LABOR SCENE

by

BRUCE MAGNUSON

f the only thing important
ito a trade union is its size;
and if the largest union in the
country determines policy for
all others, then every other union
ought to give up its independent
existence and join the United
Steel Workers of America,

Who knows, if might is always
right, such a setup may solve
the many and complex problems
for Canadian labor,

However, after Bill Mahoney’s
dismal failure as a prognost-
icator on matters of class strug-
gle and strikes in this coumtry,
we have developed some serious
doubts about “one giant steel-
workers union” as the answer
to everything that ails the trade
union movement,

It seems others too have de-
veloped a doubt on the matter,
Latest news is that the Canadian
Labor Congress has applied
sanctions against the Steel-

~ workers brass for raiding mem-

bers of another Congress affili-
ate,

The union whose members the
Steel union decided to gobble up
this time was a local of the
International Molders and Allied
Workers Union at Canadian In-
dustries Ltd, in Three Rivers,
Quebec,

When the brass of the Steel-
workers were warned about de-
fying the CLC constitution they
not only ignored the warning but
claimed a right to act in order
to “save” the Molders from de-
serting their union in favor of
the Confederation of National
Trade Unions of Quebec, pres-
ently a Quebec union federation
outside the CLC,

The CLC then appointed H,
Carl Goldenberg as anarbitrator
to determine the case under the
jurisdictional procedures laid
down in the CLC constitution.

Goldenberg decided there was
no substantial evidence that the
CNTU would have taken over the

“members if the Steelworkers
union had not acted,

Whereupon CLC President
Claude Jodoin appointed a three-
man committee, consisting of
George Burt, UAW Canadian Di-
rector, William Ladyman, Can-
adian vice-president of the In-
ternational Brotherhood of Elec-
trical Workers, and William
Smith of the Canadian Brother-
hood of Railway, Transport and

General Workers, with Burt as
chairman, to look into and make
recommendations on the matter,

This committee told the Con-
gress that the Steelworkers un-
ion had carried out a premedi-
tated raid against another affil-
iate, “No affiliate has the uni-
lateral right to take on itself to
become the savior of the Con-
gress and its affiliates by de-
ciding to violate the constitu-
tion.”

A five-point penalty or sanc-
tions were thereupon imposed by
the CLC as a first stage effort
to bring the defiant union into
line,

First, the sanction deprives
the Steelworkers of any vote at
the executive council of the Con-
gress on matters involving jur-
isdictional disputes, Second, it
deprives the Steelworkers of the
right to file complaints against
any other union for raiding.

Third, the congress decided
to publicize the Steel union’s
non-compliance with the CLC
constitution on the question of
raiding members of other un-
ions, Other affiliates are pro-
hibited from supporting the raid-
ing union, Finally, the CLC
will give aid to the Molders un-
ion on request, to help resist
the encroachment upon its juris-
diction,

For a long time the officers
of the Steelworkers union have
arrogated to themselves the role
of custodians of the labor move-
ment,

This philosophy runs counter
to all democratic and trade un-
ion principles, It is as total-
itarian in -its approach as was
Hitler in his day, and as is U.S,
President Johnson today withre-
spect to Vietnam and elsewhere,

With 71 percent of the non-
agricultural labor force unor-
ganized in any union, there is
ample scope for growth by all
unions without raiding each other,

In Hamilton, where the Steel-
workers union bargains for
Steleo, it has not seen fit to
organize and bargain for Dofasco
which is in its own jurisdiction,

It is high time therefore that
the disastrous policy of internal
competitive struggle be replaced
by a policy of solidarity, unity
and an all-out effort to organize
the unorganized,

Attention NANAIMO READERS!

Hear

SAM WALSH
Leader, Parti Communiste du Quebec
Speak on
‘*QUEBEC—in the FIGHT FOR NATIONAL UNITY"
SUNDAY—FEBRUARY 27th—1 P.M.
_ OCCIDENTAL HALL—NANAIMO

Large Interior meetings
hear report on Vietnam

More than 500 people attended
a public meeting in Grand Forks
last week to hear PT associate
editor Maurice Rush reporton his
recent trip to North Vietnam. This
was the largest meeting ina two-
week tour which saw Rush speak
in many interior centres,

Speaking at more than a dozen
meetings, Rush charged that the
U,S, intervention in South Viet-
nam is part of the *American

drive to enforce its world-wide
doctrine: that the U.S, has the
right to use military force to
stop social change anywhere in
the world if it considers such
change not in its own interests.”

Rush labelled the bombings
of North Vietnam as “interna-
tional banditry.” He said that
the bombings are not being limited
to military targets but are pri-
marily aimed at terrorizing the

aera pera ee ee tee
BVicky in the Evening Standard,

“Admit China to the UN?—Why, she isn’t peace-loving!”

t

civilian population with the aim
of driving North Vietnam to settle
on U.S, terms, *But the Ameri-
ean bombings are having the op-
posite affect, said Rush, “they
are uniting the Vietnamese people
and making them more determin-
ed than ever to teach the aggres-
sor a lesson,”

Resolutions adopted .at most
meetings urged the Canadian gov-
ernment to press President
Johnson “to accept and abide by
the Geneva Agreement of 1954as
the foundation for peace in North
Vietnam and that the National
Liberation Front of South Viet-
nam be included in any negotia-
tions for peace settlement.”

Rush also spoke at a large
meeting at Tagham, near Nelson,

‘where 225 people turned out,

More than 100 attended his meet-
ing in ‘Trail, B,C, and about 75
in Vernon, Meetings were also
held in Kamloops, Wyndel, Kim-
berly, Chase and Fernie,

A large number of meetings
have been arranged through
March in Vancouver and the
Lower Mainland, Watch the press
for local announcements, In addi-
tion to speaking about his trip
to Vietnam, Rush will showcolor
slides about the lives and strug-
gles of the people of Vietnam,

What is the purpose behind
Davis’ public opinion poll?

The following statement has been
sent by CHARLES CARON to all
newspapers in the Coast-Capilano
constituency, which Caron contest-
ed for the Communist Party in the
last federal election. He also includ-
ed the PT in the list, since we have
a number of readers in the riding.

e

any of the electors on the

North Shore were like myself
taken by surprise by Jack Davis’
bold scheme to ostensibly poll
the views of the constituents in
Coast-Capilano on ten questions,
These questions appeared in the
Feb, 10th issue of Citizen, North
Vancouver,

Mr, Davis introduced his public
opinion poll by asking. *Should
your member simply follow the
party line? Should he trust his
own judgment? Or shouldhe turn
to his constituency for advice?’
I intend to speak to experts, But
I would like dearly to know what
my constituents in Coast-Capi-
lano would have me do,”

_A clear impression is left by
Mr, Davis that he is prepared to
take direction from his constitu-
ents. The facts are that on a
number of occasions he had the
opportunity to take an independent
stand but failed to do so,

During the last federal elec-.
tions when asked where he stood
regarding U.S, military invasion
of Vietnam and Dominica, he re-
plied that he was opposed to such
actions, Prime Minister Pearson
took an opposite stand when he
said, speaking for the Liberal
Party, *We support the aim and
purpose of the United States in
Vietnam,”

On another occasion, when
asked whether he favored Can-
ada’s entry in O.A.S., Mr, Davis

replied “no.” Mr, Pearson va-

Federal election said, “If Canada
received a formal invitation to
join O.A.S. we would give the
matter serious consideration.”

While Pearson is wistfully
looking at the O.A.S, not a word
of opposition is uttered by Davis,

‘On fundamental issues of foreign -

and domestic policies, Davis has
never taken an independent stand
from that of the Liberal party.
You bet he is loyal, to the Lib-
eral party — not to Canada,

Knowing Mr, Davis’ record we
may well ask what is the motive
behind the public opinion poll?
The answer to that question is to
be found in the phrasing of his
questions, Among some harm-
less questions there are a num-
ber of loaded ones, We areasked
in No, 5. *A compulsory medi-
care plan?”

It is widely agreed that this
matter has passed the debate
stage,

Only insurance companies and
selfish interests remain opposed

to the Hall Commission report’

which recommended a compul-
sory medicare plan. Why should
Mr, Davis ask such a question?
It is a kite on the part of the
Liberals to see whether they can
reverse their position ona Medi-
care plan embracing all Can-
adians,

No, 7. “Closer supervision of
the C.B.C. program.” It is an
open secret that both the Lib-
erals and Conservatives would
like the C,.B.C, to become simply
an agency to advance their poli-
cies, They become particularly
frantic when Communists or

: other challenging groups and in-
dividuals a B

In the last Federal elections
they saw to it that the Com-
munists were completely ex-
eluded from free time accorded
to political parties, This ques-
tion is no doubt another kite to
see whether they can muzzle all
diverging opinion to theirs,

No, 8. “Ottawa tougher line
with the Provinces.”
the feeling that this is a question
addressed to a belligerent state,
Perhaps Davis has an eye to the
Quebec nation with this ques-
tion, Let me warn both the
Liberals and Conservatives that
Canadian unity is not going to be
achieved with a club, but through
redress of prevailing injustices.

No, 9. “Canada staying out of
Vietnam?” Davis’ intent is very
clear onthisissue, Itis obviously
for the purpose of opening up the
discussion for Canada to play an
overt role in the U.S, war in
Vietnam.

The question is not up for de-
bate, Canada’s responsibility is
clear, Our role is to work to
implement the 1954 Geneva Ac-
cord, aS a member of the In-
ternational Control Commission
set up for that purpose,

It is evident that Mr, Davis |

is not at all interésted in getting
the electors’ views as aguide for
action, but is engaged inpolitical
trickery to further a course his
party intends to adopt if they can
get away with it,

To those who may say that my ‘

evaluation of Davis’ public opin-
ion poll is unfair, my answer is —
let our member prove me wrong
by his actions and I will be de-

- lighted to say that I was wrong.

One gets