= ee LABOUR CUPE makes free trade a priority By KERRY McCUAIG QUEBEC CITY — The country’s largest union opened its biannual convention Oct. 26 with a pas- sionate appeal to preserve the future of Canada by rejecting a free trade deal with the U.S. **With all the issues facing us as trade unionists, none takes on the overwhelming significance of the free trade threat,’’ said Jeff Rose, national presi- dent of the Canadian Union of Public Employees. Rose called the deal, initialled earlier this month in Washington, ‘‘an act of desperation’? by the Mulroney Government. “Defeating the agreement will not be easy,” he warned. *‘We face an alliance of government and the biggest corporations, armed with a $12 million fund to sell free trade. “In the United States, we face powerful vested interests, both corporate and political, that have . already bluffed the Mulroney government, and who, through their branch-plant bosses in this. country, will continue to put tremendous pressure On governments and politicians here to bend to U.S. priorities.”’ Election Challenge The labour leader challenged the government to go to the Canadian people in a general election before any free trade deal is placed before parlia- ment. The issue struck a responsive chord with the 1,300 delegates packed into the city’s convention centre. Speaking to both an emergency resolution and a policy paper on free trade, speakers express- ed passion and fear for the future of their country. CUPE'’s policy statement, adopted unanimously, commits the union to work with other organizations opposed to free trade. Katie McGovern, a school board worker and ex-U.S. citizen won applause for her statement: ‘‘I did not come to Canada to be cannon fodder for the U.S. Corporations. “‘I don’t want to be part of the aa. economy where only 14 per cent belong to trade unions. I don’t want to be competing with workers in Alabama for below-minimum wage jobs.” But the Toronto delegate cautioned against the labour movement limiting its free trade strategy to an election. “Defeating free trade has to be part of a larger campaign to provide Canadians with an alternative vision to the one Mulroney offers,’’ she said. Other speakers shared this concern. Mike Dumler, president of CUPE’s B.C. divi- sion, referred to labour’s experience in trying to defeat the Socred government. “‘We have not had a very comforting experience - Jeff Rose: “With all the issues facing trade unionists, none takes on the overwhelming signi- ficance of the free trade threat.” relying on a change of government in B.C.,’’ he said. ‘If we are successful in having an election call, we must make sure we win it.”’ The policy statement, adopted unanimously in a standing vote, commits the union to work with other organizations opposed to free trade and to popularize ‘‘labour’s alternative economic policies of job creation, multi-lateral trade, and better plan- ning.” A General Strike Anxious about the January deadline for passage of the legislation, several delegates called for a general strike or a day of civil disobedience. While the suggestions won applause, it wasn’t until a later session when delegates had an opportunity to ques- tion executive board candidates that the union leadership gave its cautious response. “If the CLC and the federations of labour feel that civil disobedience would be an appropriate part of the plan to fight free trade, I would certainly lend CUPE’s support,’’ said Lucie Nicholson, head of the powerful Ontario division. However some delegates emphasized the need for a fully developed program to supplement mass action. Diane Golly, an executive member for B.C., where the labour movement has been through two general strikes in recent years protesting provincial legislation, warns against relying on ‘‘one shot”’ action in fighting the conservative strategy. **Members may be ready for a general strike, but where do you go from there,”’ she asked. ‘‘We can have a big bang demonstration and then be left fighting a rearguard action if the legislation passes. ‘*There has to be proper follow-up. A program of action that the membership can all take part in. That will make it successful.”’ Bt , SAAS one, [Lag [sere SIN & 7 — SS eee A aye — ro. TRADE SS a Labour in action GEORGE HEWISON An election on free trade The latest CUPE convention spells trouble for Prime Minister — Mulroney. By a unanimous vote in Quebec City last week, 1,300 | delegates representing 345,000 organized workers, turned | thumbs down on free trade. They not only called for an election | before any deal with the U.S. is consummated, but also approved | a plan of action to guarantee that a free trade acy never becomes a reality. i Underlining the fierce debate on the issue was a growing realization by delegates that free trade is linked to the concerted } attack on trade union and workers’ rights, to privatization, and — deregulation. The all-pervasive sense of urgency in the trade union move- ment over the state of Canada that hung over the convention reinforced a deep, growing urge for unity. The lack of open controversy on the floor, characteristic of many recent conven- tions, is in response to the sharp assault on the labour movement. Antidote Undiscovered Such a preoccupation with unity has not, however, come up with a solution in the search for an answer to this unprecedented attack. Nor should it, because the antidote to neo-conservatism has yet to be found. The left, up to now, has been instrumental in popularizing the need for maximum unity among labour along with community solidarity. Similarly, the left has contributed to the concept of an alternative economic and political program to the current policies of government and big business. The cutbacks for labour in the recent period have occurred when the winning formula has not yet been fully applied. : However, some in the labour movement still hold that the | quests and the cure for the crisis lie in whichever government happens to be in power. Such an estimation leads to the con- clusion that a quick fix lies in ridding the country of that govern- ment. It leads to the temporary accommodation with right-wing legislation, for stalling the fight-back while putting all of labour’s eggs into the electoral basket. Such an estimation fails to answer why a neo-conservative government has been elected in most Canadian provinces, not to mention in most western industrialized countries. It fails to account for workers having to fight harder-than-ever to defend — their rights, even where social democratic governments are in — office, such as in places like Australia and Manitoba. This is not to deny the importance of a reform government, but rather to argue that to limit working class and democratic activity to an election is to jeopardize the struggle with possibly fatal consequences. Right now 45 per cent of Canadians favour free trade. Pollster Angus-Reid says an issue fought only on free trade would guaran- tee a Mulroney victory. Forty five per cent opinion, if translated into votes, is enough to elect Mulroney, and Bill Vander Zalm in B.C. and Grant Devine in Saskatchewan. Unprecedented campaign Given the likelihood that the anti-free trade vote will be split between the NDP and the Liberals, the need to campaign as | never before against free trade, leading into the rest of the un- | popular Tory agenda, is indispensable. Setbacks for labour have also occurred where it has restricted itself to economic action, to picket line activity or to the old physical error of the general strike as the all-or-nothing weapon of the working class. While fully appreciating the crucial role of the strike weapon, including the political strike, this is still only one — form, albeit an important part of the struggle which needs to be coupled with all forms of political action. The attack on trade unions and on people as a whole; on | sovereignty, On services, on public institutions, all have the drive for profit at their root. This drive is more acute as the crisis | of capitalism deepens. The largest and most reactionary sections of big business have chosen to resolve the crisis at the expense of the trade unions and the people. It is they who finance the Fraser | Institute and the National Citizens Coalition. It is they who planned the neo-conservative agenda for free trade, the mili- | .tarization of the economy, de-regulation and privatization. [ The decision of the CUPE convention to not only seek an | election on free trade, but also to take steps in winning this issue | with the Canadian people is sound.