ee aa i ae ille in Vancouver has This Shoppers Drug Mart at 13th and Gra nvi become na focal point for the two-week old strike against nine stores in the chain. Security guards posted at the store have resorted to threats of violence and obscene and racist verbal abuse against the picketers most of whom are women. See story below.- Sean Griffin photo Guard dogs were used in attack on pickets Demands that the use of guard dogs be outlawed in a public place as well as criminal charges for assault have fol- lowed in the wake of attacks on striking Shoppers Drug Mart workers at the store at 13th and Granville. Charges of common assault have been laid against Robert Tully of Rent-a-Guard Canada Ltd. whose guard dog attacked and bit one of the strikers outside the store on Sunday, Feb- rurary 25. “This is just one ina series of incidents which show clearly that goon tactics have been intro- duced into B.C. inanattempt to intimidate strikers,’’ said Retail Clerks president, Rudy Krickan. ‘‘Other picketers have been manhandled or threatened — in one case with a three-foot length of heavy chain.”’ One Chinese pharmacist reported that he had been pinned up against a.car and referred to as a ‘‘chink.’’ Female workers have been subjected to obscene verbal abuse from the security guards posted at the store. The Retail Clerks Union has wired the attorney-general asking for an investigation into the operations of Rent-A-Guard Ltd., their personnel and tactics. Thecompany has allegedly been involved in scab-herding opera- tions in Ontario. But in spite of the intimi- dation at the store— managed by Robert Porte— the union pointed out that the ‘‘pickets have been maintained and are _ being respected by most of the -public.”’ DRUGMART STRIKEBREAKING HIT UIC investigation blitz | draws volley of protest Reacting to the federal gov- ernment’s latest campaign to slash thousands off the unemployment insurance rolls, delegates to the Vancouver and District Labor Council Tuesday night slammed the “‘investi- gation blitz’’ recently carried out in the Toronto-Hamiltonarea by the Unemployment Insurance Commission, a program soon to be initiated in Vancouver. The council endorseda formal motion urging the B.C. Federa- tion of Labor, in conjunction with the Canadian Labor Con- gress, to convene an emergency conference to protect claimants who may be victimized by the “unfair methods of the U.I.C.”’ In the disqualification proceedings carried out in Tor- onto and Hamilton, 20,000 claimants out of 28,000 were indiscriminately cut off bene- fits. “Can anybody believe that 20,000 out of 28,000 workers are cheats?”’ said Bill Stewart from the Marine workers. ‘‘They’re just being cut off holus-bolus with no hope of appeal, for even if all of them were to appeal, it would take some 10 to 15 years to process.”’ “It’s a great big snow job,”’ he declared, ‘‘the system cannot provide jobs and the unem- ployed are being made the scape- goat.” Railway and transport work- ers delegate, Tom McGrath, warned that the same thing could happen in Vancouver and Burnaby — where another “investigation blitz’’ is planned by the U.I.C. — unless swift action were taken to stop it. John Takach, Carpenters, challenged the commission to produce evi- dence of the jobs that were supposedly available. The council, inanother action, took a forthright stand on policies to guarantee jobs. Dele- gates endorsed the position of the CLC which urges the Cana- dian government to ‘‘make strong representation to. Washington” to prevent passage of the U.S. Burke-Hartke bill. The bill— which is presently before Congress — is a protectionist measure aimed at saving American industry at the expense of Canadian indus- try, particularly manufactur ing. The Vancouver council added to the motion its own position “favoring a policy of nationaliza- tion of Canadian resources and control thereof.” “ishermen’s delegate Hal ‘.riffin pointed out that the pro- posed U.S. bill was aimed primarily at manufacturing in Canada and suggested that the motion be strengthened by call- ing for government takeover of any industry in Canada which was threatened with shutdown as a result of the bill. A motion incorporating the suggestion was subsequently endorsed. In supporting the position of the council calling for a prin- ciple of nationalization, CUPE delegate Jack Phillips empha- sized that ‘‘what we are talking about here is the future of Canada. We have to decide whether we are going to con- tinue our servitude to the U.S. monopolies — where we are in crisisevery time Uncle Samisin trouble — or whether we are really going to be mastersin our own house.” The question of resources Labor and the NDP gov‘t EDITORIAL COMMENT The officers of the British Columbia Federation of Labor are still pondering over the question of whether to attend the proposed labor- management conference in Harrison Hot Springs in April. It is common knowledge that if a Socred or a Liberal govern- ment had proposed such a con- ference instead of the NDP government, the answer would have been ‘“‘no participation.” The Federation officers are no more enthusiastic about this get- together than they were about the proposed Commission on labor legislation, which was to be headed by a lawyer who is an active member of the Con- - servative Party. When the president of the Federation refused to serve on the commission; it died a natural death. Then, the Min- ister of Labor came up with the idea of a three-man advisory board that would advise the Min- ister on proposed changes in labor legislation. These ad- visors are sponsoring the Harri- son Conference. The big fear in labor circles is that the Harrison conference could end up asa farce. Key em- ployer organizations in the province have been invited to participate, along with the B.C. Federation of Labor, Labor Councils, the provincial Build- ing Trades Council, unions with a substantial membership in the provinee and the tiny, dis- credited Christian Labor Asso- ciation. What the Federation is con- cerned about is that the con- ference could present the appear- ance of organized labor as a house divided and that the presence -of the Federation could serve tocreateaplatform ~ for anti-union employer groups, splinter unions seeking a place in the sun by raiding instead of organizing the unorganized and a confusion of proposals. If the Federation does participate, it is a sure bet that the officers will expect every Labor Coun- cil and Canadian Labor Con- PACIFIC TRIBUNE—FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 1973—PAGE 12 gress union in attendance to unite behind the presentation of the Federation. This would min- imize the possibility of the trade union movement present- ing a picture of conflict and divi- sion to the provincial govern- ment, a government it worked so hard to elect. If the NDP government would honor its pre-election promises to remove all undemocratic and restrictive legislation from the books, in the same way that they eliminated the detested Mediation Commission, there would be no need for a nebulous conference. If, along with this it would move to replace the Labor Relations Board withper- sons less biased against the trade union movement, elim- inate the use of injunctions in labor disputes and make it easier to organize the unorgan- ized, it would go a long way towards building the alliance that is so necessary to defeat the attempts of big business and their parties to replace the NDP government by a govern- ment subservient to the dictates of monopoly capital. The Pacific Tribune proposes that the provincial government should forthwith declare its intention to honor its pre-elec- tion commitments to organ- ized labor by introducing the necessary legislation at this ses- sion of the legislature. It should bring down a Charter of Labor Rights in place of the Trade Union Act, guaranteeing the right to organize, the right of free association and assembly, the right to strike and picket and the elimination of injunctions in labor disputes. If this was done, the trade unionmovement would, in our opinion, be willing to wait a reasonable time for the introduction of a new Labor Relations Act and would find it easier to make its views known to government and to any ad- visors appointed by the Min- ister of Labor. Such action by the government would create a healthy climate for meaningful dialogue between itself and the key. representative labor or- ganizations in the province. The NDP government must cameup again in another tion presented by the exec council expressing full SUP if for the Land Act rece a duced into the Legislature Dave Werlin, CUPE 1004, 108 the numbers of radio com att tators and others whe ict : attacked the Act aS iif torial.’’ He commented thos “behind every one of if voices you'll find a bib developer.” (l “This Act signals the Be the superexploitation of @% and homeowners by ?} speculators,”’ he said, should congratuate the Lt. : a Kilt Another letter from Bil was received in the COUN jg) the still-unresolved dispY Denny’s Restaurant OF ay Broadway. King said ta had been in touch Wi of employees’ and was aw 2 the problems. ee But while King said that ‘“shared the views of th on injunctions’’ and thats tion would be given tothe? qe within the near future the gates and representative . we fired Denny’s employe” a were also present aati” meeting, found little com * in the fact. p In the meeting held Dei the Denny’s workers rede Federation, the B.C. ate tt tion pledged to invesUlBt aut) possibility of having the se tion lifted to enable the Pl jf to continue. Local 28 opt) em es =e a Ss Hotel and Restaurant ees Union agreed to a8 employees in finding | o through the shops undet jurisdiction. : Reporting on the prot the Shoppers Drug Mat ell now into its second Wee™ iol Clerks’ delegate Bria? pect stated that ‘‘there has oat bargaining on the COMP | art in the dispute.” ; 2 “They are. concenttatlig breaking the strike with Nedll that are being orchestt {phe the parent company east,’’ he said. | “These are clerks and Pi . cists who simply want ditt contract. Many of them . 3 know what a union ney aft months ago and yet met being subjected to vile {h? attempts at intimiday’ A were practised 30 years © ihe Even though only nine ail? stores on the lower of! are actually on strike; a ve" Shoppers Drug Marts 4 t considered unfair. in we “We're going to ge strike,’’ Denton said, watt ; need the support of a® people.” SSeS caiman learn sooner or late! aie sooner the better) that! ; oo union movement is N° NOP : clusive property of ae eae any other political P ay j must also learn that all” aglf movement is the best BN ety, 4 of consolidating and ©