B.C. FED TO MEET Economic problems key issue at labor parley BY OBSERVER The 1971 convention of the British Columbia Federation of Labor meets in Vancouver November 15 - 19. The indications are that the worsening economic situation will be the key issue before the delegates. Earlier this month Donald MacDonald, president of the Canadian Labor Congress, reacted sharply to press reports of United States demands that Canada must allegedly meet to have the 10 percent surcharge on exports to the U.S. lifted. “If it should turn out that this becomes the official American policy, then we strongly urge the Canadian government to reassess completely both our economic and political relations with that country.”’ , We of the left have been opposing U.S. domination of our economy for more than 20 years. We welcome the concern of Brother MacDonald and we hope that it will result in the kind of action the situation demands. The Federation convention should advance a clear and specific alternative to the growing economic crisis. The alarming increase in unemployment is a direct product of an unplanned economy and monopoly control, aggravated by U.S. domination and U.S. attempts to export its crisis to Canada and other countries. It is in this light that we must see the new possibilities opened up by the recent exchange of visits between the government leaders of Canada and the Soviet Union. Trade patterns do not change overnight, as Premier Alexei Kosygin said in Ottawa. However, the long range possibilities for new markets with the socialist countries and the newly emerging nations are immense, given the correct orientation by government. This - is one of the key changes in foreign policy that should be debated by the delegates, with a view to creating new jobs for Canadians. NO TO WAGE FREEZE If there is one issue on which the convention must give a clear and unequivocal lead, it is the threat of a wage freeze, sometimes disguised as ‘‘wage restraint’’ Labor must categorically say no and repeat once again that it is the profit- price spiral that is responsible for rising prices, along with government-inspired inflation, and not wage increases. The delegates should demand price and rental review boards in order to roll back prices _and rents. The conference should call for an adequate income for every Canadian as a right; a 32-hour week with no reduction in take- home pay and earlier retirement with higher pensions. The unemployed should receive unemployment’ insurance benefits at 80 percent of their wages for the full period of unemployment. Economic growth and full employment can PACIFIC TRIBUNE—FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1971—PAGE 12° be achieved through public control and nationalization of both resource and secondary industries, starting with those sectors of the economy dominated by U.S. capital. Labor in convention must say no to plant closures and demand public review boards with labor representation at both provincial and national level. FIGHT FOR JOBS The alarming increase in unemployment is sure to spark a debate on what action should be taken. In place of the petty, insignificant make-work schemes of provincial and federal governments, the convention should demand the construction of 250,000 low- rental housing units annually. It is likely that there will be a. demand from the floor for a union of the unemployed, under CLC auspices. While every encouragement. should be given to mobolizing the unemployed to fight for jobs, we must give no. standing to the idea that the fight for full employment is the sole concern of the unemployed. Following thé last convention, the idea was prevelant in some labor circles that the unemployed should be assisted to set up their own structure and then left to their own devices, with the trade unions playing a supporting role. To follow this course means to place the 2 million strong trade union movement on the sidelines in the fight for new policies. This false concept of isolating the problem of unemployment from the trade unions has lent itself to disruption and provocation by ultra-left elements with their con- frontation tactics. It has led to confusion (and sometimes conflict) between laid-off workers, young people who have never entered the labor market, social welfare recipients unable to work and graduate students seeking professional oppor- ‘ tunities. Obviously, the immediate problems of a laid-off carpenter who expects to be despatched to work soon are different than those of a deserted mother with five small children, or a graduate student with a master’s degree in history who can’t get a teaching position. Similarly, workers laid off from non-union jobs are in a different position than laid-off workers who have paid union dues for years and have a stake in their unions. It could be that a number of structural forms will be necessary, like unemployed committees in unions, organizations for laid-off workers having no union connection, and associations of the disadvantaged, the youth and the graduate students. The key, of course, is a program leading to co-ordinated action led by the trade union movement. It should be possible, in 1972, to send a lobby on full employment to Victoria that will dwarf the 1971 lobby. With the experience gained last time the ultra-left fringe should be isolated. Pressure should also be placed on the CLC to hold a national conference and lobby on full employment in Ottawa. Given a comprehensive program, the various and diverse groups referred to above should be able to co-operate harmoniously under the active leadership of organized labor. CO-ORDINATION With key sections of the labor ‘movement going into negotiations for, new contracts next year, such as’ lumber, construction, towboats, longshoring, trucking and public employees, the Federation executive must play an even greater role in co-ordinating the wage movement and in defeating all attempts to impose compulsory arbitration. The B.C. Mediation Commission, as an instrument for compulsory arbitration, has been greatly discredited. The 1971 convention should repeat -labor’s .opposition to the Commission and Bill, 33 and demand: the enactment of a Bill of Rights'for Labor, This important gathering can ~ render a signal service to humanity by demanding the U.S. set a date for the unconditional withdrawal of all American troops from. Indochina. For many years now, Federation conventions have called for the CLC to admit unions outside the Congress with no pre-conditions other than acceptance of the constitution and principles of that body. This year should prove no exception. Recently, the 150,000-member Canadian Union of Public Employees threatened to withdraw from the CLC if the CLC permits the various provincial government em- ployees’ unions in Canada outside of CUPE to set up a national union within the CLC. The position of CUPE is that they were given this jurisdiction exclusively and Congress must honor its committment. Jean Beaudry, executive vice- president of the CLC replied as follows: ‘‘Nobody has the right to exclusive jurisdiction within the CLC” — (Vancouver Sun, October 18, 1971). The same report quoted John Fryer, provincial secretary of the B.C. Government Employees Union as follows, ‘“B.C.G.E.U. Fryer said Beaudry told BCGEU . delegates Saturday that membership in CUPE was nota - prerequisite to membership in the CLC; that they could join directly.”’ In view of this official statement by the CLC top leadership, how can they justify - their position that the United Fishermen and Allied Workers’ Union must join the Canadian } Food and Allied Workers’ Union if it wishes to enter the CLC? There is a consistency behind this apparent inconsistency. The Congress leadership is still tied to its cold war hangups in relation to the Fishermen. The Federation convention must once again demand admittance with no pre-conditions for such unions as the United Fishermen and Allied Workers Union. when he was asked if he favored inst Ontario auto workers are shown in a recent demonstration og proposed layoffs this coming winter which will affect about oming workers. B.C. labor faces the same problems at a upeo™ convention of the B.C. Federation of Labor. Kosygin visit hailed Cont'd. from pg. 3 seeking new friends and rai 1 partners. The historic comm released Tuesday at the = Premier Kosygin’s visit ov met! a broad area of agrees zee between Canada and the sive Union and projects an ext” program for the further nthe sion of co-operation betw! the two countries. It builds 0 WP foundation laid by the Pf i jn on Consultation sign 4 Moscow on May 19, 1971 8 inist sit ] conclusion of Prime Mi : Trudeau’s visit. Among the man Z which further co-0 oP 8 be developed, the people ? | the will particularly wee prospects of expanded tranche The communique says: that | Canadian side indicated sate” would welcome and facil ine expansion of imports ruding Soviet Union, ine ; machinery and equipmelt "that the Soviet side indicat? qith they would do likewis® ios respect to. imports B Canada.”’ British Columbians ™ otjof find satisfaction in the ~ ich of the communiqué ts 7 pledges both governmé couver’s Mayor Tom Campbell about which the public should be indignant. Having only recently returned from a trip to the Soviet Union which he hailed before- hand as being an important breakthrough, and after having been accorded a warm and enthu- siastic welcome by the Soviet people and their leaders, he demonstrated what a small man he is when he refused to attend the banquet in honor of visiting Premier Kosygin. Premier Bennett’s absence from the banquet at an un-named “prior commitment’? was also inexcuseable. A clue to the reason for his absence was given by the Premier in an interview unig’? |) u of s in y area wi more trade between B.C. and the Soviet Union. He said his thoughts were more towards a Canada-U:S. common market than towards increased trade with the Soviet Union. He probably took this action to demonstrate his protest against the new friendly relations developing between Canada and the USSR. The Socred government in B.C. is among those right-wing forces in Canada who advocate i als? complete capitulation to U.S. work for disaral the pressures and ‘‘integration” measures, ‘‘includi né yet! with the U.S. and are opposed to _ banning of underground ® the present Ottawa policy of tests.” You are Invited to Celebrate 54th ANNIVERSARY of the OCTOBER REVOLUTION SUNDAY — NOVEMBER 7th —2 pM RUSSIAN PEOPLE'S HOME 600 Campbell Ave. FILM SHOWING on the SOVIET UNION & GUEST SPEAKER Followed by refreshments. Ausp: Canada-USSR Friendship Society Join the Canada USSR Friendship Society Now.