LABOR SCENE BY BRUCE MAGNUSON The only answer to monopoly profiteering at the workers’ ex- pense is intensified struggles for higher wages. Labor’s share as a proportion of our national income is at the same level as it was in 1953. As the CLC has correctly emphasized: “The phenomenal rise in cor- poration profits of 13% for the first quarter of this year is the highest on record in 12 years. This is an incredible profit up- surge, and if this trend continues profits will rise over the year by more than 50%. These increases have a number of sweeping and far-reaching implications . . . Real purchasing power of wage and salary earners increased by a mere 1.7% per person employ- ed over the last year. Real base wage increases per worker un- der collective agreements were hardly any better, with only 1.9% over the same period. Little for Wage Earner “What has happened is per- fectly clear. The rise in labor productivity was a major factor contributing to these high pro- fits. At the same time, however, the average wage and salary earner got very little out of this productivity increase . . . It is utterly beyond belief and under- standing that the federal govern- ment, in the light of these devel- opments, should continue to press for its controversial cor- porate tax cuts. “Furthermore, there is an all too apparent sharp contradic- tion between the recent moves on the part of the government to raise interest rates for the purpose of cooling off the econ- omy and insisting at the same time that corporations need more money to expand the econ- omy. That can only lead to higher dividends” (and, it could have been added, more profits and wealth in the hands of the rich—B.M.) “a worsening of in- come distribution for Canadians as a whole, and no contribution to the tackling of a still serious rt ———— Working people robbed by monopoly -unemployment situation.” (CEC President MacDonald in “Cana- dian Labour Comment,” July 6, 1973.) U.S. Profits Too In the meantime Tory dema- gogues are screaming for con- trols. But in the U.S. where such “controls” are entering a fourth phase, the Administration had predicted that prices would rise by 12% in the first six months of 1973. They rose by 24%. A tabulation of 601 corporation re- ports by the Wall Street Journal discloses that their after-tax profits for the April-June quar- ter were 31.6% higher than for the same quarter in 1972. (Ex. Ford and Chrysler profits up 39% and 58% respectively.) At the same time, U.S. major labor contracts signed’ in the first half of 1973 provided aver- age wage increases of 5.3%, compared to a 6.4% increase for contracts signed in all of 1972. The 5.3% increase, disclosed by the U.S. Labor Department, was not only less than the rise in the workers’ cost of living, but even less than the 5.5% guideline in- crease set by President Nixon’s Cost of Living Council. Corporations Richer In Canada food prices rose by 12%, and the Wholesale Price Index rose by 16.5% over last year in April. But this inflation- ary rise in prices, mainly in meat, has not touched the cor- porations or the wealthy. The rich have ‘become richer as cor- poration profits rose by 53% this year and continue their up- ward climb. “The Globe and Mail in a run- down on 161 Canadian com- panies (26/5/73) showed after- tax profits of 35% as compared to first three months of 1972. Dominion Stores profit for 13 weeks ending December 16/72 were up from $2 million to $2.8 million, or 40%. For the 24 weeks ending January 13/73, Steinberg’s net income was $8,479,000, as compared to has pledged support for the “Immediate conclusion of an Nagasaki, August 4-10, will bombs. Cambodia .. .” Nagasaki and Hiroshima.” Peace Congress supports Hiroshima conference In a message of support to the 19th Conference Against Atomic and Hydrogen Bombs the Canadian Peace Congress of nuclear weapons aimed at the prevention of nuclear war and the total prohibition of nuclear weapons . . .”” The Conference, being held in Tokyo, Hiroshima and thousands of victims of the U.S. atom bombing of the two Japanese cities in August 1945, and agree on a program to end the nuclear threat to mankind. : Among propositions to be put before the Conference for endorsation is a call for “Opposition to Japan (which alone has suffered atomic attack) being used as a nuclear base, and to reinforcement of U.S. military bases on Jap- an,” for “abrogation of the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty” and the achievement of Japanese neutrality. The Conference is also seeking “increased relief for atom bomb victims” who still suffer the agonies of those at- tacks, “and condemnation of the criminal act of using atom Voicing its concern at continued killing in Indochina, the Conference agenda includes a call for “scrupulous im- plementation of the Agreements on Vietnam and Laos; im- mediate ending of U.S. aggression and intervention against In wishing the Conference success the Canadian Peace Congress said it will continue all possible efforts for im- plementation for this program. “In the struggle for total prohibition of nuclear weapons,” the message said, “it is essential to remind the world of Conference demand for the agreement banning the use commemorate the tens of PACIFIC TRIBUNE — FRIDAY, AUGUST 10, 1973 PAGE 6 $3,179,090 net in January, 1971 for a similar period. Loeb’s Con- solidated net profit rose 27% over a corresponding 1971 period.” (From “Food for Thought: a study of skyrocket- ing prices” issued by the On- tario Federation of Labor.) And the climb continues. On July 31/73 the Globe and Mail reported a profit by Canada Packers of $3,864,000 during a 13-week period ending June 30. This was a profit climb from $2,796,000 for a similar period of 1972, or 38%. Turner and Monopolies The conglomerate Canadian Pacific, which is presently re- sisting the idea of paying its railway workers a living wage and forcing them to strike, had a profit on its C.P. Investments Ltd. of $39,596,000 for the six months ended June 30, compar- ed with $21,613,000 in the same period of 1972. This is almost double the profits of last year, including large gains in timber- lands, oil and gas profits. (See Globe and Mail, August 3/73.) At a press conference on Aug- ust 2, Finance Minister John Turner is quoted in the same paper as having stated that while the rates of increases in wages have not accelerated. yet, they bear watching, ‘since “any marked acceleration of wage in- creases would be damaging to the economy.” It is elear that. Mr. Turner speaks for the profiteering mon- opolies, who are asserting their political power. through the state, dominating all aspects of government policy with regard to the Canadian economy, and seeking to dictate the distribu- tion of our national income in their own favor and against the overwhelming number of Cana- dians who produce the wealth of this country. This includes the use of the power of the state to tax low incomes in va- rious ways to subsidize the rich. The conclusions to be drawn from this include, among other things, a better coordination of support from all of organized labor for those now on strike for higher wages. Labor Bodies While statements exposing the situation are of inestimable value to affiliated unions, cen- tral labor bodies such as the CLC and provincial federations can and should play a, much more active role in mobilizing public support for the growing wage movement, particularly for workers forced to take strike ac- tion. This can be done by con- ferences on a_ provincial and country-wide scale, coupled with other activities, such as lobbies and. public demonstra- tions. If the situation persists, it may be necessary to seek re- negotiation of long-term con- tracts to provide substantial wage increases to meet the mon- oply price gouging and _ profit- eering at the expense of work- ing people. World red meat production in 1972 has been estimated at 144.3 billion pounds, up one per- cent from the year before. Canada slaughtered about 3.1 million head of hogs in the January through April period, 5.7 percent less than in the same months of 1972. Demand CN, settle now on union terms There is not the slightest excuse for the railways to con tinue their provocative layoffs to force a total shutdown © transportation. There are no reasonable excuses for refusing to meet union démands for increased wages and job secur- ity. The facts are that monopoly price gouging makes the union wage demands far from adequate, and that the level of wage increases presently made ought to be revised up- ward. i The hypocrisy and doubledealing in both employer and government attitude to labor on the railways is all too ob- vious. The conglomerate Canadian Pacific has for a long time invested pension funds of its employees in its subsidiary C.P. Investments Ltd. This subsidiary made a profit of $39 596,000 for the six months ended June 30, 1973, compared to $21,613,000 in the same period of 1972, or almost double. In the case of the CNR, a publicly owned system, over- capitalization has always absorbed all profits and more, causing the debts to grow along with interest payments. In the meantime the government has ‘robbed CNR employees © a large part of their pension funds. The rise in productivity and more modern methods have brought about mass layoffs of worker§, while reducing sef- vices to the public and communities in many areas. The main overriding consideration has been profit and more profit for stock and bondholders and “to hell with labor and the pub- lic interest.” The time has come to recognize that far from being neutral the government stance is to support the railway companies stand against their employees. This is what has to be ré- versed now by public pressure and a universal demand that serious negotiations be undertaken in good faith at once to meet the more than reasonable demands of the unions involved. . Central Executive Committee The Communist Party of Canada . ——_ OVAMBO VOTERS STAY AT HOME | 9,000 WINDHOEK — Only about 1,300 people out of a possible 4 “al voted in the Ovambo elections. This showed that the boyco issued by the South-West Africa People’s Organization (SW. had been followed by the overwhelming majority of the po In any case only six out of a total of 56 seats in the new- legislative assembly under South African government contro open to voting. The voters showed their contempt by staying 4 cott The South African government tried to explain away the yp by claiming that there was a lack of knowledge among “a Pr neh accustomed to appointing their leaders in the traditional ma about the procedures involved in electing them in a normal Wa?" 1 wer? ALLENDE CABINET TO STAY g de SANTIAGO — President Allende of Chile at the weeken oall’ clined to accept the proffered resignation of his 15-mem cD give tion cabinet. The ministers had offered to resign in order 10. President Allende a free hand in talks with the opposition. | onde Opposition leader Patricio Aylwin had demanded that Dr. mili change the political balance of his government by evi this cor ee tary a number of key posts. The president refused to m dition and the talks broke down in deadlock. me | The Chilean police at the weekend stated that extremists spo neo-fascist “Fatherland and Freedom” organization wet? Sat the sible for the assassination last month of Captain Arturo Aray” president’s aide-de-camp. THIEU THREATENS TO INVADE CAMBODIA ney SAIGON — South Vietnam’s puppet regime headed bY | “cast Van Thieu yesterday threatened to send Saigon troops int e ste bodia if its capital Phnom Penh was freed by liberation fore latio® threat came from Saigon spokesman Bui Bao Truc as spec’ af increased that the Saigon regime would take over from the bs co" force the bombing of Cambodia if it ended on August 15 # gress has instructed President Nixon. in P. Before the signature of the peace agreement on Vietnam force earlier this year, the U.S. built up the Saigon regime’s arme’ W yo with bombers, fighters, guns and tanks until the regime one of the largest air forces in the world. é threat i At the same time as the Thieu regime announced it§ | og chat Saigon, the U.S. Defense Department disclosed in washing panes 47,484 tons of bombs were dropped on Cambodia by ~*" ont!) in June. This is more than twice as much as the averag m i weight of bombs dropped by U.S. planes on North vietna the years of the war in Vietnam. CLAMP ON URUGUAY’S UNIONS MONTEVIDEO — Uruguay’s President Bordaberry and aimed af wing military leaders decreed a series of harsh measures altie’ " crushing trade union activity. The new laws include P& que up to three months jail for those who overstep the nd narrowed limits of the right to strike.