CLC-Building
need unity,
autonomy,
democracy

By TERRY FRASER
The top leaders of the international building trades
unions in Canada are trying to blame the executive coun-
cil of the Canadian Labor Congress for the present dis-
array in the Canadian labor movement.

Their attempts to blackmail the CLC executive by
withholding per capita dues payments to the congress,
forcing cutbacks on many CLC programs, have resulted
in failure. Their demands that the CLC amend the con-
gress constitution, with or without the: approval of a-
constitutional CLC convention have been denied.

Their demands that the CLC turn the clock back on
Quebec construction workers, who democratically by
secret ballot, elected to set up a new structure they
believe will better serve their interests, were also denied.

Instead of taking the responsible course, in the in-
terests of all Canadian working people, by paying up.
their per capita and fighting for the changes they feel are
necessary at the next and future CLC conventions, the
building trades leaders have set up a parallel Canadian
labor body and are trying to draw unions away from the
Gi:

They are promising a new democratic structure for the
new labor federation, including conventions, elected
. delegates and officers, resolutions, etc.

However, the existing Canadian structure created by
the leaders of-the. AFL-CIO Building Trades Depart-
ment, and which they are using as the base from which to
try and destroy the effectiveness of the CLC has no such
democratic structure.

Delegates to its meetings are appointed, all table of-
ficers are appointed by the general presidents of the
building trades unions headquartered in the U.S., and
resolutions to the Washington-controlled building trades
council in Canada must be approved by the same top
leaders who are now promising a democratic structure.

The fact that most of the constitutions of the building
trades unions do not allow elected delegates or even
negotiating committees for that matter, is being ignored
by them.

To remain consistent with their tactics to force
changes in the CLC affiliated unions to the new labor
body will be permitted to withhold per capita tax, with-
draw, rejoin, etc. But only if the affiliated union feels that
is the easiest way to avoid paying their indebtedness or
to effect any other selfish or unjust aim. These are
phoney principles under which no organization could
endure or serve the interests of its members.

The top leadership of the building trades unions in
order to shore up thew position have been holding na-
tional meetings of the middle leadership of their unions
for the purpose of getting endorsations of their (she top
leadership) position in regard to the CLC. According to
their reports their position is getting practically unanim-
ous support from the middle leadership of the building
trades unions.

The top leadership however, are making a real error in
judgment if they believe that a show of hands by the
middle leadership who were bused in for the occasion is
indicative of the popular feeling of the ordinary members
of the building trades unions. It might well be questioned

whether there is today a majority of any building trades -

union which favors what the building trades leadership is
doing to the Canadian labor movement. Most under-
stand, without the need for argument, that destroying of
the effectiveness of the CLC which they themselves
helped to build, is not in their best interests.

The inter-union warfare that the building trades
leadership are responsible for instigating will only hurt
the ordinary members of all unions, who are already
witnessing the wasting of huge sums of money acquired
through their monthly dues.

The only positive achievement that will be realized by
Canadian building trades workers out of this battle is the
conviction that we can no longer live without the right to

determine our own affairs.in Canada. This waste of the .

resources of the Canadian labor movement would never
have come about if we had that right, now.

Terry Fraser is-an active member and a former Busi-
ness Agent of Local 105 International Brotherhood of
Electrical Workers, (IBEW). . :

PACIFIC TRIBUNE—MAY 1, 1981—Page 12

. future struggles. ‘‘One will recall’, a March 9, QFL

.the Quebec Building Trades to choose between the

Quebec labor backs autonomy —

By HERVE FUYET -

MONTREAL — Last September, official statistics
showed that the Quebec construction industry hada 19%
unemployment rate.

During the winter it went up, close to 50% at times,
including the Quebec City and Montreal areas. Since
1975, the employment trend here has declined: 151,000
active registered construction workers in 1975 compared
to 105,000 in 1979-80. The James Bay and Montreal
subway projects helped, -but only 29,186 houses were
built in 1980 compared to 68,746 in 1976.

Building trades workers, faced with such a dramatic
situation are preparing for tough struggles. Construction
workers affiliated to the Confederation of National
Trade Unions, (CSN-CNTU), are raising the demand
that the property of slum landlords be expropriated with
this followed up by a publicly-financed home renovation

On March 9, the results of the vote taken among .
building trades workers were released, with the QFL
structure winning the votes of 52,680 members (72.1%)
compared to 20,380 (27.9%) for the old AFL-CIO struc- —
ture. It is interesting to note that the old council, using
sorts of blackmailing tactics managed to keep control of
22 locals out of 42, particularly the tinsmiths, roofers, —
millwrights, structural steel workers, plumbers in Local
144 and elevator construction workers. The QFL coun- —
cil, won all the big locals with the exception of the
plumbers where only 30% voted for the QFL.

negotiations, according to Quebec law, construction —
workers will have to vote individually to decide which of ©
the construction labor bodies they consider the best for —
them. :

Presently the QFL structure has 43.9% of the mem- —
bership, the CSN-Construction 24.1% with 25,000 mem: _
bers, the AFL-CIO building trades with 19% and the
CSD (previous break-away from the CSN) and Syndica! _

. Sept Isles combined have 7.6%

__ The outcome of next fall’s vote will be quite interest-
ing because if a union has more than 50% of the members —
voting for it, the exclusive right to bargain for all the —

program. :

The CSN has also demanded the expropriation of
ITT, and such real estate and development monopolies
as Cadillac-Fairview, Campeau and Trizec, who own
huge tracts of urban land which they're keeping vacant
for speculation purposes. Under the CSN program of
demands a massive, low cost housing building program
would be carried out on this unused real estate.

As always, the fight for better wages continues to be a
key demand since this is the only way working people _-
will have the chance to buy a house and stimulate home
building. :

_ The Quebec Federation of Labor (QFL), the largest
labor central in Quebec is also preparing actively for .

will only have observer status.
If no union has the ‘absolute majority, the five unions —
will have to agree on their objectives and tactics.
One can expect that the autumn elections will furthet —

*

-- weaken the old AFL-CIO council and that the reac-

.

statement pointed out, ‘‘that a crisis among building
trades union opposed the majority of the affiliates of the
Quebec Provincial Building Trades Council to the Build-
ing and Construction Trades Department of the AFL- .
clo. :

‘*Assessing that democracy was blocked inside that
body dominated by Washingten, a majority of trades,
representing a majority of members, formed the QFL-
Construction’’, the federation said. ‘‘With the help of
QFL president Louis Laberge the group requested the
recognition by the Quebec Government of their new -
association. This led to Bill 109 requesting each local of

old AFL-CIO building trades council.

to press their unions to pay up their back per capitas to

become more militant and democratic or die.

AFL-CIO and the QFL-Construction.”’ construction industry in this capitalist Canada of ours:

It must be noted that next fall, as always prior to

workers will belong to that union, while the other unions —

tionary roadmen sent by the Washington-based AFL- —
CIO Building Trades Department will have a much smal- —
ler voice in the Quebec construction unions and possibly
even inside the locals which have stayed affiliated to the —

This will certainly facilitate a more militant unity of |
action in the forthcoming negotiations. It will also help —
‘progressive elements still in the old council and its locals —

the QFL and the Canadian Labor Congress and re-af-
filiate. Hopefully, the old AFL-CIO locals will have tO _

One thing is clear. It will take all the unity (at least of
action) and sovereignty one can get for the Canadia? —
labor unions to fight back the deepening crisis of the —