Se aaa a ae
Se a a ae eee een ee a LS

ORM

The highlight of a Labor Far-
“~smer Picnic. held at Milner on
Saturday, September 30 was a
public meeting held in the ev-
ening addressed by Pat O’Neil.
B.C. Federation of Labor; Wm.
Symington, Packing House
Workers Union, and Walter
Jenson, Farmers Union.

Several examples were given
of how those selfish monopoly
interests force the price to .the
farmers down and at the same
time sell the processed goods
to the consumer at the highest
possible prices.

Several examples were given
of this robbery of both farmer
and labor. Here is one exam-
ple: a farmer sold his peas for
$80 a ton, but when they were
processed by the canner the
same peas sold to the consumer
for $900 a ton.

Wm. Symington made it
clear that with a streng United
Farmer’s Union working in
close alliance with organized
labor, such a_ barefaced rob-
bery of both producer and con-
sumer could be checked.

Jensen pointed out that as
well as being robbed at the
point of production, the farmer
is caught in a cost price squeeze
where he has to pay high mon-
oepoly prices for everything he
buys while the wages paid to
workers for these products on-
ly constitute a fraction of their
actual costs. 2

Pat O’Neal, dealing with the
ever mounting tax problem at
all levels of government, said
these increases would continue
until the people called a halt.

-He stated that one of the bas-
ic reasons for the continuing
inerease in taxes is the billions
of dollars that have been chan-
nelled into the coffers of the
armament trusts. The most re-
eent example being the spend-
ing of one-third of a billion dol-
lars to increase Canada’s NATO
and NORAD contributions and
increase the size of the armed
forces. :

This picnic was an excellent
contribution to the furtherance
of better understanding be-
tween workers and farmers.

We Have an Excellent

Cleaner

for

Dental Plates

LLEWELLYN

IDR. R. DOUGLAS
| SUPPLY CO.

HONE DOLLAR POSTPAID
1712 Robson, cor. Granville |
Suite 3 MU 1-4022
Vancouver 1, B.C.

‘We buy ae, =
USED FURNITURE
SPORTING GOODS

We are reasonable.
~ ‘We are at
573 E. HASTINGS ST.
Beaver Transfer
MU 3-3942

A. SMITH

Expert Watch &
// Jewelery Repairs

®@ Special Discount to
Tribune Readers

1179 Denman St.

MU 2-1948 or MU 5-8969

U.S.W.A. in B.C.

While the strike has the
complete support of organized
labor in B.C., many questions
are being asked around as to
its conduct.

Here is a brief history of the
dispute:

Westeel Products has opera-
tions in Winnipeg and Saska-
toon under contract to the
United Steelworkers Union,
and one plant in Calgary under
contract with the Mine Mill
and Smelter Workers Union.

The Winnipeg and Saska-
toon operations, where the
wage levels are approximately
35c an hour below the Van-
couver rate, signed an agree-
ment with the national office
of the United Steelworkers
Union holding the line on
wages. The workers in the
Vancouver plant were faced by
the company with a demand
for the elimination of rest
periods, statutory holiday pay
and weakening of the seniority
clause.

The Vancouver workers, left
to battle the company alone in
the Steel Union, decided to
strike rather than _ sacrifice
hard-won conditions. In so do-
ing they overruled the express-
ed wishes of the officials of the
Steel Union and took over the
course of the negotiations
themselves.

On September 15 each of
the striking workers received
a letter from the company in-
forming them that they were
fired and if they wished to re-
apply for employment their
application would be consid-
ered.

’ Here is a quote from the let-
ter:

“T have been informed on
‘good authority that the irre-
sponsible actions of the offi-
cials of Local 3229 in calling
a strike have not been en-
dorsed by the officials of
District 6 of the United Steel-
workers of America...”

we have built up with the Uni-
ted Steelworkers of America a
relationship of mutual trust
and confidence, and my com-
ments in this letter are not di-
rected to responsible leaders
of this trade-union, but are
directed to the leaders we have
recently had to deal with in
Vancouver.

“The Company does not
wish to sever the relationship

| that exists with the United

Steelworkers of America. The
Company, however, is anxious
to make certain that if there
are any future dealings with
Local 3229 in Vancouver that
these dealings shall be of a re-

“We feel through the years|~

FARM Questions need answering
in city Westeel strike

By WILLIAM STEWART
On August 24th 80 workers at the Westeel Products,
members of the United Steelworkers Union, downed tools
in a legal strike, the first in almost ten years for the

sponsible and mature nature,
similar to the dealings the
Company has enjoyed with the
representatives of other lo-
cals.”

Boiled down from polite
company gibberish to under-
standable language the mean-
ing is roughly this: “We have
always been able to get along
with the top brass of the Steel-
workers Union—Local officials
(worked in the plant) how-
ever, have interfered with
the gentlemanly conduct be-
tween us and the top officials
of the Steelworkers Union. We
cannot tolerate such a condi-
tion, therefore you are fired.
If you agree to come back to
work for us and accept the
wise council of the Steel offi-
cials and agree not to strike
our plants any more, we will
rehire you. If not you are un-
desirable.”

It is not the purpose of this
account to agree or disagree
with the interpretation the
company places on its relation-
ship with the Steelworkers
Union. Certainly, however, it
would seem that a clear state-
ment from the Steelworkers
national leadership and from
the two sister locals: in Saska-

toon and Winnipeg are needed |};

to clear up the air.
Such statements pledging
full support for the strike, full

support for the local’s leader-};
ship, and parallel action by:

the other two locals if neces-
sary, would lift the confusion
surrounding this important
struggle and strengthen the
battle immeasurably.

Also up for answer is; why
has no action been taken at
this date against the company
firing of its employees while
on a legal strike?

This is an almost unprece-
dented action and should call
for the widest protest and ac-
tion by the entire labor move-
ment in B.C.

Pritchett urges

It asks that council take

for cuf in power, gas rates

Vancouver Ciiy Council has been asked to press the
B.C. government to reduce power, light and natural gas
rates to homeowners and industry, provide a more adequate}
public iransit system with reduced rates, and reject the
request of the B.C. Power Commission for a fiat to sue
the Government for 114 million dollars. i

In a letter to council, the Greater Vancouver Committee |
of the Communist Party, over the signature of Harold
Pritchett, draws attention to the fact that the savings accru:
ing from the income tax exemption makes it possible 10] —
immediately cut the rates for light and gas bills. 1G

the above proposals before the provincial government either
by a delegation to the cabinet, or by communication.

city to press

the necessary steps to bring

—

A group of Vancouver Citi-
zens .who recently returned
from.-an extensive tour of Cu-
ba this summer, have formed
a Canadian-Cuban Friendship
Committee.

Mr. Alexander Storm, Chair-
man, stated the Committee’s
main purpose was to portray a
true picture ot what is happen-
ing there.

FORM CUS8A FRIENDSHIP CTTEE.

The members of the Cana
dian-Friendship Committee will ©
be available to speak and shoW ~
color-slides to groups and OF =
ganizations in the Lower Main:
land, and give reports of devel-
opments in today’s Cuba.

For further information
please telephone program dir-
ector. Mrs. Rankin at Trinity
2-2128 or MU 4-6668.

et,

PRIOR GARAGE
& SERVICE

219 Prior St.
MU 38-2926

“COMPLETE AUTO
SERVICE & REPAIRS

Auto Body Work

LEE, ~Proprietor

OVALTINE
CAFE

251. EAST HASTINGS
Vancouver, B.C.

QUALITY SERVICE

“Ryverything in Flowers”
FROM
EARL SYKES

56 E. Hastings MU 1-3855
Vancouver, B.C.

a

Granville Island
B.C. Automotive

Service Co. Ltd.
Granville Island, MU 4-9819

Complete auto-truck service.
Storage facilities for lease-

Wally Sklaruk M. Nychka

ame SO

Annua! Masquerade Ball —
Saturday, October 14, 9 p.m.

VALLEYVIEW COMMUNITY HALL

(Grandview H’wy—next to Municipal Hall)
Dancing — Prizes — Good Food

Admission — $1.25
Everyone welcome.

Dress Optional

—

E€LASSIFIED ADVERTISING _

NOTICES

BUSINESS PERSONALS

COMING EVENTS

DEADLINE FOR COMING
EVENTS COLUMN — Al
copy must be in the Pacific
Tribune office no later than
Monday, 12 noon.

DURING THE CURRENT CIR-
CULATION DRIVE THE ‘PT’
OFFICE WILL REMAIN
OPEN ONSATURDAY
FROM 10 A.M. TO 2 P.M.

LEARN SPANISH — Practical
Classes. For further informa-
tion call Delores at CY 8-4752.

COMING EVENTS

ROOFING

& SHEET METAL

REPAIRS

Duroid, Tar and Gravel
Reasonable
Gutters anc Downpipes

NICK BITZ BR 17-6722

__Enjoy a SOCIAL
Oct. 7 EVENING at the
SHEARDS’ — 808 East 58th
Ave. Sat., Oct. 7th at 8 p.m.
Hear a commentary on CUBA
with slides. Good food, danc-
ing and games, refreshments.
Everyone welcome.

_. Special film show-
Oct. 15 ing ‘‘SALT OF

THE EARTH” will be held on

SUNDAY, OCT. 15 at 7:30 p.m.}

in the PENDER AUDITORIUM
—339 West Pender St. Admis-
sion by collection. Everyone
welcome.

Series 2
COMMUNIST VIEWPOINT
ON THE NEW PARTY
Hear JACK PHILLIPS
of the Civic Workers
Thurs., Oct. 12, 8 p.m.
EDMONDS.
COMMUNITY HALL
7468 Edmonds St.
Question Period

. All Welcome
AUSPICES — Edmonds
Club, CPC.

BUSINESS PERSONALS

|PEN DER LUGGAGE — 541

WEST PENDER ST. —Brief-
cases & Portfolios, Billfolds.
Hand-tooled Handbags, Flyte
bags, Trunks & Binoculars—
-all sizes. See me or Fhone
MU 2-1017.

O.K. RADIO SERVICE —
Specializing in TV repairs.
Latest precision equipment
used. 1420 West Pender St.
MU 4-1012.

REGENT TAILORS LTD. —
Custom Tailors and. Ready
to wear. For personal serv-
ice see Henry Rankin at 323
W. Hastings St., Vancouver
3. MU 1-8456.

October 6, 1961—PACIFIC TRIBUNE—Page 10

%, TRANSFER — 1424 Com-
mercial Drive. Call Nick, AL
_ 30727.

HASTINGS BAKERIES LTD:
—Scandinavian products @
specialty. 716 East Hastings
Street. Phone MU 4-9719.

HALLS FOR RENT

ity

CLINTON HALL, 205 East
Pender. Available for bat=
quests, weddings, meetings,
etc. Phone AL 3-3611.

RUSSIAN PEOPLES’ HOMS
—Available for meetings,
weddings and banquets at
reasonable rates. 600 Camp
bell Ave. MU 4-9939.

—

_ PENDER

AUDITORIUM

(Marine Workers) |
339 West Pender .
Phon? MU 1-9481 r

Large & Small Halls
for Rentals