|_| Labour Giving labour an independent voice A second letter from leading trade unionists regarding the New Democratic Party’s performance in the last election campaign has moved into the public spo- tlight. The communique, addressed to the executive council of the Canadian Labour Congress and signed jointly by Gerard Docquier, national director of the United Steelworkers, and District Six director Leo Gerard, picks up on the schism between oragnized labour and its political arm that had been outlined earlier in Can- adian Auto Workers president Bob White’s message to the party leadership. Specifically, the Steel letter criticizes the NDP for its failure to take hold of the free trade issue during that all-important elec- tion campaign, and in doing so badly let down itself, the labour movement, the anti-free trade forces, and ultimately the Canadian people. “Opposition to free trade was the cause of virtually every organized group in Can- ada that is part of the broad social move- ment of which the NDP describes itself as the political voice,” the letter says. “The NDP’s failure to play a significant role in the national debate over free trade . was a betrayal of everything that a social democratic party is supposed to stand for in Canada.” What the authors find disturbing is not only the NDP’s loss of credibility with these social movements, but the resulting damage to the labour movement by asso- ciation. Kerry McCuaig As they point out, labour pushed for an election, rather than a referendum on free trade based on the belief the party would carry the ball when the writs were dropped. Trade union leaders explained to the Pro-Canada Network and other coali- tions that labour’s resources and money would be directed to the NDP when the election was called. “Consequently, the trade union move- ment did not undertake a significant free trade campaign during the election and did not provide the financial support that other groups would have required from us to carry such a campaign on themselves,” Docquier and Gerard conclude in their letter. This is only partially true — the coali- tions did carry on independent campaign- ing throughout the election, although they would have undoubtedly benefited from trade union support. This leads the two to conclude that in future election campaigns, labour might choose to fight on two fronts, supporting NEWS ANALYSIS the NDP and campaigning independently on certain key issues. They note the success of this strategy when employed at the local level. Citing events in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario where the polls, Algoma Steel, the city council, local business, even the local union presi- dent favoured free trade, but the anti-free trade forces were able to unseat a sitting cabinet member. The Docquier-Gerard criticisms are not new. What is significant is that a second group of labour leaders has confidently concluded that the trade union movement is a credible social force in Canadian society; that it can work well in broad coalitions of people around common goals, and that it needs its own independ- ent voice. Whether or not these conclusions will be reflected in the organized debate in the NDP that both White and Docquier are . seeking is another question. The leadership seems prepared to wait for the dust to settle or at best allow frus- trations to be vented through a leadership convention. But for the NDP to regain the credibility it lost will require more than housecleaning or a change of face. A party which avoids economic issues can hardly be expected to challenge the corporate agenda, and it is this agenda which will manifest itself in its most vengeful form in the coming months. It is therefore vitally important that these conclusions be built on within the labour movement. Now that the election is over, business will be collecting on the debts owed it by the Conservative Party. Mulroney was already setting the stage in the final days of campaign: “social pro- grams yes, but competitiveness creates the wealth for social programs, in the mean- time restraint, restructuring, dislocation ” First on the firing line will be the trade unions. Unlike other sectors they were. promised nothing during the campaign; they are still a vulnerable target, and as the centre of the opposition to the neo- conservative agenda must be neutralized. Labour cannot afford to be silent or isolated. It is in its most basic interests to act on the commitments made to continue working and building on the coalitions which formed to fight free trade. The development of a broad social movement — a people’s coalition — equipped with a well-thought out, timely alternative to the corporate agenda, is the key to turning a lost round into a won match. Locked-out workers at Western Canada Steel rallied outside company headquarters last week together with political and com- munity leaders in a continuing campaign to maintain the province’s only steel mill — a mill which could be a thriving operation, according to its former manager. This week, representatives of Local 6 of the Canadian Association of Industrial, Mechanical and Allied Workers met with an Industrial Relations Council mediator and officials of IPSCO"Ltd., new owners of the plant, in exploratory talks on_a new collective agreement. . es The talks had earlier been suspended by the company following the Jan. 5 union rally but were re-opened under IRC media- tor Don Cott. But still at issue are sweeping concessions demanded by IPSCO which issued an ultimatum to workers in December that they accept the cuts or the plant would be dismantled Jan. 2. Regina-based IPSCO | bought the plant in November from its i former owner, Cominco Ltd. The operation ne consist of a steel mill in Richmond and a fastener division in Vancouver. Some 360.members of CAIMAW have been locked out at the plant since July, 1988. Following its purchase of the plant in November, IPSCO demanded as a condi- tion of continued operation that union members sign a new five-year contract which would give management the exclu- sive right to set rules and regulations in the plant, including mandatory overtime. The pact also removed any existing employee's right to be rehired. Local 6 representative Hal David said the proposal was “a union-busting document ... intended to terrorize our members.” CAIMAW subsequently filed a com- plaint with the IRC, charging that IPSCO had failed to bargain in good faith before attempting to close the plant permanently. IPSCO responded with a letter, filed Dec. 7 8 « Pacific Tribune, January 16, 1989 | | ———— See A aie ass ae 8 Se 29 by the law firm of Jordan, Gall and Storrow, in which it contradicted its own ultimatum to employees and argued that it “never had any intention of re-opening the plant.” The company also sought a declara- tion from the IRC that the labour dispute was over, Which would allow the company to dismantle the plant without interference. But if the company is allowed to close the plant “we'll be the only province west of New Brunswick without a steel mill,” Jess Succamore, secretary-treasurer of the Con- federation of Canadian Unions told a rally of 150 outside company headquarters Jan. 5. “We're calling on all levels of govern- ment, federal, provincial and municipal, to join us and make sure that every means at their disposal is used to get this plant in operation again,” he said. He added that there was “an abundance” of legislation infringing on workers’ rights “but there’s no legislation worth a damn to make employers responsible to their workers and their communities.” And despite the attempts by two com- panies to close the plant, it could be a thriv- ing operation if management gave it a chance, a former manager told the rally. Stuart Gilbertson, the general manager of the plant and a vice-president of Western Canada Steel until July, 1988, said the plant was steadily increasing its tonnage of steel and could be a healthy business. It needs only “an owner who wants to run it,” he said, urging those at the rally “not to give up the fight.” A surprise participant in the rally was Richmond Social Credit MLA and Vander Zalm running mate Nick Loenen who called the closure of the plant “a hideous crime. “It’s an offence against the workers, their families and their dependents,’ he said. He noted that the company had been given various concessions by government, including tax breaks and discount electric- ity. TRIBUNE PHOTO — DAN KEETON <= : . steel mill. Port Moody NDP MP lan Waddell called on Loenen to “bring the weight of the Vander Zalm government (to bear) against this closure.” Vancouver alderman Harry Rankin drew cheers when he told the audience: “If. the company wants to close this plant, what we need is a government which will take it over.” : He cited the example of a city proposal to open its own concrete batch plant when it JESS SUCCAMORE...CAIMAW leader calls it “completely insane” to close vi INTRODUCTORY SUBSCRIPTION OFFER $6 for 6 months FIRIBUNE Published weekly at 2681 East Hastings Street Vancouver, B.C. V5K 125. Phone 251-1186 Name ios. 5. 2. 0 2 © 0 © 0 6,0 0: 0:0 0 © e100 eoeeereereee 1am enclosing 6 mos. $60 CAIMAW fighting closure of steel plant faced high prices from private companies for concrete. “Suddenly the prices dropped,” he said. “Is it only free enterprise that can give us competition, or can.our government give us competition by saying: if you close the plant, we'll take it over and open it up and produce steel with your workers in the plant. What the hell’s wrong with that?” he said to applause. Postal Code ......... 1yr. $200 eevee able MOT TATRR OT TTC TORT MUUTTTETVOMIT UT UPCOETETCTCTM UAV TCTCORSUUCT@ UCL LOT TCM@OC ULC CCI MHL