It was a great moment when 1,657 registered delegates to the 9th biennial convention of the Canadian Labor Congress in Ottawa last week stood in un- animous support for “legitimate collective bargaining demands” of Quebec workers, demanding amnesty for 52 imprisoned trade unionists and their leaders and, condemning Premier Bourassa’s “repressive” back-to-work legis- lation. The convention delegates call- ed for immediate resumption of negotiations between the Com- mon Front of Quebec labor and the government, and repeal of Bill 19 which, in the words of L. H. Lorrain of the Internation- al Brotherhood of Pulp, Sulphite and Paper Mill Workers chal- lenged the democratic freedom of workers and could affect the entire labor movement in Can- ada. Mr. Lorrain, a CLC vice- president, introduced the resolu- tion to the convention. His union, meeting in an all-Canada conference on the eve of the CLC convention, adopted a re- solution authorizing locals to study the possibility of partici- pating in a general strike. Fernand Daoust, secretary- treasurer of the Quebec Federa- tion of Labor stated that the labor unrest in Quebec was not “an attempt to overthrow the govenment by violence,” but an attempt to force resumption of collective .bargaining. He said the Bourassa Government had acted to “torpedo” free collec- tive bargaining. “It is clear that the political power and economic authorities and the judiciary acted together,” Daoust stated. Marcel Perrault of the Mont- real Labor Council said: “... we are asking for common action by all workers in Canada. The time has come to show whether or not we can take a common stand.” Murray Tate, vice-president of the Toronto and District Labor Council condemned re- cent editorials in the Toronto Star and the Globe and Mail, at- tacking Quebec labor for refus- ing to obey back-to-work in- junctions and screaming for law and order. “The question” said Mr. Tate is “whose law and Call for a common front of ALL unions by CLC order?” “It is impertinent of these two newspapers to give advise to the labor movement while they still have the blood of the Inter- national Typographical Union on their hands from the lockout- strike of 1964,’’ said Mr. Tate. John Clout of the St. Cathar- ines Labor Council said: “We should make clear to govern- ments of this country that Bill 19 must be repealed and the Quebec government must sit down and negotiate, or every plant and office building in this country will be closed down.” Ray Haynes, secretary-treas- urer of the British Columbia Federation of Labor stated: “It ill behooves the newspapers to pretend they are concerned for the poor, then the moment the labor movement makes a spear-headed effort to help the poor, the papers turn on us.” Tom Edwards, representing the Canadian Union of Public Employees, drew attention of delegates to the fact that hos- pital workers in Toronto are currently making the same de- mand as the Quebec workers en- gaged in public services — a minimum of $100 a. week. ‘“Im- poverished hospital workers have been put in jail in Quebec. But this is not a problem pecu- liar to Quebec but common to all public workers. We want a basic wage of $100 a week. We think that it is a necessary base for our people,” Mr. Edwards said. Don Montgomery, president of the Toronto and _ District Labor Council said that the gov- ernment of Premier Robert Bourassa had done more than any other government in the country to create “a Canadian Bastille Day.” G. M. Bedard of the Interna- tional Woodworkers said the Duplessis government in Quebec had been reactionary, but never as reactionary as the present provincial government. After two hours of similar debate, during which one deleg- ate called upon the CLC Exe- cutive Council to organize a public demonstration, the resolu- tion passed unanimously by standing vote. Condemn the coddling of ultras by Ottawa In a letter to Prime Minister Trudeau, Communist Party leader William Kashtan casti- gates government coddling of nationalist ultras contrary to its international obligations. He wrote: “The Toronto press of April 24 reported the attendance of Health and Welfare Minister John Munro at a dinner in To- ronto on April 22, the stated purpose of which was to raise funds for activities calculated to undermine friendship and good-neighborly relations _ be- tween Canada and the USSR, in- cluding the publishing of anti- Soviet materials allegedly smug- gled out of the Soviet Union. “According to the press, Mr. Munro addressed this gathering composed of Ukrainian and Bal- tic nationalist ultras noted for their persistent cold war postur- ing directed against the USSR and other socialist states. His attendance at this dinner and his active participation in the proceedings imply the pub- lic, tacit support by your gov- ernment to the aims of this affair. “In light of its purpose our party considers the participa- tion of a member of your gov- ernment in this dinner to be an unfriendly act towards a state with which Canada maintains friendy relations, and in our view is incompatible with the protocol and further agreements arrived at between the Govern- ment of Canada and the Govern- ment of the USSR which among other stated objectives, com- mit the two governments to promote friendship between our two countries and peoples. “We believe the times call for a lessening of cold war tensions not their aggravation. Certainly this ought to be the aim of your government.” PACIFIC TRIBUNE—FRIDAY, MAY 26, 1972—-PAGE.6 CLC -President Donald Mac- Donald said that the Canadian labor movement had never been more united in its support of the workers in Quebec. His re- marks following the vote may have been more prophetic than he realized when he stated that this was one of the “proudest moments in Canadian trade union history.” > There were, to be sure, valid criticisms of the CLC leadership for failure to act much earlier in support of the struggle of Quebec workers and public ser- vice workers elsewhere in the country. There were also mo- ments, later in the convention, when delegates did not rally with equal unanimity behind platform recommendations notably on U.S. aggression against the people of Indochina. To this and other issues we shall return at a later date. But on the issue of labor unity, it can be said without fear of contradiction that the 9th biennial convention of the Canadian Labor Congress mov- ed the struggle of the Canadian trade union movement forward to a new and higher level, and towards a new and more de- cisive phase. @ Continued from page 5 by ‘the Congress demand that Canada withdraw from NORAD while another resolution asked that NATO, and not the UN, take measures to stop the re- pression in Greece and Spain. The discussion of the Human Rights and Economic Policy Re- ports opened with statements. from the delegates in favor of a call on the federal government to prohibit discrimination on the basis of political beliefs. The Human Rights Report also called on the various ‘labor bodies. to “assist in the im- provement of the status of wo- men in Canada.” The Economic Policy Statement condemned the U.S. for their implementa- tion of the DISC programs and called on the U.S. to adhere to the guidelines established by GATT. The policy statement on for- eign ownership and investment pointed out the need for a strong federal public agency which would screen and make recommendations “concerning all new direct investment, as well as prospective foreign take- overs.” All the resolutions con- cerning human rights, economic policy and foreign ownership and investment carried with little dissent. The delegates also passed an increase of two cents per capi- ta tax in an effort to raise the funds needed in an all out cam- paign to organize the unorgan- ized, ‘‘with special emphasis on the white collar worker.” The report -brought in by the Constitution and Structure Com- mittee dealt primarily with the question of committee recommended concur- rance with a substitute resolu- tion dealing with non-prolifera- tion of unions within the Con- gress and continuation in pres- sing for “mergers of unions holding overlapping jurisdic- tions.” labor unity. The- The 1,600 delegates to the CLC convention in Ottawa | passed with a unanimous standing vote, a call for the imm amnesty to all the imprisoned trade unionists in Quebec. above, from left to right are Louis Laberge of the Quebec F of Labor, Marcel Pepin of the Confederation of Nationa Unions, and Yvon Charbonneau of the Quebec Teachers Cort three men along with scores of rank and file Quebec trade un! were jailed for contempt of court after they disobeyed court injunctions. After the resolution had been passed, Dona Donald, president of the CLC remarked that “‘never before or trade union movement in Canada been so unified.” Many of the delegates inter- preted the resolution as an ef- fort to continue to withhold on the admission of the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America and the United Fishermen and Allied Workers’. Union. Don Nichol- son, president of CBRT & GW, told the delegates that if the resolution dealing with —non- proliferation was used to pre- vent admission “then we would be, denying the right~of workers to fein. the union of. their choice.” Other delegates, includ- ing James Bell (secretary-treas- urer, Nova Scotia Federation of Labor) praised ‘the work-done by UE and UFAWU in organiz- ing and supporting other unions. After considerable debate this resolution passed and the delegates focused their atten- tion on Resolution 30 which called on the incoming execu- tive to ‘“‘work towards and con- summate if possible the bring- ing into affiliation all legitimate trade unions in Canada, which are prepared to accept the aims, principles and constitution of the Canadian Labor Congress.” There were also a number of resolutions which directly called for the admission of UE and UFAWU and for which the re- solutions committee called for non-concurrance because it is constitutionally impossible for the delegates to vote on the ad- mission of unions to the CLC. During the debate that ensued, Joe Morris, executive vice- President of the CLC made a motion of referral on these re- solutions. In the course of his remarks, he pointed out that the executive council in consider- ing this matter would have to take into account the _ instruc- tions contained in Resolution 30 which had been passed by the delegates. The motion for refer- ral passed with a few delegates voting in opposition. The final day of the conven- tion was devoted to th of officers. the ballots were tabulat Donald was re-elected Ww! votes to Bell’s 380. The 9) as rprist : vote, which came as since many delegates 258 that MacDonald would ih challenged, was a com of Left and votes of those tt ' were unhappy with the ™ in which MacDonald has ducted himself as presidé the CLC. urer and Joe Morris 4? Beaudry, executive dents, were all re-electe nimously. Six general ¥! sidents were re-elected, without a challenge. Bill art (Shipyard General Federation of British C® challenged William 1 on the slate and receiV® votes. John Clout (st. Cath@ Jatt Labor Council) stood fof tion as a vice-president 4 week ast ial picture! ‘ederation | Trade 0 rp. 0 dere? be e elec Donald MacD? was challenged by James eh for the presidency and ac’ Yo ed M 9 | vice? jumb" The nists id Moe “a the tio" nal rine’ ele” did and although not elected yore 173 of the 59 receive cast. ofS i¢cuss?, Just prior to the diSC® ais of political action, Dav! federal leader of the mocratic Party, addres® New pe the the convention. He dealt with ne issues of Canadian indeper thet and economic issues dele’ went on to lecture ne der gates on the need for m acts tion” in negotiating CM nal The CLC’s presidents ~ jsut MacDonald later too? | sald with Lewis’ statement 87. pal that all negotiated demariy and to be looked at individu@ nce™ all blanket statements ee no! ing all union demands W" he in order. In the course ention remarks to the COnV” ithe! Lewis did not mention 59 if the Quebec situation Of” viel ternational question nam, ell | tiot whd col vn Wm. 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