CSU Brief Demands
New Shipping Policies

The Canadian Seamten’s

gtTowing demand from the labor and progressive movement
meet Canada’s needs,
comprehensive brief .containing the
the federal government.

for reconversion plans to
tion of ‘a’
mands on
determination of labor to secure
wartime gains and ensure poli-
cies in the recenversion period
that will aid labor in meeting
its immediate problem,

“Canada cannot look to pro-
duction levels of 1939 as its
norm,” the brief warns, under-
lining labor’s stand that postwar

economic policies must be based.

on perspectives of an expanding
economy coupled with full-em-
ployment. It points to expansion
of Canada’s economy as the ba-
sis for jobs, security, and re-
forms ensuring a decent life for
all. z

Stating “with the worst con-
flict in history over, Canadians
must now come to grips with
the problem of ‘achieving the
postwar life,” the brief demands:

@ A permanent merchant ma-
rine, based on a national ship-
ping policy for Canada.

@ An expanding Canadian
Economy, keyed to production to
meet the needs of war-devastat-
ed Europe and Asia.

@ The prospect of full em-
ployment. 2

A comprehensive survey of the
“role of the merchant marine dur-
ing the war and the prospect of
its continuance as a major part
of peacetime Canada’s economy
is presented. The brief points out
in its introduction that “with
limited population on the one
hand, and with our immense ag-
ricultural, raw material, and in-
dustrial resources on the other,
a vast expanding trade with the
peoples of the world remains
more than ever a fundamental
condition of our prosperity.”

The Seamen’s Union demands
a national shipping policy for
Canada, calling attention to the

Cabinet

industries, he could offer little
assurance that workers could ex-
pect any protection of living
standards from the federal gov-
ernment, and.a successful solu-
tion of the problem confronting
the government rested in the en-
actment of labor legislation de-
signed to hamstring attempts of
reactionary industrialists to
slash wages, smash unions, and
cut into wartime union achieve-
ments. .
Everything indicated, however,
that the B.c. delegation will not

\

permit federal authorities to
Side-step their responsibilities in
accepting labor’s proposals. If
wartime gains are to be protect-
ed, labor must gain support of
its demands. Otherwise, the

trade union movement must pre-
pare for the onslaught of reac-
tionary capital.

Union added its voice to the

with publica-
union’s de-
The brief reflects the

fact that Canada’s economic and
political independence hinges on
a permanent merchant fleet. It
warns that shipping combines
have been responsible for exor-
bitant freight rates, and points
out that only an independent
merchant marine can prevent
trade from being jeopardized by
monopoly practices. It states
that a merchant Marine will be
a necessary auxiliary to meet-
ing Naval obligations in the in-
terests of -world peace through
the United Nations Organiza-
tion. : e

The Park Steamship Company
ships are illustrated as the nu-

chant ships. It further proposes
Crown ownership continuing,
with private operation of ship-
Ping as a possibility. The brief
points out also that shipbuilding
and allied industries would prof-
it immeasurably by establish-
ment and maintenance of a Ca-
nadiah merchant fleet, and calls
for close collaboration through
the United Nations Organization
for development of postwar ship-
ping operations. ;
basic

The brief scores “the
weakness in Canada’s shipping
policy which stems from lack of

a “properly constituted marine
administration,” and demands a
complete revision of Canada’s
outdated shipping legislation
To protect the interests of
merchant seamen, the CSU de-
mands a guaranteed annual wage
to seamen, manning pools for
the purpose of providing crews
including a higher degree of co-
operation with the union than
has been past practice, and a
health protection program for

: seamen.

The brief represents a clear-
cut blueprint for the future of
Canada’s shipbuilding. The Ca-
nadian Seamen’s Union, through-
out the war, has endlessly sup-
ported the needs of anti-fascist |
nations in their war against fas-
cism, and demonstrates its de-
sire for poswar policies in ship-
ping that will guarantee Canada
maintains its position as a major
carrier of world goods. .

“Digger” Smith, West Coast
representative of the CSU, com-
menting on the submission of the
AFL Canadian Seafarers’ Inter-
national Union to the Ottawa
government, commented: “I am
glad to see that the Seafarer’s
Union is prepared now to sup-

(IN MILLIONS OF-POUNDS) |

0 OD sToc Ks IN GA NA DA a

ly4,1944  & July 1, 1945

i

cleus of a Canadian fleet of mer- :

port the demands that the Can-
adian Seamen’s Union has pro-

posed for some time past. It is
obvious that pressure from the
seamen themselves has brought
about the demand for action from
this union.”

= Pecan
bs

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CCF Reply Discourteous

Says Labor Federation

The following statement was issued by the officers of the B.C.
Federation of Labor, following receipt of CCF reply to unity plea:
“Officers of the B.C. Federation of Labor, CCL, express
surprise at. the discourteous, attitude of the Provincial Ex-
ecutive of the CCF in their public rejection of the Federa-
tion’s proposal for labor unity in the forthcoming Provincial
election. :
“The membership of some 70 Congress affiliates of the
BCFederation of Labor have Varying political affiliations
and in many instances no party affiliations whatsoever.
“The resolution submitted to our Second Annual
Convention by a local of the Canadian Brotherhood of
Railway Employees, Boilermakers’ €&§ Iron Shipbuild-
ers’ Union, and Internationa] Woodworkers of Amer-
ica, received the unanimous approval of the resolutions
committee’ which included prominent CCF Trade
Unionists,’ and was carried by the Convention—95 to
22.
of the CCF statement the
deration of Labor strictly adheres to Congress policy,
in which the convention recommended that the delegates
consider affiliation to the CCF, and with the exception of
two locals out of two hundred in British Columbia, consid-
eration for CCF affiliation met with disfavor. The Federa-
ton’s business is conducted by a representative form of gov-
ernment, namely—elected delegates meeting in annual con-
vention, chartered by the Canadian Congress of Labor, and
working within the Congress constitution, relative to Pro-
vincial Federations, which is the accepted and normal pro-
cess of the legislative arm of the Congress. Therefore, be-
cause of the various partisan opinions of our membership,
we cannot be directly connected by affiliation with any
political party.
The officers of the BCFederation of Labor regret, that
the executive of the CCF have seen fit to reject our Conven-
tion proposal to meet and explore the possibilities of unity
of all labor in the coming Provincial election, such policy
being agreed to, with the assistance of the Vice-President
of the Canadian Congress of Labor, Alex McAuslane, that
would guarantee a victory for labor and all progressive
forces against reaction.
Signed on behalf of the
DANIEL O’BRI
HARVEY MURPHY,

BCFederation of Labor, CCL,

= SWB — CANADA:

Freedom for India,
fhope that upon the ac.
of political freedom t%
try will freely choose
partnership in the
wealth was expressed
chéon of the Inter-Racj
ship Association and ©
couver Ministerial Ay
held in the Hotel Vance
ai. Stanley Jones, noteé: |
on Monday of. this we 5

Pointing out that rec.
tion of the war-ravag;.,
must be based on the -

portunity is the birth; E
all” and the prime esse
eliminating world strif
Dr. Jones scored dis,
tion against. Canadian ;_
erican-born Japanese ar
ed against its dangers
mitted to persist. He
out that many Japaney
in the armies of the Uns
tions during the war, ¢-
“we now have reason to he
of them.” t
He cited the case of ;
discrimination persisting ~
the Negroes in the :

United States, pointing ,
children, reciting their Dp
allegiance to the USA of
clude the pledge saying,'!
dom, justice and equality |
—but me.” Dealing furth |
the Negro question in th 3
Dr. Jones brought ont
casés of discrimination m7
in the Armed Services.
USA, and made a strong, °
a broader tolerance and -
standing of all people |
world is to pursue a pt
path. {

Urge Victoria |
Union Return |

A warning against be.
party to“any move that
dismember the trade union |
ment and possibly lead
establishment of company | 4)
ism was directed this we
three Vancouver locals aff)
to. the Shipyard General ay
ers’ Federation to dissider- 4)
ments in Victoria’s Boile: 4
ers and Iron Shipbuilders ~
Local No. 2. s

A section of the Victoria —
ermakers local since the -
months of this year has |
involved in a dispute wit =
Federation, which resulte -
the suspension of the exe.
of that local and the electi s
new bona fide officers at
ized to act in the name o #
union by the Shipyard Fe-
tion. At present, James ©’
President of the Victoria
ermakers is in Ottawa as
gate from the Victoria 7 z

Council and representativ: ;
the Shipyard General Wo.
Federation. :

The appeal of Vancouve
cals supporting the Feder:
Points to the need for Mort |
termined unity of the trade 1
movement in the face of Ss
gles facing labor, and ap
to the sincere trade unio
among the dissidents to
around the Federation.

SATURDAY, OCT. 6,