On July 23, in the turbulent
city of Chicago, an historic pact
was signed between the United
Automobile Workers and the
Teamsters Union.

Called the Alliance for Labor
Action (ALA) the document
charts a path for American labor
in the fields of organization, bar-
gaining and community action
which would cut loose from the
stagnation, apathy and collabo-
ration which lays its heavy hand
on much of the present struc-
ture of the AFL-CIO.

The two unions, representing
4,000,000 workers have sched-
uled a “representative national
conference” for early 1969 at
which time it obviously hopes
to have attracted to its banner
many other unions.

The following are extracts
from the Declaration:

This is a time of change and.

challenge. The 20th century
technological revolution con-
fronts the American people wich
new and complex problems and
new and exciting opportunities.

To méét the problems and to
realize the promise that tomor-
row holds, America must reorder
its national priorities. It mus!
put first things first.

America has the resources; it
has the technical and productive

’ know-how. As a nation and a

people we must demonstrate the
will to commit our resources
and aurselves in a measure equal
to the dimension of the prob-
lems aiid the challenges that
confront us.

Tomorrow’s problems will not
be solved with yesterday’s ideas,
yesterday’s tools and concepts.
We must act with new ideas,
new concepts, new social inno-
vations. We must create new
forms of cooperation, new in-
struments and institutions for
economic social action.

This time of testing for our
nation is also a time of testing
for the American labor move-
ment. The labor movement must
play a major role and make a
major commitment and _-¢gntri-
bution toward moving America
forward.

e

In this time of crisis, dynarnic
and responsible labor organiza-
tions must contribute leadership
and provide teamwork toward
the continual advance and pro-
tection of the welfare of working
people and must work together

From Chicago:

An Historic

Announcement to the Press

in the cOmmunity in the com-
mon effort to find answers to
the urgent problems of the whole

‘of our society.

The rate of unionization has
not kept pace with the growth of
the labor force. Automation is
changing the nature and charac-
ter of the work force. Millions
of workers including industrial,
service, government, white col-
lar, office, technical and profes-
sional workers need to be orga-
nized. The working poor are still
largely unorganized and disad-
vantaged. . :

Organizing the unorganized is
a moral imperative and a social

-and economic necessity. Those

unions with energy, skill and re-
sources are obligated to join
forces and commit adequate re-
sources needed to help other
cooperating organizations in mo-
bilizing and mounting massive
organizing campaigns. This ob-
ligation has even deeper moral
implications for the exploited
farm workers who have been
bypassed by the 20th century.
The plight of the farm workers

‘jg intolerable. Denied the pro-

tection of law and exploited by
the huge corporate farm owners,
these workers need active and
total support and assistance to
build a union organization if
they are to achieve elementary
dignity and justice. 5

Collective bargaining faces
new challenges with the growing
complexity Of our technology
and corporate concentrations.
Collective bargaining must be
strengthened and updated to
provide full equity for workers
in sharing the increased produc-
tivity of the new tools of science
and technology consistent with
public responsibility.

The labor movement must fa-
cilitate the maximum coordina-
tion and cooperation made ne-
cessary by the economic realities
of the modern conglomerate

tion.
ee erst work together to
build one America—an America
united in the splendor of human
diversity, united in our common
fiumanity and our devotion to
democratic principle.
se

With due regard to priorities,
we shall develop and carry out
specific joint action programs in
the following areas: —

» Assist in organizing the un-
organized: aid and assist cooper-
ating orgusizations in launching

PACIFIC TRIBUNE—SEPTEMBER 6. ]1968—Paae 4

‘ achieve

a campaign to organize millions
of unorganized workers in Ame-
rica into appropriate organiza-
tions and thus provide these
workers the benefits and protec-
tion of collective bargaining,
while adding this strength to
their numbers to the American
labor movement.

e Collective bargaining: cre-
ate the necessary machinery to

. achieve maximum cooperation,

coordination and mutual support
for the collective bargaining ef-
forts of all unions prepared to
join in such common effort to
responsible, stable la-
bor-management relations based
upon equity and justice for all
workers.

CZECHOSLOVAKIA

AavTO- ©
TEAMSTER

e Emergency Deiense Fund:

_ explore the establishment of an

Emergency Defense Fund with
sufficient resources to provide
meaningful financial support to
workers under circumstances
where management refuses to
bargain in good faith in a delib-
erate effort to weaken, under-

‘mine and destroy the union

involved as an appropriate and
effective collective bargaining
agency.

e Agricultural workers: mobi-
lize maximum resources and
support to help organize agricul-
tural workers in an effort to win
for these most exploited workers

“social justice, human dignity and

the benefits of collective bar-
gaining enjoyed by millions of
American workers. Support ef-
forts to secure legislation to
provide these workers and their
families the social benefits and
the protection extended to other
workers. ; j a
@e Community unions: join
with other groups in helping to
organize community unions so
that the working-poor, the un-

employed and the underemploy-.

ed may have the opportunity of

PACT

participation, of self-organiza.
tion and self-determination ip
dealing effectively with thejy
problems.

e Social and community ac
tion: cooperate with other COn.
cerned _ community groups to
promote and support activitieg
at the national and local level. ._

The Declaration goes on to
list 13 areas of social action
which it sees as its main ar
of responsibility and unfortun.
ately, but characteristically foy
Walter Reuther, concludes with
a paragraph on the communist |
fascist, military dictatorship bit

This Declaration may well be
the centre around which mahy
unions in the U.S., deeply dig.
satisfied with the AFL-CIO leag.
ership, may gravitate. There 3.
much speculation that the div},
sion may proceed along lings |
similar to the old division whi .

existed in the U.S. between crag, )

and industrial unions prior to.
the merger.

It would seem too early to |
make such a prediction but Ohe |
conclusion appears inescapable |
on reading the Declaration: It ig |
a good omen for American labQy |

CPs EXPRESS VIEWS

The following are excerpts of
statements made by Communist
Parties in a number of coun-
tries following the entry into
Czechoslovakia of troops of the
Soviet Union, Poland, Bulgaria,
Hungary and the German De-
mocratic Republic.

GREAT BRITAIN

“We deplore the entry of
troops of some of the Warsaw
Pact countries into Czechoslo-
vakia.

“We have made clear in our
previous statements our view
that differences between Com-
munist Parties should be re-
solved by discussions, on the
basis of mutual trust and confi-
dence and where Socialist coun-
tries are concerned, respecting
the sovereignty of each coun-
TV. tie.

“The anxiety of all Socialist
countries about the security of
the Socialist system and the
Constant threat from imperial-
ism is shared by Communists
Everywhere.

“The hypocritical attempt of
the imperialists, including for-
mer Munichites in Britain and
Hitler’s successors in West Ger-
Many, to pose as friends of
Czechoslovakia, is a cover for
the bitter enmity which they
shave always shown, ana still
show, toward its people .

“But we consider that the way
to defend Socialism and rebuff
imperialism is to establish vol-
untary and mutual cooperation
between the Socialist states and
Communist Parties based on the
national sovereignty and auton-
omy of each Party and Govern-
ment.

“We express the hope that
agreement will be reached on
the immediate withdrawal of the
troops of the five countries
from Czechoslovakia, and rela-

tions between their Govern-
ments and Parties and the Cze-
choslovak Government and
Party reestablished on a nor-

_ Mal basis.”

FRANCE

“The Political Bureau (of the
Communist Party of France),
which had affirmed its deep sa-
tisfaction at the outcome of the
meetings at Cierna and Bratis-
lava and at their positive con-
clusions, expressed its surprise
and disapproval at the military
intervention in Czechoslo-

vakia §s.. ; .

“Our Party, which had ex-

pressed its concern about cer-—

tain aspects of the Czechoslo-
vak situation, had equally em-
phasized that it was up to the
Czechoslovak Communist Parti:

elements in order
_ and extend its Socialist achieve.

- known its opposition to any

choslovak. Communist ‘Party.’®

to act against the anti-socialigg

tO. .PEESEIVg
ments. :

“The French Communist Pay |
ty has unceasingly struggl
along those lines by ma

military intervention coming ,
from outside, both in the deqj,

sions of its Political Bureau ang
Central Committee, and in the
representations made by it.
general Secretary to the Sovigy
Communist Party and the Cza
choslovak Communist Party.”

ITALY ©

“It is in the most convincRy
and firm international proletay |
ian -spirit, and reiterating on
more the profound fraternal ang
genuine relations linking Italian
Communists to the Soviet Com.
munist Party that the politi
committee of the Italian Con,
munist Party feels it is its du
to express immediately its BTaVy
disagreement . . .

“Tt feels it is its dut aly
itself the Epplestate ee ne
emotion and extreme preoccy:
pation that in this moment at.
affecting the working clay
movement; it wishes to reaffi

its solidarity with the action Q
renewal conducted by the Cz

—