Organized Labor Demands Unity ==

 Disunity Ope

_, Demand for unity “of all
Progressive forces to defeat
the Tory-Liberal coalition on
October 25 is growing among
all. sections of the labor

‘movement as union after
union supports the resolu-
tion of the B.C. Federation

.Of Labor convention: calling
for electoral unity between
the CCF, the LPP and all

: progressive forces; to present a

united front: to reaction in the
provincial election. :

: Following the recent conven
ction. of the ‘Labor-Progressive
» Party - the following letter “was
+ addressed -to all trade’ union! 1o
SGalsiers 282 to den: 2 :
*-* Dear Sir‘and Brother”

‘In view of the vital importance
of the coming provincial -elec-
tions, and the need for “labor

~ unity at’the polls to assure the
election -of a’ government in

hich Labor:can play a more de-
= eisive vole than hitherto, we are

“submitting for your information

-- a--resolution unanimously adopt-

--ed “at a- recent - session of our

'- provincial committee. faved

The resolution reads ag fol
lows: 7 : a :

Whereas: Only united action
on the part of Labor and pro-

_, §ressive forces can break the
“'Tory-Liberal coalition and pro-
vide British Colunibia with a
progressive coalition govern-
ment capable of leading the
People of this province in the
battle for jobs and postwar pro-
gress: :

Therefore Be It Resolved:
That the Labor-Progressive
Party reiterate its pledge to
strive for unity of ail labor
and progressive forces in the
day to day fight for jobs and
Security, and in the electoral
field. We welcome the proposal
of the B.C. Federation of La-
bor for unity behind the most
progressive candidate in every
constituency. WN otwithstanding
the refusal of the CCF to con-
sider any form of unity with our
party and other sections of the
labor movement, we shall con-
tinue to strive for unity in ac-

‘tion with the CCF within a
broader unity of all democratic
forces who must be rallied to
the battle for postwar progress.
Even at-this late date we again
call on the CCF to join’ with
other - labor’ and. progressive
elements in concerted: action to
break the Teory-Liberal coali-
tion and elect progressive-mind-
ed men and women to form. the
hext government: _. ;

Be It Further Resolved:
That the Labor-Progressive
Party proceed with the nomin-
ation of its candidates to carry
its program’ to the people of
this province and fight for in-
creased labor representation in

, the next legislature. Uabor-
Progressive . candidates will
continue in: the long and sus-
tained struggle - of - cur party
for genuine working unity
which alone‘can move into ac-—
tion the combined forces of the.
people capable of ensuring a.
progressive victory.

While it is. not: our. intention
that your union. should make any
commitments ‘at this. time. on the
_respective merits’ of the CCF: or
the LPP, we do beliéve that ac-

union in the coming elections
would aid ‘in breaking down the
adamant “go-it-alone” isolation-
ist policies of the GCF: in this
election, which can only result
in weakening the forces of La-
bor in the great problems of
peace-time reconstruction which
confront all of gs.

Wishing your union every suc-
cess in its daily efforts and trust-
ing that you will. give this reso-
lution your serious consideration.

TOM McEWEN,
Provincial Chairman,
Labor-Progressive Party.

Support for this position has
been registered by local labor
councils: ‘and Trade Unions. The
letter from the Victoria council
stating in part, “we welcome the
position taken by the Labor-Pro-

the CCF” was printed in a pre-
vious issue of the’P.A:. ~~:
THE UNITED FISHERMEN’S
UNION LOCAL AT LADNER
writes: “Our membership feels
that only through the fullest co-

the CCF will’ there be any pos-
sibility ~ that’ the reactionary
coalition will be defeated and that
a truly progressive government
will be elected.”

SHIPWRIGHTS, .JOINERS
AND CAULKERS UNION: ..
“Our union, the :membership
of which does not hold allegiance
to any one political party, but
which has supporters of differ
ent parties in, its ranks, feels
that no party has the right to
claim an electoral monopoly ...
Unless the LPP and the CCF
each recognize the right of the
other to participate in this elec-
tion and arrive at a united slate
with only one candidate in each
riding then we will only be re-
peating past mistakes .. .”

BOILERMAKERS AND IRON
SHIPBUILDERS, LOCAL 11
unanimously endorsed the reso-
lution of the B.C. Federation of
Labor and in a press statement
said in part: “A statement was
submitted to our meeting by the
LPP approving the proposal of
the B.C. Federation of Labor for
electoral unity. We hope the CCF
will take a similar position in
this matter.”

CANADIAN SEAMEN’S
UNION

in a_ letter
state:
unity at the polls we can drive
reactionary elements out of the
government benches into opposi-

requesting unity,

‘tion benches.”

Dock and Shipyard

in a letter addressed to the LPP
state: “We strongly urge that
no effort be spared in achieving
electoral unity between the left
wing parties in the pending Pro-
vincial election. We firmly be-
lieve that only through the forg-
ing of unity on both the légis-
lative and economic fields can
we hope to stem the rising tide
of reaction that now threatens
the very existence of the basic
organisation of the working
class, our trade unions. In con-
clusion the organised workers of

the Dock and Shipyard Workers
union again urge the sinking of

narrow partisan party differ-
ences of the left in.-order to de-
feat the coalition .of. reaction |

tive interest on the part of your

from the. right.’

PACIFIC ADVOCATE — PAGE 6

rea ee FY,
a Peas

gressive party and ‘would ~ feel-
more’ optimistic if we-could re=}.
ceive a Similar resolution: from:

operation between the:.LPP and.

“We feel sure that with}

NATIONAL UNION
OF OPERATING ENGINEERS
“Your resolution was endorsed
at our meeting, September 30.
We hope that the desired unity
will be attained to defeat the re-
actionary coalition party in the
forthcoming provincial elec-
tions.”

HOTEL AND RESTAURANT
WORKERS EMPLOYEE
UNION
resolution reads as follows:
Whereas only united action
on. the part of labor and pro-
gressive forces can break the
_Tory-Liberal Coalition and
provide British Columbia with
“a progressive coalition gov-
ernment capable of leading: the
people of this province in the
battie for jobs, and postwar
- progress; oe ie
_ Therefore be it' resolved that
the Hotel and‘ Restaurant Em-
.ployees’, Union, Local 28, at
“their “r’e gular, membership:
meeting, held Monday, October
1, 1945, petition the two major
labor parties campaigning: in *
the coming B.C. provincial el-
_ection, meet together with the
‘-purpose of taking the initial
steps for unity of all labor and
progressive forces in the day
to day fight for jobs and se-
curity.-in' the’ electoral field.

VANCOUVER DISRICT METAL
AND CHEMICAL

WORKERS UNION

has addressed the following let-
ter to Harold Winch, provincial
leader_of the CCF. .

Mr. Harold E. Winch,.

Provincia] Leader,

Cooperative Commonwealth

Federation,

712 Holden Bldg.,

Vancouver, B.C.

Dear Sir:

At the last genera] meeting
of Local 289, Vancouver Dis-
trict Metal & Chemical Work-
ers’ Union, a resolution was
passed by unanimous vote urg-
ing reconsideration of your
party’s decision to reject the
labor unity resolution of the
B.C. Federation of Labor.

Our Local union views with
consternation and extreme re-
gret your refusal to accept the

_ Proposals of the B.C. Federa-

tion of Labor, which call for
the establishing of electoral
agreements between the Co-op-
erative Commonwealth Federa-
tion and the Labor-Progres-
Sive Party toe ensure a selection
of candidates who will work in
labor’s interests and. avoid
splitting the vote. The Labor-
Progressive Party has. en-
dorsed the proposal, and in
view of the Critical situation
facing labor at this time the
membership of our union would
welcome similiar endorsation by
the CCF.

JAMES MAGGS, Chairman,

Political Action Committee.
These are a few of many si-

Milar letters and resolutions on

the same subject which have been
endorsed by local unions all over
the province.

The feeling is growing in the
ranks of the trade union move-
ment that the CCF is betraying
the cause of the workers by its
adamant refusal to discuss unity
with the Labor-Progressive
party. In many cases unions have
not. even been favored with a
reply to: their request that the

CCF state. their position on this

jin part:—

ns Road To Reaction
Unity Negotiations
At Comox Meeting

By TOM McEWEN :
letter from the CF constitter -

In reply to a
tee of Comox to Local 1-363

in Comox,

“At the recently held conven-

tion. of the B.C.n Federation
of Labor,.:. to which our
union is affiliated, a resolution

: Sete sy sae
one progressive candidate, an
appealed to the CCF and the

around a single candidate. Our |
union fully endorsed. the above
‘resolution. .., | eae
.s We deplore, the, fact that at
this crucial time, labor should
senter. this... election _with | split.
‘ranks, which can only assist in
the election of a coalition candi-
date. F

We earnestly appeal to both
the CCF and LPP candidates
and committees to meet at the
earliest possible moment to con-.
sider a manner in which the la-
bor movement can support one
progressive candidate in _ this
constituency. If this apparently
simple problem could be settled
satisfactorily, we are sure that
our membership would give their
undivided support to such a can-
didate. If- our committee can ke
of any assistance in bringing
about the initial meeting of the
two parties, we will only be too
pleased to do so.”

On Wednesday, October 3, the
committees of both parties met
in the IWA headquarters in
Courtenay. The CCF was rep-
resented by C. Newman and
Chas. Widen of Courtenay; John
Cameron and R. Aitken of Cum-
berland, and Kierstead of -Danny
|Bay. The LPP committee con-
sisted of Andy Hogard of Sand-
wich, Ernie Anderson, Royston;
Jim Frame, Bevan, and Tom
McEwen, LPP candidate for
Comox, and member of the B.C.
Provincial Executive of the LPP.
Both committees unanimously
agreed that Jack Higgins, TWA
secretary, act as chairman:

In “keeping with the unity
spirit of the IWA letter, the LPP
stated that they were ready to
withdraw their candidate and
throw their whole support be-
hind Colin Cameron provided he
was prepared to oppose the
anti-unity policies of the CCF,
and go all-out to bring about
the unity of all progressive
elements in the constituency,
thereby assuring the defeat of
the reactionary Tory-Liberal
coalition. Further, that Cam-
eron would undertake to re-
frain from his anti-Soviet con-
tributions in the CCF press
and publicity, which only serve
to give comfort to the fascist
elements in B.C. and. else-
where, who seek to precipitate. -
hostility and war against the
first Socialist State . . . the
USSR. If Cameron was ready
to adopt a CCF-Unity policy
and attitude, which would
make possible the unity of the

vital quéstion.

t the IWA endorse Golin Cameron, ;
the political actic

Y

4
a

IWA-CIO at Co-

was adopted urging unity around |.

LPP to meet and discuss elec- |
toral unity in each constituency | ..
und -by the CC#
| “explained” “that
-authority to.

gressive middle-ct |
in line with the 4°
posals of the Be |
of Labor, »the:
“readily support.
and labor>:and:
Comox i= would «gs
= Oct as

deals” .=— ‘ ai
‘such proposals woul
tion of CCF rank |
ocracy,” ete., etc.

The only “propos :

committee had to x}
the “LPP to get a
Comox to Cameron,
the LPP were s ©
unity they “could jt }
Members of the Ct
sought to create i
that, the unity resc
B.C. Federation 0°
similar resolutions
unity from AF of
unions were “an HE]
ther than stemmir |
genuine desire of-
workers for politic
Seeking to avoic
breakdown in GG
negotiations sponse
1-865 of the IW
committee propos
CCF committee shi
opportunity to dist |
further with the G
and in the event ¢
ing another meeti
LPP weuld be rea
ate. This was te
cepted: — +
Steve _Fedichen, |
the IWA-Political |
mittee, attended tk i
the joimt CCF-LP:~
server on ‘behalf |
union.
From the recer -
of Harold Wine;
leader of the CCF,
indication that the —
unions of B.C. oi 4
Progressive Party |
any immediate suc {
efforts towards eli 4
When the LPP rg
met with Camero
treated to a barra
“Unite with whe
Cameron. “John Ca &
dent of the Cumbe }{
will be with me o: &
form;” implying tl °-§
unions of Comox j
the CCF to a man §
and urn” ranted jf
don’t give a dam j
pens.”” a
The LPP remin¢ 7
that those who |
unity must bear =@
sponsibility for 21
tained by _ Labe
struggle for prog
ernment and posi

Ln OL

ie Aja iNET ig WSR gS Fem Linpblas Ut dlSIL So Ale dna!

major trade unions, ‘the CCR,

SATURDAY: OCTOB

ity.