as ee Fl BU TOUE TORY UU KAT RATS UT PRATT ATS TT B.C. FED BRIEF HITS GOV'T POLICY Labor to fight B.C. Hydro boost Sparked by previous session of the Vancouver Labor Council, the B.C. Federation of Labor will initiate a petition campaign, starting next week, opposing B.C. Hydro’s projected increase in electricity and bus rates. Letters from VLC affiliates were read at the VLC meeting Tuesday night expressing strong opposition to the hydro increase, and pledging full support to the BCFL campaign. *** In an atmosphere of non-com- mital politeness Monday of this week the Bennett cabinet received the annual brief of the British Columbia Federation of Labor (BCFL). This was a change at least from previous years at which labor’s viewpoint on current economic and other vital affairs was scarcely listened to, with the ‘‘receptive”’ atmosphere both frigid and hostile. This year, according the BCFL secretary Ray Haynes, the premier and his ministers were ‘‘courteous and atten tive.”’ The BCFL brief stressed that government-employer attitudes in the field of labor- management relations has worsened, and that ‘‘time is quickly running out” if past errors are to be avoided. This situation is mainly due to the “‘wage-price myth” in which employers and government spokesmen through an extensive use of the news media, continue to advance the fallacy that wage increases are mainly and primarily responsible for price increases, whereas spiralling profits are “rarely referred to”’ as a factor in the current infla- tionary trend. ‘Nevertheless,’ . stated the BCFL brief, ‘‘there are a few management and _ employer- oriented sources that do concede that profits, interest, land values, the Vietnam war and other factors, rather than wages are responsible for our infla- tionary economic problems.” The brief quoted the Woods Task Force report as pointing out that “. . . a wage -increase may force a price increase, but it also may serve as an excuse for one.”’ The BCFL brief sharply scored the B.C. Mediation Act (Bill 33) pointing out that its operation had not brought either con- fidence or stability in industrial relations, that labor had not been consulted as to its provisions, and that it has been enacted “‘against labor’s strong objections,’’ and repeating labor’s previous recom- mendations for drastic revision of the Act. The three-man Mediation Commission with its powers of applying compulsory arbi- tration, and already costing the taxpayers of B.C. “‘approxi- mately $200,000 to date (salaries of Commissioners only) has failed miserably.”’ Other vital points in the BCFL brief include the right of collec- tive bargaining to all civil servants be granted by legis- lation, this also implies the right to strike and picket. Other features of the BCFL brief include extention of the benefits of Workmen’s Compen- sation, minimum wage, and labor relations legislation, benefits to farm workers, as well as the following: A judicial inquiry into the Cypress Bowl real estate scandal to provide answers to many ‘“‘unanswered questions.” .Repudiation of the 90-year agreement under which Seattle City Light can flood 6,300 acres of the Skagit Valley, without regard to the cost or damage to Canada. A greater share of the tax dollar to municipalities as a means of easing the tax load on homeowners. . Revision of the province’s educational finance formula, by the elimination of tuition fees on regional colleges, with the government taking over 100 percent of operating costs in place of its present 40 per cent. Greater provincial financial allocation for education at all levels to meet the problems of over-crowding, school expansion, etc. <— reversal of the government’s present position re ~ pollution, viz, that the situation is in good hands and is none of the public’s business, or as stated by some cabinet ministers that, ‘‘they (the people) should clean up their own cities, before expecting the government to take action.’ The brief emphasis is that the public are responding to the danger of pollution and it is government policies and attitudes that are lagging. On the issue of pollution the BCFL_ jointly with the Vancouver and District Labor Council is already circulating a petition, addressed to Prime Minister Trudeau and Premier Bennett, drawing their attention to the growing menace of pollution, and urging immediate preventative action. Propositions put forward in this petition call for ‘‘enforcing — of standards of purity for air, water, food, etc; the protection of workers and consumers from hardship while these survival standards are enforced; the health and well-being of all our people to take priority over every other consideration’ in planning the use and devel- opment of natural resources; and Canada to take the lead now to start a Common Market for - Vietnam, reads as follows: Vietnam, Disarmament. Petition to end the Vietnam war A petition campaign for peace in Vietnam, which is part of a world-wide effort, has been launched in B.C. by one of the broadest groups to initiate peace action in the province for many years. The petition, drafted by the recent Stockholm Conference on VIETNAM APPEAL To respect the Vietnamese people’s fundamental national rights, independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity, and the right to self-determination of the people of South We Demand: The total, immediate, unconditional withdrawal of United States and allied troops from South Vietnam. The petition is being circulated in B.C. by the following organizations: B.C. Federation of Labor, Vancouver and District Labor ~ Council, Vancouver Peace Action League which is comprised of the Voice of Women, Fellowship of Reconciliation, B.C. Peace Council, Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom and Canadian Campaign for Nuclear Petitions are available from members of the above organizations or from 1768 W. 11th Ave., Vancouver 9. Phone 733-9018. PACIFIC TRIBUNE—JANUARY 23, 1970—Page 12 human survival which unites in trade those countries opposed to armaments and read to control pollution.” -* The BCFL brief to the Bennett cabinet, will undoubtedly exercise a wide influence in trade union circles in view of the fact that many large unions will be in wage negotiations during the first half of 1970, and in a situation in which government- employer-news media “collusion’’ will be directed in the main against wage increases, thereby intensifying their concerted campaign of primarily ‘‘blaming’’ labor for ‘inflation,’ . rather monopoly prices and profit gouging. In the decisive months of the “70’s the BCFL brief will prove a - strong unifying directive fd labor. * kK 4 With the incentive comith from Local 1-217 of the IWA, ths week’s session of the Vancouvel, and District Labor Coun (VLC) decided to contribulé $5,000 to counter government employer propaganda on ‘‘Whi is responsible’’ for inflation. The IWA local has _ already contributed $500 to the fund provide ‘‘researched facts” 0 inflation to counter the bosses propaganda. Other VLU affiliates pledged similar con butions. : VLC election of officers ait committee chairmen saw incumbents returned BJ acclaination. Tenants organize An oyerflow public meeting was held last week in the Moot Park Recreation Center to form a New Westminster Tenants Coun Alderman Thelma Bennett chaired the meeting and Alderm Joe Francis was in the audience. An executive committee of eight were elected follow! addresses by Vancouver Alderman Harry Rankin and Vancouvt Tenants Council Secretary Bruce Yorke. The New Westminster Tenants Council will shortly announce a Post Office Box number. It plans to make representation to the New Westminister City Council urging it to set up a Rental. Grievance Board similar to the one in operation in Vancouver. In North Vancouver, a similar meeting has been called for Monday, February 2nd at the Canadian Legion Hall, 3rd and Lonsdale. A capable organizing committee has been at work for some time planning the meeting and a good attendance can be expected. In Prince George tenants are also planning a public meeting and have extended an invitation to Alderman Rankin to address it. Details of the time and place have not yet been finalized. On a province wide scale the recently formed B.C. Tenanl Organization has announced thé! a large public rally has beé called for Saturday afternoon # 2:00 p.m. at the Burnaby Soul Senior Secondary School at 664 Kingsway in Burnaby. a The meeting will formal! adopt a program to secure ¢ Provincial Tenants Bill ® Rights. A petition to this effe@ has already secured over 1,1¥) signatures. 3 Leaders of the three provinclé parties in the legislature haV” been invited to address meeting along with Alderm@ Rankin, Alderman Jim Dailly® Burnaby, and B.C. Federation® _Labor-Secretary, Ray Haynes: One of the main items on agenda will be the preparation® a lobby of tenants to go to Provincial Legislature later © in February. Tenants denied hearing) Cont'd from pg. 2 pass regulations limiting “eviction” actions and to provide public justification for rent hikes. : _“Moreover’’, according to Yorke, not only is the Council pro-landlord, ‘“‘it is also anti- democratic’. “My understanding of the function of aldermen is to listen - to the voice of the people and to provide for their needs, not to insult them,” said Yorke. “Alderman Wilson, in order to cover up the pro-landlord anti- democratic position of the N.P.A. Council put forth a motion directing City Corpora- tion Counsel to draw up a regu- lation that would delay eviction proceedings by two months. “This is a farce. It provides'‘no security whatsoever. It is a clumsy attempt to cover up the scandalous situation, whereby those who break the law suffer no consequences (the landlords) whereas those who bring it to the attention of the Rental Grievance Board (the tenants) are tossed out on their ear.: « “On the question 7% justification of rent hikes N.P.A. controlled Count’ showed their real allegiance. seems that the landlord’ “buck”’ is sacred and requires ®) justification. On the other hal the largest group in sociel! wage-earners, are required © justify their requests {0 increases. Why not landlord’ Are not sky-rocketing rents | matter of public concef! particularly for that very laré group of our citizens on fix@ incomes? » “The Vancouver Tena Council is determined that ci¥! action be taken on the question® rent hikes and reasonab? security for tenants (an eviction regulations). The called non-partisan alderm need to come out from -behil! the cloistered halls at 12th a& Cambie and debate the matters before the gene public. If they fail to do citizens will draw the prop conclusions and make _ sob significant changes com) election time next December.