Steel to ask International

Reject anti-communist clause

By RICHARD ORLANDINI

VANCOUVER—The Canadian
members of the United Steel-
workers of America were called
upon last week to send resolu-
tions to their convention to be
held in September in Atlanta
to remove the anti-Communist
clause from the Steelworkers
International constitution. The
demands for the removal of the
anti-Communist clause came at
the annual policy conference of
the Steelworkers held here May
8 and 9.

Speakers among the more
than 300 elected representatives
and staff personnel who attend-
ed the conference noted that
there was a need to “exert Cana-
dian autonomy in an effort-to
get rid of this wholly undemo-
cratic clause from the Interna-
tional constitution.”

The calls for constitutional

Special to the Tribune
VANCOUVER — Delegates to
the Building Trades Policy Con-
ference held shere last week
_rejected attempts by the Build-

ing Trades Advisory Committee...

to blackmail the Canadian
Labour Congress with a threat
to withdraw from the Congress
if resolutions were. passed
calling for more Canadian
autonomy. .

The Building Trades Advisory
Committee, which is composed
primarily of international repre-
sentatives, presented a_ resolu-
tion to the conference stating
that if the Canadian Labour

Congress passed resolutions that.

in any way interfered in the
internal affairs of an interna-
tional union, then the Canadian

change arose out of the expul-
sion of John Severinsky from
a Port Colborne, Ont. Steel-
workers local on the grounds
that he was a Communist and
was in violation of the Inter-
national’s constitution.
Constitution Has Flaw
Harry Greenwood, delegate
from Local -1005 in Hamilton,
said, “the clause has to be
removed and we should do all
in our power to remove it be-
cause it is an extension of
McCarthyism on our Canadian
membership. There is nothing
wrong with being a member of
the Communist Party of Canada.
It is a legal party, and to agree
to the retention of the clause
in our constitution would mean
that- we are allowing interfer-
ence in our Canadian _ civil

rights.”
The debate culminated in an

Building Trades Council would
“in united action withdraw from
the CEC”.

After the resolution was pre-
sented, the debate which was
closed. to. the...press , raged
through most of the morning and
afternoon sessions. Despite a
heavy representation of interna-
tional. reps at the conference,
only one speaker in every five

took the. floor to. support. the.

resolution.

At the close of the debate,
the resolution was defeated by
116 to 98. Of the 98 voting in
favor of the resolution, 46 were
international reps, who probably
felt that their jobs were de-
pendent on as little autonomy
as possible for the Canadian
building trades workers.

independent,
sovereign and

united trade
union movement

Photo above is the cover of the Communist Party’s trade
union policy statement. Copies may be obtained at 24 Cecil
Street, Toronte, or at Communist Party offices in your area.

guaranteed annual

PACIFIC TRIBUNE—FRIDAY, MAY 17,. 1974—PAGE 8

s

admission by members of thé
National Executive Board that
“the constitution of the USWA
contains a flaw, and that flaw
should be removed.”

Canadian locals of the United
Steelworkers were then asked to
submit resolutions to remove
the clause from the Interna-
tional’s constitution.

In other business, the Steel-
workers dealt with several reso-
lutions submitted to the Policy
Conference calling for. more
Canadian autonomy within the
USWA.

Need Autonomy

In what was characterized by
delegates as “a very construc-
tive debate’, several speakers
noted that “‘the Canadian Steel-
workers‘ are in need of .more
autonomy if the union is to sur-
vive and continue to serve its
members”. While the resolutions
calling for more autonomy were
defeated, the debate indicated a
higher degree of- understanding
of the issue, and had more
speakers in favor of the actions
proposed than was indicated at
the Steelworkers Policy Confer-
ence one year ago in Montreal.

One of the most forceful
Speakers in favor of autonomy
resolutions was Elmer Pontius, a
delegate from Local 480 at Trail
B.C. Pontius told the delegates

“the Steelworkers will lose the -

Trail local unless the union is
Prepared to change and work for
more autonomy”.

NUS conference
demands tax cut
for all students

VANCOUVER — More than
100 delegates from over 20

Canadian universities and col- '

leges converged on Simon Fra-
ser University May 2-5 with the
main .task of consolidating the
newly formed National Union of
Students. Such was the theme
of the conference’s main work-
shop—‘NUS—a working union.”
In the two years since its birth
NUS has gathered 25 affiliated
schools representing more than
175,000 students. ‘
Of a wide range of student
preblems discussed at the con-
ference, income tax assumed a
focal position. NUS called on the
federal government to increase
the $50 living allowance deduc-
tion for students, to make tui-
tion fees for a married student

deductible from the income of |

the working ‘spouse, and to
make all: text books and student
activity fees tax deductible. For
the latter demand NUS agreed
to hire a lobbyist to negotiate
the question with Ottawa.

In dealing with other student
matters NUS called for changes
in the student loan act to pro-
vide loans to part time students
and so that all students of the
age of majority would be elig-
ible for loans independently,
without a parent as co-signer.
Other resolutions called for a
income of
$3,000 plus tuition fees for gra-
duate students.

In noting that “there is pres-
ently insufficient’ study at Cana-
dian institutions in areas that
affect the nature .of Canadian
society” the conférence resolved
to camrvaign for “Canadianiza-
tion” of post secondary educa-
tion.

- with

ENGINEERS BACK
FOR 26%

TRENTON — Engineers at
three Bata Industries Ltd. plants
in this area signed a two-year
contract May 10, giving them a
26% wage increase.

The 200 engineers, members
of Local 1788, International As-
sociation of Machinists and
Aerospace Workers, walked off
their jobs April 26.

END RENT
DISCRIMINATION
DEMANDS
PETERBOROUGH LABOR
PETERBOROUGH — The Pe-

terborough Labor Council, in a~

meeting with provincial member
of the Legislature John Turner,
has expressed its concern with
the discriminatory section of the
rent gezred to income system
practiced by the Ontario Hous-
ing Corporation. 4

The OHC refuses to allow
reduced income due to strike
situations to be applied to OHC
rent. The Labor Council points
out that as strikes become more
numerous and lengthy, this dis-
crimination must end and a loss
of. income due to strikes by cal-
culaticn in OHC rents. The MPP
has agreed-to take the matter up
the responsible depart-
ments. Legislative changes are

_required to zdopt the Labor

Council’s position.

DOUGLAS UAW GIVES
UNITED AIRCRAFT
WORKERS $3,007

BRAMPTON — A plant-gate
collection of $2,007 was taken at
Douglas Aircraft May 1 in res-
ponse to an appeal by the strik-
ers of United Aircraft of Mont-
real, who have been out for 17
weeks. ;

Eleven strikers, members of
UAW Local 510, came up from
Montreal to participate in the
plant gate collection--They were

- assisted by stewards, committee-

men and executive members of
UAW Locals 1967, production
workers, and Local 673, office
workers, of Douglas, Malton. |
Jack Kirby, President of UAW
Local’ 1967 reported that his
Local was so determined to help
the United Aircraft strikers win
that they donated an additional
$1,000 from the Local Treasury
so that the strikers went back to
Montreal with a $3,007 expres-
sion of solidarity. ;

LONDON — A happy Hugh

Amalgamated Union of Engineering Workers, is pic
Employment Ministry May 8 after the National Ind
Court backed down on taking further action’ again®
its defense of workers..An engineers’ national strike Pg N
mous donation of $150,000 to pay a court fine stopP°™

NEW YORK — Membef™ if
International Typographet pol
picket the offices ° ae
News, which has locked iq
out over the ITU demas tt

- job cutbacks. Electricion® |
refused to cross the
lines, but the NewspaPe’ itl
executive voted 9-7 not
the picket.

6% PAY RISE
FOR STEEL MEN 1 plot
WINNIPEG — Feder®: iti)
Limited has announce ness!
workers who are of
the United Steelworkers ive!
rica, Local 4297 will ee, :
6% interim wage incte®. i
The announcement nt
cluded in a joint pee :
by the company ‘
ution’ which expla i
the increase had bee? # abi
in order to combat 4)
mal inflationary trend. ett

The present contract rah
the two expires 0?
1975.
i
LATHERS tt
$10 AN Hi Ww
TORONTO — A "{'g90 {

P|

ear contract givin’
rine lathers $10 an
March 1, 1977, WA vers
here May 10. She wo! mi
ecrn $7.20 an hout- ;
ae contract petweet i
trectors and the igh it
Union also provides | . awe!
pioyer contributions © vats
plan and an increaer ust
pay, said Ken We of
agent for Local 562 yer

He said the thre’. ine

to
loyers, 2 parently ates
fegedlee stability is
dustry.

=

-”
Scanlon, preside od 5