LABOR FRONT

By WILLIAM KASHTAN

The results and lessons of the federal elections will be a sub-
ject for discussion for quite some time and nowhere is it needed as
much as in the trade union movement.

The basic fact that must be noted in analyzing the vote is that
the majority of the workers, speaking nation-
ally, did not vote for the New Democratic
Party but rather for the Liberals or Conserva-
tives. From this, various conclusions can be
drawn.

One conclusion, avidly fostered by the cap-
italist press, is that there is no room for “‘splin-
ter” parties in Canadian political life.

The wish is father to the thought here and
a temporary situation arising out of specific
conditions is being generalized into a law of
Canadian political life.

This is sheer nonsense, of course. There is
no such law. On the contrary there will be an
increasing tendency on the part of the working class to break with
the old-line parties and take the path of independent political act-
ion. :

* * *

After all, the electtons did not settle anything. The issue of nu-
clear arms, of peace and disarmament remains. So does the issue of
United States domination of our economy, and the issue of trade
with the world.

The dollar crisis has not been' resolved. Neither have the conomic
needs of the employed and unemployed, of the farmers, profession-
al and middle-class people. The prospects therefore are not fora
stable economy.

But while the elections did not settle any of the issues, monop-
oly will strive to “‘settle” them in its own way, at the expense of
the Canadian people.

Another conclusion being spread by the daily press is that the
NDP did not get the votes of the trade union movement, the infer-
ence being that either the NDP should cast off trade union support
or that the trade unions should break with the NDP.

Nothing would be more pleasing to monopoly, of course. In
fact, one of the aims pursued by monopoly and is parties in this el-
ection was that of containing, and if possible elminating, the so-
called “splinter” parties, particularly the NDP.

_ If now they chortle about the results it would be well to re-
mind them that they did not succeed either in establishing a so-
called stable Liberal majority or in eliminating the NDP.

* * *

One million votes for the NDP and about a million for Social
Credit shows that while the process of political realignment has
been slowed down somewhat, it is a continuing factor in Canadian
political life — one which monopoly and its prefered party will
have to contend with.

After all, two million votes for the “splinter” groups adds up to
some rather large “slivers” to say the least.

Rather than drawing the conclusion which monopoly would
like us to draw — that the NDP and the trade union coalition
should be broken or that there is no perspective for it — the con-
clusion is that independent labor political action is more necessary
than ever.

The objective situation in this election obviously precluded a
great breakthrough for the NDP.

* * *

On the other hand, given all-out trade union support, it was
possible for the NDP to register much greater advances that it did.,
That it did not do so, was in large measure due to the position tak-
en by trade union leaders, like those in Steel, who sat on their
hands instead of giving inspiring and dynamic leadership in the
crucial election.

How can one explain, for example, the fact that the steelwork-
ers’ Toronto area council met all through April 8, the election day,
instead of being out in their constituencies?

How can one explain the rumor that the Steel Union leaders
are striving to force Tommy Douglas’ resignation as leader of the
NDP?

One gets the impression that some union leaders banked ona
Liberal Party victory and wanted to be on the “safe” side so as to
get some favors, some crumbs from the Liberal table. .

This seems to have been the orientation of some Steel union of-
ficials for quite some time: the substitution of an NDP-trade union
coalition by a Liberal Party-trade union coalition.

: To drag the trade union movement back into the fold of the
Liberal Party and stand in the way of a more positive outcome of
the election — this seems to be the aim of some trade union of-
ficials and explains in part why the election results:-were not more
favorable to the working class.

* ‘ * *

Even so, the 17 NDP members of parliament, responding to
the pressure of the working class and the trade union movement,
can in a House of minorities, become the balance of power and gain
some important advantages for the working class in n this period.

No, the results of the election are no cause for defeatism. While
they show that the process of a mass breakaway from the old-line
parties may be a protracted one, it is going on nevertheless and will
be stimulated by coming events and by the way in which the'trade
union movement strenghtens the fight against nuclear arms and for
the economic needs of the working class.

May Day In Memory of Sam...
Greetings A GOOD COMRADE
anda
to all from JOLLY FRIEND
NILO MAKELA CLUB,
Myrtle & Hjalmar
cPCc | Bergren, Lake Cowichan

LABOR ROUNDUP:

Fishermen answer attack,
miners blast propaganda’

Homer’ Stevens, Secretary-
Treasurer of the United Fisher-
men & Allied Workers Union has
charged that recent comments of
Roger Hager, a member of the
International North Pacific Sal-
mon Commission, contained ‘‘out-
right lies and distortions” of the
union positon. Hager was recently
quoted in the Vancouver Sun as
having stated that the UFAWU

Co. Ltd., a wholly-owned subsid-
iary of the New England Fishing
Co. of tHe United States,” Stevens
demanded that Hager should re-
sign from he Commission. ‘‘There
would be less hypocrisy in his
defence of-the U.S. State Depart-
ment’s policy of giving away fish-
eries resources for U.S. military,
political and trade advantages,”’
Stevens said.

Union.

“hates the U.S.’”’ and never men-

He emphasized that ‘‘publicly,
tions the fisheries of the Soviet

for over ten years, our union has
consistently demanded action by
the government of Canada to open
diplomatic talks at the highest

Pointing out that Hager is the.
“President of Canadian Fishing

—U.S. GUARDIAN photo
This is Greenwood, Mississippi, U.S.A. The ‘‘crime” of this Negro minister
is that he wanted a vote for his brethren in “the land of the free, and the
home of the brave.” The U.S. trade unions last week demanded ‘“‘affirma-
tive’ action by President Kennedy to uphold the tight ef Negroes to reg-
ister to vote.

341 W. PENDER ST. VAN,, B.C.

RE JUSF OFF VICTORY SQUAR

ae a Sold Our iF tuioda to the U.S. A, 4 5
by Andrew Lamorie (paper) .............. e
Canada’s Women; The Home, at Work,
children, equality, peace (paper) .
French Canada

by S. Ryerson (paper) .
Canada 1962: Official Government

Handbook on present conditions :........ I .00
The Scalpel, The Sword: Story of

Norman Bethune (paper) ..............
Songs for a New Nation
Poetry by A. M. Stephen (cloth) .
Anatomy of Big Business
by L. C. & F. W. Park (cloth)
Herd of Yaks: The Best

of Eric Nicol (cloth) fe 395
H-Bomb War: What it would be like
(British Report) .
The Changing Structure of the orena Class
by J. M eerie (paper)

ssecigstecatecetecetetss Sosees

See ere 6 ee.

_ April: 26, 1963—PACIFIC TRIBUNB— Fag

level to bring the U.S.S.R. into a
joint conservation treaty...”

e

The Mine Mill union has strong-
ly protested provincial govern-
ment interference in the mining
industry at a time when a labor
dispute is brewing. The union pro- —
test came in reply to an announce- |
ment by Labor Minister Peterson |-
that a new vocational program
will be implemented which will
train men as diamond and air |
track drillers.

Harvey Murphy, President of
Mine Mill’s Western District stat-
ed that the government announce- |
ment ‘“‘gives the impression that |
there is.a shortage of such work- —
ers in B.C. This is entirely with- —
out foundation.” E

Murphy charged that employers
were, in fact, using the unemploy- |
ment prevalent in the industry
to keep wages down. As a result,
a strike has been set for May 6 —
for all diamond drilling opera- es
tions. ye

He stated that “the provincial |
government, before it undertakes
such a program, should investi-
gate” the existing situation and
added: “L earnestly advise work-
ers not to be misled by such ~
propoganda.”

_ The 300 employees at Canada —
Iron Foundries Ltd., have voted |
98 per cent in favor of strike |
action to back up demands for —
higher wages. The vote was taken |
by members of Locaal 1 of the | —
Marine Workers and_ Boiler-
makers union. ;

~ ‘Charlie Wilson, union president, —
‘said the dispute arose after the
majority report of a conciliation
board was accepted by the union
and rejected by the company.
The board had recommeded a six |
per cent pay hike over two years. —

The union had asked for a 7%
per cent boost this year, but was
prepared to discuss a two year |
contract.

The union has sent a letter to —
the company informing it of the —
vote and requesting further con-
tract negotiations.

The Canadian Merchant Sea-
men-Veterans Association is hold-
ing a convention in Toronto’s
King Edward Hotel on Saturday,
April 27. The agenda will include
the election of officers of the
association and the adoption of
a constitution. .

The association recently ap-
peared before Justice Norris’
Commission, which is investigat-
ing Canada’s maritime situation.

The Federal Department of
Labor has revealed that most —
major collective agreements sign-
ed in 1962 provided for an an- ~
nual four to five cent an hour in-
crease for Canadian workers.

To our readers

Readers will have noticed new
types being used in the last two —
issues of the PT. The explanation —
for this is that our print shop is
introducing new modern equip:
ment which will require a period
of adjustment.

We ask the indulgence of our ~
readers until all the kinks have
been ironed out. eae

RE