Pro-choice delegates win
show over MFL executive

By WILLIAM STEWART

BRANDON — The Manitoba Federation of
Labor Convention, Sept. 22-25, was dominated by
the issue of ‘‘the right to choice”’ as a result of poor
judgement and bungling by the federation
executive.

Prior to, and at the convention itself, the leader-
ship of the federation, backed by right-wing forces,
did everything possible to prevent the delegates
from expressing their real opinions on the issue of
choice on abortion, which, as a result of the
_ Morgentaler situation in Manitoba, is front and

centre on the minds of women here.
Further complicating the situation for the MFL
leadership is the fact that the New Democratic
_ government has thrown its weight into the ring
. = to Morgentaler, who faces charges laid by
the provincial attorney general. Inan attempt to get
around taking issue with the government, and as
well head off a confrontation with the leadership of
the Manitoba Government Employees Association
who represented 40 per cent of the delegates and
who wanted to skirt the issue, the leadership tried to
avoid taking any position.
An epic battle took place on the floor with refer-
als, standing votes, challenges to the chair, and
other attempts to prevent delegates from express-
ing their views. These failed, and the convention
handed the leadership a stinging rebuke in a 250 to
203 vote in favor of the “‘choice’’ resolution.
The vote was a tribute to the tenacity, deter-
mination and skill of the Women’s Caucus and to
_the convention as a whole which rejected the total-
_ ly unacceptable position of the executive. Nor was
it a man versus woman vote. The split was along

union lines and based, in the case of the MGEA, on |

caucus discipline.
; Short on Solutions
_ The Economic Policy statement was long on
analysis and shorter on solutions to the dilemma of

_ Manitoba's jobless and economic prospects. Great

faith seemed to be placed on the ability of the NDP
government to plan, together with business, a pro-
gram of economic recovery for the province. The
provincial labor minister, however, who addressed
the convention, was not nearly so optimistic about
what the government could do.

She asserted, more realistically, that the under-
lying causes of the crisis were to be found in na-
tional and international areas and while the pro-
vincial government could patch up some of the

wounds, it could not redress the problems.

This debate was largely unjoined at the conven-
tion which tended to centre on the extent to which
Manitobans were marginally better off than their
provincial counterparts in the rest of Canada.

' -On the peace question the convention ran into
itself. On the second day of the convention an
apparently organized group of Legionnaires com-
mandeered the convention mikes and led the dele-
gates to overwhelmingly vote down a resolution
calling for a cut in arms spending.

: Two days later, when the opportunity arose for a
_ rational debate on a resolution calling for Manitoba

to become a nuclear weapons-free-zone, and for

cuts in arms spending, the convention voted in
favor of the resolution by a substantial majority.
The two votes clearly showed there remains
considerable confusion and hesitation in the think-
ing of workers on issues related to peace through

PACIFIC TRIBUNE—OCTOBER 5, 1983—Page 6

disarmament, or peace through beefing up the
armed forces. Nor is this a Manitoba phenomenon.
Labor conventions across Canada clearly show
that where the issue is properly explained by the
peace and progressive forces, it is won. Where an
opening is left for the sabre rattlers, it is still possi-
ble to influence the delegates for peace through’
strength solutions.

Clear Message

Likewise there is a clear message in these votes
for the leadership of the labor movement. There is
no question but that the leadership of the MFL,
which has consistently supported peace actions in
Manitoba, was embarassed by the vote.

At the same time they had no one at the mikes to
defend their positions. The conclusion they must
draw is that the defence of peace cannot be left to
the progressives or peace forces alone. Leadership
will have to take a much more active role in the
struggle, not just at conventions, but on a day to
day basis, if they are going to win a full understand-
ing of the issues among their members.

The MFL convention adopted many resolutions.
An important document on strike support was
adopted which lays the basis for coordination of
strike actions. Support was accorded to the Union
of Unemployed and for a big jobs rally set for Oct.

16.
Important resolutions on shorter hours and ac-

tion to include provisions for protection of workers
from negative consequences of technological
change were passed.

The convention threw its weight behind the Op-
eration Solidarity movement in British Columbia
against the Socred government. It backed the Man-
itoba Government’s language rights bill and reaf-
firmed its policy of support for the special rights of
Manitoba Francophones.

Delegates soundly rejected the divisive actions
of Winnipeg and other municipalities in placing the
issue of language rights before the voters in the
coming municipal elections in referendum.

Militant Tone Lacking

An important policy position on plant closures
was also adopted, demanding corporate and
government responsibility to train and sustain
workers affected by lay-offs and strict control of
goverments over plant closures and mass lay-offs.

On balance it would be regarded as a sound
convention having considerable value for working
people in Manitoba. It lacked the militant tone
which was demanded by events and failed to fully
set out propositions to mobilize its membership for
the kinds of actions necessary to win the programs
it spelled out.

A footnote must be added to recognize the great
spirit, devotion and organization that won the con-
vention for the “‘right to choice.’’ More and more,
labor conventions are witnessing a growing pre-
sence of women’s spokespersons whose militancy
and sagacity opens up a whole new strength for
organized labor. It behooves the movement to join
this group of working class champions in the strug-
gle for women’s rights so that they can give the full
measure of their attention to the widest range of
social and political issues confronting labor.

The decision of the MFL to introduce af-
firmative action to the extent of adding two women
to its provincial executive (the only women) is a
step in the right direction. But only a step.

Reporters push for first contract

Maclean’s picket —

are the key issues in the fight by 55 journalists at Maclean’s magazine
who are after their first collective agreement.

MIKE PHILLIPS

= information picket outside the offices of Maclean-Hunter Ltd.,
2 publishing giant which owns Canada’s weekly newsmagazine.

TRIBU

union drive at a Maclean-Hunter publication in the empire’s 96-yeaf
history. Management’s unhappiness with this situation is reflected in

the totally 19th century attitude the company has taken in negotiations |

with the union.

The Maclean’s workers have been trying to negotiate their first

contract with the company for more than a year. The company broke

off conciliation talks last month and pushed the négotiations into the —
mediation process thus placing the workers in a legal strike or lockout —

position by midnight Sept. 29.

SONG local representative Linda Torney emerged from negotia-
tions to join the information picket, angry with management’s intransi- |

gence, but confident of the solidarity and determination of the Mac-
lean’s workers to win a satisfactory contract.

‘*There’s no question in my mind that we’ ve got a strike vote among
the members’’, Torney said, ‘‘but we’re waiting for the right timing to

take the vote. I can say that strike preparations are under way and

we're waiting to hear something from the company before making 2 |

SONG’ s organization of the Maclean’s workers is the first successful 4

final decision on when to take a strike vote.”’

Wages have been described by Maclean’s workers and their col-

leagues in the rest of Toronto’s print media as ‘‘lousy’’.
Sue Craig, a Toronto Star workers and SONG local secretary, said,
“‘vou could hear gasps’’ of disbelief the night before the picket, at 4
local meeting when a report was given on the Maclean’ s situation and

the wage levels.

Senior reporters at the magazine earn $23,000 a year compared to

$621.66 a week, or about $31,000 a year for a reporter at the Globe and —
Mail. Editorial Assistants, who do much of the leg work and research
for the articles that appear under a senior writer’s byline, earn a paltry

$12,500-$14,000 a year.

Union presses GE
closure cancellation

TORONTO — With the first 67
layoff notices issued by Canadian
General Electric to its Scar-
borough workers, last week, Un-
ited Electrical workers president
Dick Barry, Sept. 27, demanded a
meeting right away with Alton
Cartwright, CGE’s top boss.

“We want to meet with you and
your officials to explore ways of
keeping the (Scarborough) plant
open’’, Barry wrote Cartwright,
adding that “if CGE seriously
wants to keep the plant operating
there are products Scarborough
workers can continue to make for
which there is a substantial world
market.”

The letter rejected CGE’s claim
that no market exists for the
Scarborough steam turbine
plant’s product. CGE has said
there’s no foreseeable market for
the large steam turbines produced
in the plant which is slated to be

‘closed right down by the middle
of March 1984, throwing 429
workers on the street.

““We both know that the Scar-
borough plant can make, and has
made small and large steam tur-
bines, various sizes of gas tur-
bines, and a host of other heavy
equipment products’’, Barry
pointed out.

The UE president also de-
manded to ‘‘know immediately”’
Whether “‘the Scarborough clo-
sure is simply because General
Electric has decided to shift pro-
duction elsewhere, or (if) it is
going out of the product lines pro-
duced in Scarborough.”’

The 67 layoff notices were sent —

by the company Sept. 23 and will
take effect by mid-November.

Meanwhile pressure is building —

on the company to explain itself

as the workers continue to hound —

their municipal government and
Queen’s Park into calling CGE t0
account.

Scarborough alderman Barry

Christensen, who successfully pi-
loted a resolution through counc
calling on the mayor and Board of

Control to meet CGE and pres$ —

for the closure to be cancelled:
was meeting with CGE officials a5
the Tribune went to press, Sept-
29. A meeting with Mayor Gus
Harris and the Board of Control is
being arranged.

The UE was still awaiting co”
firmation of a meeting it de
manded with Ontario Premie!

William Davis and Labor Minis:

ter Russell Ramsey to have t
province block the planned clo
sure. To step up pressure on t
government to act in the workers"
and the communities’ interests:

UE Local 508 is urging its mem”

bers to sign a card addressed t°
Davis demanding the government
use all of its power to make CG.
reverse its decision and to keeP
the plant open.

The local is also calling on its

members to telephone their TONY

MPP Alan Robinson giving
the same message. *
Already, about 200 protes!

cards have been sent to the pre
‘mier’s office, UE spokespersons

report.

|

TORONTO — Lousy wages, job security and pay for overtime work |

|

On Sept. 27 about 60 members of the Southern Ontario Newspaper |
| . Guild, (SONG), including Maclean’s workers and supporters from |
5 5 SONG units at the Toronto Star and the Globe and Mail held an —
the |