2 From. Page 1 “Opposition Ignored’ defending the Bill, which he had signed as Deputy Speaker. This dis- qualified him, stated Strachan to pre- side when the same measure was before the House. His bias in a con- troversial matter then before the House had been declared, he pointed out. : When recalled, the Speaker ruled that the matter should be dealt with by special motion of the House, Notice of such motion has now been given, and appears on the Order Paper. ‘ In speeches opening and closing the debate, Labour Minister Peterson stated that Bill 42 should not be re- garded as anti-labour. Any opinion to the contrary, he said was fanning the flames of class-hatred. : He contended that the amendments proposed i in collecti bargaining procedures, and banned discrimination against individual mem- bers with independent political con- victions. He claimed that the Bill upheld basic freedoms by preventing anyone putting his hands in a trade union member’s pocket. Premier States Confidence Premier Bennett entered the debate to state that the Bill had the support of the majority of the working people in British Columbia. Opposition Leader Strachan in- dicted the Government for refusing to listen to organized labour on sec- tions which vitally affect their bar- gaining procedures. He set the tone for the dusk-to-dawn debate by de- claring “I am here to-night to stop bad laws”. “ The Government denies its declared principle of equal rights or everyone, and special privileges ne.” a or no o Bob Strachan accused the Govern- ment of intending to bring in “right- to-work” legislation patterned after laws in the United States. The right to negotiate the union shop would be the next point of at- tack he asserted. The only right-to- work legislation he would like to see, he said, was the right to work for 700,000 Canadians now suffering compulsory idleness. “Bill 42 spells the downfall of the Social Credit government’ ...... Harding “Bill 42 does nothing to create in- dustrial peace. It is a continuation of Social Credit anti-worker policy. The Government is determined to ‘get’ trade unions. This is part of the over-all strategy of the Social Credit Party to establish itself as the right wing reactionary party—the party of big business.” “We're getting a corporate state tight here in British Columbia—a combination of big business and big government, with the Government introducing legislation that big busi- ness wants.” © Randolph Harding, (CCF-Kaslo- Slocan) declared that Bill 42 would Government. This labour legislation is going to cost this particular Social Credit administration the Govern- ment of the province. Negotiations Threatened Opposition members made it clear that they were not only concerned with the check-off ban but were ex- tremely perturbed that various pro- posed amendments menaced free collective bargaining. Fifteen CCF members took part in the debate. Frank Calder was absent due to sick- ness. Although the Government’s in- sistence upon an all-night sitting was designed to make it appear that they spell the downfall of the Social Credit were engaged in a filibuster, actually they were simply taking their places in a formal debate on second read- ing. Social Credit members. taking part in the debate dealt almost ex- clusively with the check-off, and were accused by Opposition mem- bers of having insufficient knowledge of the subject. Rae Eddie, (CCF-New Westmin- ster) protested that the section re- lating to the check-off should not be in the Labour Relations Act. He contended that it should either be the subject of a special Act, or dealt with as a proposed amendment to the Provincial Elections Act. “If anything of this nature should ever become necessary”, he said, “‘the Attend Union conventions to know the real bosses.... Union members ......Eddie Recording Secretary of Local Coast Wages & Contract Conference in ART DAMSTROM, President of Local 1-405, IWA, Cranbrook, left, John Squire, 1-85, WA, Port Alberni and CCF-MLA, centre, and Tom Barnett, former CCF-MP for Port Alberni, pose for their photo during the Vancouver. James Rhodes, farmer member, (CCF-Delta) took a stand in op- position to the Bill on the ground that it was provocative of industrial unrest. He urged “This Legislature should offer better leadership toward the solution of vexatious problems in the field of industrial relations. The col- lective bargaining procedures de- veloped by the trade unions have brought order out of chaos in indus- try. Workers of our democracy have a history of one hundred and seventy years of struggle to establish rights of free association, and the right to a voice in the conditions of their em- ployment. I recognize that they will fight against the loss of established rights, and in this respect we should note the lessons of history.” The Delta member expressed con- cern that the provocative nature of the Bill would arouse a spirit of belligerency likely to affect impor- tant negotiations now under way. He law should be made to apply im- partially to all sections of the com- munity.” _ He considered it remarkable that everyone seemed to assume that they knew better how to run the trade unions than the union members. The clause dealing with the check-off ap- peared in the Bill only to cover up damage done by clauses more danger- ous to trade union interests. “Real Bosses Named Eddie replied to the Government’s claim that opposition to the Bill ori- ginated only with “trade union of- ficers.” “If you took the trouble to attend trade union conventions,” he told the Government members,” you would soon find out who are the real bosses of the unions.” The Member from New Westmin- ster stated that the introduction of the Bifl at this time without con- sultation with organized labour was causing confusion regarding impor- tant negotiations now in progress. “This Bill has weighted the scales in favour of the employers”, he stated. The IWA M.L.A. deplored the fact that the Bill established a ‘dead end” for conciliation. “All progress made in bargaining can be destroyed” he said. Eddie joined with Alex Macdonald and Bob Strachan in a demand that the Bill be referred to the Standing Committee on Labour in order that the representations of the unions might be heard by the members of the Legislature. He moved an amend- ment to this effect, but was ruled out of order by the Speaker. When challenged, the Speaker’s decision was sustained 34-16. _ “This anti-worker government fears to listen to the voice of labour” ... ...Macdonald told the Government that the opinion was now widespread that the Gov- ernment was definitely siding with management in determining pro- cedures designed to settle disputes. “Smouldering resentment over al- leged injustice destroys the team- work essential for efficient produc- tion. The greatest contribution this Legislature can make to the solution of problems caused by. industrial disputes is to erect a framework of law which will assure all concerned of even-handed justice” he said. “Trade unionists regard this Bill as a threat to their bread and butter standards.” Rhodes objected to the treatment of trade unionists by the Govern- ment. “You seem to deal with them as second-class citizens. I suggest to this House that the men and women who form the trade unions are law- abiding citizen of the community. Alex Macdonald M.L.A. (CCF- Vancouver East) said, “I am indict- ing the Government for refusing to “tisten to labour’s organization. The Government has not wanted to hear labour’s views, for the .Government js afraid of the voice of the -peopie. Had it had any interest in labour’s - well-being, both sides would have been heard, and not just the views of management”. ~~ The Vancouver East member cited the various pieces of legislation that had been referred by the House dur- ing the present session to the varoius Standing Committees. “In the dis- ‘crimination shown toward labour’, he said, “they are carrying on a vendetta against labour.” Macdonald challenged the state- ments made by the Premier that -he. deals “fairly with all classes”. “Harsh laws are devised for the workers, while no effective restraints are placed on the employing interests,” he stated. ; He referred to the situation which arose in Great Britain after the Taff Vale decision and the Osborne Judge- ment. Political contributions on the part of trade unionists for a political party of their choice were then legally established, he explained. This re- sulted despite the attempts of suc- ceeding Conservative governments. “The Social Credit Government is now doing in 1960 what the Con- servatives in Britain did in 1909. The Social Credit members are frightened by the rising tide of opinion in sup- port of the New Party”. Speaking on behalf of the.CCF group, he said that the Opposi- tion members would support legislation designed to eliminate any form of coercion. “It is well He declared that attempts throttle the trade unions in Cana would fail as such attempts failed in the United Kingdom. “Bill 42 tells the parties to fight it out” ......Macdonald The prominent labour lawyer was most critical of the clauses in the amending Bill dealing with negotiat- ing procedures. He said that a num- ber of provisions meant an invita- tion to “fight it out” when concilia- tion was halted. This he described as a backward step. The proposal to by-pass the elected committee dur- ing a dispute was not good law, he sae do you not implement some of the things asked by labour”, he asked, “instead of repeatedly enact- ing laws that are clearly only in the interests of the employers?” Unions’ Donations Recorded For almost an hour, John Squire, M.L.A. (CCF-Alberni) held the floor with a detailed statement of the con- tributions made by the trade unions to charitable or educational causes by means -of the check-off. Repeated attempts were made to stop him, but he worsted all his hecklers in the attack made on him. Previously he had asked all Local ‘Unions in the province to furnish him with a list of donations made to social services by check-off. When he rose:to his feet he dramatically displayed the large number of re- plies, indicated a surprising total for causes such as the Red Cross, the Heart Fund, the Salvation Army, polio and cerebral palsy funds, Vic- agencies ministering to special com- munity needs. He also had a long list of donations made by means of the check-off toward the education of workers’ children. “Some of these social service agencies would fall flat on their faces if they were deprived of this trade union support, all obtained by means of the check-off” he declared. Herbert Bruch M.LA. (S.C~ Esquimalt) attempted to ridicule Squire’s presentation by stating that the good done by some unions did not demand more favourable con- sideration of all unions. The list pre- pared by Squire included nearly all the principal Local Unions of any toria College as well as many other size in British Columbia. . “ They are the parents who are rear- ing their children in our communities, fully sharing our hopes for improved opportunities and social security for all. They are the good neighbours in my riding, and are respected for their excellent community spirit. They conduct themselves with the know- ledge that their prosperity depends on the prosperity of the whole com- munity”, “It would be worth all the effort possible on the part of this Legisla- ture to seek the confidence of trade unionists in order to allay the dis- content that now threatens indus- trial relations.” A bitter exchange followed ref- erences, in the debate, to the former Minister of Labour, George Pearson, Robert Strachan related the circum- stances under which a Bill was first introduced to regulate negotiating procedures. “Mr. Pearson acted against his conscience. and his re- tirement from the Government of that day was largely inspired by the act that his defense of labour was over-ruled by his Cabinet colleagues,” he stated. Strachan traced the history of this legislation, which through the years has proven more and more restrictive. His references to Mr. Pearson were challenged by the Premier, on the ground that the references were un- complimentary to .the former Mini- ster, The House did not sustain the point of order raised. On one occasion the Government challenged the ruling of its own Speaker and was upheld by the nar- rowest voting margin recorded this session. The sitting established a record for 11 hours and 36 minutes on debate of second reading of a Bill, The debate on Bill 43 lasted 9 hours and 3- minutes until 5 a.m. = Bill 42 will be given early con- sideration in Committee of the Whole ~ House, when each clause of the measure will be under discussion. Duncan Lake Cowichan DUNCAN BUSINESS LOUTET AGENCIES LTD. INSURANCE AND REAL ESTATE J. Lindsay Loutet Gordon R. Loutet GUIDE 131 Jubilee St. S. 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