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LABOUR

‘Social solidarity’ coalition launched

The market-based economic policies of
federal and provincial governments, includ-
ing free trade, have created a “deepening
social crisis of poverty and unemployment”
which can only be addressed by “bold new
initiatives” to take the country in an alterna-
tive direction, a coalition of leading national
groups declared in Ottawa Dec. 10.

“We believe that now is the time for pop-
ular sector groups to come together for the
purpose of building a more human society
based on the principle of social solidarity,”
coalition representatives told reporters in
releasing their joint declaration.

Entitled “A Time to Stand Together. A
Time for Social Solidarity,” the declaration
warned that the excessive reliance of
governments on private sector initiatives
and market-based policies had created
growing unemployment, vast disparities in
income and a social crisis that is demon-
strated every day by food bank lineups and
homeless people.

“Plant shutdowns, farm bankruptcies,
business failures and abandoned communi-
ties have left well over a million and a half
people unemployed, thus deprived of an
adequate family or personal income,” it
stated. “During the past two years alone,
nearly a million people have become
dependent on welfare. Close to one out of
every five citizens in Canada is now living at
or below the official poverty line.”

Backed by some nine national umbrella
groups whose representatives participated
in its drafting, the declaration marked an
historic convergence of “popular organ-
izations” — trade union, church, women’s,

farm and Native organizations — all seek-
ing a change in the country’s economic and
political direction.

Those attending the press conference
included Nancy Riche, executive vice-
president of the Canadian Labour Congress
(CLC); Gerald Larose, president of
Quebec’s Confederation des Syndicats
Nationaux (CSN); Madeline Parent,
National Action Committee on the Status
of Women (NAC); Rev. Clarke MacDo-
nald, past moderator of the United Church
of Canada; Bishop Charles Valois, of the
Conference of Catholic Bishops; Hari
Echenberg, of the National Anti-Poverty
Organizations; and Raye-Anne Briscoe of
the National Farmers’ Union. Although
not at the conference, the Confederation of
Canadian Unions and the Assembly of First
Nations also participated in the committee
that drafted the declaration.

Significantly, the organizations, based on
the members they represent, constitute a
majority of the Canadian people.

Riche told reporters that a working
committee made up of representatives from
the various organization had been meeting
for the past year to study Canada’s eco-
nomic and social policies and to prepare a
working paper. The declaration was the
result, she said.

“It is our hope that this declaration will
help to stimulate a country-wide discussion
about alternative social and economic pol-
icy directions for Canada — starting now
in the context of the current free trade
debate ...,” she said. “We firmly believe
that it is time for popular organizations to
exercise some creative political leadership in
generating public discussion and debate on
policy alternatives for Canada.”

The outline of the social and economic
crisis presented in the document stands in
stark contrast to the picture of private sector

from the

HOSPITAL
EMPLOYEES’
UNION LOCAL

180

32 e PACIFIC TRIBUNE, DECEMBER 16, 1987

NANCY RICHE ... announces coaltion
of church, labour, women’s and Native
groups.

economic rejuvenation painted by Tory and

Social Credit governments across the coun-

try.

“eCanads is rapidly becoming a sharply
stratified society of ‘winners and losers’,” it
stated, citing the “substantial numbers of
working people” who have been forced into
unemployment by new technology and a
growing number “who have no choice but
to depend on part-time, temporary, low
wage jobs.”

Social inequality has also been dramat-
ized by regional underdevelopment and the
deep disparities that have developed in the
distribution of income and wealth. —

“Today the top 20 per cent of income
earners receive 43 per cent of total personal
income while the bottom 20 per cent receive
less than four per cent,” it said.

“Sndeed, the top 10 per cent of Canadians
control 51 per cent of the total wealth in this
country.”

Despite that inequality, government eco-
nomic and social policies have increasingly
beer based on the allowing free operation of
the market and special incentives to the
private sector.

But those polices are “based ona number
of false assumptions and myths,” it emphas-

- ized.

In fact, the private sector has been des-
troying jobs by introducing new technol-
ogy, financing corporate takeovers and
transferring production to other countries,
the declaration stated.

It also challenged the frequently-quoted
arguments about high deficits and excessive
social spending, pointing out that Canada’s
deficit, as a percentage of Gross National
Product, is lower than it was in 1952. In
social spending, it said, “Canada ranks 13th
of 19 (OECD) countries in the proportion
of national income expenditures on social

ams.” ‘
ee “unemployment and poverty in
Canada would be further aggravated by a
bilateral free trade accord with the United
S,” it stated. | :
oS declaration warned Canadians that
they were at “‘a critical moment for making

- services;

and social development,” based on new

Season's Greetings from

major choices about the future direction
Canada’s economic and social policies.

“There is a pressing need today
develop alternative economic and ye
policies based on social solidarity
than market-oriented priorities,” it state
Those policies. it said, should be ba:
on:

@ A full employment policy guarani
ing decent jobs for all those willing andal
to work, coupled with programs to redt
unemployment to three per cent within
years and eliminate discriminatory ba
in employment practices;

® New economic strategies to prom
greater Canadian economic self-suffici
to direct investment towards manufac
and regional development; to link subsidies
to specified job creation standards; and te
develop and expand public and comm

© Establishment of new labour sté
ards, including living wages, equal pay
work of equal value and improved wor.
conditions; ;

© The ‘strengthening, revitalization a
expansion” of existing social services
ensure universal access and improv
standards of quality; ac

© Development of a fairer and more
progressive taxation system to ensure tha
top income earners and corporations
their fair share of taxes;

® Strengthening and expansion of the
public sector as the “engine of economic

forms of public ownership which is public
accountable, as well as worker-controlled
and co-operative enterprises.
“These proposals are not meant to be 2
detailed blueprint for Canada’s economic:
and social future,” the declaration noted.
“What we have put forward... are some of
the basic elements of an alternative vision
based on principles of social solidarity
rather than market priorities.”
Now that it is released, Riche told th
news conference, the declaration will be:
taken to hundreds of popular organization
across the country for study and endo
ment. Groups will also be asked to m
suggestions for changes and additions base
on the organization’s needs or experience in
a given sector or region.
The working committee will also be co:
sidering convening a national assembly
popular sector groups some time in 1988
develop the policy proposals further.
Although those taking part in the ne
conference have not all endorsed the decl
ration as their own policy, all were agree
that the statement would provide the bas
for building a coalition around comm
issues. a
NFU representative Raye-Anne Brisco
told reporters that the declaration “will gi
farmers hope.”
“We join in the call for a new soci
movement in Canada,” said United Chur
past-moderator Clarke MacDonald. “We
need to build a new popular coalition in
Canada, a coalition that will return political
decision-making to the Canadian peopl
themselves.” :

Gaie Wages ,
Ss

BC Provincial |

“What we desire for ourselves }

Council of |
Carpenters |

we wish for all.” |