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f Official Publication International Woodworkers of America, B.C. District Council No. 1

Vol, XIV. No. 21.

VANCOUVER, B.C., OCTOBER 8, 1945

SS" (854)

Parties Asked To Submit Views

The following is a statement forwarded
to the B.C. Federation of Labor by the
CCF Provincial Executive in answer to a
resolution calling for labor unity in
elections,

“The B.C. Federation of Labor has asked
this comittee to enter into conversations with
officers of the Federation and of the Labor-
Progressive Party, with a view to the divi-
sion of seats between the two parties at the
forthcoming elections,

The B.C. Federation of Labor is affiliated
with the Canadian Congress of Labor, which
at its 1943 national convention and at its

lutions referring to the CCF as the “political
arm of labor.” The proposal advanced by the
B.C. Federation of Labor has not been sup-
ported by a referendum yote of a single union
local in this province, and indeed the only
* union referendums on political policy in this

province have resulted in union affiliations
with the CCF. i

| The adoption of the B.C. Federation pro-

posal, if it were to result in the formation of
a government, could only lead to a CCF-LPP
coalition government, Such a coalition of
parties, divided by fundamental differences of
policy could only result in the chaos and be-
trayal of the interests of the working people
of this province, which the CGF avoided when
it rejected the invitation of the Liberals and

CCF Reply To B.C. Federation . Ze

last annual national convention, adopted reso- »

Conservative parties to enter into a coalition
government in 1941.

The Communist Party and its successor,
Labor-Progressive Party, have from time
to time during the last twelve years advanced
similar proposals, and the consideration which
the CCF has given to them convinces us that
their acceptance can only militate against the
development of a political party which faith-
fully advances and protects the rightful in-
terests of the working ‘people and leads the
way forward to a democratic, socialist Canada,
by democratic means.

The results of the recent federal election
prove beyond dispute that the LPP is incap-
able of attracting the support of enough
voters to elect a candidate, and even if given
a free field. Therefore if LPP supporters
really wish to bring about the downfall of the
capitalist coalition government, they must
support CCF candidates.

The present election brings forcefully to
the attention of labor the reed for labor unity.
At the polls the electors must vote for a
Coalition government, or a CCF government.
We believe that a CCF government will be
a truly labor government. It is for those
who deny this to show that the CCF in its
personnel does not represent the workers of
the field, office, and factory. It is for them
to show wherein CCF policies betray the in-
terests of the working people and wherein by
its acts the CCF has failed to serve those
interests faithfully and well. The political
unity of labor will be achieved in this province
by the organized participation of labor in
the formation of a CCF government.

Federation Officers Dissatisfied
With *Discourteous’ CCF Reply

‘The following statement was issued by the officers of the B.C. ——— :
Federation of Labor, following receipt:of CCF reply to unity plea:| @ffiliation with

any political

“Officers of the B.C. Federation of Labor, CCL, express sur-| Patty.

prise at the discourteous attitude of the Provincial Executive of

The officers of the B.C. Fed-

the CCF in their public rejection of the Federation’s proposal for] eration of Labor regret that the

labor unity in the forthcoming Provincial election.

“The membership of some 70
Congress affiliates of the B.C. | convention

tions whatsoever. hundred

executive of the GCF have seen
fit to reject our Convention pro-

oo # recommended that|posal to meet and explore the
Federation Labor have vary-|the delegates consider affiliation | possibilities of unity of all Jab
ing political affiliations and in|to the CCF, and with the exeep. | PSs ities of unity of all labor
many instances no party affilia-|tion of two’ locals out of two . a is
in British Columbia, | Such poliey being agreed to, with

in the coming Provincial election,

“The resolution submitted to | consideration for CCF affiliation | the assistance of the Vice-Presi-
our Second Annual Convention} met with disfavor. The Federa- | dent of the Canadian Congress of

by a local of the

‘anadian Bro-|tion’s business is conducted by a| Labor,

Alex McAuslane, that

‘therhood of Railway Employees, | representative form of govern-| Would guarantee a victory for la-
Boilermakers’ & Iron Shipbuild-} ment, namely—elected delegates | or and all progressive forces

LPP Replies But
CCF Has No Time

An effort was made by the officers of B.C. District
Council No. 1, IWA-CIO, to present to the members of
this union a two-sided discussion on the political: issues fac-
ing labor in the coming provincial elections. A letter was
sent to the leaders of two political parties claiming to rep-
resent labor in B.C., namely, the Cooperative Commonwealth
Federation and the Labor-Progressive Party. The Labor-
Progressive Party replied to the invitation and their sub-

mission is published in this supplement.

The following is the letter which was sent to the CCF which
is similar to the one to the LPP:

Mr. Frank McKenzie, Secretary

Cooperative Commonwealth Federation

7th Floor, Holden Bldg.

Vancouver, B.C.

Dear Sir:

At a recent convention of the B.C. Federation of Labor, to
which we are affiliated, a resolution was passed on labor unity
in elections. We are enclosing a copy of this resolution.

In addition to this, the Canadian Congress of Labor in execu-
tive session, Ottawa, July 27, 1945, adopted a program, a summary
of which is as follows:

1. The need of an immediate national policy on the
housing situation which will enable the construction
of low rental houses for the people who are néw in
need of same..

2. The need of a nation-wide labor relations code, uni-
form in design and principle, to be administered by
the Federal Government and to be drafted to conform
to the proposals as submitted by the Congress to the
Government some months ago.

3. The need of a national minimum wage law.

4. The need of a national basic wage structure.

5. The need of an equitable tax structure that will per-
mit the Federal Government to provide for national
health, proper old age insurance and all other phases
of social security.

6. The need of constitutional amendments to provide
that Canada shall be authorized to enforce Conven-
tions and recommendations of the Internationa] Labor
Organizations,

7, The need of a National Employment’ Service operated
by the Federal Government and made responsive to
the needs of the people requiring its services.

The Editorial Board of our official publication; the “B.C. Lum-
ber Worker,” is anxious to present to the membership of the Inter-
national Woodworkers of America in B.C., a clear picture of the
political issues facing labor in this coming provincial election.

In view of this, we are publishing a special supplement in the
next issue of our paper, in which we desire to publish the opinions
and the stand of your party and the LPP on the above points,
including the resolution on unity. We suggest an article of about
8,000 words; and would appreciate having.a copy at this office
by Tuesday, October 2. The paper will be published, Monday, Oct. 8

Trusting we may have your cooperation in this, and thanking
you, Iam

Yours very truly,
JACK GREENALL, Secretary.

odworkers of America, re-|chartered by the Canadian Con-
the unanimous approval] gress of Labor, and working
resolutions committee | within the Congress constitution,
relative to Provincial Federa-
tions, which is the accepted and
normal process of the legislative
arm of the Congress, Therefore,
because of the various partisan
opinions of our membership, we
cannot be directly connected by

ers’ Union, and International |meeting in annual convention, | ®ainst reaction,

. Signed on behalf of the B,C.
Federation of Labor, CCL,

DANIEL O'BRIEN, President.

HARVEY MURPHY, ist Vice-
President.

ALEX McKENZIE, 2nd Vice-
President,

HAROLD PRITCHETT, Secre-
tary-Treasurer.

WE APOLOGIZE

Editors of the B. C. Lumber Worker regret
that circumstances caused this supplement to be
one-sided and that it does not contain the broader
discussion we had hoped for. Page four was held
until the last minute for the CCF. Two days
longer than the original deadline. Mr. Mc-
Kenzie stated at the last minute that he had
been much too busy to prepare a statement.
Commitments in the form of advertising sold
forced us to go ahead and print the supplement

without their submission. |