i of | Kashtan interview: All-out su TORONTO — Last week the Nadian Labor Congress an- 1 unced it was setting October 14 ai day of protest against the . eral government’s program of @8e controls. In the interview ‘With the Tribune that follows: Uilliam Kashtan, — general ty of the Communist Party o! Canads, discussed the meaning, iMportance and the possible long- Tm effects of the national day of Protest, Tribune: What is the importance the CLC’s declaration of Oct. 14 : 4S'a “national day of protest’? Kashtan: The Canadian Labor ngress decision to make October ‘I a national day of protest €ainst the wage control program of the Trudeau government is, in many respects, an historic decision. It shows that the trade union movement has ‘“‘grown up”’, become stronger, more united and increasingly conscious of its potential power. How far the change, is perhaps illustrated in the 1919 Winnipeg general strike affecting one city and today’s all- Canadian action. Nor is it limited to that alone. The present action is a major political act because the thrust of the ‘day of protest’ will be directed not against one or a group of employers but against the government which embodies the aims of monopoly in Canada as a whole, exemplified in its wage Trib Larry Ryan, Victoria, writes: Harold Pritchett’s article, ; une, August 13. a found the above item most ‘resting. No doubt brother jltchett made a useful con- “bution to the winning of voting 5 hts for East Indians in B.C. His rt, as an IWA leader, in the 1973 # “€gation to see the Hart Vernment in Victoria is deser- | . "8 of our applause, and everyone , tole welt accompanying picture could wil be proud of their good deed. ee © labor movement had been ney concerned for many years ous over the exploitation of als by B.C. employers. There “8 good reason for its in- tignation. Owever, looking back over the rd one canot but feel that there Some South Africa type in- Tance in the air also. A good 4 of the sentiment expressed H decidedly racist in tone. It is Frunst this background that pee cer Pritchett’s article Sumes significance. the yan is secretary-treasurer of 0 Greater Victoria Labor uncil), Was * * * ha’ Farkas, Nanaimo, writes: I peut returned from a month- visit to the Hungarian a ples’ Republic after a 20 year ponce. Two decades of socialist meres, under the leadership of ade munist Party and Janos achicn’ showed the greatest Wm €vement I have ever seen. I Ould like to share my experience my fellow Tribune readers KS a on my personal observations discussions with workers, nts, intellectuals, and party Wists whom I have known for ny years. he Tribune would welcome any ac letters of reader Farkas’ ex- periences for future issues). * * * Terry Polowy, secretary AUUC school committee, writes: The School of Dance; Music and Language of the Association of United Ukrainian Canadians ex- tends an invitation to all young people between the ages of 3 and 18 to participate in our classes. Qualified instruction given in Ukrainian folk dance, mandolin, balalaika, piano, guitar and Ukrainian language. Registration and classes _ will begin on Saturday, Sept. 11 at 9:30 a.m. at 805 E. Pender St., Van- couver. For further information please call, 879-2089. * * * [The following letter was ad- dressed to William Kashtan, general secretary of the Com- munist Party of Canada, by Mrs. Gertrude Thompson of Edmonton, Alta.] I wish to contribute the enclosed cheque in memoriam to my late sister Helen Tuomi. I hope that in some way it will help to carry on the work in our movement to which she dedicated so much of her life, time and money. She had the strength of her convictions and never hesitated to speak out for peace and human rights and dignity. It might be said that she often repeated what Alfred Lord Ten- nyson said in his day: ‘“‘When will all men’s good be each man’s rule and Universal Peacebe like a shaft of light across the land.” hope her work and memory will live onto give others the courage to struggle on towards our common goal. Canadians For Democracy in Chile present A CONCERT FOR CHILE featuring TOM HAWKEN GEORGE HEWISON BARGAIN AT Vo THE PRICE and more 8 p.m., Sunday, September 12 QUEEN ELIZABETH PLAYHOUSE Adults: $3.00 Children: $1.50 port to CLC day of protest urged freeze program, its restrictions on collective bargaining and its declared aim of fighting inflation at the expense of the living stan- dards and jobs of working men and women. Tribune: How do you interpret the reaction to the day of protest by both business and government. Kashtan: The howls of rage which broke out following the CLC decision show how fearful monopoly, its press and govern- ment are with the action, and to what lengths they will go to prevent it if they can. This can be taken as a form of an intimidation campaign, threats of disciplinary and legal action, psychological war, all directed to divide the ranks of the workers, split the trade unions, find ‘‘defectors’’ and “weak links’ if they can, who could be used against the workers and their unions. Government, the Canadian Manufacturers Association, and the monopoly owned press, have all joined ranks in this effort. One may expect that their campaign will be stepped up the closer one gets to October 14. Being mindful of the strategem of his ‘unholy alliance’, the workers, the trade unions, all progressive and democratic forces must strengthen their unity to en- sure a massive turnout of workers and working people on October 14. Now, more than ever, is the time for the NDP and the Communist. Party, NDPers and Communists in the shops, plants, mines and mills, in communities and people’s organizations in every municipality, to act unitedly to ensure maximum support to the October 14 “day of protest’, whatever its form. Tribune: Why a “‘day of protest”’ rather than a general strike? Kashtan: Some “critics’’ from the so-called left have criticized the CLC for calling Oct. 14 a “national day of protest’’ rather than a general strike. What they fail to see is the essentially sound approach which underlies that decision, the necessity of building a democratic alliance or coalition of all anti-monopoly forces headed by the ‘working class, to compel changes in government policies. That it is called a national day of protest and not a general strike does not invalidate the fact that in practice it will be a general strike, LABOR DAY GREETINGS TO ALL Political power is the in- escapable prerequisite to econ- omic and social power. 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Such a proposal, however, has within it KASHTAN the elements of class collaboration and opens the door to corporatism against which CLC President Joe Morris spoke so harshly. One should not close one’s eyes to the possibility that the government is not itself opposed to a “‘tripartite partnership” of a kind which could weaken the independence of the trade union movement, veer it away from policies of independent political action and tie it to the Liberal Party machine. Indeed, it should not be excluded that some elements of understanding or collusion exist between the government and some trade union leaders on this matter. : What is evident from this is a mutually contradictory policy is being pursued — on one hand, a policy of class struggle; on the other hand, a policy which veers See DAY OF PROTEST, pg. 8 ‘ THE COMPLETE | 4 TRAVEL SERVICE / | We will prof all your travel needs. We specialize in tickets, tours 2679 E. Hastings St., Vancouver, B.C. 253-1221 and reservations. 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