LABOR Unity conference p Continued from page 1 those with a provincial mandate as well as single organizations based in the Lower Mainland. “This isn’t just a trade union fight or a public sector workers’ fight or a women’s fight — it’s a people’s fight and we’re all in- volved,’”’ he told the Vancouver District Labor Council. That note had been sounded by Catholic priest and theologian Father James Roberts at the union conference Friday when he told the audience that they, together with citizens across the province “‘must prove to Bill Ben- nett that he doesn’t have the majority of British Columbians behind him in his government. “We, the people who are the source of government, are the real moral majority whose voice must now be heard to curb the immorality of a runaway government which is turning violence on its own people,” he “We must gather together in a moral crusade to create the most effective coalition that B.C. history has ever known.” The conference itself was of major significance in launching that coalition. It marked the ‘first time in the federation’s history that every union in the province had come together to put their weight behind a federation program of action. ““We are here not to settle past differences but to launch Operation Solidarity,’’ federa- tion president Art Kube told the conference. “The attack that has been Iaunched by this government is an attack not just on public sector workers but an attack against all of us, organized and unorganized. “Tt is an anti-people attack launched by a government which is the handmaiden of the elite, and the most reactionary elements in the establishment,”’ he said. He emphasized that trade unionists had “no other choice but to fight back with every means at our disposal — and win.” To do that, he declared, ‘‘will require trade union solidarity and the unity of all those who have been attacked by the govern- ment.” And that solidarity was echoed by the conference as unionists threw their support behind the fightback program. : The Operation Solidarity program of ac- tion urged: @ That a Trade Union Solidarity Com- Packed meeting spurs coalition rally _ The Social Credit government’s legislative attack on the basic rights and freedoms of _ yirtually all sectors of B.C. society has pro- - duced an unprecedented unity as trade unions, churches, community and rights izations marshall their forces for a labor-led fightback. In Greater Vancouver, the newly-formed Lower Mainland Budget Coalition drew more than 150 groups represented by 450 people who packed the United Fishermen and Allied Workers’ hall in Vancouver Monday to strike a constitution and prepare for the first action, a demonstration in Van- couver Saturday. Elsewhere, the labor councils of Nanaimo and Port Alberni have met to form similar coalitions as part of the province-wide cam- paign launched by the B.C. Federation of Labor. In Vancouver, thousands of leaflets are being distributed and radio spots written for Saturday’s demonstration, which received RIBUNE READ Published weekly at Suite 101 — 1416 Commercial Drive, q Vancouver, B.C. V5L-3X9 Phone 251-1186 ® =H = B.C. Fed officers Mike Kramer {r), Art Kube and Jack Munro announce federa- tion campaign. mittee be established under the leadership of the B.C. Federation of Labor with “‘fair representation’’ from non-affiliated unions to mount “‘an effective fightback campaign against the vicious attack of government on social, economic, human and trade union rights;’’ @ That the trade union movement enter into a coalition with other groups such as churches, the unemployed, peace groups, tenants’ organizations, minority groups, small business organizations, women’s groups and others; @ That non-affiliates be asked to pay an amount equal to federation monthly per capita into a defence fund to finance Opera- tion Solidarity; @ That regional solidarity committees be set up which will build local coalitions, working with labor councils; @ That all unions hold meetings to. ac- quaint their members with the legislation and begin letter writing, postcard campaigns and lobbying; and that unions appoint delegates to local solidarity committees and “mobilize their members for mass rallies;’’ @ That the federation begin a ‘‘massive membership and public education cam- paign’” through media advertising, running for at least two months; @ That a first in a series of mass public rallies be held July 27; @ That the provincial Trade Union unanimous endorsation from the trade unionists, church people, community organizations and representatives of women’s and disabled organizations who jammed the UFAWU hall. The delegates, united around their anger at the legislation stripping human rights and labor rights from thousands of B.C. residents, elected UFAWU secretary- treasurer George Hewison chairman and CAIMAW’s Jeff Keighley secretary of the week-old coalition. Prominent among the crowd was Dr. Charles Paris, chairman of the disbanded Human Rights Commission, who in a brief but impassioned speech urged everyone to support the upcoming demonstration. The Lower. Mainland Budget Coalition will use ‘‘whatever pressure is necessary”’ to force the Socreds to withdraw the 26 pieces of legislation tabled with the provincial budget July 7, said Hewison after the three- ~ hour meeting Monday. ao 6b ence N82 0.86 0 26 TRAD ES oS OO .e 888 THE PAPER THAT FIGHTS FOR LABOR PACIFIC TRIBUNE—JULY 22, 1983— Page 8 , ledges fight Solidarity Committee make policy decisions with the B.C. Fed president designated as the chief spokesman for labor; @ That Operation Solidarity renew its mandate every 12 months through a delegated conference. One union leader after another rose at the conference to declare full support for the 10-point program. Jess Succamore, speaking for the in- dependent Confederation of Canadian Union affiliates, did state that he ‘‘could not endorse the program”’ in its entirety — because of the first point, a call for a four- year no raiding pact — but assured delegates, ‘‘we want to participate”’ (in the campaign). He added that the CCU “‘has no problems whatsoever’’ with the B.C. Federation tak- ing the leadership in the campaign and pledged to support ‘‘anybody who is fighting this iniquitous legislation.” As the campaign mounts, the question for many is what it will require to move the Socred government which already is without a mandate for its draconian actions. Fawkes emphasized labor council delegates Tuesday, ‘the pressure on the government is going to have to accelerate and it’s going to have to be greater and , greater.”’ : Federation president Kube said earlier that the solidarity committee would have to assess its tactics “‘as we go along”’ depending on the government’s response. Brushing aside some reporters’ insistent question, “‘when’s the general strike?’’, Kube emphasized that a general strike was not on the immediate agenda, that top priority would be given to building a broad coalition to oppose the government’s attack. “But when we’ve done everything by peaceful means and we’re still being forced against the wall, then I think there will be a lot of support for what further action we will have to take,”’ he said. : George Hewison, chairman of the Lower Mainland Budget Coalition, echoed Kube’s remarks at the labor council Tuesday. If the Social Credit defies the massive popular op- position and refuses to withdraw the legisla- tion, ‘then it may come to a general strike. “But if there is a general strike, it will be the most popular strike in the history of the province — and it will be successful,” he said. Hewison, who is also chairman of the Vancouver and District Labor Council’s unemployed committee whose initiative formed the coalition, told the packed meeting that ‘‘this legislation strikes at vir- tually every sector of society. Old people, women, the poor, minorities, senior citizens and trade unions are just some of the groups who will feel the impact. ‘The so-called silent majority are against the dangers of this legislation,’’ Hewison told reporters. While some people voted for the Socreds because they accepted the notion of restraint “people weren’t aware of the extent of the legislation the Socreds would bring down — the attacks on human rights, rents, medicare and the mass firings of civil servants,’’ he asserted. It is important, said Hewison, that the coalition ‘include people who voted Social Credit during the election, but did not vote for this legislation.” For that reason the participants at the meeting voted down acall for aspeaker from the NDP opposition at this Saturday’s rally. The B.C. Federation of Labor had also urg- ed earlier that the demonstration be non- partisan. The decision does not affect the member- ship of political parties in the coalition itself, Hewison explained. ‘“‘We’re out to prove that this legislation has nothing to do with restraint,”’ said Hewison, ‘‘and tactically the most impor- tant thing isto get maximum unity to get that legislation withdrawn.”’ Strike vote in UFAWU Shoreworkers, tendermen and fishermen’s sections of the Unit Fishermen and Allied Workers’ Uniot were conducting a coastwide strike vol this week after the B.C. Fisheries Association refused to budge from)) flemands for a wage freeze fot shoreworkers and price cuts fot fishermen ranging from 18 to 40 percent from 1982 levels. ie The vote results were expected to Dé |) jannounced this weekend. Shoreworkets voted July 15 while fishermen were voting over a nine-day period ending July 23: Tendermen voted July 20 and 21. — The strike mandate — and unily throughout the industry —is particularly criticial during the current round 9 negotiations since fishermen are thé proup targeted by the association for concerted attack. ; The price cuts sought by the associa” tion would roll prices back below 19 levels while fishermen’s costs for gear and || fuel have risen dramatically. The com panies, on the other hand, have enjoyed continuing high export prices — and pro" Local 40 loses bid The Labor Relations Board ruled Monday that Local 40 of the Hote Restaurant and Culinary Employees al! Bartenders Union was not entitled to a |) a certification in B.C. hotels — a decision which paves the way fo! } epresentation votes, conducted whe |; eral unions raided the local earlier this |) year, to be counted. The votes had been taken in thosé otels where any one of three raiding tno — the B.C. Hospitality Workels inion, the Canadian Hotel and Alliet Workers and the Canadian Brotherhoot | of Railway, Transport and General | Workers — had signed up 50 percent of more Local 40 members, but the ballot boxes had been sealed pending the oul ome of Local 40’s application for 2 | dustry-wide certification. 3 In a 28-page decision, the panel, head- | ed by vice-chairman Peter Sheen, ruled ithat since the Greater Vancouver Hotel ployers Association and several si otels were already outside the industtY” | ide bargaining conducted between thé |) C. Hotels Association and Local 4% at the application was inappropriate. It so ordered the ballot boxes opened and the votes counted. é It added however, “If the respondeft_ | trade unions obtain certifications fof ‘employees included within this applic” tion and resultant collective bargaining eads to industrial unrest in the industt) e provisions of Section 57 (of the labor e, permitting the LRB to impose # uncil of unions) are particularly wel suited to deal with any consequent tuh |) ulence.”’ The dispute over Local 40 was touch? ff last year when the Hotel ald estaurant Union’s international rem | the local’s democratic slate of office | dimposed atrusteeship. In the wake, the trusteeship, three unions launched raids on various units within the local The incident left considerable D ferness in the trade union movement fir because of the union’s reputed lack democracy and its international pres! ent’s alleged links with the Mafia, D because the raids were seen ragmenting union representation in dustry and weakening labor unity.