THE WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER 5 AUGUST - SEPTEMBER, 1977 yy thewestern Canadian WiorA lumber worker fthe INTERNATIONAL WOODWORKERS OF AMERICA Atti HAFL-CIO-CUC tern Canada inac non-members $2.00 per year TRUDEAU’S GUARD OF HONOUR Prime Minister Trudeau arrived back in Canada cutting his vacation by one day. Landing in Quebec City he declared his intention to drive from Quebec City to Toronto where he will meet with leaders of Big Business. As the motorcade left the airport, Trudeau noticed that there was a continuous line of people, standing one after another, on the side of the road. Through Three Rivers and all the way to Montreal the line was un- broken. One after another they stood, men, women, many young people, some carrying babies, motionless, waiting. After lunch the motorcade re- sumed its journey to Ottawa. Again the line-at the side of the road. One after another they stood, thousands upon thousands, some poorly dressed, shivering in the cold. “Lots of hitch-hikers out today, don’t you think Mr. Prime Minister,” one of Trudeau's aides laughed. Still they stood, one after another, staring. After dining on fresh imported lobster, the Prime Minister retired for the evening. “Maybe they won't be there tomorrow,” he thought as he drifted to sleep. Refreshed after a sound night's rest, the Prime Minister's motorcade left Ottawa. Still they were there. Standing. Waiting. Thousands of | eyes peering through the bullet- proof windows of his limousine. — “Driver, driver, turn left and go by way of Kingston. Haven't these rif- raff anything better to do than stand by the side of the road?” Trudeau thundered. Still they were there. Hundreds of ‘thousands of idle hands. Hands of mechanics, clerks, carpenters, tool- makers. Hour after hour they continued. One after another, never a break in the chain. All the way to Toronto. All of them unemployed. There are 914,000 of us. Pierre. Our members are increasing every day. : lf we stood side by side, the line would last for 530 miles, 530 miles of people. People possessing hands and minds. Each of us capable of creating wealth in which we all could share. HOW DO YOU SLEEP AT NIGHT? SS Don’t rely on business to solve Canada’s unemployment problem. Business is not in- terested in maintaining full employment unless it can maintain higher profits. Those are two of the conclu- sions of a new study of unem- ployment by the Canadian News Synthesis Project. The special report, titled “Dignity Denied: Unemploy- ment in Canada’, says a basic solution to the problem of unemployment cannot be found in the free enterprise system. “Any basic solution to unem- means challenging assumption that our present economic system is workers than their European counterparts. “Unemployment guarantees a pool of surplus labour which can be drawn on by manage- ment whenever workers become more vocal in demanding higher wages or changes in working conditions. Workers must in such con- ditions concern themselves with job security rather than demanding better working conditions or higher wages.” Large corporations control markets and manipulate them to suit their balance sheets, the study notes. “Instead of lowering prices to compete when markets are soft, corporations cut back production and lay off workers. Prices are —— to cover the extra cos running at partial capacity. This adds to both inflation and unemploy- ment.”” The study says Canada’s branch-plant economy contrib- utes to unemployment, because the foreign (usually U.S.) owners are not con- plants they build to serve Canadian machinery, equipment and research. Capital-intensive resource development projects draw large amounts of money but create few jobs, the study says. Instead of promoting huge ventures such as the James © Bay and Mackenzie valley pipeline projects, Canada should draw up a new in- dustrial strategy to promote a stronger manufacturing base, it says. In debunking myths about unemployment, the study notes: © There are not enough jobs available to make a dent in the unemployment picture. There are still 25 people unemployed for every available job in Canada. © High wages are in no way related to more unemploy- ‘ment, or to the country’s soaring balance of payments deficit. The study notes the deficit almost tripled during the years 1970-74, when wage gains remained moderate. @ Higher profits do not mean more jobs. The “profit explosion” between 1970-74 did not result in new jobs, since the money was not reinvested in Canada. . dependence on the U.S. for Yup... Ya made a record. run . SNe but before I recommend you for th’ Minneapolis 500 . . . where Vell’s yer load? JOE MORRIS ELECTED SIDENT OF I.L.O. Editor’s note: The following is a copy of the telegram sent by the Regional officers to Joe Morris, Can- adian Labour Congress Presi- dent, congratulating him on his election to the head of the ILO and also a copy of Morris’ reply. Mr. Joe Morris, President Canadian Labour Congress Otfawa, Ontario On behalf of my fellow of- ficers and all members of the IWA in Western Canada, please accept our warmest congratulations on your elec- tion to the presidency of the ILO. We are of the belief the ILO will be a better organiza- tion for having elected you. We express our sincere thanks to you for giving truly international status to the IWA. Once again our thanks and congratulations. J.J. Munro, President IWA Regional Council 1 Mr. Jack Munro President, Regional Council No. 1 International Woodworkers of America 2859 Commercial Drive Vancouver, B.C. Dear Jack: Please accept my sincere thanks for your message of congratulations, on behalf of your fellow officers and mem- bers of the International Wood- workers of America, on my election as Chairman of the Governing Body of the ILO. gue, at JOE MORRIS Your thoughtfulness is much appreciated. The warm sentiments ex- pressed in your telex were all the more appreciated coming from my own union. The good wishes and support of. all my friends in the IWA will help to sustain me through the busy ‘and critical months that lie ahead. With best wishes and kind personal regards, I am, Yours sincerely, Joe Morris, . President. 7 only $90,000. | They expect to sell 25 of them in the U.S. this year. j __ Where they expect to sell most of them is indicated by the — fact that the owner’s manual is printed in Arabic. ’