Delegates carry wage stand; Millard machine defeated in attempt to take over CCL By HARVEY MURPHY TORONTO The 12th annual convention of the Canadian Congress of Labor was held last week in the. ballroom of Toronto’s Royal York Hotel, the same location where four years ago Mine-Mill presi- dent John Clark was hooted and red-baited on his way to the platform to urge lifting the suspen- sion of the Mine-Mill union. The convention was a very di fferent affair this time, although the ring-wing leadership was still in control of the platform. Delegates administered sharp defeats to the leadership, singling out particularly CIO president Philip Murray’s Canadian lieutenant, C. H. Millard. By overwhelming vote on the first day of the con- vention they sent back to the resolutions committee a recom- _ mended resolution on the impor- tant wage question, ed resolution was intended to thwart local union resolutions de- manding: " V That the CcCcL call a meeting of all affiliates early in 1953 for a coordinated wage campaign among all affiliates. VY That a call be made for united action at lower levels with all unions regardless of affiliation and for support of strikes of any union regardless of affiliation. Resolutions from International Woodworkers Local 217 and Marine Workers and Boilermak- ers’ Vancouver local found strong support. In past years @ recom- mended resolution from the ap- pointed resolutions committee and support from Steelworkers leaders has been sufficient to carry any resolution. Delegates to this convention refused to go along. By a vote so large the right wing did not even dare to eall for another count, they in- structed the committee to recon- sider its resolution and to em- body the two wage and unity re- solutions the committee sought to kill. After this open expression of the deep conflict between the rank-and-file “and the right-wing leadership on fundamental issues the resolutions committee avoid- ed controversial issues until the final hours of the convention. Then, with many delegates al- ready on their way home, the right-wing leadership allowed the resolutions on foreign policy and peace and trade to come to the floor. — The resolution to bring back the expelled unions—Mine-Mill, United Blectrical Workers, Fur and Leather Workers—came be- fore the convention hours after the elections had been concluded. With as many as il delegates clamoring for the floor, CCL pres- ident A. R. Mosher took the un- precedented action, even for the CCL, of calling for a vote without allowing delegates to speak. In the elections, however, dele- gates. did have a chance to dem- onstrate their opposition to the top leadership. For days before the conven- tion opened the Steelworkers were pushing C. H. Millard’s as- sistant, William Mahoney, to re. place Donald McDonald as CCL secretary-treasurer, (McDonald was appointed to fill the position after Pat Conroy, now labor at- tarhe at the Canadian embassy in Washington. walked out| at last year’s convention.) ; ‘Mahoney was the hand-picked ‘candidate of the CIO vice-presi- dents, who had instructed the Canadian heads of the big CIO unions —— Steelworkers, United Auto Workers, Packinghouse Workers. Amalgamated Clothing Workers—to oust McDonald, and the impression was created that his election was in the bag. These big CIO unions spent thousands of dollars to pack the convention, The reject- ‘Millard and the top leaders of \jthe Steelworkers alone having 238 delegates. The drive to elect ‘Mahoney was linked with._the ambition of C. H. the Steelworkers to take over the Cc. H. MILLARD The bag had a hole in it. CCL leadership. It was also link- with the question of union-raid- ing. Having driven from the CCL those international unions he could not dominate and swing be- hind his right-wing policies, Mil- lard was preparing at this conven- tion to attack other unions which are not directly under the con- trol of the CIO top leadership. He wanted particularly to remove from the CCL executive board the influence of the United Mine Workers, which in this country, is affiliated to the CCL. Had lhe achieved this aim of dominating the CCL through the election of Mahoney, it would have marked the begin- ning of the end for the Cana- dian national unions’ which, through the Steelworkers’ dom- ination, were to be brought under the control of ‘the CIO. But when the votes were count- ed it was clear that Millard had miscalculated. Not only did Mc- Donald get the support of United 4 Mine Workers and United Auto Workers delegates and delegates from various national unions, he also got the votes of some Steel. workers delegates.. In fact, had some. rank-and-file Steelworkers delegates not refused to follow Millard, it would have been diffi- eult for McDonald to score his 455 to 410 vintory over Mahoney. * * * This was a staged convention —staged to enable Millard to ac- complish his aim of becoming supreme boss of the CCL, includ- ing the national unions, There was a record attendance of 934 delegates. and in fact, the convention was packed to such an extent than many rank-and- filers were brought in. The representative of the CIO top leadership was James Carey, CIO secretary-treasurer and ex- treme right-winger. Carey. how- ever, did not appear at the con- vention but confined his public participation to the banquet. But this year, in the Steel- /workers caucus, delegates from basic steel spoke up against Millard’s policies and even voted against his nominees. In the Auto Workers caucus, dele- gates openly opposed George Burt, Canadian director, and supported McDonald, despite Burt’s public commitment to Millard to support Mahoney. On the convention floor, when Steelworkers’ leaders, including Millard himself, went into their usual red-baiting itirades, they were booed. * * * The resolutions that brought a response from rank-and-file del- egates at this convention were also in contrast to the conven- tions of the past few years. The CCL unions have been un- der sharp attack by employers, particularly during the past year. Long strikes and defeated strikes have been experienced by the CCL rank-and-file. The workers have experienced open police vio- lence and taken some heavy blows. While the convention was sitting an IWA organizer was fined $3,000 and jailed without bail on a charge arising from the re- cent IWA strike. These facts were in the minds of delegates. It is true that A. R. Mosher] on the platform tried to make up for lack of applause and enthusi-_ asm shown by delegates to Hon. Milton Gregg by devoting ten minutes to the virtues and fine qualities of this minister of labor who asked for “‘restraint’’ on the part of the workers in their wage demands and ‘“‘support and sacri- fice’? for the war program of his government. But delegates, by every action, called for organiz- ation of strikes and development of unity against the government’s’ taxation and guns-before-butter policies, * Millard’s ring-wing organizer in Quebec, R. J. Lamoureaux, who at last year’s convention had a promise from Quebec’s pro-fascist Premier Maurice Duplessis to appoint him a member of the Quebec Labor Relations Board, this time had a kick in the face from Du. plessis.. And he expressed it when he spoke on the failure of CCL policy. ‘We have tried to work with Duplessis,” he said. ‘We sat on his knees and then got down on our knees, but Duplessis did not keep his word.” Rubber Workers’ delegates, however, could state on the con- tion floor that the reason they won their strike was because they had a united front with various unions in Hamilton and had fin- ancial and other support from UE and Mine-Mill. Convention delegates knew that Mine-Mill was backing the Oil Workers strike at Montreal and that collections for the strike were being taken at. Sudbury, IWA delegates could state to the convention that atlhough the CCL leadership refused to call for full support during critical periods in their recent strike, it People’s’ Republic greeted by city Chinese Canadians Chinese Canadians in Van- couver will celebrate the third anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China at a banquet sponsored by the Vancouver Qhinese Workers Protective Association, Meeting in*their Main Street hall on Sunday afternoon, Oc- tober 5, the local Chinese will hear speeches outlining the great achievements made by the 475 million people of China un- der their people’s government. In the evening a banquet will be held, . This week the Chinese Work- ers Protective Association wired a message of “warmest greet- ings on historic third anni- versary of Chinese People’s Re- public’? to the people’s govern- ment, Se LL was the left-progressive unions that offered and gave this sup- port. Throughout the convention. those of us who attended as visitors—officers of the Mine- Mill, UE and Fur and Leather Workers—had the feeling that we were far more in line with the delegates sitting on the convention floor than were those sitting on the platform. Continued C aign Defense Minister Brook Claxt0Dy expressed the opinion that our soldiers’ tenm of service abroad “is too short to enable them settle down to their job.’? Bat foot advocated a more ‘‘concel trated indoctrination” for trooP® and added: “No doubt if they clearly understood the menace of Communism and the real value® which they are called upon to d& fend, they would be much mote content.” : @ Vancouver’s civil defense co-ordinator, ‘Air. Vice-Marshal F. V. Heakes, complained that pub- lic response to GD enrollment bas been “exceedingly limited.” Th situation is similar in other C22 — adian cities, he added. ‘“Montreé had a high pressure compaig? and succeeded in recruiting omY 4,000.” i : ‘e @ Reserve Army regiments ip the Vancouver area “continue be plagued by low strength” a cording to an article in the V&" couver Daily Province. Add to this evidence the stal® ments of soldiers returning {02 Korea. and the national adverti® ing campaigns to induce youn’ men to join the forces, and it comes apparent that Canadian® want peace, not war, and are? impressed by war-scare Prope ganda, gi CLASSIFIED’ A charge of 50 cents for each insertion of five lines or less with 10 cents for each additional line is made for notices appearing in ‘this column. No notices will be accepted later than Tuesday noon of the week of publication. NOTICES ONE OF the Pacific Tribune’s most outstanding press build- ers, Jack Butler, is seriously ill in Vancouver General Hos- pital. Visiting hours are Wed., Sat., Sun., 2.30 to 3.30 p.m. and Tues., ‘Thurs., 7 to 8 p.m. He has the best wishes of all Pacific Tribune readers and * supporters for a quick recov- ery. I WISH to extend my: heartfelt appreciation and thanks to the many comrades, friends and org- anizations who sent messages of sympathy and floral tributes on my recent bereavement. _ ‘Tillie. Collins. \ POSTAGE STAMPS wanted. Do- nate your used postage stamps, any country, to 'the Pacific Tri- bune. Resale proceeds ‘go to the sustaining fund. ; IN MEMORIAM ‘$1 each, pee COMING wile OCT, 3 HEAR YE! HEAR - 9 Public meeting feat ing report of Mrs, Olive Wi ‘ son, delegate from the Conste™ of Canadian Women to the Cor D ference in Defense .of ce held in Vienna. Come to Hastme, Auditorium. 825 B, Hasting® p.m cateatape ae # OCT ] CHLEBRATE wit . US 5th ANNIVED — ARY UKRAINIAN Spaghetti Dinner. C Dance-Floor Show. 8 p.m. 5# day. October, 11,A.U.U.C. gl. 805 E. Pender St. Admission oh orchestra for dancing. Relea ments will be served, Tickets £e)) FOR SALE STATION WAGON STROLLER excellent condition, Paid 7” — 6. ae Best offer. MA. ee ee BUSINESS PERSONAIS eS HASTINGS BAKERIES LIP 716 East Hastings St. ee HA, 3244. Scandinavian ~" ucts a Specialty. _ ti aa 7 oa CRYSTAL STEAM BATHS Open every day. New > Beauty Salon—1763 E. ings; HA. 0094. ° IN MEMORY OF FRED COLLINS who died Sept. 21, 1952 ' OLGIN CLUB Labor-Progressive Party extends since sympathy to Comrade ‘Tillie IN MEMORY OF FRED COLLINS We extend sincere sympathy to Comrade Tillie A, BE, SMITH CLUB Labor-Progressive Party WHAT'S DOING? DANCE—Modern and Old Time Music at ‘Clinton Hall, 2605 FE. Pender St. Every Saturday, 9 to 12. Good orchestra. Hall for rent. HA 3277. : |0.K. RADIO SERVICE. Latest on factory precision equiPmiog used. MARINE SERVICE, ~ Pender St. West. TA, jC a JOHNSONS WORK BOOTS, Logging and Hiking ane Ww. pairs, Johnsons Boots; % — Cordova. ae MAIN SHOE RENEW — aell Repairs, Best materials “ct, Quick service. 329 Malt Vancouver 4. Mee & SAFEWAY TRUCKING—9°% Gravel, Fill Dirt, GradiD® (op Filling, Loader Service. “yA. plete land conditioniDS: ~~ 0189R, or! HALLS FOR RENT __— RUSSIAN PEOPLE'S HOME a, Available for meeting’ con dings, and banquets at 1 Ave able rates, 600 Campbe” HA. 6900. a PACIFIC TRIBUNE — OCTOBER 3, 1952 — PAGE 6 i ‘