Page Eight

THE B.C.

é

LUMBER WORKER

November 15, 1943

British Trade Union Congress
Calls WorldjLabor Conference

LONDON, Eng—(ALN) — The
general council of the British
Trades Union Congress, at a
special meeting here last week,
voted to issue a call for an all-
inclusive world labor conference,
to be held in London in May or
June of next year.”

Invitations will be sent to the
central labor organizations of 38
allied nations, including refugee
European labor groups now in
Britain, to the Confederation of
Latin American Workers (CTAL)
and the International Federation
of Trade Unions, U.S. labor groups
to be invited are the AFL, CIO,
Railroad Brotherhoods and United
Mine Workers.

Representation at the confer-
ence will be based on estimated
membership, with a minimum
of two delegates. It is expected
that on this basis Britain will
have 14 delegates, the Soviet
Union 33, the AFL 14, the CIO
10, the Railroad Brotherhoods 3
and the UMW 4.

In addition to the separate
CTAL representation, each Latin
American country will send its
own delegates. Mexico is expected
to send five. Special importance is
attached here to the invitation
extended to the CTAL, which
hitherto has not been recognized
by the TUC or the IFTU.

INVITE CANADA.
Representatives will be invited

from central labor organizations
in Canada and the other British
Dominions and from the colonies,

including India, the West Indies,|

West Africa and Rhodesia. An ef-
fort will be made also to secure
representation of the -workers of
neutral countries, particularly
“ire and Argentina.

In a special statement to the
press, the general council de-
clared: “Sir Walter Citrine’s mem-
orandum to the council explained
the complications of convening
such a conference, but expressed
the view that these difficulties will
not prove insurmountable as the
conference will be for the purpose
of consultation and discussion of
matters of common concern and
mandatory decisions will not be
taken. On that basis, it is hoped
that all sections of the trade
union movements in all parts of

the world will be able ‘to par-!

ticipate.

“The suggested agenda for the
conference will include: (1) furth-
erence of the allied war effort;
(2) the attitude of trade unions
toward the prospective peace
settlement; (3) representation of
trade unions at the peace confer-
ence and at preparatory commis-
sions or conferences for relief,
rehabilitation and post-war re-
construction; (4) problems of post-
war reconstruction, including the
reconstruction of the international
trade union movement.”

British workers have enthusi-
astically welcomed the general
council’s decision to call a world
conference. —

APPLAUD DECISION.
“All those who appreciate the

powerful role that a united
trade union movement can play
in winning the war and the

will welcome the confer-
Jack Tanner, president of
the Amalgamated Engineering
Union, told Allied Labor News.
“The fact that all American trade
unions are to be invited is es-
pecially important.”

Harry Adams, president of the
Amalgamated Union of Building
Trade Workers, declared: “In com-
mon with all workers, I am de-
lighted that the general council
has decided upon the bold course
of calling a world conference. I
hope that, among other things, it
leads to greater unity among
American trade unions and to
the clearing. up of their position
with regard to international labor.”

‘The London News Chronicle
commented editorially: “If Citrine
succeeds in getting the Russians
and the two sections of the U.S.
Jabor movement around the same
conference table, it will be the
biggest thing in trade union his-
tory.” The London Mail declared:
“It will be difficult for any labor
organization in any country to
refuse to attend the conference.”

peace,
ence,”

Continued

and cheers of delegates when he
declared “there are many in Am-
erica who are labor's friends,” add-
ing “there is Franklin Delano
Roosevelt.” Watlace also lauded
the work of CIO’s Political Ac-
tion Committee, indicating a
growing appreciation by the Roose-
velt administration of the need for
independent labor action. Mrs.
Roosevelt who spoke after appear-
ing at a special banquet of the
CIO Women’s Auxiliaries, touched
off another burst of applause when
she told the convention that “My
husband asked me to bring you
his regards and good wishes.” She
stressed the great need for more
education throughout the land,
and gaye her personal impression
derived from her trip to the war
fronts of the South Pacific, that
while the soldiers understood bet-
ter than anyone else the great
need for production, they under-
stood some of the problems labor
was up against at home. Greetings
and assurances of cooperation
were received from President
James Patton of the National Far-
mers’ Union,

‘Two excellent and inspiring en-
tertainments were provided for del-
_ egates during the convention: the
first being “Army Night” at which
“restricted war films” that are

shortly to be made available for
Jocal union showings, were
screened and army, navy and air-
force war veterans, just back from
the fighting fronts told of some of
their experiences. Following a
banquet, Wednesday night, dele-
gates were treated to a preview
of the CIO musical show, “March-
ing With Johnny,” which is com-
mencing a tour of the country
shortly under the auspices of the
CIO War Relief Committee. If
you have an opportunity to attend
this show in your community be
sure and take advantage of it.

In conclusion, I am pleased to
be able to report that this Sixth

Annual Convention, the largest
and most representative the Con-

As an example of one kind of
financial help afforded the war
effort by the Empire, may be in-
stanced the leasing to the United
Kingdom Government by the
Royal Family of Tonga (an is-
land in the South Pacific) of a
site for an airfield of 546 acres
of “royal” land at a rental of one
shilling a year, with the five miles
of road giving access to it con-
Structed free of cost by the Ton-
ga Government.

gress of Industrial Organizations
has yet held, was the most united
and constructive convention I
hhave ever attended.

21 EAST HASTINGS

Vancouver, B.C.

10”
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Island Film Circuit

Against the white glare issuing from great forges, the American
soldier of the production front turns out the weapons of war. As
portrayed in THE ARM BEHIND THE ARMY, to be shown on the
Vancouver Island Industrial Circuit commencing November 2ist, tie
Picture is symbolic of the strength and overwhelming power in the
mobilization of the war workers of the United States. THE COMMON

CAUSE, another film on the same program illustrates in a very human
manner the basic unity among the ordinary freedom-loving people of
the world. This theme of unity in a divided world is further stressed in
HIGH. OVER THE BORDERS, the first film ever to .be made on the
migrating birds of the Western Hemisphere.

The schedule is as follows:
Sunday, Nov. 21 Courtenay, Bickle Theatre -

Monday, Nov. 2: .Fanny Bay, in ‘the Mill —
Fanny Bay, V.L.M. Camp —_.

Tuesday, Nov. 2
Wednesday, Nov. 24.
Thursday, Nov. 25.
Friday, Nov. 2

Franklin River, Camp B, in Hall 8:00 p.m.
Port Alberni, in B.S.W. Mill ___12:15 Midnight

Port Alberni, in B.S.W. Mill 12:15 Noon
Port Alberni, in A.P.L. Camp 1 7:30 p.m.

Port Alberni, in Victory Hall 8:00 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 28

Monday, Nov. 29...Great Central, in Community Hall —__7:30 p.m.

Great Central, in the Mill __ 12:25 Midnight
Tuesday, Nov. 3 Ladysmith; in Nicholson Hall — _—7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 1....1.W.A. Duncan, in K.P. Hall Evening

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