Canadian District of ILWU “As a result of several years of discussion and _ planning within the joint council of TLWU locals in B.C., an im- portant achievement has been confirmed,” states a press re- lease issued this week by In- ternational Longshoremen’s and Warehousemen’s Union, Cana- dian Area. “ “A founding convention, which brought together dele- gates from all ILWU locals from Prince Rupert to Vancou- ver, and including Vancouver ¥sland, was held last weekend in Vancouver,” .the statement continues. “This is particularly Significant because it comes into being at a time when the subject of the relationship be- tween Canadian unions in gen- eral, and their international affiliations, has been very much before the public, through the medium of the press. “It is worthy of note, that this development toward Cana- dian solidarity is also a fur- ther step toward Canadian autonomy, and that interna- tional board members were in attendance, giving guidance to _™ this convention and also wel- coming this move as a sign of approaching maturity in the affairs of the longshore people in B.C. “J. R. Robertson, first vice- president, and G: Bulcke, sec- ond vice-president from San Francisco headquarters, were present; also William Get- tings, regional director of the northern division of ILWU and set up John Malleta, board member. “The first convention of this Canadian group is regarded as the best demonstration of a truly democratic labor body, reflecting in detail the wishes, aims and objects of the rank and file members. “This convention went on record in many different ways to show that the people the convention represents are be- coming increasingly aware of the fast moving times in which they live; aware, too, of the terrific advancement of mech- anization and its impact on the lives of longshore people and all kindred activities; also that as conditions change, la- bor men everywhere must move with these conditions be- cause their survival depends upon awareness and: a full sense of responsibility to them- selves and to the society in which they live.” Among resolutions the convention were which called for: ®@ Ottawa to appoint a trade commissioner to China to facilitate trade with that country. ® The department of trans- port to increase the number of inspectors to bring all docks, piers, wharves and ships up to an improved ‘standard of safety. ; @ Opposition~to all restric- tive labor legislation. ® Victoria to increase its grant to UBC. international passed four Trade boycott hurting us, not China, declares Caron “Tet’s not be fooled. The _ trade boycott of China is not hurting China. It is hurting Canada.” Charlie Caron, LPP provin- cial organizer, made. this point in his weekly radio broadcast over Station CKLG on Sunday this week. _ 'Discussing the B.C. Peace Cpuncil lobby to Victoria last week, and its demand that the ° government press Ottawa for recognition of China and in- creased trade, Caron said: “The refusal to recognize China has been one of the cor_ nerstones of the cold war policy of the Canadian gov- ernment, and it is a fact that the provincial government has consistently supported Otta- wa’s policy. “China’s industry is growing at a faster pace than that of any country in the world. In Canada, plants are being closed and everyone lives in fear of a depression. China is feeding her vast population of 650 mil- lion, but in Vancouver men are going hungry. It ‘is we who are hurting ourselves by refusing to trade with China, a natural market for B.C. goods.” 3 Tune in every Sundav 9:40 P.M. — STATION CKLG — 730 K.C. ‘THE LEGISLATURE AND YOU‘ Reported by Charlie Caron A commentary by the LPP on the week’s happenings in the B.C. Legislature Maurice Rush, LPP city secre- tary, will deliver the main re. port at a Greater Vancouver convention of the Labor-Pro- gressive Party at the opening session of the two-day parley on Saturday, February 14. Union leaders back Castro Two prominent Vancouver trade unionists have expressed their strong support for Fidel ° Castro’s administration of jus- tice in Cuba, and condemned the “crocodile tears” shed by local newspapers over the ex- ecution of Batista’s gangsters and murderers. In a front page editorial in the Western Pulp and Paper Worker, editor Orville Braaten addresses an open letter to Castro, deploring the message sent by The Province which asked Castro to “stop the war crimes and ‘executions now going on in Cuba.” Braaten writes that “the peo- ple of Cuba will decide their own destiny without the ad- vice of any outsiders. And so we say that the vast majority. of the 7,000 readers of this paper wish you and the peo- _ ple of Cuba every success in establishing freedom and dem- . écracy which will bring peace, security and happiness for all years to come. Long live the workers and revolutionaries of Cuba!” In Ship and Shop, Jack Law_ son of the Marine Workers Union blasted the role of the U.S. press and also the Prov- ince in “painting a horrible picture of mass shootings, and pleading that world opinion should protest.” : Lawson comments on “the ‘sudden concern exhibited by the press for a gang of cut- throats who have exploited the Cuban people and killed them by the hundreds. When the day of retribution is at hand, the same press which was so silent during Batista’s regime is now so vociferous in their efforts to protect mur- derers and robbers.” ‘He says that this campaign developed because “the Ba- tista regime was so rotten that the U.S. found it too difficult to make out a case for armed A z intervention.” } Burnaby council urge to fight utility hikes BURNABY, B.C.—Capitol Hill Ratepayers’ Associa presenting its annual brief to Burnaby council on Mond: this week, urged council to do everything possible ta have the Public Utilities Commission restore former rates pertain ing to bus fares, electric, gas and telephone services, and “join with other cities and municipalities to prevent further increases.” The brief, read by Rate- payers’ Association secretary Harold Pritchett, commended the Burnaby public officials responsible for calling a con ference on unemployment last ‘month, and asked council “to continue to press the provin- cial and federal governments to institute a work and wages program on planned municipal projects, in which the senior governments should shoulder the entire cost.” Other points made in the brief: Sewage disposal: ‘We favor immediate construction of all necessary sewers, to be undertaken as a works pro- gram financed by the senior governments as part of the emergency program.” Parks: “We voted in favor of the Burnaby Mountain Park as a centennial project. We are pleased that the park has progressed under municipal leadership. We hope this will continue without any commer. cialization within the park site, which has already been sug- gested. We urge council to commence development of the only park, Harbor View, on Capitol Hill, situated at the . peak of Capitol Hill and the CLC hits government for apathy in crisis north “end of Grosvenor Aye Street lighting: “We un stand council is underta survey of street lightin throughout ‘the municipality We trust Capitol Hill will b included, as we are in som need of lights at certain ardous intersections.” ; Roads: “We congratula those responsible for the s on widening of Hastings urge extension of this proj Empire Drive should be ble topped. Capitol Hill sho also be included in this : of ‘road financing. We draw at, tention to the unfinished s Pender between Willingdon and Delta We recom: mend that Parker Street b completed between Delta ar Fell,” - ' Ward system: “We urge co’ cil to give serious consid tion to re-establishment of ward system as a better me of selecting representation.’ The brief was signed | William Purchase and Harold Pritchett on behalf of the Cap. itol. Hill Ratepayers’ Asso tion. o OTTAWA—Mass seasonal unemployment should not be accepted “as an inevitable feature of the Candian economy, the Canadian Labor Congress said January 22 in ae which placed before the government specific proposals- stepping up job opportunities. “We are not willing, and we do, not think governments or employers or the public should be willing to accept mass sea- sonal unemployment as an in- evitable feature of the Cana- dian economy,” the CLC brief said. “We cannot and will not.ac- cept the doctrine that govern- ments are helpless in the face of “unemployment. We believe that your government, that the parliament of Canada, possesses ample powers and enough knowledge, if not to forestall, at least to remedy the result of any decrease in economic activity.” ~ An 11,500-word brief placed before Prime Minister Diefen- baker and members of his cabinet was the annual sub- mission of views of the 1,500,- 000-member labor organiza- tion. CLC president Claude Jodoin headed a large delega- tion of union representative from all parts of Canada. In addition to discussing employment, the memorand dealt with such matters as it flation, trade, taxation, labo legislation, and various pha of social security. a The CLC took the position that the Canadian economy it its present form can be cor ‘trolled sufficiently to wipe out seasonal unemployment. ; Specifically it proposed: © Introduction of special centives — taxes, interest ra or depreciation allowances stimulate winter work. ® Compilation of more formation to increase the ej fectiveness of measures combat unemployment. . © Increase in pensions and unemployment insurance. ® Federal initiative in pr moting subsidized lower-renta housing projects.