| “SECURITY AND FREEDOM” Vol. XIX, No. 73

» Oct. 5, 1950 Vancouver, B.C. 5e per copy MOSHER Board Usurps Unions’ Rights Charge of irresponsible usurpation of the workers’ hts to select a union of eir own choice by the La- bor Relations Board of Brit- ish Columbia was made by A. R. Mosher, in his presi- dential address before the Tenth Anniversary Conven- tion of the Canadian Con- - gress of Labor in Winnipeg, Sept. 25. Fire in the Plant Here are his topic: “One of the most disturbing features in the administration of labor legislation in the last year was the administrative acroba- ‘tics indulged in by the Labor Re- lations Board of the Province of British Columbia: — “By virtue of Section 3 of the Industrial Conciliation and Arbi- tration Act, the Labor Relations Board of British Columbia ‘has taken upon itself the right to de- cide in which union a working man is eligible for membership. “In order to accomplish this wholly superfluous and thankless task, the Board has gone so far as to demand the production of the constitutions of trade unions, and to determine whether or not the trade union has the authority to organize employees in certain industries, © “The Congress has stated its position in the matter publicly and in imequivocal terms. It is no part of the function of the Labor Relations Board to define the jurisdiction of trade unions. It is up to the employees to de- cide in which union they will be- long. “If there should appear to be any conflict as to which union en- joys the confidence of a unit of employees, the issue can, and should, insofar as the Labor Re- lations Board is concerned, be re- solved through the ballot-box: “In effect, the Board is substi- tuting its opinion for that of the sepivess, and to the extent that it is doing this it represents an irresponsible usurpation of the it of the employees to decide which union will represent them. See BOARD page 3 words on this WHAT'S INSIDE District Council Meets Oct 14 Quarterly meeting of the B. C. District Council, IWA, sched- uled for Oct. 14, will hear advice from two experts in their re- spective fields. IWA Director of Organization, Adolph Germer, will be on hand for purposes of consultation on organization problems. CCL-PAC Director Murray Cotterill has also been invited to attend, to outline plans recently prepared by the Canadian Con- gress of Labor with regard to political action. . ALSBURY WINS SEAT ON CCL EXECUTIVE Seat on the National Executive Committee of the Canadian Congress of Labor was accorded British Columbia by the Tenth Anniversary Convention, when J. Stewart Alsbury, IWA District President was elected. President A. R. Mosher and Secretary-Treasurer Pat Conroy were returned to office with large majorities. All vice-presidents were re-elected and only changes were in the Executive Commit- tee when two members did not run for office. In the presidential election, HOME AND or Greedy END EXPLOITATION AT CL Economic Declaration: ‘For Needy. Not F ) ABROAD Marking a milestone in Canadian labor history, the Tenth Anniversary Convention of the Canadian Con- gress of Labor adopted a “Declaration of Positive Economic Philosophy”. Sponsored by the CCL Execu- tive Committee, the statement was, in effect, a credo for the Congress. _, The statement made it clear that the Congress con- siders both Communism and Capitalism have failed to meet the needs of the people. The basic need is posi- tive economic action on a moral basis to relieve misery and provide the people with the more abundant living which is within the power of a country of Canada’s wealth. Democracy Menaced Purpose of the statement was outlined in this introductory paragraph: The Congress sees in the present state of world affairs a serious threat to the welfare of all democratic peoples. The world today is in a condition of chaos. The Congress has tried to. look objectively at the forces that are continually frustrating the aims and ideals of mankind, and we believe the time has come when a clear statement of policy should and must be made, if we, as work- ing. men and women, are to ism and its absolute failure to provide the people with filee- dom, security, or a decent stand- ard of living.’ Communism, seek- ing world domination, had re- placed truth and: morality with their opposites and had applied a ruthlessness the like of which had never been seen before. Basically, there are in the world today two great forces— one, the forces of dictatorship, represented chiefly by Commun- ism, and the other, the forces of Democracy. These two forces are engaged in a life-and-death Mosher polled 468 votes to 72 for Robert Haddow, Fur and Leather Workers. Conroy received 480 votes while William Stewart, Ma- rine Workers and Boilermakers Industrial Union, who contested the office had 81 votes. The three vice-presidents el- ected, with the number of votes, Clothing Workers, 519; Alex Mc- Auslane, Oil Workers Interna- tional Union, 494; C. H. Millard, United Steelworkers, 478. John Brown, United Mine Workers, Calgary, received 130 votes. Members elected to the Execu- tive Committee were: William Robitaille, Canadian Brotherhood of Civie Workers, Montreal, 574; George Burt, United Auto Work- ers, Windsor, 551; Fred Dowling, United Packinghouse Workers, Toronto, 521; Silbey Barrett, Dis- trict 50, United Mine Workers, Toronto, 514; Harry Chappell, Canadian Brotherhood Railway Employees and Other Transport Workers, Winnipeg; 491; Sam Baron, Textile “Workers Union, Montreal, 491; J. E. McGuire, Ca- CCL-AFL UNITY STEP A further step toward work- ing unity between Canada’s central labor bodies was taken at the Tenth Anniversary Con- vention of the CCL. The convention gave unani- mous support to a resolution call- ing for the establishment of “a joint national consultative com- mittee and co-operative council which will provide an opportunity for all bona fide trade union groups in Canada to formulate common policies in the interests of the workers and the whole legitimate trade union move- ment.” Central labor bodies were re- cently brought together in sup- port of striking railway unions. The Trades and Labor Congress at its Montreal convention en- dorsed the action of its officers in the railway strike and provided them with authority to continue co-operation on matters of mu- tual interest. In addition to co-operating with the TLC the CCL resolution envisages co-operation with the Canadian and Catholic Confed- eration of Labor and the Railway Brotherhoods. nadian Brotherhood Railway Em- ployees and Other Transport Workers, 475; Stewart Alsbury, International Woodworkers, Van- couver, 469; Freeman Jenkins, District 26,’ United Mine Work- ers, Glace Bay, N.S., 429. take our places and assume our in world that must be established on a basis of social justice. The statement went on to point out the rapid growth of Commun- moral responsibilities struggle. a | Communism is challenging the whole of the civilized world—its one aim is directed to securing . domination of «all nations. Re- See GREED page 3 were: Sol Spivak, Amalgamated |. B. C. Delegates At Minneapolis — Illustrated is the Cruiser’s Stag of pure virgin wool in mackinaw or kersey. Mackinaw plaids are either red and black; green and black, or blue and black, or favorite dealer. LOOK FOR THE NAME Notice the four large pockets in front, and the large pack pocket in back, which opens at both sides...a feature of both mackinaw and kersey garments. These are two of the many designs of “Pioneer Brand” clothing obtainable from your commissary Made in Vancouver, 'B. C., by Jones Tent & Awning Ltd., they are designed through careful study of the needs and desires of B.C. workmen. REGISTERED FOR WORK CLOTHING OF UNSTINTED MATERIALS DESIGN and WORKMANSHIP