70,000 unionists represented at Hamilton conference >

Parley makes

.

2 LUT LLU cog! ATTIRE ARAN EECCA ee

powerful appeal for unity

HAMILTON

__- New and changed conditions internationally and at home have set the stage for a historic step forward towards all-in unity of Canada’s trade
Union movement and call for a dramatic unity crusade to heal the divisions in Canadian labor and bring its decisive organized force into action for
Peace, security and jobs. This was the challenging keynote struck by Nels Thibault, Canadian director of the 33,000-member International Mine-

ll and Smelter Workers Union, and main reporter to a Conference on Labor Unity held here last Saturday attended by 437 representatives for

ver ‘70,000 organized workers.

address.

i Responding to the rapid changes
1 the international and domestic
Situation and a deep-growing grass-
ie demand for united policies
Ree’ Part of CCL, AFL, Catholic
ieudicates and independent un-
A Ns, close to 40 speakers hammer-
‘ Out a five-point program, the
ae of a “unity appeal’ to be cir
i ped “in every plant, mine, mill

factory across the country,”
& Thibault said.

majbault, who delivered the

ed In 10,000-word report, was flank-

eS on the platform by C. S. Jack-

a of UE; Robert Haddow of Fur

adi Leather; R. Kent Rowley, Can-
Jan Textile Council; and Sam
apedes of the Canadian Garment
Orkers’ Union.

Pate Program included the de-
es nd for big-power talks on world
sa restoration of Canadian in-
Doreuence from. U.S. dictation of
ley and world trade; guarantee
He aan housing and health insur-
: €, Support for expansion of the
Re Market and projects like the
: awrence Seaway.
tho etsing that Ottawa had put
~ pevenicgn rights of Canada “in
as age to a foreign power” in
ce Pting U.S. domination of our
Nomic and political life, Thi-
Ault declared:
= ver since this dangerous poli-
ae making our country depen-
self upon the U.S. manifested it-
aga; our unions have spoken out
Ba it. At one time we were
is Y much alone. Indeed it was
ae because of our fight on this
manor that Mine-Mill, United
Cpa Workers, and Fur and
tor, €r Workers were expelled
nh the CCL. Today we are by
i, Means alone. Many have come
den ognize the harm that this
ty endence’ policy is causing to
f €conomy and other aspects of
r national life.”
chee . have called this confer-
our f he continued, “because of
em read conviction that peace, full
livin Syment, security and rising
ee Standards can be achieved in
aes We are at the same time
for Te that they have to be fought
Rance that one of the greatest
acles to the achievement of
Ce and security ‘is the present.

State of dj * é a
labor. disunity in the ranks of

a

‘ ‘We view our task at this con-
pence as being that of clearly
Monstrating the great poten-

The packed main ballroom floor of the Royal Connaught Hotel gave thunderous endorsation to Thibault’s ringing

or apes 59 |
ROBERT HADDOW
“Stretch out hand of friendship”

tials within our country and at
our command for the deveiop-
ment under conditions of peace
of the greatest period of expan-
sion and of increased welfare
and security that the people of
Canada have ever experienced.”
Working-class unity is the key to
unlock such a future for the Can-
adian people, he declared.
Speaking on world trade and
jobs, Thibault expressed his un-

UAW loeal asks
big-power parley

BRANTFORD

An immediate meeting of the
great powers to include “at least
Britain, the U.S., France and the
USSR,” was the unanimous de-
mand of the powerful District 26
Council of the United Automobile
Workers, representing 75,000
UAW-CCL members at its session
here last Saturday.

The resolution, submitted by
Massey-Harris UAW Local 439 of
Toronto, stated that “agreement
among the great powers is neces-
sary to world peace and prosper-
ous international trade and the
present uncertain international
situation and trade uncertainty
may play a part in the serious
layoff situation at present plagu-
ing the farm implement industry.”

Record crowd expected
at Scandinavian festival

atten seer crowd is expected to

sti the 18th annual Midsummer

vg eae in Swedish Park, North
Couver, on Sunday, June 28.

anational costumes of Norway,
Potk Sweden, Finland and

aha will lend color to the gala.

th bration, which is sponsored by

tee °@Ndinavian Central Commit-

|) SS aaee

Castle Jewelers

ween Watchmaker and
ENS Jewelers
fe Special Discount to
2 Noy ‘all Tribune Read-
RHA ers. Bring this ad
‘—~ with you

152 Granville St.

The picnic opens at 11 a.m. and
the program commences at 2 p.m..,
featuring Bellman’s Male Choir;
Grettar Bjornason, accordianist
and a newcomer from Iceland; Syl-
via Hagbloom, well known vocal-
ist; Arne Jonsson, who will lead
community singing; the Swedish
Folk Dance Club; and other num-
bers.

There will also be games of
skill, races for the children, and
dancing in the open air pavilion.

Competing for the. title of
Queen of the Festival are Helen
Vickson, Sweden; Elaine Fro-
seth, Norway; Rita Larson, Den-

mark; Elaine Johnson, Iceland;
and Thelma Vickstrom, Finland.

Guest speaker will be E. E.
Winch, veteran CCF MLA for Bur-

naby.

shakeable conviction of the need
of world peace.

“Tt is clear,” he said, “that the
great promise world trade offers
in jobs and security will never be
ours in’a world teetering on the
brink of war. Therefore we greet
enthusiastically the growing signs
that point to the favorable impact
on international affairs of the de-
sire and struggle of the common
people of all lands for peace.”

Conference proceeding were op-
ened by acting-Mayor Leslie Park-
er, who paid tribute to labor as
the creators of Canada’s wealth
and greatness. He was followed
by chairman C. S. Jackson, who
noted this was “the first occasion
on which the representatives of
the five unions had met for com-
mon consultation,” hailed the
conference as one which would
stimulate the entire trade union
movement.

Here are additional highlights
from Thibault’s speech:

@ “There are too many trade
union centres in Canada. We will
struggle on all levels for the unifi-
cation of the trade union move-
ment. We believe that the coming
about of one all-inclusive trade
union centre in Canada is the only
full answer for labor in meeting
its needs.”

. @ The working people do not
support raiding of one union by
another .... , a practice encourag-
ing big business to unleash its of-
fensive against labor.

. @ Signs of economic crisis are
fast appearing in the middle of
“feverish war preparations.”

@ Asaresult of the acceptance
of a role that makes our country
a follower of. American aims in
world affairs our government has
placed us in a dangerous and pre-
carious position.

@ We must force changes in
government policies that will get
our trade eggs out of one basket.
Trade with the U.S. can and should
continue, but on the basis of equal
rights . . . we must go out to
regain traditional Commonwealth,
markets. We must seek entry into
those markets denied- to us
through American dictation. These
are the markets of Eastern Europe,
the Soviet Union and China, mar-
kets which embrace one-third of
humanity. :

@ This is a federal election
year and it offers favorable op-
portunities to labor. Every can-
didate should be confronted with
labor’s program. Every candidate

should be asked to declare him- |

self on labor’s program and no
support should be given to any-
one who does not wholeheartedly
endorse the program of labor.
Local union political action com-
mittees can be of the utmost im-
portance in the period ahead.

@ Unions such as our own
should help . . . spark the fight for
a united Canadian trade union
movement and centre, and main-
tain fraternal ties with the labor
movement of all countries.

@ We feel sure that our discus-
sion and the actions we decide on
will find their echo in the coming
conventions of the various trade
union centres and will help further
to strengthen the fight of the
many pro-unity forces in the un-
ions affiliated to the CCL, the TLC
and the CCCL.”

Bob Haddow of Fur and Leath-
er received a standing ovation for
his declaration that despite the
fact Fred Dowling and Walter
Reuther had moved for his expul-
sion from the CCL executive

board, he was prepared “to stretch
out a hand of friendship to them,”
because rank-and-file pressure had
begun to work changes in their
policy to end the cold war.

“We should welcome that
their unions are taking this view
and go more than half-way to
meet them,” he stressed, urg-
ing that the main thing was not
differences in ideology but all
points of common interest now
being expressed.

Stan Robertson of UE Local 504,
Hamilton, spoke of an “impending
strike situation” at Westinghouse.

He referred to the traditional unity
spirit of the steel city leaving us
“both hands free to swing at the
company.” Hamilton’s experience,
he said, had shown that “unity
doesn’t just happen, you have to
work for it.”

George Harris, UE secretary-
treasurer, concluded the sessions
with an appeal for widest debate
of the conference’s decisions. “If
there are reservations about these
decisions we should not seek to

prevent their expression and the

sharpest disagreement,” he empha-
sized.

Real estate agents
fume as aldermen
pass housing plan

Just to make it “absolutely legal,’ Vancouver City Council this
week passed for the second: time the recommendation of building and
town planning committee to approve Central Mortgage and Housing
Corporation proceeding with the Little Mountain low-rental housing

project.

Youngsters
plead for
ball ground

“Please don’t let them sell out
our ball diamond,” was the fervent
plea sent to Vancouver City Coun-
cil this week by a group of
Grandview district youngsters.

The youngsters sent in their
petition after both School and
Parks boards said they had “no
use” for the property at Cotton
and Woodland Drive (former site
of Grandview High School of Com-
merce) and it was ordered sold.

Parents of the youngsters sent
in a petition also, pointing out that
it was the only local grounds avail-
able fore baseball and arguing that
“an injustice would be done if it
is sold for monetary gain or ex-
pediency.”

Property Committee’ will con-
sider the petitions when tenders
for the school site are opened.

Council originally approved the
move May 25, but Associated Prop-
erty Owners said it would contest
the decision in court on the
grounds that Alderman Bill Orr,
opponent of the housing scheme,
staged a brief walkout on that oc-
casion, leaving council temporari-
ly without a quorum. When Orr

was persuaded to return the vote:
was 3-2 for the project. This week.

it carried 5-1.

Corporation Counsel Russell
Baker said .repassing of council’s
decision will prevent any legal
action from blocking the project.

Delay in award of the final con-
tract has caused Pyke and White
Construction Co. Ltd. to lay off
15 men, it was announced by the
firm on Tuesday this week. Com-
pany president A.-J. Pyke said:
“Because we were advised our ten-

der was the most suitable and we.

would get the contract, we haven’t

been able to bid on any other

work.”

As soon as the contract is sign-
ed, Pyke added, his firm will hire
150 carpenters, 50 laborers and 100
other tradesmen, who will be kept
busy for the next 18 months com-
pleting the 244 rental units.

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eee

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VANCOUVER 4, B.C

PACIFIC TRIBUNE — JUNE 19, 1953 — PAGE 7

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