ee ee ee ee Merv Beagle mourned The era of the blacklist and vigilante terrorism are recalled by the death in St. Paul’s Hospital on September 22 of Mervin Beagle, retired New Westminster longshoreman and veteran of early union struggles in the lumber and _construction industries. Born in Walla Walla, Wash., in 1904 and raised in Ladner, where his family moved some 10 years later, Mervin Beagle began his working life as a planerman at Fraser Mills, moved to California after his marriage to follow his trade there. , In Westwood he helped to organize a union of millworkers, the first in the CIO, which was chartered as the United Wood- workers and later absorbed into the IWA. He himself was fired for union activity in 1938. Then he turned to construction for a_ livelihood, working as a driver on the Boca Dam, where workers’ were organized into Mine-Mill. From cansov present : of the UFAWU; construction he went to ship- building in 1943, becoming .a member of the Machinists and vice-president of its local in the Kaiser shipyards at Richmond. Angered by discrimination against black workers, who had to pay their union dues at a separate wicket, he joined the National Association for Advancement of Colored People — and was suspended by his union when he refused to vacate the vice- president’s post to which the NAACP chapter elected him. A lifelong supporter of progressive causes and an activist in many campaigns, he was a member of the Communist Party of Canada until the onset of his last illness. He is survived by his wife, Mickey, former shoreworker organizer and now a life member a. daughter, Mervine, and a son, Phillip; two sisters in New Westminster and a brother in California. s oneerts STARS BOLSHOIL “USSR MAKVALA KASRASHVILLI Soprano RUBEN AGARONYAN Violinist QUEEN ELIZABETH PLAYHOUSE | ‘Sunday, October 10 - 8 p.m. Tickets at all “Bay” B cesta ety ox Off * / IWA parley displayed — deep concern on issues | By JACK PHILLIPS What stands out in the recently held convention of Region One of the International Woodworkers of America is the unanimous support given to the October 14 day of protest and the strong con- demnation of the Trudeau wage controls. 2 However, Dave Barrett, who appeared asa guest speaker, made a statement that requires some elaboration. : Barrett, leader of the New Democratic party in B.C., leader of the opposition in the provincial legislature and former premier, said this to the delegates in his speech: “The trade union movement does not want an increase in wages. It wants a decrease in prices.”’ That statement automatically poses a number of questions. For example: Was it made with the prior agreement of the IWA of- ficers? If the answer is ‘“‘yes”, what does it mean in terms of the next round of contract negotiations for the union? If the answer is, ‘no’, does it mean that Barrett was telling the trade union movement to moderate its wage demands, thus suggesting that wages are responsible for in- flation? If the trade union movement accepted Barrett’s proposal under present conditions in Canada it would end up in a blind alley. Prices and profits would continue to go up and wages would be frozen. That is the reality of an economy dominated by the big monopolies and conglomerates. Some delegates to the IWA convention asked if Len Guy, secretary-treasurer of the B.C. Federation of Labor, had been invited to address the convention. The answer suggested that, an invitation had been extended to the Federation to send a_ speaker. However, according to information obtained by the Tribune, officers of the Federation were merely in- vited to attend as ‘‘observers” and as guests at the banquet. In this: fashion, Barrett was given centre front stage and the Federation officers were given no prominence. The choice of this scenario can only be construed as yet another demonstration of the fact that the top leadership of the IWA sharply disagrees with the leadership of the Federation. The RANKIN Cont'd from pg. 2 COPE says that the role of City : Council be: (1) To plan, direct and guard over the growth of the city on the principle that every development must serve a useful purpose to the community. (2) To provide essential services to people at reasonable cost. This- includes good housing and an ef- ficient low-fare transit system. (3) All elected officials must be held accountable to the electors and required to report back regularly on their performance. This can best be done through a . ward system. (4) To distribute fairly the cost of running the city, which means compelling big property owners to pay their fair share of taxes and limiting. taxes on homes to. covering the cost of services directly related to property. orp ~ Woodworkers of IWA top brass rejects the Federation’s criticism of certain policies pursued by the former Barrett government, particularly inrespect to labor legislation. In so doing, the leadership is flying in the face of reality. It is advocating unqualified support to the NDP, irrespective of whether the policies of that party conform with the legitimate goals and aspirations of the trade union movement. .For example, much was said at the convention, and correctly so, about the threat of more anti-labor legislation from the Sorred government. However, nothing was said about the labor legislation enacted by the Barrett govern- ment, which provided a political foundation and a legal framework for the Bennett government -to build on. While it was predictable that the resolution pledging full support to the NDP would be adopted, it was George McKnight, Port Alberni Alderman and delegate from the Port Alberni local, who put the question of political action in its proper context. Speaking on the emergency resolution condemning the Union of B.C. Municipalities for the anti- labor positions adopted at its recent convention, McKnight called for unity in political action between the trade — union movement, the NDP and the Communist Party. McKnight also stressed the importance of electing progressive’ candidates ‘to municipal and regional councils, as a basis for building up strength at the provincial and federal levels. In respect to labor unity, the convention took a backward step. Delegates voted to ‘instruct the Regional officers to commence organizing Pulp, Paper, and operations into the IWA”’. This gives the leadership a mandate to raid the PPWC. However, it is significant that more delegates voted against the resolution than was the case with a_ similar resolution at the previous con- vention. ; : Canada, 4 . Other resolutions called for: e A campaign against “right to work”’ legislation, including IWA | delegations to civic bodies, and support of civic candidates sup- porting labor’s stand. ee e Roll-back of auto insurance premiums and provincial sales | tax; higher income tax exemp- tions; reduction of interest rates; revamping of tax structure to make corporations pay fair share of taxes. * e A five-point program to provide affordable housing, including using the money earmarked for Orion bombers to be redirected for low rental housing. A ceiling on rent increases with an 8 percent limit e Condemnation of the govern ment for failure to oppose the Trident missile base at Bangor, Wash. ; re te 8 All in all, it was rather a quiet convention. The establishment slate was elected with no op position. While the decisive, majority-of the delegates were in support of the top officers and their policies, the resolutions adopted demonstrated a deep-going con — cern over the economic and social | policies of big business and their political parties. The fact that the delegates gave Dave Barrett of the NDP a standing ovation can only) be construed as meaning that they) see the NDP as an improvement) over the Sotreds and the only viable alternative at this-time. | Time, and their own experience, will demonstrate to these same delegates that while the NDP. can play an important role in ad-| vancing the political interests of the working people, the trade union | ~ movement cannot afford to give it a blank cheque. ; The concept that delegate George McKnight advanced, of unity of the trade union movement, the NDP, the Communist Party and other democratic forces, around an anti-monopoly program, is, in the long run, the only road to lasting gains for the working) people. : Read the Pacific — Tribune — “B.C.'s ONLY | _ LABOR — "WEEKLY" ween eee erie! Join the Fight Clip and Mail to. _ No. 3 Mez., 193 E. Hastings, Van. 4 Enclosed: .....$8-Tyr.-.--$4.50-6mos acne rn eee a eens FIGHT usr Nor ce =.