Labor Front By WILLIAM KASHTAN After having promised a new Federal Labor Code during the last election, the Pearson government now seems to be dragging its feet on this vital matter. The general impression created was that arising from a review of Canada’s labor laws (the Industrial Re- lations and Disputes Investigation Act and the Fair Wages and Hours of Labor Act), the proposed amendments would be debated in this session of Parliament. It now appears, at least from the recent statement of Labor Minister McEachen, that it will not be consid- ered until sometime in 1964. This is not a serious or satisfactory ap- proach and suggests that perhaps the govern- ment is. reneging on its election pledges or is under considerable pressure from anti-labor elements throughout the country. * * * If this is so, the extra time now avail- able ought to be put to good use by the labor and trade union movement to press for a Fed- eral Code which will advance the democratic rights of the working class. True enough, the code only affects those industries considered national in scope and under federal jurisdiction, such as railroads, airlines, shipping, oil pipeline, television, chartered banks; al- though it also includes federal government contracts and projects undertaken by provinces and municipalities with federal funds. Its importance, however, goes beyond these industries and specific projects: This is so because useful amendments incorpor- ated in a new code can also have an important bearing on checking and reversing the anti-labor trend in provincial labor legislation. But more than that, the Federal Labor Code needs to lay down guide lines directed to protecting the basic democratic rights of workers and their unions with respect to the right to organize, to collective bargaining and to strike, as well:as their right to a job and higher living standards in a period of transition characterized by great technological changes, including automation. Such a Federal Labor Code could stimulate the movement for similar legislation in every province provided it included the fol- lowing: _ (2) A minimum wage of $1.50 per hour for male and female workers; the 40-hour work week with no reduction in take home pay; two weeks holidays with pay after one year’s employment; not less than eight statutory paid holidays plus any others in conformity with practices as they exist in other areas, as for example, Quebec. (2) The right to strike at any time during the period of the contract; portable contracts to protect unions from runaway plants including provisions to protect the jobs ofthe workers when the plant moves, and severance pay for those workers unable to move with the plant, Time off at company expense (including full pay) to retrain. workers for new jobs or to improve existing skills, such pay to be continued until new work is obtained; contracts to include clauses compelling companies to consult with unions on any technological changes which affect the living standards and jobs for workers with adequate provisos directed to protecting workers affected by such changes; workers to be consulted on any changes in production norms (speed up). (3) The Labor Code should explicitly spell out the right to organize, to bargain and to strike, bar injunctions in labor disputes and under all circumstances bar ex-parte injunctions, There should be adequate provisions protecting the worker’s right to join a union and placing the onus of responsibility on the employer where a worker is fired during such organizational drives by unions. * * * Proposals such as these could constitute a useful basis for the kindeof Labor Code best calculated to advance the democratic rights of the working class and the trade union movement. It may be anticipated that monopoly will press for an entirely different Labor Code, one directed to curbing the democratic rights of workers and ensuring maximum profits for themselves, Monopoly has achieved some successes in this regard at the provincial level and in the recent period has been campaigning to replace the right to strike by compulsory arbitration. Unfortunately there are some labor ‘‘theorists’’ who, from a different stand- point, arrive at the same proposal, However, no matter how it is presented, the proposal for com- pulsory arbitration is directed at taking away the right to strike, without which the workers would be hog-tied and unable to ease the burden of exploitation, whether refined or unrefined. The trade union movement needs to reject such proposals, no matter where they come from, while exerting strong pressure on the Pearson government with respect to a new Federal Labor Code, In this effort there is need to seek out and win support from all democratic-minded Canadians. If the trade union movement is gagged, democracy is gagged, If the democratic rights of the workers and their unions are upheld and extended, by the same token this constitutes an important gain for democracy and the well being of the Canadian people. * * * Because of the restricted scope of a Federal Labor Code there may be a tendency to ignore it and leave the struggle for it to only those unions immediately affected. This would be extremely short- sighted, because if the trade union movement were to win on a federal scale, it would influence developments in all provinces, A Federal Labor Code is therefore the business of all unions and all of them need to advance their views and press for them on - government and on parliament until the battle is won. END LOADER—does the work of three men The above two pictures are taken from a recent issue of THE BARKER, organ of the Van- couver local 1-217 ofthe Interna- tional Woodworkers of America. They were taken at Candian White Pine, MacMillan-Bloedel’s large sawmill on the Fraser River. Top picture shows the old and the new. The old crane is shown which was operated by six men, and below it the new Beale Tim- ber Crane, which does the same job with one man. THE BARKER says the new crane will represent a substan- /Mechanization hitting B.C, sawmill industry OLD CRANE AND NEW BEALE TIMBER CRANE tial savings in wages for the com- pany. Without taking into account the fringe benefits for workers laid off as a result of intro- ducing the new crane, the com- pany stand to make a saving in wages alone of over $25,000 a year, Another new addition to the sawmill is the End Loader, shown in picture below. With its ‘as- sistance, one man _ efficiently piles 22 loads per shift or about 40,000 board feet. This work previously took about three woodworkers, THE BARKER charges that thé forestry monopolies are exploit- ing every possible method, from mechanization to speed up, in effort to slice their crews to t ‘ bare essentials. It states tha employers. must be made (| shoulder their share of thé responsibility when they dump workers on the labor market i through mechanization. This issue is looming as oneo F the major ones in the comin’ : negotiations in the woodworkill industry next year. Moscow Circus reception The B.C, Branch of the Can- ada-USSR Association is spon- soring a gala New Year’s Eve Reception Party for the visiting Moscow State Circus. All 150 members of the circus troupe have been invited to the recep- tion and it is expected at least half will attend, (The circus will be appearing. from December 25 to January 5 inclusive at the PNE Agrodome and will be enjoyed by thous- ands of British Columbians, ) Aim of the reception is topro- gles of our time—the task infamous Comox dump; pas for a united, labor movement; the of our natural wealth and ests of the Canadian peop successfully, SESS SCS SC a a I I NC i ee OR BEES Ui sme aC 28 PSION RC IS ILE NE SOE SN BN kta NINE ll Bet se ta ene ey Season’s Greetings We salute all those people and forces in B.C. who have done so much during the past year to elevate the of cleansing our province of the the job of securing national inde- two-nation Canadg; the fight for full abor autonomy and the sovereign rights of the Canadian growing demand to halt the surrender procent it by, for and in the inter- e : We are confident that the comin strides taken on all these fronts, will do all it can be ensure that these struggles are concluded Communist Party of Canada, B.C. Provincial Committee key strug- g year will see giant and pledge that our party - _ December 13353 SEITE NG A I OT IR SR SEITE PE SI VOTE GR OG OGL ITR OR OR, PRLS re vide afriendly atmosphere fort visiting Soviet people on what i traditionally their most festi¥® night of the year, besides allo ing Canadians an oppprtunity to” meet informally with the pe!” formers. Scene of the reception will a ‘‘The Imperial Room,”’ locate” at 5550 Fraser St. (near 4# Ave.) Date isTuesday, Decemv” 31, beginning in the early eve ning. Dancing to the music. at good orchestra will commence”, 10 o’clock. and continue unti a.m. Tickets, which include a sme gasbord Supper at midnight, ° selling for the modest sum $5 per person. Anyone wishing to order ti¢ in advance can do so by PH ing Mrs. Elsie Dean, at 1691 (day or night). ; Any proceeds from the © ning will go toward furthering aims and work of the Can USSR Association. S06 Soak Seba Noto ans sk tak SIE _& SEASON'S GREETINGS © TO ALL OUR § FRIENDS & SUPPORTER? PSOE SES SSO BERL UES 963—PACIFIC TRIBUNE—P'