UU UL by Aol ‘Say, how do | get the same welfare officer you have?’ For the last few days we have been treated to a series of arti- cles in our big metropolitan daily, The Toronto Star, on the subject of “workers power” in European industry. Star staff writer John Doig has visited the capitalist part of Germany, Swe- den and Britain to study “co- determination,” “industrial de- mocracy” and various forms of. so-called‘ ‘worker participation” in management decision-making under our system of state-mono- poly capitalism. We have even been told that Britain is prepar- ing to embark on a new phase in employer-worker relations — a kind of modern-day industrial revolution. As John Doig puts it: “British employers are not lacking in lip service to the moral appeal of worker participation. It’s the prospect of a practical shift in _, power that disturbs them.” In- deed, it is a question as to whe- ther or not the capitalist kind of so-called industrial democracy can bring about practical im- provements in productivity and profits. Whether or not it can pacify the troubled British indus- trial scene, win the trade unions for a policy of class collabora- tion in place of class struggle, and prevent them from using their enormous economic power to curb the monopolies and move over to political struggle for a socialist Britain. Political, Economic Power It is a pity that John Doig’s study of European industrial re- lations did not extend to the German Democratic Republic — the socialist part of that coun- try, where the working class is in possession of political as well as economic power. A compari- son of labor conditions in the two German States — one so- cialist and the other capitalist —would have been most instruc- tive and helpful in terms of an alternative way cut of the mess are likel PACIFIC TRIBUNE—FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 1970 ee 4 . BY: BRUCE MAGNUSON ‘LABOR. SCENE Democracy on the joh— BY BRUCE MAI How can it be won? we find ourselves is under mon- opoly capitalist rule. This would have been most important in combatting the con- fusion which:a bankrupt and in- creasingly immoral social system seeks to sow in the minds of young workers concerning the role of unions andthe working class in our world of the 1970s. For it has to be remembered’ that organization is what gives the workers power. Without or- ganizations — be they unions or working class political par- ties — the workers are power- less. Without organization, workers are nothing but indivi- duals, subject to the influence of the capitalist class and its or- gans of power and influence. But with their own organiza- tions workers become a power. Fostering Illusions It is also vital to recognize the fact that the struggle of the working class is not only econo- mic, but political and ideologi- cal. This is something which has often been overlooked in North America because of certain his- torical factors fostering illusions about our economic and politi- cal system. A certain traditional political neutrality on the part of the trade union movement has made the labor movement a captive of bourgeois politics. It has also fostered syndicalist and anarchist tendencies and move- ments in response to extreme conservatism and right wing and bureaucratic mis-leadership. An example of this could be seen in an article by one Mar- tin Glabrman, which appeared in the Toronto University paper “Varsity” on February 26. En- titled “Unions vs Workers” the article in question dealt with the auto industry. Its conclus- ions were that “the course of future developments is the fac- tories has to be sought outside the unions.” Also that “the ex- plosions that are still to come to have the. appear- ance of new _ revolutionary forms, (sic!) organizations which are not simply organs of strug- gle, but organs of control of production.” (emphasis added) Organs of control of produc- tion which are separated from the class struggle? New revolu- tionary forms? What is this, but anarchist gobbledeegook and syndicalist phrase - mongering that negates ideological and po- litical struggle and capitulates before the class enemy. Simply another form of capitalist-foster- ed co-determination, or workers control in the form of class col- laboration. ; Key Role As Karl Marx pointed out: “Trades Unions work well as centres of resistance against the encroachments of capital. They fail partially from an injudicious use of their power . . . limiting themselves to a guerilla war against the effects of the exist- ing system, instead of simultan- eously trying to change it, in- stead of using their organized forces as a lever for the final emancipation of the working class, that is to say, the ulti- mate abolition of the wages sys- tem.” The way to real democracy on | the job is through economic, po- litical and ideological struggle to put an end to the capitalist sys- tem of exploitation, to obtain working class and democratic , political power in the place of capitalist monopoly power, and to proceed to build a socialist _society. The unions have a key role to play in this struggle, once they acquire the political awareness and the socialist con- sciousness that is needed to put an end to the monopoly capital- ist exploitive system. There are no gimmicks and no shortcuts, only the stark reality of the class struggle. That is the road ahead for labor to a life of creative work, health and hap- piness, here as everywhere, and. for all mankind. MEDIATOR APPOINTED TO LONGSHOREMEN'S | STRIKE OTTAWA — Bill Kelly, assis- tant deputy labor minister, has been appointed mediator in the dispute between the Maritime Employers’ Association of Bri- tish Columbia and striking long- shoremen. West Coast grain shipments have been stalled for about 70 days out of the last seven” months because of strikes. On strike now are grain weighers and West Coast long- shoremen. —— ACME SCREW & GEAR SUED BY AUTO WORKERS TORONTO—The United Auto Workers is preparing a multi- million dollar civil suit against _ Canadian Acme Screw & Gear Co., of Toronto. The union: will charge that the company failed to meet moral and legal mone- tary obligations stemming from a union strike at the company’s - plant in August 1972. COLGATE-PALMOLIVE STRIKE CONTINUES | TORONTO — Striking work- ers at the Colgate-Palmolive Ltd. plant decided last week to continue their seven-week strike rather than accept the latest company offer. The vote among 286 of the 330 members of the Interna- tional Chemical Workers Union was 71.6% for rejection. Leo Nickless, financial secre- tary of the union’s Local 809, said the new offer made through a mediator was for a 30-month agreement from date of signing, with three wage increases total- ling about 34%. ELECTRICAL WORKERS WIN NEW INCREASE LETHBRIDGE — A contract settlement was reached _ last week between Automatic Elec- tric Ltd. and its 150 employees, giving workers an across-the- board wage increase of 60 cents an hour. A planned strike by employ- ees, members of Local 586 of the International Electrical Workers Union, was averted _during weekend negotiations following a strike vote last week. The increase, which. brings the average wage to $3.20 an hour from $2.60, will be follow- ed by another 14-cent-an-hour increase in August. i HULL, England — Workers at Imperial ‘Typewriters took over bi GREENWOOD ELECTED © AS VICE-PRESIDENT TO LOCAL 1005 eae USWA HARRY GREENWOOD HAMILTON — Harry Green- wood ‘has been elected vice- president of Local 1005, United Steelworkers of America. A former recording secretary of the local, Mr. Greenwood de- feated three other candidates who have had executive exper ence — Bill Inglis, a local union guide; Bob McSevney, former ~ financial secretary; and Ted Powell, a former vice-president. Figures on the vote were not released. 383 MINERS' LUNGS SCARRED BY ASBESTOS . MONTREAL — Some former Quebec miners currently receive lifetime pensions be- cause their lungs have been badly ‘damaged by asbestos fib- res, a spokesman for the Que bec Workmen’s Compensation Board said. Dr. Bertrand Bellemare said in an interview that in 1974 alone, 85 workers were award: ed compensation of up to $9,000 annually after specialists certi- fied the men suffered permanent incapacity from asbestosis, 4 severe lung disease. ELECTROHOME LAYS OFF 500 KITCHENER — Electrohomé Ltd. will close its Kitchenel Ont., electronics plant for foul weeks, starting this week. Mor thas 500 employees will be Jai off because of slumping sales and high inventory. Electrohomé predicted in December id about 600 persons would be /4 off in plants across Canada. é plant recently after the company threatened to close down workers are in control of the factory and “they intend to stay the with aim of saving Imperial.”