THE WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER LABOUR WARFARE CERTAIN U.A.W.'’s "NO RAIDING AGREEMENT” SCORNED BY PRESIDENT MEANY DETROIT, Mich. — The United Automobile Workers and the Teamsters have sent letters to AFL-CIO President George Meany, all members of the AFL-CIO Executive Council and the Presidents of all AFL-CIO affiliates propos- ing a “universal no - raiding agreement.” NO REPLY At a press conference after a meeting of the AFL-CIO Executive Council last week, Meany said the UAW-Team- sters proposal had not been discussed and he planned no reply to the no-raid offer. The letters were signed by UAW President Walter P. Reuther and by Teamster General Vice President Frank Fitzsimmons. They stated that their respective organizations were “prepared to join with others in an agreement to re- frain from seeking to organize workers who are presently organized and represented by a bona fide union as their authorized bargaining agent.” END WARFARE Reuther and Fitzsimmons said that about half of the AFL-CIO already have no- raiding agreements with the UAW, the Teamsters or with both, but that a more broadly based agreement would be preferable. It would end speculation they said, that. “the labor movement is mov- ing toward internal warfare.” A copy of the joint UAW- Teamsters letter was sent to IWA International President Ronald F. Roley. It states: The purposes and objectives of the Alliance for Labor Ac- tion were set forth clearly in the Declaration of Purpose made public on July 23, 1968. DECLARATION PURPOSE The Declaration of Purpose stated in part: “Our purpose will be af- firmative — not negative. We shall be committed to build- ing and strengthening the la- bor movement and expanding _its benefits, its influence and its contribution to both the membership and their fami- lies and the nation as a whole. Any organization prepared to join in this common, construc- tive effort will be welcome. “The Alliance for Labor Action (ALA) will assist all bona fide labor organizations which are prepared to co- operate in and contribute to efforts to advance the inter- ests of workers and their families and to join with others in the community to promote the general welfare and to improve the quality of life for all of the American people. ORGANIZING TASK “The Alliance for Labor - Action (ALA) will devote its efforts and contribute its re- sources affirmatively and con- structively to the tasks of as- sisting in organizing the mil- lions of unorganized, strength- ening collective bargaining and dealing with the critical political, social and economic problems of the day.” At the time of the an- nouncement of the formation of the Alliance for Labor Ac- tion, we made it abundantly clear that the Alliance was not being constituted as a competing labor federation and that our purpose was not to build the Alliance at the expense of any other organiz- ation. We stated emphatically that any bona fide labor or- ganization that chose to join in this cooperative effort, whether independent or af- filiated with the AFL-CIO, could do so without in any way changing or compromis- ing its independent status as an affiliate of the AFL-CIO. NOT COMPETING The Alliance for Labor Ac- tion is not a competing labor center. It is a labor action group that provides a mech- anism through which free and autonomous unions which voluntarily choose to join in a cooperative effort can work together: A. In organizing the mil- lions of unorganized workers so that they may enjoy the benefits and protection of or- ganization: B. Strengthening collective bargaining to make it a more effective instrument through which wage earners can win for themselves and their fami- lies a fuller measure of eco- nomic and social justice; SOCIAL PROBLEMS C. In joining with other groups in the community to help America find answers to critical and urgent social problems. Any autonomous national or international union can obviously choose to associate itself with this voluntary co- operative effort to help build and strengthen the labor movement in the full knowl- edge that such an effort would be consistent with the prin- civles of a free labor move- ment and not in violation of the provisions of the AFL- CTO Constitution. IRRATIONAL FORCES The ugly and irrational forces that manifested them- selves during the recent elec- tion campaign and the results of the election which have placed divided responsibility between a Republican Presi- dent-Elect and a Democratic Congress necessitate maxi- mum cooperation among all groups of concerned citizens in the common search to find answers to America’s many urgent problems. In this period of change and challenge, the American labor movement must accept its full responsibility and must help America facilitate the process of peaceful social change. The labor movement cannot afford to waste its energies and its resources in needless internal conflict. Nor can the labor movement afford to be com- placent. It must provide the leadership and the teamwork necessary to develop and im- plement new ideas and new concepts so essential if. Amer-, ica is to move forward and meet the nroblems of change. URGENT TASK Organizing the unorganized is a compelling and urgent task to which the American labor movement must devote itself and its resources, and we must avoid the dissipation of our energies and our re- sources in negative and de- structive raiding activities. The Alliance for Labor Ac- tion in cooperation with or- ganizations that have indi- cated a desire to join in a co- operative organizational effort is currently developing speci- fic organizational programs. It is our intention to jointly commit resources to insure the effective implementation of these organizational pro- grams as soon as our plans are completed. ACHIEVE PROGRESS In order to assure that the energies and resources which are necessary to achieve prog- ress are not dissipated in fruitless and unproductive raids against other unions, the UAW and the Interna- tional Brotherhood of Team- sters are prepared to join with others in an agreement to refrain from seeking to or- ganize workers who are pres- ently organized and repre- sented by a bona fide union as their authorized bargaining agent. Approximately -half of the affiliated unions in the AFL- CIO have individual no-raid- ing agreements with the In- ternational Brotherhood of Teamsters and/or-the UAW. These agreements are import- ant but they do not provide the broad and universal base for the maximum application of the no-raiding principle. The basic idea of no-raiding is sound and every effort should be made to give it the broad- est possible application. — UNIVERSAL AGREEMENT To this end the UAW and the International Brother- hood of Teamsters enter into a universal no-raiding agree- ment. Such an agreement will put an end to all the speculation and uncertainty that the la- bor movement is moving -to- ward internal warfare and will instead imsure that the resources and the good will of the labor movement will not be dissipated in negative and destructive raiding activi- ties. Such a universal no- raiding agreement must of necessity provide for an ef- fective and appropriate en- forcement mechanism, includ- ing a terminal step. WORKING COMMITTEE We would suggest that a working committee represent- ing the AFL-CIO, the Inter- national Brotherhood of Teamsters and the UAW be set up to work out the pro- visions of a universal no-raid- ing agreement and the pro- cedures for its early ratifica- tion and implementation. We are prepared to meet for this purpose aS soon as we are y advised of the willingness of the AFL-CIO to do so. There are basic differences within the American labor movement. just as there are basic differences within our free society. Many of these differences are fundamental and they cannot be glossed over or swept under the rug. These differences, however, did not prevent effective and meaningful cooperation dur- the recent election campaign nor should they prevent effec- tive and meaningful coopera- tion in dealing with the prob- lems of organizing the unor- ganized, strengthening collec- tive bargaining, and aiding America to find answers to urgent social problems. LEADERSHIP CHALLENGE Those who share the lead- ership of the American labor movement have an opportun- LOCAL UNION SICK LISTS LOCAL 1-357 Sisters E. Rose and N. Kelly of the LA of Local 1-357 IWA visited the following patients in the Royal Col- umbian Hospital and distributed can- dy, cigarettes and copies of the West- ern Canadian Lumber Worker. A. Saube, Plywood; K. Herus, Fra- ser Mills; E. Blomquist, Rayonier; G. Tiberglien, Nalos Lumber; K. Bek- karsing, Rayonier; E. Mareotte, Douglas Plywood; Frank Lis, Pacific ~ Pine; Bikker Singh, Rayonier; 1. Kroeker, Fraser Mills; E. Girardo, Forest Products; S. Manuck, White Pine: C. Bessette, Fraser Mills. GUARANTEED PLAN FIXED INCOME PLAN mum risk. EQUITY PLAN tion forms contact: 16 East Broadway WALTER REUTHER AN INCOME TAX PROBLEM? You have until February 28th to make deposits to a plan for added income tax advantages for 1968. —Principal and interest guaranteed. —Minimum rate — 6% for 5 years. —Investments offering maximum earnings with mini- —Current yield in excess of 7%. —Blue chip investments for long term growth and a hedge against inflation. For complete particulars on each of these plans and applica-_ Vancouver 10, British Telephone 872-7844 ity to demonstrate the capa- bility of rising above these — differences and working out a universal no-raiding agree- ment. Since this proposal con- cerns all of the affiliates of the AFL-CIO, we are addressing it to each affiliate and to the officers and members of the ~ Executive Council of the — AFL-CIO. We would appre- — ciate your advising us of the attitude of your organization ~ concerning our proposal. It is our hope that the reply — of the AFL-CIO to our pro- © posal will be affirmative so ~ that early meetings can be ar- ranged to consummate a uni- © versal no-raiding agreement — between the AFL-CIO and its affliated organizations and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and the UAW. —Reprinted from International Woodworker ~* LOCAL 1-80 Financial Secretary Ed. Linder of Local 1-80 IWA visited the following patients in the Nanaimo Hospital Jan- uary 3, and distributed candy, cigar- ettes and copies of the Western Cana- dian Lumber Worker. Port Alberni; August Buechner, Chemainus; Roy Fred Sketchley, Burkholder, Nanoose; Albjorn Fos- Mrs. Alfred sum, Nanaimo Lake; 5 Noble, Nicol, Nanaimo; Thomas — Ryan, Winchester, Nanaimo.