- Murphy, Carlin, McGhee call Steel raid at Trail concern of all unions The * ‘inside”’ story of how Charke Millard’s Steel raiders attempted——and failed—to win a blitz- krieg attack against Mine-Mill local 480 at Trail was told to a Vancouver audience at Pender Auditorium last Thursday evening by mine union leaders Harvey Murphy, Bob Carlson and Dave McGhee. “The blitz was defeated, but we still have a hard fight ahead,” said regional director Murphy. “If the trade union movement is smashed in Trail, every worker in British Columbia will suffer. But Mine- Mill is a tough Union, and we in- tend to win this battle. We've often fought the boss. It’s a new experience for us to have to fight against another union. But we rea- lize that the organized union-bust- ing and scabbery of Steel and the CCL brass is simply another one of the bosses’ weapons to behead la- bor. We'll fight back and we'll win. “What is more, Mine-Mill has no intention of letting the boss take advantage of this situation to des- troy wage gains won in the past. We're going after new gains this year when negotiations with em- ployers are opened, even if we have to fight with jackals like Mahoney, Millard and Gargrave snapping at our heels.” Murphy charged that the $50,000 paid by Millard’s United Steel Wor- kers for “jurisdiction” in the min- tonight,” smirked Billingsley. Murphy and Dave McGhee, dis- trict secretary, grabbed a plane for Trail. More than 500 smelter wor- kers packed the Legion Hall to hear them speak that night, and voted to expel the former execu- tive members and shop stewards who had deserted their posts. There was only one dissenting vote. The worker who cast it rose to explain his position: “I don’t want this vote to-be unanimous, or those trai- tors will be claiming the vote was cooked!” Dave McGhee choked over his words when he attempted to ex- press his contempt for the union- wreckers. “I haven’t much plat- form polish,” he told his audience, “and I find it hard to find suitable terms for this contemptible act of union on the auction block” and declared. that “we can’t be bought for $50,000." Castigating Millard, Cotterill, Mahoney, Gargraves and other CCL organizers who engin- eered the union raid, he said: “I can't remember Gargrave ever organizing one worker in British Columbia. But it seems to me that when a CCF member of the legisla- ture is defeated at the polls, he has to be put on the trade union pay- roll.” Bob Carlin, Mine-Mill board mem- |ber for district 8 and former CCF MPP for Sudbury, described the failure of Steel’s attempts to raid the 12,000-strong Sudbury local and declared that ‘‘our union will never be nailed to the crooked cross of a Millard-Conroy-Mosher machine.” At one time the basic principle of “They tried to put our Trail union on the auction block.” ing field was “money Syinned into | desertion on the part of the for- Canada by Philip Murray to des- | mer executive of local 480. _ troy our militant trade union.” Story of how the renegades who formerly led local 480 pulled their “sneak punch” against Mine-Mill was described by Murphy. had called the union office in Trail to discuss the sending of witnesses to a Compensation Bd. hearing on ‘silicosis which was sitting in Vancouver. Said R. C. Billingsley, the then president of the local: “We’ve gone over to Steel this morning.” “Who has gone over to Steel?” demanded Murphy. “The leadership,” re- plied Billingsley. “What does the membership have to say?” quer- ied the regional director. “They will read about it in the paper He- } 4 “Millard and his gang are sup- {posed to be saving us from the Reds like Harvey Murphy. Saving who? I’m a Catholic and a mem- ber .of the CCF, and I don’t need to be ‘saved’ by Millard. . “YT leave my religion and my politics at the door when I enter the union office every morning. I joined Mine-Mill in 1988 and I’ve always fought to build a strong union. Sure, we’ve had differen- ces Of opinion over policies on occasion — but I fight for my policies within the union — I don’t quit, and run out on my fellow workers.” McGhee ae referred to the CCL’s action in “putting our SUPPORT THE UNEMPLOYED LOBBY TO VICTORIA "PROMINENT SPE AKERS Auspices: Unemployed Action Association ig 339 W. Pender, Room 10 OPERATION PORKCHOPS Public Rally SUNDAY, MARCH 5, 8 P.M. Pender Auditorium 339 W. PENDER ST. the CCL was to organize the un- organized, commented Carlin, “That’s the principle Mine-Mill has always followed. Years ago Cot- terill and “Rubber Joe” Mackenzie surveyed the Sudbury area and re- ported to Millard that it would take from $30,000 to $50,000 in the bank before they could consider starting an organizing drive. But a little later Mine-Mil] went into Sudbury without a cent in the treasury — and today we have over 12,000 mem- bers in local 598. “Our union has never been con- trolled by the Liberals, Conserva- tives, Social Credit or LPP par- ties. It never will be controlled by the CCF. “Raiding is cannibalism, Tt1s \2 great tragedy that the CCL has degenerated to the point where it is doing a good job for the bosses. Workers everywhere must unite to smash this union-wrecking game; so fraught with peril for the work- ing) class.” Wells Ideal Cleaners | Work done at Working Men’s Prices 3840 Oak St. - BA. 3022 RESIDENCE 6875 CURTIS ST. GL. (2675-F ‘ ‘We Call for and Deliver — Phone Any Time | ‘Lochdale Credit Union Member Your Support Appreciated MINERS’ LEADER SCORES STEEL condemns Steel local in city Under the signature of Fred Horton, secretary, the executive of Local 3302, United Steel Workers of America, Vancouver, sent the following telegram to Mine-Mill: € “We send greetings to your union and wish to assure you that many steel workers in our area condemn raiding of any union and pledge support towards unity in labor’s ranks. believe that raiding can only weaken labor's cause. Your union has a fighting record in this province: and we sincerely hope you will defeat all attempts to destroy it.’ raiding We fort. the different unions.” Silby Barrett, Canadian director, United Mine Workers of America, sent the following telegram to Mine-Mill at Trail: “United Mine Workers opposed to the method which Steel has: taken’ in regard to raiding hard rock miners. United Mine Workers believe conference should be called. Make every ef- Can settle matter honorably through negotiations between ~ Slums cost more than new housing | ~ Over-all cost of maintaining the average city slum is far in excess of the cost of rehousing its inhabitants in decent conditions, Vancouver Housing Association charged in a gnemorandum sent this week to B.C. members of the legislature, outlining a housing program for the province. “Subsidized housing must be provided for low-income groups,” VHA brief declared, “The only al- ternative to subsidizing new hous- ing is to subsidize slums, as we are doing today in the form of higher police, fire, health, social and administrative costs.” Producing figures to uphold its contention that “slums are expen- sive—too expensive for us to af- ford,” the VHA document points out that incidence of TB per 10,000 population is 64 in the worst hous- -|ing areas, 87 in poor housing areas, and only 25 in good housing areas, according to a Toronto survey. In- fant mortality rates and the juven- ile delinquency rate zoom propor- tionately in slum aréas. Using facts uncovered in a Cleve- Jand survey, the memorandum shows that in slum areas, murders are 85 times that hy the entire city; social vice *~ 10.5 times greater; juvenile irioenes is 2.7 tithes that of the city as a whole; illegitimate births, 4.2 times greater and TB deaths 5 times the norm. As a result of such conditions, maintenance costs are much greater. Fire protection costs are seven times that of the entire city. Police protection per cap- ita costs are five-fold. TB con- _ trol costs*are three times as much. An adequate housing program requires three approaches, con- tends the Housing Association; low rental housing, slum clearance, and |: home ownership. Greatest need is for low rental housing, which is still not pee the attention it demands, “Since the Brovinolal Housing Bill will be introduced shortly, we urge that organizations which have not already done so, should’ make known their recommendations to the government along those lines as soon as possible. Organizations which have al- ready passed resolutions in favor of a low-rental housing program include Vancouver Housing Asso- ciation, Community Planning As- sociation of Canada, Vancouver District Council] of the Canadian Legion, Architectural Institute of B.C., Canadian Construction Asso- ciation, B.C. Federation of Labor, Vancouver Labor Council, Vancou- ver and District Trades and Labor Council and the pipevied Veterans Association. UNION HOUSE ZENITH CAFE 105 E. Hastings Street VANCOUVER, B.C. * the Affiliation question for members -- Herridge H. W. Herridge, CCF MP for Kootenay West and honorary member of Mine-Mill, told the Pacific Tribune he believed that the rank-and-file should have an opportunity to decide affiliation. “Official CCF policy through- out the yeas in matters of trade union jurisdiction and disputes has been that the decision in such matters rests entirely with the rank and file of the union concerned,” Herridge asserted. Pressed for an opinion on CCL raiding at Trail, the MP said he thought the whole matter “un- fortunate,” but he declined com- ment beyond his statement about the rank and file, Recognition of China urged by peace council PORT ALBERNI, B.C. A special meeting of Alberni Val- ley Peace Council sent two tele- grams to Prime Minister St. Lau- rent last week urging immediate recognition of the Chinese People’s Republic and condemning the U.S. decision to manufacture hydrogen bombs. Pointing out that recognition and trade with New China would con- tribute to the cause of world peace, the council referred to the wide spread unemployment in B.C. at the present time, which makes the question of trade also a question of jobs for workers in this province. Expressing “profound shock” at President Truman’s_ decision to make H-bombs, the council’s tele- gram said: “We condemn this decision and demand that. our government take immediate steps to stop all ship- ments of Canadian uranium to the US. until a clause is inserted: in the Canadian-U.S. contract stating that Canadian uranium shall not be used in the production of ato- mic Weapons.”, ‘The telegram, signed by council secretary Mrs. M. Wall, also urg- ed that action in the United Nations be pressed to ban atomic weapons. _ PACIFIC TRIBUNE — MARCH 3, 1950 — PAGE 2 .