Halt the Hydro rate boost

The arrogant attitude of the Socred government was demonstrated this week
when it was announced in the Legislature that hydro and bus rates to the public would
be increased sharply by April 1.

This action came on a letter by
B.C. Hydro chairman Dr.
Gordon Shrum announcing the
increase, and after weeks of
sunsuccessful attempts by the
opposition in the House to force a
debate on Hydro operations and
rates.

UFAWU CASE ENDS

The announced hike would
push hydro rates up around 15

"percent and bus fares up to 25

percent. There was no indication
that the present rate structure
which subsidizes low rates for

Forestry bosses try
provocation in talks

Forest Industrial Relations
(FIR) and its spokesman John
Billings is clearly not in
sympathy with the idea of united
labor coordination in collective
bargaining.

Last week when negotiations
opened briefly between the big

lumber monopolies, rep-
resented by FIR and the Inter-
national Woodworkers of
America (IWA) representing
some 28,000 coast lumber-
workers, Billings staged ‘a
demonstrative ‘‘walkout.’’

Reason: accompanying the IWA
negotiating committee were
representatives of the B.C.
Federation of Labor and the
International Pulp and Sulphite
Union.

While FIR and its spokesmen
have no hesitation in bringing
into negotiation proceedings all
the “‘experts”’ and consultants it
can muster to prove the industry
cannot afford to spend another
nickel on so-called labor costs, it
obviously resents its employees’
negotiating committee having
the same right of coordinated
viewpoint.

That FIR’s Billings pulled a
faux paux in the opening session
is already obvious to his
superiors, who will undoubtedly
order him to cut the comic opera
and get down to brass tacks,
realizing that labor co-operation
and co-ordination is a fact of
life, which they themselves, in
their greed for super profits,
have helped create.

The 32 basic points in the
IWA’s demands, including a
$1.00 an hour wage increase
across the board in a 1-year
agreement will only be achieved
by and through the media of a
maximum of labor unity and co-
ordination. Hence the inclusion
of consultants from other labor
bodies in the opening round of
IWA negotiations is a signifi-
cant step_in the direction of
serving the interests of all
unions.

* * *

Last ‘week final legal argu-
ments were presented in the
B.C. Supreme Court before Mr.
Justice Gordon Rae in the suit
for ‘‘damages’’ against the
United Fishermen and Allied
Workers Union
broughton by a number of Prince
Rupert vessel owners for alleged
“damages” during the UFAWU
Prince Rupert strike in 1968.

Lawyers Harry Rankin and
James Poyner acted for the
UFAWU, with UFAWU secre-
tary Homer Stevens appearing in
his own defense in this lengthy
court hearing.

Labor throughout the prov-
ince is keenly interested in what

“PACIFIC TRIBUNE—FEBRUARY 27, 1970—Page 12

(UFAWU) ~

the Court’s ultimate decision
may be, (not yet rendered) since
it is of the most important
significance to organized labor;
viz, can a union as such be held
responsible for ‘‘damages’? —
read profits, resulting from a
strike action?

Already a number of Cana-
dian unions are faced with this
added danger in their struggle
for decent wages and working
conditions.

industry at the expense of the-
public will be altered.

B.C. Hdro has refused to
disclose its books or submit its
case for a boost to any tribunal
for discussion, not even a Legisla-

tive Committee. The public is
expected to just take its word
that an increase is needed.

The real reason for the crisis
in Hydro was revealed when the
Socreds pushed through a Bill
increasing Hydro’s borrowing
power to one and a quarter
billion dollars, and the announce-
ment last weekend by Premier
W. A.C. Bennett that building of
the Columbia dams would cost
$400 million more than expected.

This week Nigel Morgan, B.C.
leader of the Communist Party,
called for all out protest against
the hike. ‘‘A united people’s
movement can still block the
boost before it goes into effect
April 1,’’ he said. Morgan urged:
support for labor’s petition and
for public action to compel the
Legislature to halt the boost.

Petition

Whereas Provincial government spokesmen have said they
intend to increase B:C. Hydro domestic electricity rates and

bus fares on April 1, 1970,

And whereas such an unjustified step would cause serious
economic hardship for those least able to pay,

And whereas no public knowledge exists regarding the
financial and other relationships of the various sections of B.C.

Hydro’s operations,

Therefore, we the undersigned citizens of British Columbia
hereby petition the Provincial government as follows:

“To

suspend the proposed

increases pending the

appointment and report of an all-party committee of the
legislature empowered to conduct a public investigation of all
aspects of B.C. Hydro operations.’’

NAME

ADDRESS

Clip this petition and return with signatures to the sponsors,
Vancouver and District Labor Council, 33 East Eighth Avenue,

Vancouver, B.C.

Communists outline labor polic

By OBSERVER
‘‘The mass labor move-
ment is the major anti-
monopoly force which
constitutes the centre
around which an _ anti-
monopoly alliance can
come into being.”’

That was the main thrust of a
lively debate on labor policy at
the 19th provincial convention of
the Communist Party, held in-
Vancouver on February 7-8.

The policy resolution on labor
which came out of the
convention is more than a
restatement of national party
policy. It is obvious that the
party in B.C. has taken a hard
look at the situation in the trade
union movement and has come
to some substantial conclusions.

The party statement sharply
criticizes the right-wing of the
New Democratic Party for
“muzzling the trade union
movement in the 1969 provincial
election’’ at the same time, it
recognizes its own weakness in
failing to combat this trend more
vigorously.

The policy guide calls upon
trade unions to develop united
action against the economic,
social and political policies of
monopoly capital, in order to ‘‘de-
cisively influence: the NDP and
all democratic forces who
sincerely desire deep-going
changes in the power structure
of our society.”” According to
this concept, the trade unions
should be a political catalyst,
and not the appendage of a right-
wing political machine.

The convention rejected the
middle class concept that the
workers have become a willing
part of the establishment and
must be written off as a decisive
force for social change. ‘‘The
militant economic struggles . . .
prove that the workers are in no
mood to accept Trudeau’s
austerity-program.”’

The current legal status of
trade unions was closely
examined and a balanced picture
resulted. On the one hand, the
amended Trade Unions Act, the
Labor Relations Act and the
Mediation Commission Act — in
their totality, have gone a long
way towards regulating the
trade unions in the interests of

_ monopoly capital. On the other

hand, there is a rising militancy
and radicalization in working
class ranks.

LABOR RIGHTS BILL

The statement draws atten-
tion to the increasing use of
court injunctions, the threat of
heavy financial penalties, and
the jailing of union leaders, to
smash strikes. To meet this
increased pressure from the
monopolies, it calls for labor
unity, class struggle policies,
and a stepped-up campaign for a
Labor Bill of Rights.

In assessing the current mood
of the trade union membership,
the party describes it as one of
“increasing radicalization
developing unevenly and in most
cases not yet class and socialist
consciousness.’’ The role of the
party is defined as one of
bringing to the working class and
the trade union movement a
socialist consciousness,
“linking the struggle for im-
mediate needs with over-all
class objectives.”

While the main emphasis of
the party resolution
working class unity around class
struggle policies, as a basis for a

democratic alternative to
monopoly and the Socred
government, sharp fire is

directed against the ultra-left.
The Trotskyists and Maoists are
specifically named opportunists
who ‘‘behind a smoke-screen of
super-revolutionary phrases,
work overtime to push the
workers into dreadend adventur-
istic actions. While doing so the
resolution distinguishes be-.

isons.

‘how

tween these elents and the
sincere workers they have tem-
porarily misled.”

That section of the resolution
which deals with autonomy and
independence for the trade
union movement is sure to stir
up discussion in labor circles,
and some controversy. It reads
as follows:

UNION AUTONOMY

“Our party fights for a united.
trade union movement based on
the recognition of the two-nation

’ character of Canada.

“We believe that the trade
union movement must be
independent of foreign control in
order to be master in its own
house. We support every step in
the direction of more autonomy

for the Canadian members of —

American unions. We believe
that the Canadian membership
of American unions should have
the right to make meaningful
decisions on all policy questions
affecting their lives as Canadian
trade unionists. This should
include collective bargaining
and the control and disposal of
all
Canada.

“Such autonomy will not
negate working class _inter-
nationalism. On the contrary, it
will create a sounder basis on
which to build warm fraternal
relations with the labor
movement in the U.S.A.

“Whether or not our party will
give support to a particular
expression of the desire for
autonomy at a given time will
depend upon our estimation of
it will serve the class
interests of the labor movement.

“While we cannot rule out split-

aways from international unions

and the setting up of purely Cana-
dian unions on this basis, we
cannot agree that this is the
answer to all of the problems in
the trade union movement.

“At this stage, we must

union funds collected in'

emphasize the need for unity on
a class basis, while at the same
time fighting for an _ ever-
increasing degree of Canadian
autonomy. A consistent, all-
sided fight for autonomy must
inevitably result in complete
independence for the labor
movement in Canada.”’

‘This concept of the road ahead
for the trade unions is linked
with an assessment that the
immediate future will bring
sharper class struggles. In such
a period, according to the labor
policy resolution, the fight for
autonomy and independence
must be related to the over-all
objective of unity against the
monopolies and their political
servants — and not seen as an
end in themselves.

UNITED LEFT

The labor policy resolution
Stresses the party’s determina-
tion to work for ‘‘a strong and
united left.’’ This is seen as 4
prerequisite for replacing right-
centre unity with left-centre
unity. According to the policy
statement, a united left will have
a magnetic influence for
“decisive centre elements.”’

In reading this important
resolution, this observer is
struck by its realistic analysis
and its revolutionary optimism.
If that combination can speed

up the creation of a powerful -

alternative to right-wing
policies, it will benefit the entire
labor movement. As the 60's
came to a close, many of the cold
war policies that held back the
labor movement had been
defeated or were _ being
challenged. Now as we enter the
'70’s it is time for new policies
and bold initiatives.

* * *

Any reader interested in a copy of

this important resolution for wider —

study, can secure a copy at the
Communist Party, Provincial Office,
Rm. 408—193 Hastings St. East, Van-
couver 4. :