Cont'd from pg. 1
contradicted when in_ one
municipality strikers left the
picket line to put out a fire.

The fact that the government
was not prepared to accept such an
undertaking from the B.C.
Federation of Labor speaks
volumes. There is now con-
siderable concern among outside
and clerical employees of
municipalities and other public
employees covered by the labor
code. Will the government, under
pressure of big business and the
daily press move to restrict their
right to strike? If this should prove
to be the case, we could then expect
that the same type of restriction
would be extended to the private
sector.

Without freedom to strike in an
economy dominated by powerful
monopolies, the workers would be
at a great disadvatnage in their
never-ending fight to improve their
living standards. Unless the
danger of this bill is recognized by
the labor movement, it could lead
to a false sense of security. There
can be no free society without free
trade unionism.

To place the firefighters’ strike
in proper perspective, we must
remember two things. First, the
average age of the firefighters in
the four municipalities is con-
siderably lower than in Vancouver.
They are raising families and
paying for’ homes. They don’t

want to wait 11 years to get the top

rate, as in Vancouver.

Second, this strike, as in the case
of the recent wood and pulp
dispute, the strike at Cominco
operations in the Kootenays and
many other strikes, is a
manifestation of the great unrest
among working people because the
rate of inflation and taxation is
wiping out wage increases.

If inflation continues at the same
rate as during the last quarter — 15
per cent — then, what with rising
prices and increased taxes, the
firefighters will have less_pur-
chasing power on December 31 of
this year than they had on January
1. That’s the root of the problem. If
our senior governments would
undertake serious programs to
curb the power of monopolies and
roll back prices, compulsion would
be used where it is most needed.
Instead, there is a dangerous drift
across Canada in the direction of
using compulsion against the
victims of inflation, rather than
against the culprits:

HIROSHIMA —

Cont'd. from pg. 1
nuclear war more palatable?” he
said. :

And the technological
developments in armaments have
presented even greater horrors to
the world. The leaflet issued by the
Peace Action League noted the
comments of U.S. aerospace
engineer Robert Aldridge, on the
production of the Manoeuvering
Re-Entry Vehicle, a new carrier
system which is the first to carry
nuclear warheads right to the
particular target and thus deprive
the receiving nation of its
retaliatory force.

The Peace Action League called
on people to write letters to Prime
Minister Trudeau and members of
Parliament giving support to
Canada’s call for a comprehensive
test ban treaty and demanding the
removal of nuclear arms from
Canadian soil.

Suzuki emphasized the need for
Canadians to speak out and noted
that Canada is still in NATO and
Norad, nuclear warheads are still
stored at Comox and research into
biological and bacteriological
warfare is being carried out in
Canadian universities.

He urged action to demand that
Canada become a_ nuclear-free
zone and add her voice to the

campaign for nuclear disar- |

Unconscionable

Practices:
Illegal tricks of the trade-

Unconscionable business practices became
illegal in British Columbia after July 5, 1974 when
the Trade Practices Act became law. :

Ingredients of an
Unconscionable Practice.

Take one
_ Shabby, high pressure
transaction,
combine it
with one
unsuspecting
consumer and
} you've got an
unconscion-.
able practice. It’s not a difficult situation to create
and it does happen. :
Whether or not a practice is unconscionable
must be decided by the courts who can fine the
business in question and rule the transaction
unenforceable.

Examples of Unconscionable
Practices.

It never was fair and now it’s illegal, under
the Trade Practices Act, to take advantage of
consumers because of their age, infirmity, illiteracy
or their inability to understand English. When this type
of situation occurs it’s called an unconscionable
practice.

Some door to door sales can also be unfair.
Fast talking, persuasive salespersons convince
consumers they’re getting a real bargain. If the
consumer had known the price was so excessively
high the transaction would never have taken place.
Again you have an unconscionable practice.

Salespersons who draw consumers into a
deal knowing that the person can’t keep up payments
are engaging in an unconscionable act. When
payments aren't met the unscrupulous merchant
moves in to claim the merchandise and any of the
consumer’s goods signed over as collateral. The
consumer ends up with nothing — just what the
salesperson had in mind all along.

_ We've given you just a few examples,
unfortunately there are many more.

Who can help you?

The Department of Consumer Services
administers the Trade Practices Act and its director
handles consumer complaints and investigates
possible wrongdoings.

Service Centres, staffed by researchers,
investigators and counsellors will be opened in
Victoria, Vancouver, Kamloops and Prince George.
Watch your newspaper for announcements of their
openings. :

Throwing a little light on
shady deals.

The Trade Practices Act was designed not
only to halt unfair business practices but to give
consumers new rights to protect themselves from
being taken in on a business transaction. -

é By now you'll probably want to know more
about the Trade Practices Act and what it does for
you — that’s why we've prepared informative Trade _
Practices Act brochures, one for consumers, one for
business. For your copy write the Community
Information Officer, Department of Consumer
Services, Parliament Buildings, Victoria and please
specify which brochure you want.

Help yourself to a fair deal. With the Trade
Practices Act you've got what it takes.

British Columbia Department of

CONSUMER SERVICES

The Honourable Phyllis Young, Minister