He has been suspended from membership in the CGF for one year for his persistent advocacy ef a people’s front in BC. Many GCE clubs and members haye pro- tested his, suspension. Labor Seeks Waterfront Enquiry “The fo0vernment’s action in be- comings party to such a secret or- Sanization as the Shipping Federa- tien and rendering itself liable to a $1000 fine should be protested.’ de- clared Secretary Perey Benzougch When Vancouver Trades and Labor coune!] Tuesday voted unanimously to press for a royal commission to probe ramifications of the Shipping Federation. Action came after Secretary Ben- g0ush had read documents in which the ILA set forth problems faced by maritime and waterfront inter- national unions. Showler Asks Probe Referrine to the holding company recently formed by the Shipping Federation, Seeretary Bengoush Stated: “It is out to defeat every thing this council stands for.” Teamsters’ Delesate Birt Showler, adyocatine a royal commission, said he had no doubt that a link-up could be found between =the new holdinse company of the Shippine PFedera- tien and the Industrial council. City Council Asks Probe Too Alarmed at the volume of ship- Ping driven from the Port of Van- couver because of restraint of trade policies of the Shippine= Federation, Vancouver city council Monday de- cided to petition the federal covern- (Continued on page 2) See LONGSHORE Mine Workers Issue Appeal CUMBERLAND, BG, March 18— Appeal to men seeking work in the coal mines to stay away from Cum- berland until unemployed men resi- dent here haye been absorbed was issued this week by LMWA local 7293 through Secretary James Rob- ertson. “During the last four months,” Robertson states, “the local coal company has hired approximately 100 men. Now the company has started to fire some of them, even after these men have gone to con- siderable expense in bringing their families here. These men have all joined this local of the United Mine Workers of America. Therefore, every effort is being used to have these men rehired and the rotation system put into effect, which means that no men will be hired until all those rotating their shifts are ab- sorbed in regular employment. “When ali men are given steady employment notice will be pub- lished.” Children Help Defense Fund SALMON ARM, BC, March 18 — Pupils of Larch Hill school here last week held a party at the home of Phyllis Honey in aid of children of Spain. They have forwarded a donation to the Spanish Defence Fund in Vancouver asking that it be used particularly to aid orphans of Loyalists who have fallen de- fending their country against the Fascists. Donations to the Spanish Defence Hund acknowledged by the office in Vancouver are: F. McGregor, $1.20; Mrs. R. Dobbin, $2; Scandi- Mavian Central Committee, $15; Unit 8, CP, Extension, $2; Larch Hill school pupils, $1.80; W. Wil- liams, $10. B.C. Workers News FULL NO. 114 Published Weekly VANCOUVER, B.C., FRIDAY, MARCH 19, 1937 <== Single Copies: 5 Cents VOL. Ill. No. 10 Unity ‘Reason Given Action Follows Militant | Stand On Spain, Trotskyism GLENDAY SUSPENDED A political bombshell this weel Was the suspension for one year by the CGF provincial executive of A. M. Stephen, noted poet and author, chairnian of the CCF radio committee and provincial presi- dent of the Canadian League Asainst War and Fascism. To those aware of forces working: within the GCE, of serious disagree- ments within the executive on the Vital issués of Spain and actions of Trotskyists in the organization, sus- pension of A. M. Stephen was not altogether unexpected. With the question of the People’s Ifront, attacked by some executive members, advocated by Stephen. looming ever larger on the political horizon, saining erowing support among the rank and file of the CCF, a showdown was inevitable. Tt was generally aecepted that this showdown would come at the CCF convention next May, particu- larly with resolutions favyorine= some form of unity beings sent to the executive by some of the clubs. That Stephen’s advecacy of unity, his militant stand against Trotsky ist penetration of the CCE, his un- Swerving support of the People’s Front government of Spain, have embarrassed the CCE executive there is no doubt. Two weeks ago at a CCF execu- tive Meeting. Stephen took Sharp issue on the attempted sabotase by Ferguson, an admitted Trotskyist within the CCF, of the meetine here at which official delegates of the Spanish government spoke. (Fereu- : (Continued on page 2) See STEPHEN Union Signs Pact With Whalers VICTORIA, BC, March 18.—Fol- lowing a week’s negotiations be- tween Inland Boatmen’s Union of- ficials and the Consolidated Whaling corporation, a union agreement, Sivine substantial wage increases and improved conditions, was reached here Tuesday. Asreement, sivine full recognition to Inland GBoatmen’s Union, is bind- ing until September 30, 1937, and Will continue from year to year un- less either party gives 30 days’ notice to terminate or amend it. Under its terms deckhands and firemen receive wage inereases of $10 monthly; mates, $20; cooks, $10. Mull seale is: Deckhands, firemen, $55 monthly, plus bonus of $3 per whale; mates, $85, plus $8 bonus; cook, $70. Bonus applies to all erades of whales. Wage scale on the supply ship “Gray’’ is: Winchmen, $75; deck hands, $70; firemen, $85 oiler, $82 cook, $75; mess boy, $50. departure in the agreement calls vegetables and fresh foods were Signifying a new BE whaline fleet, for fresh fruits, meats. Pormerly the exception. Unien officials participating in the negotiations were C. S. Deal, president, Inland Boatmen’s Union of the Pacific; J. Maskill, secretary, Vancouver local; C. N. Coe, secre- tary, Victoria local. Premier Du pl @Ssis Throws =< Announces New Laws To Ban Communism sk Kk Down Challenge To Labor QUEBEC, Que., March #3 — Que bec’s Premier Maurice Duplessis this week threw down a direct challenge to all progressive people when he appealed to other Cana- dian provinces ‘to joint in a fight against Communism,’ while at the same time his “Act to Protect Que- bee from Communist Propaganda” passed its reading in the Que- bec legislature. ignored by Duplessis was the >of Les Jeunesse Patriotes, Le Parti Wational-Social Chretian and other Fascist groups. Instead, the premier announced the province would refuse to allow Communist candidates to contest elections, would ‘“‘padlock all centres where Communists meet,” would send police to break up Communist meetings and disperse “agitators.” Special legislation to this end will be introduced, he intimated, declar- ing He intended to outlaw all Com- rowing threat of Fascism in Pue- bec; ignored the growing boldness munist activity in the province. Advotacy Of] a militant stand and intend to main- tain it.” . * sk sk sk Railway Strike Looms As Vote Backs Union Stand ‘ ES OO) CCF Suspends A.M. Stephen Here's: 2 church shattered by italian and German bombs in Madrid. General Franco has de- clared he is ready to destroy Spain’s lovely capital stone by Stone (see story on page three). RIGHT are pictured British sea- men in Boston who chose fines and loss of their berths on the Linaria rather than take the freighter to Pascist-held Seville with cargo of nitrates. os LABOR TO BE REPRESENTED AT CONGRESS Trades heard Delegates to Vancouver's and Labor council Tuesday R. CG. Joliffe, representing the Youth council, eloquent Plea for support of the fortheoming Greater Vancouver and New West- minster Youth Coneress. “Youth is just beginnine to real- ize the value of organization,” Joliffe, tall, dark, fluent, told dele- Sates in asking that the council elect a delegate to the GConeress. “The youth of Canada is going to take a definite stand and intends to make itself heard,” he declared. “The Canadian government is £oing to know there is a youth moyemente in this country. The Youth Con- gress will endeavor to mobilize Canadian youth behind the proposed bill of rights for south.” Delegate George Bereoft (Carpen- ters), as youngest delegate to the council, was elected to attend the Youth Congress. make an Laundrymen F orm Union Organization of laundry workers in Vancouver is foreshadowed with decision this week of workers in four laundries here to form a Laundry Workers’ union. Laundries concerned are Pioneer Caseade, Dominion, Empire, all un- der the same management. At a preliminary meeting last week 43 of 47 present voted to form a union, and at a further meeting Wednesday this week attended by 165 laundry workers, including 55 women, all but a handful voted for a legitimate and against a company union. Wednesday’s meeting, it is under- stood, favored an industrial form of union. Application for a charter will probably be made shortly to the Trades and Labor Congress of Canada. Pioneer and Cascade drivers, it was reported, had been called in by the management when a company union had been proposed and re- jected. Drivers were promised an increase in wages if they joined the company union. Further meeting is to be called within the next two weeks at the ‘People’s Advocate’ Choice Of New Name For Paper First Issue Under New Masthead On April 2 We'd like to inform the one read- er who didn’t respond to our inyi- tation to suggest a new name for the BC Workers’ News that the name he would probably have sent in had he not neglected to do so might have been the name finally adopted this week by the editorial board. In other words, although we re- ceived an overwhelming (in more senses than one) response, nobody hit upon the name by. which this newspaper will be known after this month. We given you, then — the People’s Advocate, fastest srow- ing and liveiiest ef Western Can- ada’s progressive papers. Prize of one year’s subscription goes to Ken Clarke, of Vancouver, who came nearest with his sugges- tion that our new fitle be the Ad- vocate. We're still a little bewildered by it all. We’d go out of the office for a few minutes and return to find some enthusiastic reader had visited us in our absence, leaving as a token of his interest Gn 72-point letters) such suggestions as the Radiator or the Truth Seeker. It was quite disconcerting to come in at midnight after a meet- ing and find the Dawn stuck in our typewriter. We’ve been Onward and Upward and Forward with those inclined to such ideas, we've had all the stereo- typed names before us and some we would never have dreamed of, and our choice is the People’s Ad- vocate, under which masthead we shall appear in our issue of April 2. Union Signs Up Two Bakeries Two city bakerics—Woman's Bak- Firemen’s hall to rally all laundry |e™y and Brown Brothers—have workers behind the new union. signed agreements with the Bakers’ “Wages of laundry workers in | UNion, it was reported at Tuesday’s the city, in some cases below the minimum, have forced them to realize the necessity of organizing meeting of Vancouver Labor council. Trades ania 4s a result, sixteen employees of to improve their conditions,” one | Woman's Bakery and eighteen em- man stated Thursday. “Despite at- | ployees of Brown Brothers, have re- tempts at intimidation with a view | Céived substantial wage increases. to forcing them into a company Delegate Birt Showler (Team- union, laundry workers are taking | sters) reported that a campaign Was being started te orfanize truck drivers here. S Helena Gutteridge H. Gutteridge CCF Nominee CCE choice test the civic by-election day next, March 24, to fill the council made vacant by of Ald: is. DD: MeDonald, is Helena Gutteridge. Miss Gutteridge, long prominent in the labor movement and well known CCF executive member, un- successfully contested the last civic byelection for the CCF when she polled a large vote. She was chosen to CCF at a nominatine= Sunday over William Black Robinson, past secretary Other candidates ente Ald) HB. i. Corey, ex-City. Charles Jones, ex-Ald. W. W. candidate to con- Weednes- t on jeath Miss for represent the convention and =. Clerk Smith. BERLIN, Germany—All Berlin apartment house owners have been ordered by Nazi police to deposit keys to their buildings at the police Stations of their districts to permit full April 12 Is Set As Date Of Rail Strike Vancouver Meet Favors Restoration Of Pay Cut ONUS ON COMPANIES MONTREAL, Que., March 18.— Late press releases here indicate that, following overwhelming bal- lot to strike if demands for re- storation of the ten per cent ware cut are not met, April 12 may be set as deadline for calling of rail- Way unions on Strike. Union committee was reported to be meeting to consider plans for a strike in the event media- tion fails. sentiment among some 400 brother- hall Sun- for In line with railroaders across Canada, members of local railway hosds meeting at Victory day voted to uphold demands restoration of wage cuts. US railway employees had pledged Solid support if a strike were called, We 12k Kennedy, vice-president, Brotherhood of Railroad Employees, told them. “Every means will be used to Settle this thing peacefully,’ Ken- nedy said, “and onus of a strike will rest upon the companies.” Must Revise Position Kennedy showed that the pres- ent attitude of the’ CPR and CNR is to first look after the dividends to stockholders, a percentage of which lived outside 6f Canada, as well as fixed charges—then if there is anything left for the employees, they came next. “We must reverse this position,” said Mi. Kennedy. Railroad companies base wage rates on but this was entirely Using comparative nedy showed that proposed to gross revenue unsuitable. figures J