Congressmen and Unions hit labor code changes The B.C. Federation of Labor pledged this week to take the issue of the amendments to the labor Code to every one of its 230,000 Members and to continue in its Campaign ‘‘to defeat this govern- ment’’ as the opposition to the Socreds’ Bill 89 continued to Mount. The Federation held a con- ference of staff officers and union leaders Tuesday to outline the analysis of the bill and the Federation’s campaign. “We’re going to conduct a 4 campaign ta ale the mem- bership to make it Clear to every worker that this legisfation is a blow aimed at unorganized and at all labor,” said secretary Len Guy. Guy also said that the legislation would be a major issue of debate in the Federation’s convention in Penticton next month. Although labor minister Allan Williams has vehemently argued that the amendments ‘‘will only clarify the code,’’ the Federation’s study of the changes re-underline the attack against the trade union movement embodied in the Bill. Of central importance of course, is the amendment which raises the percentage necessary for a cer- tification application from 35 per cent to 45 per cent. But the other changes also have serious im- plications. The Federation stressed in its analysis that the amendment which removes employer limitations on interference in a union organizing campaign “‘is an extremely serious amendment which legalizes employer inter- = : Bu a: Andrew Brewin, NDP MP for Toronto-Greenwood and a member of the fact-finding mission which went to Latin America last year, was one of several speakers to address the conference on Chile in Vancouver last Weekend. Delegates to the conference pledged to step up boycott actions and press the campaign for the release of prisoners (Stories, page 10, 12). —Sean Griffin photo. World protest stalls U.S. decision on neutron bomb Mounting protest both in the United States and around the world ave stalled U.S. President Car- ter’s decision on the proposed plan to build the neutron bomb. Originally scheduled for August 15, Carter put off his decision after receiving a cable signed by 26 U.S. five U.S. Senators urging him not to sign the authorization papers for the Production of the bomb. The cable warned that the Weapon ‘‘could lead to an €scalating nuclear exchange tween our country and another nuclear power and it is unlikely a Nuclear war would remain limited.” The bomb will shift U.S. Strategy “perilously close to the actual use of nuclear weapons,”’ it Said, : New York Democrat Theodore €iss, initiator of the action, has also sent an open letter to the 435 Members of the U.S. Congress asking them to back an_anti- Neutron motion that he will in- troduce. American public opinion is Tunning strongly against the bomb. One poll conducted by the Buffalo; Ourier-Express found three Quarters of those polled to be against the building of the bomb. In Tllinois, 20 American religious leaders signed an open letter to Carter opposing the bomb. Washington has been besieged with protests from around the world ever since plans for the neutron bomb became public. Among those who have called on Carter to scrap the bomb are World Peace Council president Ro- mesh Chandra, Austrian chan- cellor Bruno Kreisky, former FRG chancellor Willy Brandt and the World Council of Churches which denounced the bomb at its yearly central committee meeting last month in Geneva. Demonstrations against the bomb have drawn thousands in the , Federal German Republic, Japan, Australia and throughout the socialist world. ference during an organizing campaign.” Similarly, the amendments to Section 4 of the code removes the provision which allowed the Labor Relations Board to prohibit the employer from changing wages and conditions during an organizing campaign and eliminates the right of a union to obtain from the employer a list of names, addresses and telephone numbers of employees. “This amendment further im- pedes organizing drives,’’ the Federation stated. Elsewhere, amendments to Section 27 radically alter the role of the LRB in labor relations giving it directive power to act in regard to the public interest — not defined by the Bill — and to determine what should happen to bring about improved collective bargaining. Moreover, whereas the LRB had virtual precedent-setting powers by the authority given it in the labor code, it will now have See BILL 89, pg. 12 Pipeline deal called sellout Thursday, September 8, 1977 will go down in history as the day on which an agreement was approved by prime minister Pierre Trudeau and U.S. president Jimmy. Carter on the Alcan pipeline, which constitutes one of the most monumental sellouts of Canadian national interests. Larger than the St. Lawrence Seaway, and hailed as the largest project ever undertaken, the pipeline will do nothing to solve Canada’s energy needs, and serves only the long-range energy needs of the U.S. The final details .are expected to be released this week in both Ottawa and Washington and final approval must await debate in Canada’s parliament and the two houses of Congress in the US. The size and magnitude of this project, running across Canada from north to south, represents a major advance in the continental development of Canada’s resources. It is a serious blow to the independent development of Canada. Despite a denial by U.S. energy secretary James Schlesinger, that the pipeline doesn’t mean a victory for con- tinentalism, the contrary is the truth. 2 Schlesinger contradicted himself on this score when he told a press conference in Washington the day after the agreement was reached between the prime minister and the president, that the U.S. expects to get large additional quantities of Canadian gas as a result of building the pipeline. He revealed that Canada has already agreed that 800 million cubic feet of Alberta gas will move through the pipeline as early as the UFAWU issues appeal Combines case postponed The charges against seven members of the United Fishermen and Allied Workers’ Union for allegedly “impeding an inquiry under the Combines Investigation Act” have been put over to October 14 in provincial court in Van- couver. : Among those charged are union president Jack Nichol, secretary George Hewison and_ past president Homer Stevens. The fishermen were represented in provincial court last Monday by lawyer Harry Rankin who agreed with the prosecuting attorney that the trial will take at least two days. The trial is expected to be delayed again on October 14. Last week, delegates to the Vancouver Labor Council were the first to respond to a broad appeal by the UFAWU .for support from the labor movement. president Syd Thompson told delegates that the whole trade union movement may be called upon to rally in defense of the fishermen. The text of the UFAWU appeal Council * reads: “For the second time in less than 20° years, the United Fisherman and Allied Workers. Union is launching a broad appeal to stay the hand of the Combines Branch in its attempts to cripple and/or destroy the UFAWU. “Twenty years ago, a lengthy investigation into the fishing in- dustry by the Combines Branch determined that all price negotiations conducted and collective agreements signed for - See UFAWU, pg. 3 winter of 1979-80, before the pipeline is completed in the north. Pointing out: that this gas may be replaced later when Alaska gas starts flowing, he said the U.S. government hoped Canada would by then reassess its position and authorize more exports to the U.S. Apparently the Canadian government is already reassessing its position and may drastically increase the export of gas to the U.S. Speaking Monday in Toronto, See PIPELINE, pg. 12 CCW pariey meets Sunday The Canadian Congress of Women will holdits annual meeting in Vancouver’s Britannia Com- munity Centre, Napier and Commercial Dr., on Sun. Sept. 18 from 10:30 to 4 p.m. An interesting program will include a report and slides on the recent world Peace conference in Warsaw by Rosaleen Ross, a talk by . Joy Langon of the B.C. Federation of Labor, and the showing of the film ‘‘Last Grave of Dimbaza,” followed by a talk on South Africa by Ann Bjarnason. There will also bea sale of home baking and plants. The public are invited. CHINA: A continuing military build-up and a provocative foreign policy. See page 6, 11. |