THE LONG STRUGGLE TO ESTABLISH THE I.W.A. In this issue union historian Clay Perry looks at the turbulent 1930’s and the events leading to the founding of the I.W.A. in 1937. SEE PAGES 8-9, 14-15 LWA. Archives ¢ RACING TO THE TROUGH - are a collection of “corporate piggies” being prodded onwards by Executive Officers and affiliate members of the B.C. Federation of Labour during this year’s Corporate Tax Freedom Day. For story see page 16. ‘Hamilton Action Days’ see over 130,000 unite in march against Harris government or the second time in less than three months the ultra right-wing Ontario govern- ment of Mike Harris has en- countered growing opposi- tion to its anti-social and anti-labour policies. On February 23 and 24, a total of over 130,000 people marched in Hamilton against the Harris govern- ment in the largest political protest seen in the province’s history. A broad based coalition of unionists joined with social action groups, teachers, child care advocates, nurses, environ- mentalists, the clergy and thousands of citizens to protest against the de- structive actions of the Harris govern- ment. The first day of the organized protest saw over 25,000 people in the streets. On the following day over 110,000 people gathered in a firestorm of protest in the southern Ontario city. Bob White, President of the Canadi- an Labour Congress, told the massive crowd that “we represent more of On- tario than the Conservative Party ever has or ever will. Our concern today is about the social fabric of the country. I believe what you have started today will light a flame of protest that will spread across the country.” The Harris government’s mean-spir- ited attacks on the province's social programs and labour laws, while vow- ing to cut taxes, has inflamed the gen- eral public in the province. Fred Miron, National Second Vice President of the I.W.A., who attended the larger of the two day protest says that it “was a huge success beyond our largest expectations.” “If the Harris government doesn’t get the message that there is a very widespread opposition to its policies then there will be an escalation from this point onwards,” says Brother Miron. The protest saw union members shut down plants on the first day and then come out in larger droves on the second day. “Tm sure that his (Harris’) advisers will tell him that a gathering of this magnitude is not only disgruntled trade unions leading a protest.” Bruce Weber, President of I.W.A. CANADA Local 500, says that the labour movement is “sure getting sup- port from Ontarians from all walks of life.” : “People are talking about the social damage that the Harris government is doing the province,” says Brother We- ber. “This protest campaign is now be- coming a social movement in On- tario.” 1.W.A. CANADA members from Lo- cals 500, 700 and 1000 went to the protest in buses and cars, joining Sis- ters and Brothers from various union operations and labour bodies includ- ing the Brantford and District Labour Council and the Brampton and Dis- trict Labour Council. The gigantic days of protest named “Hamilton Action Days” coincided with the Conservative Party’s provin- cial convention. Hundreds of police officers dressed in riot gear and Continued on page two e OUT ON THE LINE - with OPSEU members in Etobicoke, Ontario are (left) Local 500 member and MBI plant chairman Hughie O’Donnell and National Sec- ond Vice President Fred Miron. Middle and right are OPSEU members Gus Panagiototopoulos, Earl McGibney and John Bogart. The I.W.A. members have supplied coffee and firewood to the strikers. Glen Clark wins NDP leadership British Columbia's party of labour has a new leader and is gearing up for the next provincial election. On Feb- ruary 18, Vancouver East candidate Glen Clark won the party's leadership election, thus replacing outgoing Pre- mier Mike Harcourt. Clark won a first ballot victory by gaining the support of 802 of the 1,132 voting delegates at the convention. Second place went to Corky Evans, the MLA from Nelson- Creston who garnered 234 votes. Long-time NDP MLA Joan Small- wood (Surrey-Whalley) finished third in the balloting with 67 votes while first-time candidates Donovan Kuehn and Jack McDonald finish fourth and fifth, with 23 and 6 ballots respective- ly. The leadership convention was a high-spirited event that served to revi- talize the party. In attendance were more than 40 members of the I.W.A. who represented working people through the union, labour councils and riding associations. 1.W.A. representatives unanimously voted for Glen Clark as the candidate best able to win an election against the Gordon Campbell Liberals and Jack Weisgerber’s Reform Party. “We believe that Glen is a leader which can unite the party and take us on to victory in the next election,” says I.W.A. CANADA National Presi- dent Gerry Stoney. “He now has the leadership qualities which are neces- sary to organize the NDP and keep it on track through the election.” Clark and the NDP are actively pointing out that Gordon Campbell has commited the Liberal Party to slash and burn $3 billion from health, education and social services. Those annual billion dollar cuts will amount to larger per capita cuts than those of the Mike Harris government in Ontario. Clark points out that such cuts would eliminate the province’s Phar- macare program, close one-quarter of hospitals, shut down all colleges and universities, stop highway mainte- nance and eliminate 25% of teaching positions. Most importantly, Glen Clark has shown respect and concerns for the rights of working people. A former trade union organizer from the work- ing class district of East Vancouver, Clark has played a vital role in the NDP’s current term in power. As a former Finance Minister and Minister of Employment and Invest- § ment under Mike Harcourt, Clark’s § record has been a strong one. Forty Ss percent of new jobs in Canada during g the last four years have been created « in British Columbia. Clark has lead the government’s building of the Vancouver Island High- way which has created union jobs for an estimated 3,300 person years of Continued on page two ae sememneeer ered pe a aes