There are three labor councils in the Prince Rupert and Kitimat- Terrace area. Two of them are chartered by the Canadian Labor Congress and one by the Con- federation of Canadian Unions. In their own way, the councils have created something unique, a Labor Advisory Committee (LAC), a re- search and information group made up of representatives from the three councils. The Canadian Labor Congress has within its ranks 71.5 per cent of the organized workers in B.C., as compared with only 3.6 per cent in the CCU. The national figures are 68.7 per cent in the CLC and 0.7 per cent in the CCU. However, with 2,000 members at the Alcan smelter in Kitimat and 550 members in the pulp and paper industry in the Prince Rupert area, plus some 3,000 members in pulp, paper and wood in the Cariboo-McKenzie and Prince George areas, the CCU affiliates are a significant part of the trade union movement in northern B.C. Which brings me to ‘‘the small package of information” the LAC sent out recently, designed for use in the federal election that was expected to take place in June or July. The package lists sovereignty, resource economics and the resultant unemployment as the key issues around which the election was to be fought. This statement is to be welcomed, although some key issues are missing. Canada does need an economic strategy which would put an end to economic takeovers by foreign interests and would lead to the in- creased processing of raw materials in Canada and the ex- pansion of secondary industries. The resource industries, par- ticularly energy, which is now in the main controlled by American and other foreign corporations and which is so vital for Canada’s inde- pendent development, should be publicly owned through joint federal-provincial bodies and secondary industry built near these resources. In all fairness, it must be said that while the information package is heavy on general propaganda on the energy question, it does not come through with a program of action. As a matter of fact, what emerges is political confusion: ‘If the system is going to work for us, then it must be run by us. At this. time in our country’s history, the system of economics and govern- ment is very definitely not run either for or by us ... just in the name of the people — but in the hands of the kind of corporate and banking elite which we have tried to describe. ...” When they suggest that the system should work for us; which system do they mean? The capitalist system as we know it in Canada? But how can you have an advanced capitalist system without a corporate and banking elite? Unless, of course, you are speaking of a transitional stage when there is an anti-monopoly government? But there is no men- tion of that in the document! The first sentence in the covering letter damns all “‘the politicians in Ottawa,” including NDP politicians, which leads to the conclusion that the authors see no difference between the Liberals, Conservatives, NDP and Socreds. While the Tribune has often been critical of NDP policy, and for good LABOR | COMMENT BY JACK PHILLIPS reason, it would be incorrect to write off that party in the sense of the Labor Advisory Committee documents. The key document in the package is headed, ‘‘Mitchell Sharp: —— A Yankee in Dis- guise?’’ It correctly criticizes the appointment of Sharp as Commis- sioner of the Northern Pipeline Agency. It also points out that pipeline developments in northern Canada are designed to give U.S. interests cheap energy, more con- trol over Canadian resources and more jobs in the U.S. where the oil and gas are destined to go, to the detriment of Canadian interests. The document claims that “Mr. Sharp will be able to speed through the developments regardless of public opinion. As Commissioner of this Agency he would have the power to override existing legisla- tion regarding environmental and any other matters.”’ If Mr. Sharp is accepted as all- powerful, then what is the purpose of circulating the information package? This contradiction illustrates, at least to my satisfac- tion, that the authors of the state- ment, however well-meaning, are somewhat confused. How else can we explain the large amount of space given to portraying the Sharp appointment as part of a sinister plot by the Rockefeller interests in the U.S.A. to control the world — as if the Rockefeller interests are the main enemy of the people rather than the complex of major industrial and finance corporations of the capitalist world which includes the Rockefellers? The LAC documents reflect ‘intellectual confusion, syndicalism and right-wing social democratic ideas on a number of issues. For example, there is the statement that Sharp, as a Rockefeller stooge, will use his influence to give more than a “‘fair share’’ of the contracts and jobs on the northern pipeline to friends south of the border. This statement leaves the impression that a ‘fair share” of the contracts and jobs is more important than the issue of Canadian sovereignty. _ Back the paper that fights for labor — PACIFIC TRIBUNE SUBSCRIBE NOW Clip and mail to: 101 - 1416 COMMERCIAL DR., VANCOUVER, B.C. V5L 3X9 $4.50 — 6 mos. PACIFIC TRIBUNE—May 26, 1978—Page 12 Another example is found in the document’s position on Quebec. It advances the argument that if real leadership is shown on economic issues, “‘the people of Quebec can and will view Confederation as a meaningful alternative to going it alone.”’ In short, Confederation of 1867 or separation, which is the position of the capitalist political parties. What is required today is a new,. made-in-Canada Constitution, uniting the two Canadas in a volun- tary union, thus opening the door to a greater degree of working class and democratic unity, : William Kashtan, leader of the Communist Party of Canada, made a statement in his address to the March meeting of the central committee of his party which I would recommend for con- sideration by the authors of the LAC documents. “The nature and depth of the crisis shows that historically speaking capitalism has outlived its usefulness, and become a road- block to democratic advance. At the same time it emphasizes that struggle and struggle alone, based: on the united efforts of the working class and democratic movement can both protect the working class people from the worst evils of state monopoly capitalism and create the conditions for new democratic advance. It is this challenge which must be faced up to in the forth- coming federal elections.” If the LAC documents can be considered as part of the debate on how to achieve what Kashtan has . correctly called for, they will serve a constructive purpose. Some 900 delegates gathered at the University of Victoria last weekend for the 19th annual provincial convention of the B.C. New Democratic Party which elected Gerry Stoney (above), president of the New Westminster Local of the International Woodworkers @ America, as party president. Next week’s edition will carry 4 ful report on the convention. Reports of attrocities in Zaire proven false Continued from pg. 1 bodies were found piled in one room. She said the massacre took place May 16. “We did not get any support from the Zaire Army soldiers. We feared them more than we feared the rebels,’ she said. Van Hevel also said that the “natives” aided the insurgent forces. According to a report in the U.S. Daily World, the fabricated reports of atrocities were the work of a ‘Act can be amended’ Allmand tells UFAWU Continued from pg. 1 be made to the Canada Labor Code,”. Hewison said this week, ‘tand he told us that his department was already in the process of draft- ing the necessary amendments.” In addition, Hewison said, legal advisors to the labor minister were preparing a constitutional refer- ence for submission to the Supreme Court for a determination as to whether fishermen come under federal or provincial juris- diction. Although fishermen have sought a Supreme Court determination of the controversial jurisdictional question for five years, the court has always skirted that funda- mental issue, dealing only with the specifics in each case that has come before it. With the federal labor depart- ment making the reference, however, it is a virtual certainty that the Supreme Court would de- cide the issue once and for all. The two UFAWU officers also met with consumer and corporate affairs minister Warren Allmand and although the minister con- tinued to maintain that he could not interfere in the Combines _in- vestigation into the union, he did state that he would be prepared to draft an amendment to the Act which would exempt all activities of the fishermen’s union. There was cause for optimism that the minister’s pledge might be fulfilled. since it was given following questioning by Munro who said that it was ‘“‘government policy” to grant full bargaining rights to fishermen. In contrast, by continuing its Combines investiga- tion of the UFAWU, the consumer and corporate affairs department was ‘“‘moving in the opposite direction,’’ he said. If Allmand holds to his pledge, the changes to the Act could be en- acted fairly soon since the revised Act is now before Parliament and , is slated to come up for second reading shortly. As to whether the union could expect both Munro and Allmand to carry through, Hewison noted that they “‘couldn’t rule out that there was some electioneering going on,” but stressed, ‘‘this was the most positive response we’ve had _ for a long time. A major factor in the govern- ment’s response, he said, was the massive pressure brought to bear by the trade union movement. Union locals, labor councils, pro- vincial labor federations as well as the convention of the Canadian Labor Congress have demanded that the Combines end _ its harrassment of the UFAWU and that fishermen be granted full bargaining rights. organizations staged a UPI reporter Erik Van E@ usually stationed in Johannesburé: South Africa. In contrast to his ports, Raymond wilkinson, UPIT© porter at Kamina, Zaire report Sunday, “French foreign legio™ naires shot and killed as many 4 six whites in the early hours of thé capture of Kolwezi, military sources said Sunday... .” A spokesman for the Congoles®) _ National Liberation Front $4! Sunday in Brussels also that lars scale civilian casualties wer caused by indiscriminate bombiné) by the Zaire Army. The FLNC has been waging ? national liberation strugglé against the Mobutu regime # Zaire, the chief instrument of US and NATO foreign policy in Afric? Under the Mobutu regime, foreig? multinationals hold a tight grip the country’s valuable copp@ uranium and diamond resource With the intervention by o French and Belgium armies 2! the placing of U.S. troops of “alert” last week by preside? Carter, the Zaire conflict is bel? used as a pretext to funnel arm: funds and troops into Zaire t0 combat the growing nation®! liberation struggles in Zaire and neighboring African countries. 1 In Brussels, Sunday, 3 mas protest demanding an end to thal country’s intervention. In Pati the French General Confederatio? of Labor (CGT) condemn? France’s actions as well. The French Communist Part) newspaper L’Humanite s4! Monday that the ‘“humanitaria? motives for the French army’s rol? in Zaire were a “pretext.” ‘This a neo-colonialist expedition, dangerous military adventure.’ IWA tours Soviet Uniof Six local and regional officers of the ‘International Woodworkers of America were expected to com- plete a 10-day tour of the Soviet Union this week, part of a recipro- cal arrangement with the central committee of the Timber, Paper and Woodworkers of the USSR. Jack Munro, president of Regional Council No. 1, led the unionists’ delegation, made up of Bob Blanchard, second vice- president of the regional council, Bill Schumaker, president of Local 1-423 (Okanagan), Ben Thompson, president of Local 1-71 (Vancouv Island), Mike Kokura, first vic® president Local 1-85.(Port Alberni) and Bob DeLeeuw, financi®! secretary Local 1-207 (Edmonton): Although the delegation was to visit the USSR last year, followiné a visit to this country in 1976 by thé Soviet Timber, Paper and woot workers, the tour was postpones because of pending negotiations ” the B.C. forest industry. The six are to be in the USS# until May 27.