Unionists and supporters jam IWA Hall in Vancouver Sunday night for public meeting called by Vancouver and District

Labor Council to hear B.C. Fed secretary

Stand against new anti-labor legislation brought down April 2.

April 8, 1987
40°

Vol. 50, No. 13

Unions declare:|
‘No choice butto
fight labor bill

The secretary-treasurer of the B.C. Fed-
eration of Labor told a packed meeting of
unionists Sunday that the labor movement
has “no choice but to fight” Bill 19, the
new anti-labor legislation brought down
by the Social Credit government April 2.

“Before it is over, many people in this
room, good, law-abiding working men
and women, may have to go to jail in
defiance of this legislation. If that is the
case, so be it. We are not prepared to
accept this type of legislation without a
fight,” Cliff Andstein told the rally to a
roar of applause.

The meeting, called on just two days
notice by the Vancouver and District
Labor Council, saw nearly 600 unionists
jam the IWA hall and fill the stairwells

Analysis of bills, page 6
Next week decisive, page 4
BCTF to fight, page 12

leading to the street outside to hear And-
stein, B.C. Teachers Federation president
Elsie McMurphy and several other union
leaders declare their opposition to Bill 19,
the Industrial Relations Reform Act and
Bill 20, the Teaching Profession Act, both
tabled by the government April 2.

The rally came on the eve of a Monday
morning meeting between the officers of
the B.C. Fed and Premier Bill Vander
Zalm at which the B.C. Fed leaders reiter-
ated the demand that has been voiced by
the trade union movement since Bill 19
was first tabled: withdraw the legislation.

“As far as we’re concerned; this bill is
not negotiable,” said Andstein. “We can’t
settle for anything but its withdrawal.”

Outside the meeting, Vander Zalm dis-
missed any idea of pulling the anti-labor

see UNIONISTS page 12

Cliff Andstein(!) and B.C. Teachers Federation president Elsie McMurphy outline

Morgentaler boosts clinic campaign

CONCERNED
TIZENS FOR,

i ale { | pial

— hoice supporters pack a rally at John Oliver Saturday to show their support for a free-standing abortion
secant Featured speakers included, | to r: Patricia Carlton, CCCA; Carolyn Egan, Ontario Coalition for
clinic Cues: Maggie Thompson, B.C. Coalition for Abortion Clinics; Dr. Mary Conley, Physicians for Choice; Dr.
pane Morgentaler and Dr. Nikki Colodny. Story, page 2. One ee