Page 4 — Saturday, January 13, 1945

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PEOPLE’S VOICE FOR PROGRESS

Published every Saturday by The People Publishing Com-
pany, Room 104, Shelly Building, 119 West Pender Street,
Vancouver, British Columbia and printed at East End
Printers, 2303 East Hastings Street, Vancouver, British
Columbia. Subscription Rates: One year $2, six months $1.

Editor Associate Editor
Cc. A. SAUNDERS MYBR SHARZER

Citizens Must Act

As we go to press the Streetrailwaymen’s strike is ending
its second day, and as yet no positive steps have been taken
‘by anyone to bring about a settlement. Statements emanating
from Ottawa, with veiled threats of government intervention
to take over and operate the transportation system in the three
West Coast cities, throw the onus back on the company and the
union in a not very helpful exhibition of buckpassing. Mean-

time war production is suffering and the whole city is dis-’

tupted because of transportation difficulties, and irresponsible
and misguided elements attempt to deepen the crisis by ad-
vocating a policy of non-acceptance of emergency transporta-
tion by war workers.

This absolute disregard for labor’s “no strike’ pledge is

noticeably led by the disruptive CCF elements within the
trade union movement.

Labor's ‘no-strike’ pledge is a solemn promise to the
armed forces and the nation. It is part and parcel of the
people’s war against fascism. Every deviation from it is re-
grettable and to be condemned, and the main thing to be con-
sidered in this present situation is resumption of full scale
war production as rapidly as possible.

Meanwhile the BCER Octopus adjusting its halo with
selfrighteous indignation, plasters the pages of the daily press
with quarter page advertisements, designed to present a pic-
ture of a long suffering and generous employer to the public.

The hypocrisy of the company's position is fully revealed
in the admission of a last minute ‘generous offer’ to the union.

After nine months of negotiations and n0n-cooperation,
including a cross appeal against the original four and a half
cent award of the Regional Board, the company, suddenly, at
the eleventh hour, when the decision of the men is already
taken, makes a tacit admission that the demands of the men
were justified by coming forward with a compromise offer.
Why was this not done nine months ago? If the company
believes, and we absolutely concur with the sentiment, “‘that
a strike under wartime conditions would be a catastrophe in-
volving not only stoppage of essential war production but the
actual loss needlessly of the lives of soldiers overseas,” why
did they not act long ago, in cooperation with the men, to re-
dress grievances and secure justified wage adjustments.

True, this strike should never have occurred. It could
and should have been avoided. The needlessly long period of
patience wearing negotiations could have been avoided. And
the BCER cannot escape the major responsibility for the
strike by stating that it is sclely a matter between the union
and the Federal government. This argument does not fit well
with its advertised assumption of ultra patriotism. ;

But recriminations will not settle the strike, will not
“Step up war production, nor yet settle the grievances of the men.

The situation calls for immediate action to effect a settle-
ment on which the men can return to work. In this emergency
the onus falls on every patriotic citizen to see that this is
accomplished.

A general meeting of all organizations in the city, trade
unions, fraternal, political and religious as well as veterans’
organizations should be immediately convened by the mayor,
for the.purpose of insisting that the present deadlock be broken,
that negotiations are resumed at once, and that all red tape
be swept aside in order to arrive at a fair and just solution,
to adjust the grievances of the union and resume transportation
services at the earliest possible moment.

Such a citizens’ meeting, bringing to bear the whole weight
of public opinion, will be more effective than 50 strikes in
getting rapid action from Ottawa.

This Week By Fore: McKean

EB SPITE of the widespread appeals to avert

it and last minute efforts of the Regional War
Labor Board to effect a compromise the strike
of the Street Railwaymen’s Union went into
effect at 4:00 am. on Tuesday morning. The
justness of the demands of
the workers affected is amp-
ly demonstrated by the wide
spread sympathy and sup-
port accorded them by the
public. The adamant atti-
tude of the company and the
Procrastination of the War
Labor Boards are the two
factors which are mainly re-
sponsible for provoking the
Street Railwaymen to re-
sort to strike action to se_
Cure redress of their griey-
ances.

The fact remain however, that every day the
strike continues war production is reduced in
volume and the danger of eyen more serious
curtailment of war production is ever present.

[RRESPONSIBLE elements in both the AFL

and the CCL unions have done their utmost
to utilize the strike of the Street Railwaymen in
order to precipitate a general strike. Prominent
among these elements have been many leading
members of the CCF. The tactic used has not

End The Str ike : CA. Saunders

(AS organized labor movement has had many

things to contend with in its struggle to its
present position in society. During the years*of
their inception every possible method was used
to crush the growing trade unions. Strike break-
ers, paid thugs, Pinkerton agents, lies, intimida-
tion, slander, and large gobs of the well-worn
“red bogey” were the main weapons used in this
unprincipled warfare.

The labor movement survived, through years
of unremitting struggle, through lockouts, strikes,
jail Sentences, clubbings, riots and outright
slaughter. It drew to its ranks the vast majority
of industrial workers, won agreements and con-
cessions, and eventually, just recently in Canada,
a recognized legal status.

The history of the rising power of organized
labor is revealing. Every trade unionist today,
especially those just entering the ranks, should
read and study the all too few books outlining the
days of militant struggle for union recognition.
And remember; this was the basic issue through-
out almost every one of the major historical
struggles of the industrial workers. :

Throughout the whole history of the struggles
of the industrial workers on this continent, from
William Z. Foster, organizer of the great 1919
steel strike, to our own Harvey Murphy, beloved
leader of the militant struggle of the miners ‘in
the Crow’s Nest, wherever the struggle was
fiercest, the danger greatest, there were found
the Communists, aiding and leading in the life
and death struggle to establish the organizations
of the working class. ;

Significantly enough, peruse the pages of
trade-union history as you will, the names of the
super-militants of today cannot be found.

yEs. the labor movement had many evils to

combat in the past. Most of these have been
left behind by the successful struggles of those
early days. Trade union methods and policy have
been lifted to a higher plane: but one of the
chief menaces to progress in the ranks of or.
ganized labor are the political opportunists who
sieze upon eyery crisis that arises, to serve the
interests of their own partizan political ambi_
tions

The role of these pretenders to the leader-
ship of labor has been abundantly clear during
the war years. How fiercely they resent every
piece of progressive legislation passed by a lib-
eral government. They are not interested in
improving the lot of the working man. They see
in liberal reform measures only a menace to their
own appeal to the voters. They feel that their
only chance of gaining power is in a period of
poverty, unemployment and despair. And. so,
feeling this way, they quite logically find them-
selves in a position where the objective result of
their policies would result in bringine this
“happy” state of affairs into existence.

This was amply demonstrated in their re-
action to P.C. 1003; of all the trade unionists
in Canada only those associated with the CCE
failed to recognize this legislation as a huge step

oi THE interests of

‘capital out of the struggle of these

Ws

i
td
¥
4
4

been’ an open call for a general
strike but to imsidiously spread th
any workers who accepted rides to 1
they had not formerly ridden in y_
acting as strike breakers. :

Such irresponsible, criminal, a
posals cannot be teo sharply conde |
proposals constitute nothing more
sabotage of war production under -
aiding the Street Railwaymen win —
To cripple war production by such #
spreading: the strike would not, in ¢}?
assist the Street Railwaymen but s
trary tend to turn public opinion —
strikers because of the crippling <
production. Secondly, such irrespons-
tion of labor’s “no strike”? pledge’ a
of union agreements could result
by (reaction on the entire trade ;
ment in B.C, - ;

5

the Street —

in the interests of an early victor:
and in the interests of the trade _
ment of B.C. every effort must be |
cure a just settlement of the strike ;
est possible time. It is the duty of
all sections of the people to use th
to see that the fullest possible p
maintained and to assist in securing
tion of services and of full produc
a just settlement.

forward, as a basis for the establish
and equitable legal status for the bo
union movement.

Today the trade unions are pre
submissions for amendment of +}
couneil. UWnoubtedly they will sucee;
several needed changes, especially i
to speed up the functionins of the

@

West is the role of the GCF it:

‘in the present struggle of th |
Wwaymen? fs it one of assisting in t} |
of the dispute? O#f obtaining spe;
redress for the grievances of the me
Is it one of confining the stoppage.
that vital war production continues
prosecution of the war will be ini
as little as possible?

Let one of these so-called labor -
for himself. Anyone listening in to <
casting station on Tuesday last, woul
a statement issued by one “Shaky }
representative of steel and a GG Wer
ment was issued presumably, prior
ing of the Vancouver Labor Council
contrary poSition was taken in 4
adopted. Even in this meeting as ¥
on another page, CCE highbinders
put over the same opportunistic lin’ |

Robertson, purporting to speak ,
and without first consulting his
advised workers who were in the he
to work on the streetcars not to acc |
mode of transportation. Any att)
guise this policy fails completely ©
Sinister meanings. At the best if is
to cause.a slowdown in ail B.C. we
its most probable and likely effec
through to its logical conclusion coul,
less than a general strike throughoe
ince.

Weer irresponsibility! What utt

for the welfare of the street
What absolutely reckless abandont
whole trade union movement! And +
Solely to try and squeeze the ut

Who js this man who pretends
the steelworkers, and I don’t heli
minute that he represents the op:
honest rank and file workers. He
pointed leader of an organization
than 800 in this province. Stack
the 20,000 loggers in the TWA, the’
smelter workers, and the thousands
workers, represented by the Shipy
Workers Federation, all of whom ha
contrary opinions. And this man a
issue statements in the name of the
face of the decisions of the Chicag¢
But this is tyvical of the trickery o
tical opportunists within the ranks 0;
is the kind of leadership labor must
is to avoid destruction and mare;
great destiny. =