre-condition, a Peking People’s Dail: A Note to India, sent last Saturday, warned thé Chinese troops would continue ‘‘to strike back res? lutely” if attacks continued. The note emphasized that “the Indian aggress2! must bear full Fesponsibility for the consequences ‘ The Peking paper called on all Chinese troops the area to “heighten your vigilance a hundredfoll . .. to defend our territory and be ever ready to de resolute counter-blows at any invader,” _ It added: “At this most critical moment in development of the Sino-Indian border situation, still want to appeal once more to Mr. Nehru: bette rein in at the edge of the precipice and don’t us' lives of Indian troops as stakes in your gamble.” The dispute centres around the so-called McMaho Line, a line which was arbitrarily set by a Britishe in 1914 and which refuses to take into accou history of the area involved. th w e th nt th Big decisions face BC labor Can we beat back austerity. rising municipal taxes and meet the needs (‘or medicare, ‘increased pensions and wel- fare allowances? Yes, but only if we pull out of NATO, NORAD, and declare Cana- da’s neutrality, thus opening the way for-a drastic cutback in the $2-billion or so we’re squandering annually on war preparations. 35 HR. WEEK With the economic develop- ments of recent months, tar- gets for the coming round of negotiations ought to be much higher than in the past year. With speedup, technological improvements, automation, increased productivity and unemployment, all signs point to the necessity of breaking through on the shorter work week. The monopolists are not go- ing to hand over the 35-hour week without a bitter strug- gle because it remains an im- portant source of surplus pro- fit for them. A break through will require that while one union leads off, all unions must give unstinted suvport to achieve a victory. Unity, coordination, solid- arity within each industry, and between industries, will be decisive to win the hours issue, as well as on ® gains to be achieved. United labor action, 47 fective steps to win the port of B.C. farmers; ' other progressive forces is way to advance. This is cisely what’s needed t9 pel the repeal of Bills 42, 43, end big business dom tion of B.C. and achieve lo standing demands for imP ed labor and social legis!8 Such united action 18 © cisely what is needed tof ize the possibility .of el an N.D.P. government B.C.’s_ next provincial tion. : The B.C. Federation of bor convention is the pla a initiate policies that strengthen labor’s voice role, and give meanil what has got to becoms keystone of labor poliey Unity to Advance. 3 United Action can 35 hour week, gain jo the unemployed, end 4” ity. curb the power U.S. - Canadian monoP? and create conditions fo ing the rule of the old- parties and elect a gow ment based on the W9 an.' farmers of B.C. Without such united # tororrow’s _ prospects frightening indeed! ~ r¢ oti RCMP activities ‘frightening’ c Most Canadians would be shocked if they knew about the extensive activities being carried on by the RCMP to snoop into people’s lives, and intimidate or- dinary citizens. Some time ago this was demon- strated by the action of the RCMP in the East arising out of a letter sent by a boy to the letter-to-the- editor column, in which he sug- gested that Santa Claus must have been a Communist because he believed in sharing things. Following this letter the RCMP circulated a letter to employers in the area warning them not now or in the future to hire this youngster because he was con- sidered ‘“‘a bad security risk.” ‘Only last week the Pacific Tri- bune received a copy of a slander sheet being widely circulated in the Burnaby-Coquitlam by-elec- tion by the Canadian Intelligence Service aimed at “‘proving”’ that NDP leader Tommy Douglas was + has attacked every movement which advocates even the slight- est reforms. Early this year it attacked broad Canadian peace organizations. Most of the material in the cur- rent issue of the Canadian Intelli- gence Service slander sheet is provided by Pat Walsh who says in the introduction that he worked for a special branch of the RCMP spying on progresive organiza- tions. Listed among the organiza- tions he worked in was the CCF. He claims he even rose to become a CCF candidate. SORDID STORY AT UBC Last week a new chapter to this sordid story of political snoop- ing by the RCMP came from the University of B.C. paper, The Ubyssey, which reprints an in- terview given by ‘a former RCMP agent’’, which appeared in the September issue of the New Democratic Youth bulletin ‘“‘View- point.” Here are some of the questions and answers: Q.: How did the RCMP ap- proach you? A.: The RCMP got in touch with my father, and asked him about my participation in the local CUCND branch. (Combined Universities Committee for Nu- clear Disarmament). I went to the RCMP office worried that there might be trou- ble for me or my family. They. arges UBC asked me why I was a CUCND. What were my personal convic- tions? Was I pro or anti-Com- munist? I said ‘‘anti.”’ They asked me about some friends of mine and did I think they were communists? ‘‘No.’’ How did I get involved in the CUCND? Was it a front? I didn’t think so. And so on. : Q.: What were you asked to find out? A.: They asked me to help them get a clearer picture of local university student activities. This was presented as sometihng that would help them determine whether there was really a Com-, munist participation in the CUCND and the New Party Youth, as had been maintained by MRA and other rightists in town. Q.:Why did you quit the RCMP? A.: I quit because I felt uncom- fortable reporting on colleagues who trusted me. Although I re- cognize that the work was neces- paper ‘sary it caused great em? strain.