Consistent battle since 1886

A May Day tribute to labor

TORONTO — At a meeting
May 4, in the Carpenters’ Hall,
marking the 88th anniversary of
May Day as the international
day of the working people, an
audience of about 150 heard

tributes to the working menand |

women who have consistently
fought labor’s battles since 1886
and, while fighting the battles
of the day have set their sights
on the future and labor’s eman-
cipation.

The meeting, which heard
Bruce Magnuson, labor secre-
tary of the Communist Party,
and Stan Bullock, editor UE
News, was chaired by Jean
Vautour, executive secretary of
- the Canadian Peace Congress
anda long-time activist in the
trade union movement.

Answers the Attacks

Stan Bullock, editor of UE
News, paid tribute -to the “thou-
sands of working men and wo-
men who struggled over the 88
years since May Day was estab-
lished to win rights that today
we take for granted.” Bulllock
described the recent national
- convention of his union, the

United Electrical Workers: “Our
convention worked out _pro-
grams to meet the problems and
advance policies to answer the
heavy attacks on workers’ rights
and living standards.” He re-
ported that delegates heard rep-
resentatives of the Soviet trade
unions who were present as
guests as well as speakers from
the Angolan liberation move-
ment,-the African National Con-
gress and Betty Ambatielos who
svoke about the struggle of the
Greek people.

Communist .Party labor sec-
retary Bruce Magnuson pointed
to rapid world developments
and especially recent events in
Portugal. “Mav Day is the day
of springtime. It svmbolizes the
coming to life of everything.
The progress made by the work-
ing class of the world in 88
vears is remarkable.” he said.
‘He reminded his audience that
in that time we have seen the
rise of a world socialist camp
and the fall of colonialism. “The
changes in the next period will
be a greater yet. May Day
marches will return to Canadian

SST,

a
By SAM WALSH

There can he no doubt now.
Henceforth “Labor Day” in Que-
bec as everywhere else in the
world except in the rest of North
America, will be celebrated on
May Day.

This year there were demon-
strations and strikes not only
in Montreal, but in 27 citices;
36,000 workers downed tools
and walked out; 25,500 students
joined them. The little city of
Joliette with a population of
22,000, site of determined and
prolonged class struggles, saw
9,000 workers and 6,000. stu-
dents celebrate May Day by
walking out!

The main themes were: soli-
darity against inflation; interna-

tional solidarity against repres-
sion.

On that very day the federal’

government announced a salary
increase of $500 for civil ser-
-vants because of inflation: and
Bourassa announced he would

PACIFIC TRIBUNE—FRIDAY, MAY 10, 1974—PAGE 6

a Toronto May Day rally.

cities and will replace Labor
Day.”
Labor Responsibility

Magnuson spoke about events
in France, Portugal, Italy, Den-
mark and said there is no stop-
ping the world working class.
“Detente is crucial and the
fight to make it irreversible is
the key. The Canadian labor
movement has a responsibility
to get more fully into this
struggle.”

Turning to Canada’s ‘ prob-
lems, Magnuson spoke about the
growing monopoly _ offensive
against workers’ rights and liv-
ing standards. He described the
growing labor militancy and
strike movement as broadening
its base. “This movement grows
out of the domination by big
business aided by governments
over our economy. The need to
defend labor’s standard of liv-
ing is the number one task,” he
said.

“The CLC convention this
month has~a. great responsibil-
ity in this situation. What role
will the new leadership take?
What policies will evolve? For
Canadian workers, the fight is
to catch up to soaring living
costs and defend themselves
against future price hikes. Along
with the economic struggle,

receive a delegation from the

Common Front on May 6, to dis- ~

cuss their demand for a $1,000
increase for workers in the pub-
lic and para-public service.,

Even the Minister of Labor,
Mr. Cournoyer, is quoted to the
effect that he saw no objection
in principle to a “Labor Day”
which would be celebrated on
May 1 where.the workers could
demonstrate their ‘dissatisfac-
tion”!

Isolate Splinters

So that there are already some
results from the new level of
solidarity and militancy of the
workers as manifested on May
Day. :

How to enlarge the break-
through?

Trade unionists in all regions
of Quebec .must form = and
strengthen their permanent reg-
ional common front.

The students must re-establish
their unions everywhere and
group them again in a student
union centre which will be close-

Communist Party labor secretary, Bruce Magnuson speaking at

labor must take political action
to develop unity in the labor
movement between those fight-
ing only for reforms and those
who also see the need for social
change. The lesson of Commu-
nist-Socialist unity in France
will strike home to many,” he

‘said.

Labor’s Fight

In closing, Magnuson outlined
the major needs of the hour —
full support for labor’s fight to
defend living standards; organ-
ization of the unorganized; win
more trade uriion support for
the nationalization of Canada’s
resources; the development of
technological changes to benefit
working people. “We need a dif-
ferent balance of forces in Can-
ada’s political life with workers
in government representing their
own needs. This will open the
door for a socialist Canada

where this country will become -

part of the future.”

In bringing greetings to the
meeting Jojo Saloojee of the
African National Congress
in Canada, told of the growing
strike movement in South -Afri-
ca being waged in spite of gov-
ernment repression and express-
ed thanks for support being ex-
tended by Canadians to South
Africa’s struggles,

ly tied to the Common Front of
the workers.

Together they must isolate
and defeat those who sow dis-
sension and splitting by their
policies of raiding and class col-
laboration on one hand, and of
discrimination against immigrant
workers on the other. In this
way they can ensure that the
central Common Front remains
permanent.

The fight to re-open contracts,

in order to include cost-of-living
indexing, clauses must be per-
sued vigorously.

Political unity of action on
the municipal field must be re-
inforced, following the example
of the municipal party which is
in process of creation in Mont-
real.

Idea Taking Hold

One must proceed without
delay with the formation of a
mass federated party of the
working people on a province-
wide scale. Even Le Jour began
a May Day editorial with: “May
Day is traditionally the occasion

| Metro labor hails end |

to Portugese fascism

TORONTO: — An_ executive
board statement of the Toronto
Labor Council that greeted. “the
apparent’ end of the oppressive
and fascist regime in Portugal,”
was passed unanimously by dele-
gates at the last meeting of the
council. :

While members of the execu-
tive board who spoke to the
resolution admitted that it was
a “cautious appraisal” of events
in Portugal, they noted that the
end of the fascist regime was
a “worthwhile step”. —..

The resolution read in part:
“Military coups have been notor-
iously employed in other coun-
tries at other times to impose
military dictatorship. In Portu-
gal. there ‘seems’ to be a dif-
ference.

“Already there has been a re-
surgence of opposition political
parties, street demonstrations,
and the beginning of a revival
of a free trade movement. It is
still too early to assess the dir-
ection events are taking, espe-
cially in relation to Portuguese
colonial policy.

Resurgent Trade Unions

“Nevertheless, the shattering
of the-secret police, the freeing
of: political prisoners, and a re-
surgent trade union movement
must be greeted as hopeful signs
for the future. The Portuguese
community in Toronto and
throughout Canada is a large
and growing one, and they are
watching with extreme interest
in these developments.”

Didimo Godinho, delegate
from Local 26 of the Canadian
Brotherhood of Railway Trans-
port and General Workers and
an activist in Toronto’s Portu-
guese community said: “In the
name of the Portuguese people,
I wish to thank you for your
expression of solidarity with
the struggles of the Portuguese
peoples.”

He then went on to describe
the conditions in Portugal that
led to the recent actions and
noted that since 1926; at the
time of the fascist takeover, Por-
tugal, when compared to other
European countries “is in first
place in tuberculosis, Portugal is
in first place jn illiteracy, Portu-

40 put forward the idea of the
formation of a party of the
working people’; and ended
with: “It is in defining the dif-
ferent policies capable © of

‘changing the life of the working

people and the rules of the game
of society that the proponents
ofa party of the working people
can contribute to the rooting
among the people of a coalition
party” (My emphasis),

Such, views, which, up to a
certain point resemble those of
the Parti Communiste du Québec
as expressed in the pamphlet:
“For a Mass Federated Party
of the Working People”, but dis-
played in a separatist newspaper

intimately linked with the Parti

Québécois, demonstrate not only
the validity of the idea, but the
degree of its penetration among
the masses. The fact that the
afore-mentioned pamphlet and
buttons carrying its title as a
slogan sold “like hot cakes” be-
fore and after the demonstration
in Montreal is another proof of
the same thing.

gal is in first place in illé
immigration and Portugal #
first place- with political P
oners, and now, “for the 2
time, just, the other day,
tuguese people had the ¢
tunity to express their solid
to. the people of the worl
May Day. :
Need Canadian Support

“In Portugal,” he said “We
beginning to start a new life
we will continue to Nl of
support of all Canadians,
the people of the world.’ ‘

Tony Godinho, delegate 1 ¢
council from Plumbers ~
Steamfitters, Local 46, recall
the delegates that the ever
Portugal have internation@
percussions. “It will
affect the liberation strugé
Guinea-Bissau, Angola an® —
zambique which have beet
ing their battles against
ism since 1961.”

He also reminded ee
gates of the response © + {0
world trade union movem@h” |, |)
the progressive actions “jae
place in Portugal and salty
World Federation of Tra’
ions has sent a_ teleg
greetings) and so has the dt
Union Congress of Great B
and this council should 60 oy,
wise.” Donald Monter ree
president of the council aw
and a telegram of supp?
promised. fe

Items Referred —

In other couneil, busin
delegates dealt with se ’
stitutional changes including
creases~ in the per Me 0"
for locals affiliated to it. ie pitt
tion to increase the Pe! ~ ogy
was referred back to ae age!
mitte until a complete —

gale

S

ty

a

for the council was “
down. Only then, delegate?
“could the propos increé:
judged objectively.” 4
The delegates also refete 0
constitutional change ba'
committee that would 4?
quired a two-thirds oa
to amend committee
The sympathy of the deleet
was for a simple ma
the motion was referre™
instructions to provide ~~
simple majority. a a
The meeting begat
campaign speech by he
Montgomery, who 4 for
that he was running 38
Canadian Labor ‘Congté ‘esp?
of secretary-treasurel at the
the fact. that he didn’t fo exe”
official nod from the
cutive board.

Grape boycott
backed by i
Newspaper Gull

TORONTO—Two sed
Toronto Newspaper 7nd]
stop selling table graP©
tuce from U.S. grow :
have refused to sign kere
with the United Farm and |
In letters to Loblaws iid
minion Stores, the ee
“We are aware that the y 108
vest of table grapes June, y
Toronto in May and frain ©
would. ask that you Fé ees |
handling this produce ©
stores.” a
The Guild has ©™
$500 to the UFW--