NS a amt strait-jacket Representatives of plies Columbia's trade uni ob CCL and AFL, thie Victoria to lobby for t rights by JACK GREENALL O the members of the Coalition government, the Can- adian Manufacturers’ Association and the other spe- cial interests now campaigning for restrictive labor legislation, fear a labor lobby? There are those who claim “a lobby will leave a bad taste in the mouths of some mem- bers of the legislature.” Others say, “Call off your dogs and let-us do your fighting for labor legislation.” Still others contend, “What’s the use. You'll never get anything from a government that is under the control of big busi- ness.” Hundreds of rank and file trade union members, sent by their locals to’ lobby at Victoria take a different view. They know that reaction fears a lobby and they also know why. Big business interests may dominate the government but an essential factor in their domination is the Way they can manipulate their press and radio control to distort issues and misrepresent cases—labor’s case in particular, Members of the legislature can stand on the floor of the House and make fine-sounding speeches giving lip Service to the needs of the people. The press will play them up and the home town sheet will carry headlines, “Local MLA Denounces Inadequate Old Age Pensions, Demands Assistance. From Federal Government,” and the story un- derneath gives the impression that Bill Bunco is really do- ing a job for the people who elected him, Continued overleaf—Col, 1 by ERNIE DALSKOG in any way to minimize the importance of the labor legislation now coming before the provincial House would be the greatest mistake it could make. The labor movement today is waging a struggle against reaction everywhere on the North American continent. The offen- sive launched by big business against the labor movement is apparent in the anti-labor meaasures proposed to the U.S. Congress. It is expressed in the King government’s atti- tude towards labor’s demands. It is no less evident in the Coalition government’s own response to demands that la- bor’s rights be guaranteed by provincial legislation. It is clear that the, policies of the Coalition government are now dominated by the tory forces within it. The con- tent of the legislation placed before the House at this ses- sion is evidence of this. And the secrecy in which proposed amendments to the Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act have, been prepared indicates that the government has no intention of satisfying labor’s demands unless, by mob- ilizing labor’s own forces and the widespread popular sup- port its legislative proposals have won throughout the province, labor can force the legislature to pass legislation answering to the people’s needs. This is the purpose of the labor lobby. Continued overleaf—Col, 4 F OR the organized labor movement in British Columbia & ma Tl el Pil Gomes yo fi, ‘ Ni QC canal ‘th ) NE: 2 NRBUINIE: | eareed uflteenclistenes @ New Chemicals Are Deadly by Dyson oat Hicsnieccarcseeenalll ae @ The Paris Commune by Minerva Miller— Page 12 SES"