ES

5 Cents

SN oO ULES BC. SATURDAY, JANUARY 13, 1945

VA District Meeting

i on January 6 and 7.
58 delegates from | the |
3.G. locals, — representing
section of the woodwork-
dustry on the Pacific
the powerful voice of
B® woodworkers was heard
» problems facmg labor in
# riod in the most construc-
nited and mature conyen-
er held by the FWA.

IGHTS

‘ights of the convertion
4e serious participation of
Bes im discussion on the
| the vigorous and farsight-
a of the officers’ report
oy District President Har-
‘ritchett, the greetings
& by General Pearkes, and
ely talk on the ““No-Strike”
by Harvey Murphy repre-
>the Mine, Mill and Smel-
wkers Union.
® ral Pearkes, who received
tanding ovations from the
Ses, referred to the de-
(cy of the armed forces
those who work in indus-
Without your backing,” he
bd, “the soldiers certainly
{not have carried on the
) Successfully as they have
“This is not just a soldier’s
hl want in every sincerity
scx you for the splendid
Which you have put aside
m elf interests.”

inY MURPHY

bzine the greeting of the
s* Union, and of its presi-
‘Reid Robinson, Harvey

iy stressed the tremendous’

4

| of the trade union move-
im Canada, and especially
|
fant to say that our or-
sion has made as its num-
2 point, and we are just as
aS any union on this con-
the smashing of fascism,
© number one grievance is
§ Hitler and Hirohito,” he
adi

: haffirms 'No Strike’
ledge At Nanaimo

affirmation of organized labor’s ‘“‘No-Strike’
jitensification of non-partisan political action marked
|ccessful eighth annual convention of B.C. District No.
the International Woodworkers of America in Port

pledge

-furning to the history of the

‘organizin= of the miners, he de-

Seribed the part played by the
eld Western Federation of Min-:
ers and the tremendous ditficul-'
ties it had encountered. Although

it was smashed by the bosses, it|
had fought and its leaders had|!

mever sold out, and at one time it

was operated from behind prison |

bars.

FULL UNDERSTANDING

“Tn the face of SAS situation
today,” he continued, “im the “ace
of fascism, our mnion ce sip0d
by the ‘No-Strike’ pledge of or-
ganized labor and, I would say
this, with full understanding of
what the pledge means. We
fought and will atways fight for
the rights of labor and always
have fought for tke rigikts of our
country. —

“The record of the hardrock
miners and the movement tkat
TI am associated with proves that
we would never back down. Buti
we place first needs first. What’

CCF Attempt To Spread
Strike Condemned

Reaffirmation of support for organized labor’s ‘No-Strike’ Pledge was
linked with adoption of an executive-recommended resolution of support for

the ‘just demands”

of the street railwaymen at the regular meeting of Van-

couver Labor Council (CCL) this week. The resolution, offering support of
the Council to “whatever actions labor can take to bring about a speedy

settlement,’

fer Nesth Battleford.

ry

theatres of war.

Buck To Visit Europe;
Consult Labor Leaders

Tim Buck, the National Leader of the Labor-Progres-
sive Party, has today announced his intentions to visit
Britain and the Continent in the,mearest future.
Buck may be.accompanied by Mrs. Dorise Nielsen, M.P.
The National Office of the LPP
has today requested the TCA for the earliest possible re-
servations en its Trans- Atlantic air SETVACE,

Tim Buck intends te spend. some time in England
Where he will study postwar trade relations between
(Canada and the Commonwealth. He will also visit Cana-
diam servicemen in England and in the European and Italian :

Buck plans ‘to have discussioms both with govern-
ment and labor leaders while in Europe.

x

Mr.

Deadlock Persists In
BCElectric Dispute

No sign of settlement of the
street railwaymen’s strike “was
in sight at press time this week.
White hope for speedy settie-
ment was expressed by both CCL
and AFL unions. as well as ‘by
representatives of the BCER
workers, no moves te carry out
this aim had been made by goy-—

is the great question before hu-i
manity? It is victory over fas-}
asm as quickly as possible. And)
if we do one thine that prolongs
the war one minute longer we
are doing wrong.

LABOR’S WAR

“<The Jabor movement consid-
ers this war as its war. On the
outcome of this war is depen-
dent the very existence of the
labor movement and our right
te hold up our heads. For the
majority of the people of our
country the great CIO in the
USA and the unions of Canada
have given our  ‘No-Strike’
pledge. We have given it to the
government, to the employers
and to our own sons and brothers
that for the duration of the
war we will not strike.”

—Continued on Page 8

ernment, union or company.
Standing pat by the compro-
mise offer made on Sunday, at
a meeting with company and re-
gional war labor board officials,

|the street railwaymen had solidly
j{irozen the BCER transportation

system and announced that the
next move was ‘up to the BCER
and the government. ~

War industries were still oper-
ating close to normal and the
only serious result visible was
the closing down of many city
schools as teachers found them-
selyes disqualified from extra
gas coupons needed for their
transportation. It was hinted
that steps would be taken to
solve this problem.

Support for the workers’ just
demands came from all sections
of labor and the public, while

resentatives assured the rpublic
that no spread of strike -action
‘Was contemplated. Fear was be-
ing expressed, however, that di-
rectiives to workers not to accept
any form of transportation not
“usually used would prevent
mary war workers from reach-
ing their places- of work and
might seriously affect essential
war production.

Meanwhile the BCER issued
provocative press and radio an-
mouncements which attempted to
place the full responsibility for
settling the strike on the union
and the government, and indicat-
ed the company would make
every effort to capitalize on the
unfortunate situation.

Press reports indicated no im-
mediate action by Federal au-
thorities was expected before
the weekend. While this might
signify that public pressure had
not been concerted or effective
enough as yet, one report said
that Federal policy was- being
evolved but would not be applied
“until the time was ripe.” No

both GCL and AFL union rep-

explanation of the remark was
oifered. é

was passed with only one-dissenting vote after prominent CCF

delegates voiced opposition to
the pledge and moved to de-
lete any reference to it in the
resolution. This amendment
was thrown out by the dele-
gates after a long discussion
in which delegate atter dele-
gate rose to back the pledge as
a weapon which had been
successfully used by the trade
union movement ro both back
up the nation and the armed
forces in the war, and to gain
many substantial victories for
Pebor in the last few years.

" The resolution places “direct
Tesponsibility” for the strike on

| the BCER and the National War

Tabor Board, and asks that ne-

Sotiations continue “with a view
to an early and peaceful settle-
ment and urge the Federal De-
partment of Labor to meet the
just demands of the workers to
this end.” Continuing the reso-
lution states: “We urge the Wor-
kers to take all necessary steps
possible to bring about an early
conclusion of this strike in the
best interests. of the war effort
and of organized labor’s ‘no-
strike’ pledge, which we as a
Council adhere to,” and instructs
the VLC executive to meet with
the TLC executive and the strik-
ers’ advisory board.

BACK-DOOR METHODS

Outstanding contribution to
the discussion was made by [UM
MSW International Representa-
tive Harvey Murphy, veteran of
many ‘miners’ struggles, who
launched a slashing, ironic at-
tack, punctuated frequently by:
Eplanee! on those who would
have labor throw overboard its
‘No-strike? pledge. He charac-
terized the proposal to refuse
lifts as a backdoor method of
organizing a general strike
through preventing war workers
from reaching their work, and he
aroused uproarious laughter of
delegates, visitors and reporters
by his examples of how this
would work out.

“T don’t understand why these
delegates want to cut out the
part about the ‘No - Strike’
pledge,” he declared. “Why is it
so terrible? Why don’t they put
in: that they want allout strike.
That’s what they really mean.

“The first job today, not only.
—Continued on Page §