Resources for Canadians urged ba FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22,1963 ‘VOL. 24, NO. 47 a * 10¢ MILLIONS STRIKE IN FRANCE. A strike wave of unusual proportions is shaping up in France as runaway inflation has forced workers and farmers to demand more income. Prestige of President de Gaulle is reported to have reached a new low. Photo shows Paris bus work- ers in a recent demonstration. Morris tells AFL-CliO =times have changed (Special to the PT) WASHINGTON, D.C. — A de- cleration of independence of Can- ad:’?s labor movement from U.S, control was emphatically an- rounzed at the AFL-CIO con- vention here by Joe Morris, ex- esutive vice-president of the Canadian Labor Congress. Not since 1899 when the prac- tice of exchanging fraternal dele- gates with Canada began, has the labo; federation of the U.S. re- ceived so strong a warning onthe issue, “The labor movement in Can- ada will take second place to no- JOE MORRIS body in the fierce pride with which it promotes the goals and ideals of trade unionism,’ Morris stated. He said he spoke for the over- whelming majority of Canada’s unicns and people in emphasizing that ‘*tre leadership the Cana- dian .labor movement has given in this matter (GIU_ situation) has been based firmly on our in-. tention of preserving the right to determine our own. sffairs. “We must retain the power to inake decisions — right or wrong — which affect us and the welfare and progress of those whom we represent. To do less would be to betray the confidence and trust reposed in us when we are elected to responsible posi- tions in the labor movement.”’ While avoiding the sordid de- tails of the Canadian-U.S. mari- time labor warfare on the Great Lakes docks, noting the issues could be better handled in nego- tiations, he warned that ‘‘any sound relationship must be based on mutual understanding and re- spect.” “Morris-had opened his remarks ‘with a caustic review of past speeches of Canadian fraternal delegates, extolling the virtues of ‘«four thousand miles of unde- featended border,’’ etc. He then proceeded in a tone which said, in effect: it won’t be that way any more. LABOR BLAST NATION Condemnation of U.S. domination of B.C.’s economy and restora- tion of control of resources to Canadians, a sharp demand for trade union autonomy and strong action for peace were highlights of two important labor conventions which met in iy ee Vancouver in the last few days. The 8th annual convention of the B.C. Federation of Labor meeting in Vancouver last week, heard and loudly applauded stirring appeals such as the one from Bill Black of the Hospital Employees, who said ‘‘its time we told everbody concerned that the Canadian labor movement is determined to be- come master in its own house,”’ A full report of the BCFL convention appears on page 8. In Burnaby’s Villa Hotel last weekend $22 delegates gathered at the B.C. convention of the New Democratic Party in what was one of the liveliest sessions in the Party’s history. In quick succession the dele- gates in the last hours of the convention passed a whole series of resolutions on major national and international issues, ranging from Canadian independence to cuts in the arms budget. A resolution on Canadian inde- pendence pointed out that ‘‘the greater part of Canadian industry and commerce and an ever in- creasing part of Canadian resources are owned by foreign capital, particularly in the U.S.A.” It charged that ‘‘such external ownership and control threatens the existence of Canada as an independent nation, imposes a heavy drain on our foreign ex- change reserves, and denies Canadian industries opportuni- ties for vigorous expansion and trade.’’ For a_ solution, it proposed *‘sound and practical fiscal and taxation policies, public in- vestment through agencies such as an Economic Development Corporation, and public owner- ship measures, in order to safe- guard’ and strengthen our economy and protect Canadian in- dependence."* ax * * A resolution on NATO welcom- ed ‘‘relaxation in worldtensions, particularly in the last few months’? and supported the *“peace keeping functions’’ of the United Nations. It recommended to federal MP’s, the National Council and the next national convention of the NDP that ‘**Canada’s mili- tary participation in NATO be reconsidered in the light of a changing world situation, with a view to Canada’s withdrawal from the alliance’’ and fuller partici- pation in the agencies ofthe Uni- ted Nations.’’ A composite resolution on Cuba and Latin America declared that ‘*Hurricane Flora has dramatic- ally drawn the attention of Cana- dians to the plight of people in the Caribbean and has stirred the conscience of many with a sense of our responsibility for the welfare of our fellow man.’’ It recommended that Canada set aside 2 percent of its gross ' national production to help Latin American countries ‘‘reform their social and economic struc- “WILLIAM BLACK, of the Hospital Employees, made a stirring plea at the BCFL parley for Canadian labor to “become master in its own house.” - tures.’’ It suggested that this be done through the United Nations “free from the power aligning efforts of the USA andthe USSR.”’ At the same time it resolved that this convention: ‘‘Express its sympathy and support for the Cuban people in their struggle to achieve de- cent living standards. * Condemn the boycott main- tained by the USA against Cuba as an action tending to create international tension and ill will, and to frustrate the just aspira- tions of the Cuban people. * Commend the New Democra- tic Party members of parlia- ment. for their efforts to have Canada expand her trade with Cu- ba, and urge them to continue their efforts.’’ , Another resolution placed the convention on record as being **opposed to the entrance of Can- ada into the Organization of Am- erican States.’’ The recognition of China, East and West Germany and the ad- mission of all de facto govern- ments to the United Nations was also demanded. : * es A resolution on arms expendi- tures urged ‘‘the federal govern- ment to cut its arms budget by 50 percent to: * Use the savings to estab- lish Crown Corporations to repa- triate our natural resources and industry from foreign control. * Establish Canadian second- ary industries to provide needed employment and more manufac- tured goods for Canadians and enabling the country to return ton more favourable trade balance,’”’ Opposition to U.S. nuclear wea- pons on Canadian soil was ex- pressed intwo resolutions passed by the delegates as was a de- mand that ‘Canada should cut down its armed forces to the amount required for a contribu- tion to the United Nations Armed Force.’’ Two resolutions opposing gov- ernment trusteeship over Mari- time unions were defeated by the convention after a short but heat- ed debate, Orville Braaten, Jerry Le- Bourdais and Leo Nimsick, MLA, spoke strongly against trustee- ship with Le-Bourdais calling it ae fascist type legislation.’’ Other trade unionists support- ing trusteeship said they did so in the absence of other alterna- tives, Paddy Neal said he ‘‘op- posed trusteeship in principle’’, but that in this case ‘‘labor must support trustees hip with re- _servations.’”’ Dave Barrett, MLA assailed the Liberal government for lack- ing ‘‘the guts to put under trus- teeship companies that conspired’ with the Seafarer’s International Union (SIU).’’ * *:~ x A new and significant feature of See NDP, pg. 7 & “SAVE OUR FISHERIES." Last Monday 800 people attending a a mass rally in the Pender Auditorium marched to the Vancouver Hotel, where the North Pacific Fisheries Commission was meeting, to protest any further giveaway of our fish resources. Photo shows some of the pickets, who also demanded that the Soviet Union be included in the treaty. The BCFL parley has backed the stand of Fishermen's union. -FISHERMAN photo