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FEATURES

By GEORGE HEWISON

s the Canadian people in general
and the trade union movement in
particular fight back against
neo-conservative reaction, including
the reckless pursuit of free trade by
Prime Minister Mulroney, the search
is on for viable economic alternatives.

But the trade union movement has
proceeded cautiously, despite having
adopted many elements of a concrete
alternate program at past Canadian
Labor Congress and provincial federa-
tion conventions.

Labor’s alternate economic strategy
has two aspects, one short term and the
other more far-reaching. Both are in-
extricably linked.

The goal of the immediate program is
job creation, to solve the plight of
Canada’s jobless, remove the Damo-
clean sword of unemployment from
workers’ heads, and to restore and ex-
pand social services to people. This
would expand the home market and the
economy.

Concrete measures to achieve this
include: an end to all wage restraint
programs; reduction of the hours of
work with no loss in take-home pay; pay
equity; legislated prohibition of plant
closures and layoffs without prior
agreement of the unions and full
compensation to the workers con-
cerned; and a massive public works
program to build affordable, non-profit
housing for low and middle income
families.

Labor’s Alternative

Labor’s alternative also demands:
increased funding for health, educa-
tion, cultural development and sports
facilities; unemployment insurance to
start from the first day of layoff and
continuing for the duration of
unemployment at 90 per cent of pre-
vious earnings; universal old age pen-
sions increased and fully indexed
against inflation; assistance to family
farms and restoration of the Crow Rate;
and a moratorium on the foreclosures
on homes, farms and small businesses.

Add to this, rolled back interest
rates; price controls, especially on
necessities like food and energy; strict
rent controls and a substantial increase
in the minimum wage.

These measures will lead to a sub-
stantial redistribution of the national
income from the corporations to the
people. And, where will the money
come from for such a generous pro-
gram?

First, a 50 per cent reduction in
Canada’s military budget would result
in a “‘net”’ gain of 250,000 jobs, after
losses in military jobs are accounted
for. Secondly, an increase in the corpo-
rate tax rate would provide for another
460,000 jobs!

Closing tax loopholes would provide
the wherewithal for yet another 560,000
jobs for a total of 1,270,000 new jobs,
which in turn, would contribute to our
tax base while releasing UI and social
assistance funds for further job
creation.

Tackling the Crisis

The long term strategies address the
crisis of the world capitalist system and
the domination over our lives of more
than 550 transnational corporations.
These strategies challenge the eco-
nomic status quo.

Partial measures, such as those tried
by the Trudeau government for
strengthened economic independence
have proven unsuccessful, given the
global production and marketing real-
ities.

Rather, the expansion of state-

industries on the basis of
nationalizing resources and the trans-
nationals would create thousands of
new jobs and stop the export of jobs in
the manufacturing sector. It would en-
able Canada to combat the economic
and political blackmail of the TNCs.

owned

It would also stem the flow of profits
and dividends from Canada which ag-
gravate our capital investment, balance
of payments and trade problems, thus
making huge amounts of capital avail-
able for reinvestment in Canada to con-
front the problems of economic disloca-

tion and conversion, not to mention
transnational retribution.
Road to Progress

Secondly,.the long term strategy re-
quires nationalization of the banks and
financial institutions under democratic
control to give the Canadian people
a grip on the vast fiscal resources,
vital for expanding the industrial sec-
tor, providing better services, and of-
fering low interest loans to working
people — all of which would, in turn,
stimulate the economy and create jobs.

Foreign exchange controls and/or

=

An economic alternative

ending the export of capital are needed
to break the grip of the transnation §
and to protect the country against eco
nomic and political sabotage, such
the oil companies pulled on. the
Trudeau government, and the mining
monopolies on former B.C. premi¢
Dave Barrett.

The nationalized sectors should
placed under democratic control, ™
volving working people in the planniné
of Canada’s economy. This would &
sure that these sectors serve the ne
of the Canadian people and Canadial
independence, not the interests 0
business, which has been the @
where nationalization occurs withol
democratic control.

_ The current neo-conservalivé
arrangement leads inevitably to
trade and the consequent |oss e
sovereignty. There is no “midd
ground.”’ It now becomes neces
and possible to convince Canadians 8
the correctness of this alternative &
nomic strategy.

Further details can be fleshed out a
the trade union movement: debated am
enriched in dialogue with labor's allie*
and finally, the vast majority
Canadians.

Labor and its allies, united and
mobilized around such a dynam
alternative could move the countly oi
the current neo-conservative “kick
and on to the road of economic prospe!

ity and social progress.

George Hewison is the Communist Party :
labor secretary and a Tribune columns |
He is the former secretary-treasurer 9 f
United Fishermen and Allied Worke?
Union.

ee

Women at the centre of labor’s struggles —

By BARBARA CAMERON

4 omen need unions —
unions need women’’.
A few years ago women

delegates began wearing buttons with
this slogan at union conventions. At
that time, the slogan was a challenge
issued to the labor movement. Today, it
is a statement of a reality that is increas-
ingly recognized by both the labor and
women’s movements.

In many parts of the country, coop-
eration between unions and women’s
organizations is growing. It is evident in
coalitions around issues such as equal
pay for work of equal value and univer-
sal day care, in the strike support work
done by women’s organizations for
strikes like the one at Eaton’s, and in
the participation of union members in
celebrations of International Women’s
Day.

Women activists in the labor move-
ment have been an important link be-
tween women’s organizations and
unions. They have: organized within
their own unions to have the special
needs of women recognized at the bar-

gaining table and in political priorities. -

They have pressed the labor. move-
ment to join with women’s organiza-
tions in demanding changes to bring
about equality between men and wom-
en. By getting their own unions to re-
spond to the needs of women, they
have been able to show their sisters in
the women’s movement the leading
role that labor can play in the fight for
social change.

Affirmative Action

A number of unions have responded
well to pressure from their women

members. Special forums for women,

including women’s caucuses, commit-
tees and conferences have been or-
ganized. Issues of particular concern to
women — maternity leave, equal pay,
day care and sexual harassment, have
made their way onto bargaining tables.
The strike support provided by the
CLC to the Commerce VISA strikers

sent an important message to women

workers that the labor movement is
prepared to back up their efforts to or-
ganize against even the most powerful
and the most arrogant interests in socie-
ty. Steps have been taken, too, to en-
courage women to take their place in
the leadership of the labor movement
through affirmative action measures
adopted by the Canadian Labor Con-
gress and some provincial labor fed-
erations. :

Some unions have been less en-
thusiastic than others about meeting the
challenge posed by the growing parti-
cipation of women in the paid labor
force. There are still union leaders who
are reluctant to recognize the changed
realities. The degree of co-operation
between women’s organizations and
unions also differs from one province to
another. Even in the most responsive
unions, on-going organizations of
women is needed to ensure that the
concerns of women continue to be rec-
ognized.

In the two years since the last CLC
convention, it has become clear that the
basis for co-operation between labor
and women is expanding. Activists in
the women’s movement have learned
from their own experience of fighting
for change that big business and its
governments are not interested in social
equality.

They have seen their dream of equal-

ity shattered by increasing rates of
unemployment among women, t d
elimination of programs to educate am
train women, cutbacks in essential 52.
cial services, and the refusal
governments to expand day care PI”
grams.

The Way Forward ;
Women’s organizations are beet
ning to connect their demands e
equality with the need for a maj?
change in the economic priorities i
governments. At forums such as Ne
roney’s economic summit and }™
CLC’s Dialogue 86, the National AY
tion Committee on the Status.
Women put forward proposals W
paralleled in many respects the P!
gram of the labor movement. {0
NAC also indicated its willingne>
participate alongside of labor in ©? ie
tions around an alternative econ0™
program. he
Only the labor movement has a
organizational strength and polit
experience to initiate and lead such
coalition. This is being increasing)
recognized by women’s organization
and by other popular organizations:
Unfortunately, the Canadian L@! a
Congress to this point has been ie
tant to take action and place labor at #
centre of a movement around ce
economic alternative. Past experich
shows that such an initiative wou
benefit both women and labor. It is#”
solutely essential if the fight for W®
en’s equality is to move forward.

Barbara Cameron is an activist 1" ihe
women’s and trade union movements: © |
was a founder of Organized Workil |)
Women. :

14 e PACIFIC TRIBUNE, APRIL 30, 1986