M-M referendum to follow

Steel, Mine Mill .
set merger terms

F the recommended terms are

approved by its membership
in a referendum vote, the Cana-
dian Mine Mill and Smelter
Workers will merge with the
Canadian section of the United
Steel Workers of America.

The merger terms, drawn up
by the national leadership of
both unions will be discussed
in detail at a policy conference
of the United Steel Workers on
May 17 and 18 and at a special
convention of the Mine Mill in
Jate June.

It follows on the successful
implementation of a no-raiding
pact signéd earlier by both uni-
ons and a previous merger in
the United States.

In coming to terms, the lead-
ers of both unions ended a
chapter in Canadian labor his-
tory and began a new one. How-
ever deep the wrench will be,
especially for the men of Mine
Mill, the promise of the merg-
ed union, which will unite over
54,000 workers in the Canadian
non-ferrous metal industry, do-
minated the mood at the signing
ceremonies in Toronto.

The eloquent vice-president of
the Steel, Workers, Joseph Ma-
loney, spoke of the old and mili-

tant traditions of both unions
now united together. He recalled
the Homestead strike, and the
battles of the western hard rock
miners, but the accent was on
the future.

“Canada, which has the great-
est resources of minerals in the
world will now have a union
which can present a united front
to the employers,” he said.

If the merger terms are ac-
cepted by the members of Mine
Mill, they will join and become
part of a union that will then
represent the majority of basic
steel workers in Canada, all alu-
minium and asbestos workers
outside of Quebec, a large num-
ber of foundrymen and _ light
metal fabricating workers. The
union’s combined membership
will total more than 150,000
workers in 715 bargaining units
located in 225 communities from
coast to coast in all provinces
and territories of the country.

But it is not so much the task
of making one union out of two
that officers of both unions
spoke about, but rather the fu-
ture organizational drives and
bargaining power that gives the
merger its potential and pro-
mise. More than 10. percent of

Demand wages, recognition

Ontario's nurses
told to ‘grow up

“Nurses have got to grow up.
They have got to get that adult
feeling,” said Alice Colon, as-
sociate director of the Massa-
chusetts Nurses’ Association.

Miss Colon, who addressed
the convention of the Registered
Nurses Association of Ontario,
said nurses tend to regard a
“hospital as Mommy and Dad-
dy.”

She said many hospitals have
a paternalistic attitude toward
nurses, “They don’t give them
health benefits or security. If a
nurse falls ill, they give her a
hospital bed or maybe charge

her a reduced price. And the’

nurse thinks this is great. They
say ‘God bless. the hospital.’ ”
Miss Colon said that the pro-
blems of organization of nurses
were the same in Massachusetts
as in Ontario, nurses were
afraid of being embarrassed.”
Members of the RNAO voted
during their convention for a
new minimum salary of $6,000
for registered nurses and $7,680
for university-trained nurses.
The new salary schedule gives

the nurses a basis on which to
argue for more money in salary
negotiations with employers —
kospitals, boards of health, clin-
ics and agencies.

The nurses also voted in
favour of four weeks annual
holidays (20 working days).

The nurses also advanced a
resolution to have membership
in the association compulsory
for all nurses,

The preamble to the resolu-
tion noted that Ontario is the
only province that does not de-
mand compulsory membership
in professional - organization.
The RNAO board of directors
was instructed to ask the On-
tario government to enact legis-
jation making membership com-
pulsory.

The group also voted to ask
the College of Nurses. — the
licensing body — to support
amendment of the Nurses Act
so that Grade 12 graduates
from either the four- or five-
year arts and science program
in high schools can be enrolled
in nursing schools.

Canada’s non-ferrous metal in-
dustry is unorganized and with
rapid expansion of this area of
our national economy the union
will have its work cut out for it.

The early test of the merger
and the fruits of unity for the
workers will be seen and felt
around the bargaining table.

In the United States, where
the merger has been in effect
for a few months, bargaining
in the non-ferrous industry is
beginning, and from all indica-
tions an epic battle is shaping
up. For the first,time in history
the mining barons face a solid
wall of workers united around
one set of ambitious demands.
With the growing wage move-
ment there, and the evident dig-
ging in of heels by the employ-
ers, this round of bargaining
assumes continent-wide dimen-
sions. The fabric of this unity
will be severely tested.

In Canada, first bargaining
tests will take place in Bathurst
Mining in Bathurst, New Brun-
swick. It is in New Bruswick
that Mine Mill recently fought
through a successful struggle
with Nigadoo Mines, which end-
ed after a bitter strike of over
100 days. One of the factors
that contributed greatly to the
victory was the unity which de-
veloped through the whole Jabor
movement in New Brunswick.

Bargaining will take place in
the giant Cominco operations in
the spring of 1968 which will be
followed in a number of smaller
operations later that year.

While the essence of the
statements by officers of both
unions dwelt on the future and
the challenge of battle with the
mining giants, the press confer-

~ ence had its moments when the

recent past of the unions were
alluded to. Al Skinner, former
International President of the
Mine Mill, noted that most of
the participants in the discus-
sions had sat in the same room
before, but it was always in
court. Skinner also mentioned
the course of the ground-break-
ing discussions in the States,
where they at times ‘“confound-
ed ‘our enemies, perplexed our
friends and puzzled ourselves.”

Joseph Maloney spoke of the
ecumenical spirit, and the ad-
justments he had to make as a
Catholic, when he found out
Protestants could get into
heaven. He also said of the
“wedding” that there was some
doubt “over who would wear
the veil; hopefully Harvey will.”
Harvey Murphy, Canadian vice-
president of the Mine Mill, res-
ponded by saying that the merg-
er was very important for the
labor movement for, if nothing
else, it proves that if Steel and
Mine Mill can merge, “anybody
can.” :

la

A PLAQUE honoring the workers who built the Toy
way and in remembrance of the nine workers who Jost”
during its construction was unveiled in the Bloor
The laborers union has fought for a suitable tribute 10%
were killed during the construction since the system sae

plaque includes an oil painting

depicting a constructiO!

standing over an open trench with the Toronto skyline?

ground.
*

* *

THE AUTO PACT and the Vietnam war. have combiné
about a shortage of heavy trucks in the Canadian cons
dustry. R. A. Crolly, director of the Automotive Indus

tion has stated that the demands of the Vietnam Wal
nelled most of the production of extra heavy trucks t
defense department and that rationalization in the in
the auto pack has concentrated production of these a

United States,
*

th
dust!
ck

* *

AN ARBITRATION BOARD established under the?

breaking legislation in Saskatchewan has awarde
workers in the province a five percent wage increase

g 12
phe

bad demanded an eight percent increase and were © Ww
cent by the government on the eve of the five day strike
place last fall. The workers, members of the Oil, r
Atomic Workers Union, were forced back to work PY
tion which brought the arbitration board into bein&

ANADIANS celebrating May
Day at meetings held in
all major centres linked

this historic workers’ holiday
with -the rising tide of opposi-
tion to the U.S. aggression in
Vietnam.

In Montreal, Pierre Vadebon-
coeur of the C.N.T.U., Henry
Gagnon, chairman of the Politi-
cal Action Committee of the
Montreal Labor Council, Jean-
Marie Bedard, president of the
Parti Socialiste du Quebec,
Michel Pichette,, vice-president
of U.G.E.Q. and Sam Walsh of
the Parti Communiste du Que-
bec shared the platform.

The theme of Expo, ‘Man and
His World” was contrasted to
the present holocaust in Viet-
nam by the speakers, who stood
under a large banner reading
“Vive la paix.”

Under a banner calling for
solidarity with the people of
Vietnam, 300 Torontonians en-
thusiastically responded to
speeches by the Rev. Robert
Wright from Welland and Jean
Paré, Vice-President of the Unit-
ed Electrical Workers from Mon-
treal, condemning U.S. actions
in Vietnam.

The meeting, held in the Car-
penters Hall, was chaired by
Bud Doucette and sponsored by
a group of prominent Toronto
trade-unionists. A telegram was
forwatded to Prime Minister
Pearson calling for government

May 12,

action to bring aby
tion of the wat a of
diate halt to te
North Vietnam.

A May Day t Wi
choslovak Hall 1? yin
wires to the Pri
ing for action tO
ing of North viet
asking the gover pol
for the release ® nd
soners in Cre
ration of demo-
collection of gi17
the meeting ?%
Tribune SustainiNe

A well attend?
Hamilton heard and
Street Railway hf Be
unions speak. cers
of the Steel Wor®
chairman.

In Winnipeg
vice-president,
Smelter Worke
dressed the crows
A resolution wer
meeting address” i
prime ministel v yon
‘end to “quiet
for this coming 7,
liament to fort?
against the acl
Vietnam. mee
~ In Vancouvel © 7p i
addressed by colt it
retary-treasure ceeds,
trical Union. PY’ Ai
nated to Canadi@
nam Civilians

Har
Min i

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-pIBU
1967—PACIFIC TRIB :