oe * Culture a powertul tool for organizing In labour movement The B.C. Federation of Labour recog- nizes that nothing is given to workers — we have to fight for every improvement in our wages and conditions. And, as part of that fight, we need to put more emphasis on building our own culture. That’s why the B.C. Fed is supporting the Mayworks Fes- tival of Culture and Working Life, running May | through May 8. We hope you will too. What is culture? It’s our background, origins and history. It’s our current tastes, customs and ways of interacting with each other. It’s expressed in the ways we speak and act at union meetings, and in the music, theatre, poetry, and paintings of those Can- adian workers who produce culture. Culture changes and develops. But, most important, it gives us a sense of who we are. It defines us as Canadians, as workers. That’s why today, faced with the sellout . of Canada through the “free trade” deal, a strong Canadian culture is crucial. How can we mobilize Canadians to defend our sov- ereignty if we don’t havea sense of ourselves as Canadians? This is why culture has always been a powerful organizing tool for the labour movement. It gives us a sense of who we are. Fiat RE (RESTAURANT) 3637 W. 4th Ave. Vancouver B.C. (734-7574) Parking at rear A fine Mediterranean family restaurant. Delicious dishes and warm atmosphere at earthy prices. “Group parties of 15-25 welcome”! It helps us see ourselves as a group whose interests are different than those of the employers. Mayworks will be a celebration of both Canadian and working class culture. It promises to pack a double whammy. That’s why the B.C. Federation of Labour, the Confederation of Canadian Unions, the B.C. Teachers Federation and many indi- vidual affiliated and non-affiliated unions are supporting Mayworks. Today, if you ask the average unionist for a example of workers’ culture, he or she might suggest the labour singer they saw at a recent rally, or on the TV news. Mayworks is out to change all that. It has 40 events of “labour positive” visual arts, theatre, dance, poetry and prose writing, panel discussions, and music from cool jazz to hard-core rock. And we haven’t forgot- ten labour Singers. In fact, in recognition of the central and enduring role labour music plays in our culture, the B.C. Fed is sponsoring a special song-writing contest as part of Mayworks. We're calling it “songs of Work and Pro- test” and it’s open to writers of songs about work and the experience of working, politi- cal activism, women’s rights and the strug- gle generally to win justice and dignity. There are categories for professionals and amateurs, for original songs and “zipper” songs. Phone the federation at 430-1421 for more information. — Cliff Andstein secretary, B.C. Federation of Labour May Day Greetings & Solidarity Gramma Publications 7595 West 3rd Ave. Vancouver, B.C. VGA 1J8 Phone: 733-6822 May Day Greetings from phillip _ rankin ellen paul momurray 28 e Pacific Tribune, April 27, 1988 Barristers & Solicitors 157 Alexander St. 2nd floor Vancouver, B.C. V6A 1B8 682-3621 It will be party time at the union hall on Friday, May 6, when Vancouver's Ginger Group plays during the Mayworks festival to celebrate the release of 2 new album of labour music, on the Slim Evans label, called ‘““A Time to Stand Together/ Le Temps De S‘Unir.’”” Funded by the Canadian Union of Postal Workers, profits from the sale of this album will go to CUPW members fired and suspended in the last strike, and to the Working Committee on Social Solidarity — the coalition of the Canadian Labour Congress, the Confedera- tion of Canadian Unions, major churches, and aboriginal and anti-poverty groups which produced the recent document called “‘A Time to Stand Together.’’ CUPW national president Jean-Claude Parrot will join local union officials at the May 6 dance. The Mayworks Cabaret will run from May 2 through May 7 at the International Woodworkers hall at 13th and Commercial. It will feature a variety of live music and a bar, nightly from 9:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. PHOTO — MARIANNE GILBERT Visual displays feature images of working life The first annual Mayworks festival May 1-8 presents a series of visual art exhibitions in galleries and union locations throughout Vancouver. Working with a broad array of issues and approaches, B.C. artists in the Are You Sure This Is Work? exhibition provide a visual definition of work. They explore the pride, challenge and alienation of production. The display exam- ines Canada’s rich labour history and cur- rent issues facing both unionists and artists, such as discrimination, stereotyping, health and safety, building a sense of community and solidarity, and getting organized. Some pieces in this show, located at the OR Gallery (314 W. Hastings St.) and the International Woodworkers (IWA) hall (2859 Commercial Dr.), express a social realist tradition, while others are abstrac- tions. Whatever their method, this is the first time, since the B.C. At Work exhibi- tions during the World War II period, that visual artists and labour have worked together so closely. Additionally, Mayworks will host a national exhibition, called The Working Artist, at the Video In Gallery, 1160 Hamil- ton St. While local artists explore the work- ing world of non-artists, this exhibition Pp describes the nature of artists’ work. It is inspired by the Independent arti Union, a new Ontario organization that has begun the fight for a living wage for artists. The Working Artist looks at wage levels, domestic labour, housing, health and safety, racism, and sexual discrimination from the perspective of the artist as pro- ducer. Last but not least, Mayworks offers a wide range of independently produced videos. Showings are on Monday, May 2at_ the Video In, and at the [WA hall on May7, and are featured throughout the cabaret nights. The tapes include a tongue-in-cheek view of Yuppie values and free trade, a documen- tation of the recent postal strikes, the Bill 19 fight and other labour battles, the working lives of Chinese peasants, B.C. loggers and Montreal domestic workers, and several others. See for yourself how the “‘newest medium” has become an articulate a cate of labour rights. Visual art is a dynamic and vocal element of our re-emerging labour culture. Come see what Canadian artists have to offer the > labour movement, at Mayworks. — Sara Diamond Greetings to our members and supporters on this International Holiday of Workers. Our fraternal association has been in existence for over 60 years serving the working people of Canada. For information about what the Workers’ Benevolent Association can do for you telephone: 277-0944. Workers’ Benevolent Association, District Committee and Branch 33 805 East Pender Street, Vancouver, B.C. |