Harry Bridges has a word for it... (Famed Pacific Coast longshore leader Harry Bridges writes a regular column called “On the Beam” in his union's poper, “The Dispatcher.” Below is his column in the January 10, 1969 issue.) A long time friend of the ILWU, one well known to our membership in Hawaii, visited Cuba this last summer with his wife. Dr. Willis Butler, a Honolulu Kaiser Foundation M.D., and ardent peace activist, furnished our Hawaiian Local 142 with an informative report of his visit. I was especially intrigued with his describing an incident in a public place in Havana, where a doctor was calling the Cuban government “dictatorial and unjust.”’ Seems like his beef was that his nephew, also a doctor, wanted to leave Cuba and scram for other parts. But the Cuban government said no and refused to let him go until he had paid back the cost of his education. Now that makes a lot of sense to me and any worker or trade unionist should understand and endorse the reasoning behind such a stand wholeheartedly. In this instance we're talking about a workers’ state, with the basic means of production owned and managed by workers. And workers rightly object when one of their countrymen, who learned his professional skills at the expense of a socialist State, wants to take off and use his valuable know-how for personal gain and; maybe unintentionally, to help the USA undermine or overthrow the social system responsible for his superior education. The principle here is the same one that moved the government of the Soviet Union to place on trial a group of Soviet writers who were writing articles critical of the Soviet Socialist state. They were convicted and sent to jail. That government's position was not so much in opposition to the written attacks being published in the Soviet Union, but to the publication of such material in other countries sworn and committed to the destruction of the Soviet Socialist state. Why should such professional people — mostly writers, journalists, actors or ballet dancers, never workers — be taught their special skills at the expense of a workers’ state and then demand the right in the name of ‘‘free speech or academic or artistic freedom’’ to help the enemies of the workers’ state? We in our union allow the greatest degree of free speech inside our union at union meetings, caucuses and board meetings. But we sure put the clamps on any member officer making public statements outside the union and derogatory to the union while claiming it is only the exercise of “free speech.”’ Like hell it is. It’s nothing more than a form of scabbing. American newspaper and broadcasting chains are never going to lead or support a struggle to dump the social, political and economic system now ruling the USA even though it's the system which is the root cause of all the main evils from the racism to the poverty and unemployment plaguing the nation. Far from it. I've never even seen the time when the news media ever came out and gave full support to an ordinary strike no matter how just the strike happened to be. That would be allowing too much ‘“‘free speech’’ or “‘freedom of the press.”’ **f But consider the outcry from all quarters when the Soviets and European socialist nations moved into Czechoslovakia to clamp down on TV commentators and journalists who suddenly went wild in that country. It’s another case of people, having been educated and trained in their professional skills by a socialist state, wanting to use their skills as they see fit, even though such use is detrimental to the system as a whole. It has still to be determined how much, if any, of the Czech working class supports these loud voices anyway. But it’s noticeable that among the thousands of Czechs standing by in neighboring countries — especially Austria— trying to make up their minds whether to return home and live under the new ‘liberal Communist” regime, few if any are working stiffs. The workers are staying home and working to correct the mistakes. But our government spokesmen, press and TV people are moaning about the professional people being denied their freedom of the press and the right to say anything they wish over the radio and TV. And you can bet your last dollar that if the Czech unions and working class are silly enough to call a general strike (as it is rumored in our press they might) in order to protest the clamp down on journalists, actors and broadcasters, then you will see our newspapers really knocking themselves out giving support to that strike. The same media would work day or night here at home to torpedo a workers’ strike for hours, wages and working conditions, When our press begins to support any Communist state, whether it be in Czechoslovakia or elsewhere; or whether it be a “‘liberal’’ or ‘“‘conservative’’ Communist state it’s time to watch out. Who are they kidding? LABOR SCENE: Moore rapped on Bill 33, VLC elects its officers In sharp contrast to previous years, the election of officers at this week's session to direct the activities of the Vancouver and District Labor Council (VLC) was probably the quietest in a decade, Of the twelve positions to be filled, eleven were filled by acclamation, the whole process requiring little more than an hour to complete. Syd Thompson, president of the Vancouver local of the IWA and stormy petrel in VLC delib- erations during the past year, was elected VLC president by acclamation. For Ist vice- president Jim Melange (Operating Engineers), a newcomer on the executive body, also received an acclamation, while the post of 2nd vice president was handily won by Cliff Lundgren (IBEW) over Doug Hart (Steelworkers) by a vote of 86 to 40. This was the only post contested. Incumbent Mike Stevens (Meat- cutters) retained the post of 3rd vice president by acclamation, as did VLC secretary treasurer C.P. Paddy” Neale. All seven VLC committee chairmen retained their posts by acclamation. These are: Organization, Wm. Stewart, (Marine Workers); Legislative, Brian Denton (Retail Clerks); Public Relations, Carl Reich (Upholsterers); Grievance, Jack Lawrence (Pack- inghouse) ; Hamilton (Letter Carriers); Metro Advisory Committee, Frank Kennedy (Longshore); and Credentials, Opal Skilling (Office Employees). VLC delegates voted unanimous endorsation of a resolution put forward by Vancouver local of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) criticizing IWA regional president Jack Moore for his public statement attempting to reverse VLC and B.C, Federation of Labor (BCFL) policy on the Mediation Commission set up under Bill 33. Moore’s statement sought to have the BCFL ‘modify’ its policy and allow its affiliate unions to ‘‘co-operate’’ with Mediation Commission activ- ities. At a special session of the IWA regional executive board held Friday of last week the stand taken by regional president Jack Moore was rejected, declaring that it (the board) ‘‘dissociates itself from the unauthorized statement of regional president Jack Moore,’’ and again reiterated its support of the anti- Bill 33 policies of the BCFL; policies unanimously recon- firmed by the BCFL annual convention in November of 1968, Lahti ill Osmo Lahti, manager of the Co-op Bookstore, is on the sick list in the Heather Pavillion at the Vancouver General Hospital undergoing treatment. He suddenly became ill on January 12 and has been in hospital since. His many friends join in wishing him a speedy recovery. _ PACIFIC TRIBUNE—JANUARY 24, 1969—Page 12 but regarded by many convention delegates at that time as not “going far enough” in labor's fight against Bill 33 and its compulsory arbitration aims, and to which Moore as a BCFL executive council member, gave lip service, Delegate Johnson, (Meat- cutters) stated that some minor damage may have been done by the Moore statement but “Moore has _ unintentionally solidified the labor movement's fight against Bill 33.’ A letter was also read to VLC delegates from BCFL secretary Ray Haynes, drawing attention to alleged Mediation Commission “achievements” featured in the press citing a number of disputes already ‘‘settled’’ by the officers of the Commission. This, Haynes described as pure “misrepresentation .. . designed to hoodwink the public.”’ A meeting has been set up under BCFL sponsorship, scheduled to be held January 23 in the Steelworkers Hall to discuss the recent increase in postal rates and the prohibitive increased costs facing trade union, church, cooperative and other small papers through can- cellation or failing to qualify under new postal regulations fg 2nd class mailing privileges unions are urged to attend th meeting. Delegate Claire (1WA reported that 2nd class mailin rights have already been take away from a number of churd and other organizatio publications, Printing of they have been suspended because g the new and excessive mailiy costs. Reporting on the steadily rising assessment on homes an consequent steep boost in taxes while big commercial ente prise assessments for ta purposes remain at the same o substantially reduced level Delegate F. Kennedy (Me Committee) urged VLC affiliay unions to press for wide publi hearings on increased asse: ments and ‘“‘begin to & something about it. Increase wages don’t mean a thing,’ stated Kennedy, *‘if it is all goin to be taken away throug increased taxation.”’ For the guidance of VIC affiliate unions it was approve on motion, that a comparativ brief on assessments prepared by the Metro Committee will & condensed and included in VIC minutes. ‘ Education, Bob | Vancouver recently fell next issue. announcements. Arrangements are being made for the NLF representatives i to speak in Montreal, Toronto, Hamilton, Windsor, Ottawa, | Victoria, Edmonton, Saskatoon and Winnipeg. The Toronto | meeting is being booked in at Massey Hall, and the Victoria meeting is tentatively set for Thursday, Feb. 6. Again: Vancouver and Victoria readers are urged to watch | the local press and next week's issue of the PT for final NLF speakers coming | Officials “of the Canadian Aid for Vietnam Civilians in Vancouver this week said they are completing arrangements for | two representatives of the National Liberation Front of South | Vietnam to speak in Vancouver in the near future. Plans to have Hoang Bich Son and Haynh Van Ba speak in through circumstances. It now appears definite that they are coming. Present plans call for them to arrive in Montreal on Jan. 27 | and to speak in Vancouver's Queen Elizabeth Theatre on | Wednesday, Feb. 5 at 8 p.m. This date will be confirmed in our | because of unforseen | ATTENTION, ALL SUCKLINGS!