OUR weeks of this legislative session have made it quite clear that the government has a “higher loyalty” than the loyalty it is supposed to have to the people through the Crown. For example, at the begin- ning of the session, the work- ing people of this province told the government what kind of laws they want written. Mem- bers of Trades and Labor Con- gress and Canadian Congress of Labor unions, with their fami- lies, make up a decisive section of British ‘Columbia’s popula- tion. The government has spent hours closeted with representa- tivts of the Canadian Manufac- turers Association and various special groups of industrialists. It held long sessions with those interests with whom it plotted to put over the sales tax tt can even find plenty of time for groups wanting to ban salacious literature (not that there is anything wrong with that). But it could give only half an hour to the CCL and not much more to the TLC delegation. Rights By MARK FRANK —OTTAWA. IVIL Service officials recently informed newspapermen in the capital that applicants for “se- curity” positions are checked by RCMP officials “as far back al- most. as the cradle.” In practical terms, if you ever uttered an anti-fascist sentiment or expressed a socialist thought in a high school debate—beware! You won't get that civil service job. “For such positions, the RCMP secures the pedigree of the appli- eant as far-back almost as the cradle,” ‘said one official. “We have been doing this for more than two years,” another of- ficial admitted, following publica- tion of Prime Minister Clement Atlee’s decree on “communist” employees. Applicants’ backgrounds are checked from high school or col- lege through each job held. RCMP investigators go round the old home town, talk to friends, inter- — view teachers and municipal au- thorities, according to officials of » the Civil Service Commission. eo EMBERS of the civil service, outraged by the undemocratic methods employed during the “spy” scare, have been studying ways and means of counteracting the abuse of civil servants’ rights and liberties for some time. A meeting of the Ottawa Civil Liberties Council held on March 9 accepted a preliminary report on the civil rights of civil ser- vants, indicating resistance to ar- bitrary methods employed by the government with regard to their employ. The report is under review and discussion among members of the civil liberties group and will be shortly released, according to its chairman, Rev. Charles D. Don- ald of | Southminister United Church. Key proposals call for: Greater participation in the po- litical life of the country by pub- lic servants. Comparisons are drawn between what is permitted in the way of politica ] activities Fhe week in the House The Coalition’s ‘higher loyalty’ is to big business The two groups, between them, told the government not only what their own members want, but what the great ma- jority of the people of this prov- ince need. The list of their de- mands was long— damningly long when it is realized that in this session the government has acted on none of them. Just for the record. what labor demanded. what the people want and aren't getting: @ Replacement of Bill 39 by collective bargaining @ No sales tax — tax those who can pay. @ Im- provements in Workmen’s Com- pensation. @ The 40-hour maxi- mum work week. @ 75c mini- Two weeks holi- Here is Here is genuine laws. mum wages. day with pay. @ An end to anti- labor immigration schemes. @ Safety in the mines. @ Cut in gas pric. @ Government auto insurance. @ Cut prices on milk, street car fares, domes- ’ By BRUCE MICKLEBURGH tic light and fuel, and protest Ottawa price policy. @ A gov- ernment housing plan. @ A fair employment practices act. @ $60 at 60 for all @ No injunctions in industrial disputes. @ An end to huge timber steals. These are just the main demands, among which withdrawal of the sales tax and replacement of Bill 39 stand out. senior citizens. Now: when labor and the peo- ple are getting ready to come to the legislature to lobby MLA’s, examination of the Coa- lition’s record after four weeks of the session is revealing. Here is the record, summarized from or civil servants in Canada and countries like Bri- tain and France. The general con- clusion is that much more politi- cal freedom is allowed in foreign countries. Strict enforcement of the merit system to prevent the danger of political patronage. Impartial review by a board of t By B. R. SWANKEY —EDMONTON. THE amendments to the Alberta Labor Act introduced into the Alberta legislature last week by the Hon. C. E. Gerhart constitute the most dangerous piece of anti- labor legislation yet introduced by the Social Credit government. They are patterned strictly after the Taft-Hartlevy law in the Unit- ed States and Bill 39 in B.C., two of the most vicious pieces of anti- labor legislation on this contin- ent. — Penalizing workers for strike action is a direct attack on one of the most fundamental rights of labor—the right to strike. Ob- viously the object is to tie the hands of labor, to prevent strikes for wage increases, to protect the profits of the mine operators, the packing plants, the lumber boss- es. . Big business is, of course, the real force behind this legisla- tion. The Social Credit govern- ment is acting as the willing voice of the big monopolies in Al- berta. The section stipulating that only Canadian citizens may act on behalf of unions is also de- signed to weaken labor. It is a well known fact that active union leaders and members have been refused Canadian citizenship sim- ply because of their union activi- ties and political beliefs. This section would also make it im- possible for many international representatives of ‘ international unions to act on behlaf of their Canadian membership. This is no- thing less than direct interference dismissals involving the activity of an employee as a private citi- zen, with the employee having access to all information used against him. The charge is made that civil servants who are discharged are not provided with all the informa- tion bearing on their dismissal. in internal union affairs; it is a violation of the right of work- ers to elect whoever they wish to represent them. : What makes the whole thing worse is that the Alberta Federa- tion of Labor last fall asked the government to pass legislation which would in effect penalize workers . for so-called “illegal” strikes. eo As a matter of fact, the secre- tary of Calgary Trades and La- bor council (TLC) frankly admit- ted that the present legislation is “all right as far as we're concern- ed.” ‘ Do certain top AFL leaders en- tertain the vain hope that this new legislation will eliminate their CCL rivals? In aligning themselves with the government and employers in support of this legislation, they are playing a dangerous and- suicidal game. This legislation is, after all, aimed at paralyzing the whole labor movement, including AFL unions. Shameful and disgraceful are mild terms to be used in describ- img the support which certain labor leaders give to such, anti- labor legislation. At the same time, this is the ace up the sleeve of the government for it divides the labor movement and hinders effective united protest action. AFL workers will join with rail- road and CCL workers in con- demning this legislation and the sell-out of those so-called “lead- ers” who endorsed it. The government is trying to pull a fast one. It is deliberate- ly trying to rush through this -new legislation before labor has a chance to find out what it is all about and before the labor ° government speeches and legis- lation to date: BILL 39: Premier Johnson has said the government-super_ vised strike vote—opposed by both houses of labor—will stay. Of the other obnoxious! clauses Labor Minister Wismer_ says, “Some changes—we don’t know what — considering opinions of both unions and employers through the Labor’ Board.” Pressure is strong from the CMA and some Coalition MLA’s to reinforce the _ restrictive clauses of Bill 39 and so strikea direct blow at the 1948 wage movement by incorporating Taft- Hartley provisions in an effort to rob major unions of their leadership, . The government is freezing labor out of its confi- dence till the bill is introduced —likely shortly before adjourn- ment, April 15. SALES TAX: Labor, boards of trade, women’s institutes, veterans, and every other kind of organization are hollering against it in a steady stream of wires but the government is cracking the whip. over its members to ram it through. At least six Coalitionists are known to oppose it. Two are voting against, ._ MINES: . A. direct. government betrayal of its own word to the Socred reflects CMA lobby movement. can he allied against it. Labor will have to act fast and act unitedly if this bill is to be defeated. It is the cul- mination of a whole series of hostile anti-labor acts by the present Social Credit govern- ment. — Labor will have good reason ‘to remember this at the next election, which may come soon. For it has become apparent that any worker who votes Social Credit today is voting for the monopolies, against his own union and against his own best interests. hard-rock miners is seen in the new Metalliferous Mines Act, which has no provision for cer- tification of supervisory person- — nel. ; FOREST ACT: Farmers can work woodlots, a revolving fund is set up. The big steal re- mains. HEALTH INSURANCE: The government will repeat auto in- surance tactic, probably substi- tuting compulsory Blue Cross membership for all-inclusive government health coverage. COMPENSATION: As unspecified amendments. FORTY-FOUR WEEK, TWO yet WEEKS HOLIDAY WITH PAY, IMMIGRATION, GAS PRICE, AUTO INSURANCE, PRICES, FAIR EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES, OLD .AGE PEN-- SIONS, BANNING INJUNC- TIONS ON LABOR: All de- mands to be refused. HOUSING: Ah, yes, the gov- ernment has a housing policy. Nobody knew it until Munici- palities Minister MacDonald an- nounced it last week. What is it? “I take serious objection to . . Wartime Housing Contracts with municipalities — to their getting lots at $1... to 40-year © agreements for reduced taxa- tion.” The good minister will seek legislative barriers to such agreements. “St “ds + /not