LABOR FRONT]:

By WILLIAM KASHTAN

The latest Domnion Bureau of Statistics figures, show-
ing a decline in unemployment from 8.2 percent of December,
1960 to 6.4 percent .m December, 1961,-.are-no -cause. for
believing unemployment is.on the way out: 413,000 men
and women out, of. work is. still a lot. of-unemployed. and
the number is likely to increase from now -into the spring.
Aside from that, however, there is the question whether
the DBS figures are a correct-measurement of the degree
of unemployment in the country.

In issuing its report the DBS gave two reasons why
unemployment. was lower this December than last year.
These are, according to press reports, “a sharp increase in
the number of hew jobs and a slowdown in the growth of
the labor force.”

This is a rather contradictory statement. There prob-
ably has been an increase in new jobs but the second reason
given is not so easily explaired away. Has “a slowdown in
the growth of the labor force’ really taken place? Or is
economic stagnation and hidden unemployment the real

reason for the slowdown in the growth of the labor force?
* * ®

Is hidden unemployment reflected in. the DBS report?
What about part-time unemployment? What about the grow-
ing number of families on relief? What about those with
jobs but not at work, as well as those who would be work-
ing were jobs available? What about those who joined the
Survival Corps which was established in large measure to
take workers off the streets? What about those workers
who are taking training courses?

Are all these categories of unemployed reflected. in the
DBS report If they are not, and that is likely the case,
then the picture of unemployment is much more serious
than the ‘government cares to admit. One almost gets the
impression. that the DBS report. was -tailored to suit the
political needs of the Diefenbaker government :and not to
reflect the situation as it really exists today.

Government policy seems to be directed to taking the
unemployed or a portion of them off the streets so that the
extent of unemployment is masked. But taking some of them

off the streets gives them no useful work.
% * *

However, even were one to accept the present figures
of 413,000 unemployed at a time when the government is
boasting of recovery, it would still indicate that that re-
covery, such as it is, is rather shallow and probably short-
lived. This is borne out by the fact that very few economists
today are prepared to predict that it will go beyond 1962
either here or in the USA. If this is the case, and-it may well
be, unemployed, chroni¢ and otherwise, will continue ‘tobe
a Serious. problem which no amount of government” double-
talk can. hide. ;

* * 2 «

The fight against unemployment..and.for. full -employ-
ment, the organization of the uneniployed into unemployed

organizations or associations, is definitely..a direct responsi-}

bility of the entire trade union movement and should: be at
the centre of their attention:

One gets the impression, however, “that the right wing
leaders of the trade union movement have accepted the idea
that four or five percent permanent unemployment is a
“bearable burden” fort thém arid are therefore sitting’ back-on
their o&rs. Ammong some»trade union leaders there is the
attitude that, once taid off, the unemployed-are-not their
responsibility; that their responsibility is only to their em-
ployed members. Such a narrow, selfish approach is dis-
tinctly harmful to the workers, employed and unemployed.
Other trade union leaders take the attitude that unemploy-
ment does not seem to be as serious as last year and there-
fore does not require their attention. A shortsighted view,
to say the least.

To date the only provincial Federation of Labor which
has concerned itself with the problems of the unemployed |’
and the organization of thé umemployed has been the B.C.
Federation of Labor, while in a great industrial area like
Ontario, the Federation of Labor has taken a stand-off atti-
tude, and worse, to the organization, of the unemployed.
Where it should ‘be welcomed it has been red-baited and
where is should be organized it has been sabotaged.

This-is not the way to. build up the unity of employed
ahd unemployed so as to defend the interests of both and
to ensure -that-the unemployed are not used as potential
strike-breakersor. as. levers with which to attack living
standards.

*& * *

This matter. heeds Serious examination at the forthcom-
ing CLC convention in April.”

No.less urgent is the need for the trade union move-
ment nationally to advance and campaign for national job-
cteating..policies which: can lead to an expansion of the
etonomy and useful work for;the unemployed.

BRITISH CP LEADER HITS COMMON MARKET

“It isa disgraceful and incredible thing that Britain
sheuld be considering breaking its traditional economic
ties with the Dominions in favour of ‘closer economic
relations with West Germany,” J. R. Campbell, chair-
man of the British Communist Party, told a capacity
audience of 1,000 Vancouverites at the Pender Audi-
torium last Sunday night.

“Britain, caught in a mom-|
ént of weakness, is being
pushed by the U.S.A. into the
European Common : Market”
he explained. ‘“‘American mon-
opolists are eager ‘to see the
formation of a European
power block, standing on its
own feet and independent of

Canada should speak blunt-
ly, he said.’ We should tell
Britain that it has made a
lot of money from the pro-
ductive toil of Canada and
it cannot toss into the gar-
bage can its responsibilities
of years standing in favor of
economic union with West
Germany.

American help. A power
block, headed by revenge-| Such a statement by Cana-
seeking Germany, which) da, loud and clear, could act

would be imperialisms an-
swer to the growing economic
strength of the socialist coun-
tries in Europe.”

as a mobilizing call to the
people of Britain who have
not been consulted about
ECM and are just beginning
to see its implications.

Campbell said that .the
European Common Market is ;
not a democratic alliance. At
its heart is military Germany
bent on revenge, and France
teetering on the brink of fas-
cism. It is a mibhtary-econ-
omic alliance, and Britain is:
betraying its people by enter-
ing into it.

NOVA SCOTIA STEELWORKERS
DEMAND ’YANKEES GO HOME’

SYDNEY,. N.S.. — -The fight of Sydney steelworkers
against speedup,. which was. suppressed by the national
office of their union last fall, broke out anew on Jan. 23
when 700 day-shift workers in the big DOSCO (AVRO) plant
walked. off the job to be later joined by hundreds ‘from the
afternoon. shifts.

As in the earlier struggle. the walkout began in the a8
and. bar mill when: the agents of a U.S. firm of efficiency
experts. entered--the mill on: their second found of. “’job
scheduling.”’

“Yankee:Go Home”: signs: ‘went up in the mills.

Canada can play a big role
in moving sections of the
British people and _ labor
movement off the _ fence.
Strong and determined ac-
tion by the people of Canada
and Britain can keep. Britain
out of the ECM, he told his
audience.

PATHET LAO FIGHTING UNITS. Created 13 years ago ‘in
the struggle against French colonialism, these troops, here
shown in anti-tank exercises, today constitute one of the
main forces of the Laotian people in their fight for neutrality
and independence.

Hear - TIM BUCK
FEBRUARY 24 BANQUET"

Celebrating

40TH ANNIVERSARY —
COMMUNIST PARTY “OF ‘CANADA:

Time, Place, Details to be »announced

‘Strong action by Canada —
can keen Britain from ECM”

February 9, 1962—PACIFIC“TRIBUNE—Page*2

The fight against Britain’s —
entry into the ECM is an im-i
portant part of the fight for —
peace,..against nuclear wat
he said. The ECM is part-and
parcel of the plans of imper-
jalism for world nuclear war,
and the participation of Bri- 7
tain is fundamental to these:
plans. a3

Britain and Canada are in’
a wonderful position to throw —
their weight into the balance —
in the struggle for peace. TO
do this required withdrawal
from NATO, which | spear-
heads the ‘nuclear’ death
march,” Campbell said. ;

The actions of the monop- 4
olists today, including the ©
formation of the ECM, are”
dictated by their fear of the ~
strength of growing world
socialism. They are afraid of
peaceful co-existence, he
stated.

It is these monopolies, not —
Communism, that menaces —
the life, health and living —
standards of the people of ©
the world, and the people of —
all countries can and must be ©
won to the struggle to defeat —
their disastrous aims and pol-
icies.. ‘

The Party in Gréat Britain —
has watched with great inter- _
est the formation of the New
Democratic Party’ in Canada, ‘~
Campbell said. It is a devel-*—
opment of profound import-
ance for the Canadian people
and we wish it every: success. +

Teachers, doctots, archi-
tects, small shop’ “keepers, « a
farmers;* workers, “everyone” sid
is being . victimized by -the*
| tiny. group of monopolists whos
have the wealth‘ of our coun+ ”
tries concentrated. in their =”
hands: It is for us to unite —
these people into a mighty ;
movement against the monop- *”
olies which will put our coun- 7
‘tries on the rails of socialism,
‘Campbell concluded.

Nigel Morgan presented
“Jock” Campbell witha Cow-" _
ichan. sweater. .on- behalf of
the people at the meeting and
the B.C. Communists which
the doughty Scotsman promp-
tly donned and made a heart-
warming ‘thank you’ speech.

Pacific Tribune Editor Tom
McEwen acted as chairman
and the meeting opened with
two folk-songs sung by Tom.
Hawkin.

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