B.C. LUMBER WORKER

9

IMPI

ESSIO
ICFTU SEMINAR

By JOE MIYAZAWA

NS OF

As the delegate nominated by the Canadian Congress
of Labor, I had the privilege of attending the International
Seminar of Worker’s Education, sponsored by the Inter-|and varied accents used, along
national Confederation of Free Trade Unions. Heretofore,

seminars of this type were always held in Europe, but this |
time the seminar was held in Calcutta, India.

The Seminar was held at the
Asian Trade Union College. This
College is sponsored and support-
ed entirely by the ICFTU and has
been in existence for some two
years. To the College come trade
unionists from all parts of Asia,
who for three months are taught
the many aspects of trade union
activities along with economics
and other allied subjects. The
Trade Unionists from the vari-
ous countries live together in the
College hostel and are taught by
the various leading trade union-

It was here that the delegates
from all the free countries of the
world met. There were thirty-!
three delegates representing
twenty-two countries. We had
delegates from Italy, France,
Belgium, the Scandinavias, vari-
ous parts of Africa, from the
South Americas, and from prac-
tically all parts of Asia, Japan,
Malay States, Pakistan, Thail-
and, India and the Phillipines.
Canada was well represented:
we had Gower Markle, Education |

Steelworkers of America, myself,
and a former Canadian in the
person of Jim Bury, former Sec-
retary of the Vancouver Labor
Council, who is at present on the
ICFTU’s working staff in Africa.

This was the setting and loca-
tion. It was extremely fortunate
that English was the language
to be used in all the sessions.
However, it did take a few days
to get accustomed to the many

with the realization of those of
us from Canada, that our pro-
vincialisms and slang were not
understood by others. But all in
all, we had no difficulty along
this line.
Workers’ Education

From the title of the seminar—
International Seminar on Work-
ers’ Education—we spent most
of our time on the subject of
Workers’ Education. The first
portion of our time was taken up
by lectures by prominent trade
unionists, such as Hans Gott-
furtch, Assistant General Secre-
tary, ICFTU; George Vidalenc,
from France; and others.

Then the seminar was split up

ists and professors of India. ; Director for Canada, United

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into three groups to study the
various aspects, such as scope
and content of workers’ educa-
tion, methods and techniques of
workers? education and agencies
and forms of organization of
trade union education.

These three groups met sep-
arately, discussed their own par-
ticular subject then made written

It might be said that we Cana-
dians took quite a prominent role
in the various groups, with both
Brother Markle and myself each
being Chairman of a particular
group and Brother Bury the Sec-
retary of one group.

I think it was especially signi-
ficant that we from Canada, due
possibly to the fact that the trade
union movement here in Canada
has done and is doing more than
most other countries of the world
on the question of education,
were able to give advice and
guidance to those other delegates,
who unfortunately, have not had
the opportunity because of the
lack of facilities. Nor the his-
torical or traditional background,
due to the newness of the move-
ment.

Disturbing Factor

The one very disturbing factor
that I noted at the Seminar,
which exists in varying degrees
throughout Asia is the very
theoretical and philosophical ap-
proach and attitude on all mat-
ters — in this connection trade
union leaders are no exception.
At the very outset of the seminar
this theoretical attitude was very
pronounced. Time and time again,
Asian delegates would speak, in
very flowery terms, about what

reports to the gathered assembly. |

trade unions should do in very
philosophical terms, in other
words ‘pie in the sky’ ideas.

They spoke at great length
about what the trade unions can
do and are able to do today, to-
morrow, or next year. Perhaps
again, we Canadians are prone
to be a little too practical in our
thoughts. However, in the final
analysis, I am glad to say, we
were able to inject some of our
practical ideas across, with the
result that the seminar did agree
that trade unions, especially in
Asia, should approach their many
problems in a practical manner.

It must be remembered that
this seminar was not a policy-
making body. However, the semi-
nar itself did make a number of
suggestions and recommendations
to the Executive of the ICFTU,
so that in their deliberations they
would be better equipped in for-
mulating the education policy of
the ICFTU. :

Outside Aid

We also spent some little time
on the question of economic de-
velopment of the economically
underdeveloped nations of the
| world. How best the countries
| could be developed. What outside
aid was necessary. What condi-
tions should be made, before ac-
ceptance of outside aid. The ques-
tion of mechanization. The
related unemployment problem
that would result through mech-
anization. Recommendations on

the topic were also sent along to
the Executive of the ICFTU. —

I think the biggest single im-
pression that I have of the whole

‘seminar, was the opportunity of

meeting the various trade union-
ists from all over the world. The
bull sessions we all had in which
we swapped ideas and exper-
iences, The educational value of
getting first-hand information
about conditions in the various
countries. The trade union growth
and political situations.

The impressions and ideals of
those trade unionists who come
from colonies of other nations.
Correcting their impressions of
Canada and Canadians. And fin-
ally, the hopes amd aspirations of
those trade unionists, who are
fighting an almost unsurmount-
able barrier to raise the living
standards of their people. And
finally, the undying faith they
possess in the free democratic
trade union movement.

Common Good

This Seminar proved one thing
to me: that working people from
all over the world, regardless of
their race, color, creed or religion
can get together in harmony for
the common good of all.

First impressions are always
lasting impressions, and first im-
pressions are always the kind of
impressions that motivate one in-
to doing something. My first im-
pression of India, where I ex-

BACKWARD

CONDITIONS |

perienced, both by sight and
smell, the utter poverty of the
great mass of the population.
Where I saw swarms and swarms
of beggars — men, women and
children—piteously begging for
something to eat,

Where at night, I saw human
beings lined on the sidewalks like
cordwood, sleeping—for one-third
of India’s population is homeless.
Where disease and sickness run
yampant—the life expectancy in
India is 30 as compared to 68 or
71 in Canada. Where I saw hu-
man beings exploited and treated
in a manner far worse than we
would treat a dog—for the human
life is the cheapest commodity.

When I witnessed all these, it
made me realize the importance
of what the ICFTU is doing to
develop and build the trade union
movement in these countries. It
made me realize that we in Can-
ada, must take a greater interést
in international affairs. I came
to the realization that we must

hand to those less fortunate than
ourselves.

Excluding the selfish economic
motives that we may have in giv-

CLL"—WHU MQ QI. OD on“ i
whe says so

in a practical way, lend a helping |

To get the facts straight, it’s
only common sense to be sure of
sources, to double-check for
accuracy. Province reporters and
editors have a reputation for
fair, unbiased reporting that makes
them respected wherever the

Province is read. It will pay you,
. too, to be a regular reader of

The Vancouver Province

ing assistance, the humanitarian
angle alone is, worth the effort
that we can and must put for-
ward. The vehicle to accomplish
this goal exists. Let us go for-
ward and expend just a little
more effort, just a little more
money to build a bigger and
stronger International Free
Trade Union Movement.
Random Impressions
The very large population. It
is very difficult for someone from
a sparsely populated country,
such: as Canada to visualize the
great mass of people. Where the
streets are just teeming with
people. The thousands and thou-
sands pushing and shoving their
way along the streets. The many
carts, pulled both by oxen and
men, the jingling bells of ‘the
rickshaws, the noisy horn-blow-

| ing of the taxis, the cries of the

hawkers, the entreating of the
beggars, the jangling. bells of the
streetcars and there in the middle
of the street stands the arm of
the law, dressed very immacul-
ately in whites, holding an um-
brella, directing the very disor-
ganized traffic. Add to all this
the sacred cows.

The sacred cow. @Vhile I had
sorne idea before arriving in In-
dia, that according to religious
beliefs, the cow was a sacred
animal, I thought that a few cows
were being kept here and there,
but upon arriving, no matter
where I went, I saw cows and
more cows. I later learned that
in India they estimate there are
180 million cows, that’s half a
cow for every person, for they
estimate India’s population to be
360 million. 7

These cows apparently do not
belong to anyone, foraging what-
ever they can. Being a sacred
cow, they have complete domin-
ance wherever they wander, For
example, the traffic was tied up
on the main thoroughfare of the
city, while two cows slowly am-
bled across the street.

While some of the more pro-
gressive thinkers are advocating
the reducing the number of cows,
it has not had any success, being
See “IMPRESSIONS” Page 10