Action SER Cc arries on Ul fight — Page 8 The resignations last week of the entire cabinet of the government and the member- ship of the political bureau of the Commu- nist Party in the German Democratic Republic, and its replacement by reformers, proves a genuine desire for reform from the country’s leaders. “It’s quite obvious that the party and the government of the GDR are willing and determined to make the necessary changes,” commented journalist and labour historian Ben Swankey. Swankey, who visited the country in the midst of the sudden shakeup in government and the party last month, said that although East Germany’s well-educated population wants reforms that include the right to travel abroad and a revamped electoral process, few are calling for the abolition of the socialist system. Following the mass exodus the previous weekend of more than 18,000 GDR citizens to the West, and huge demonstrations of some 500,000 people the following Mon- day, the entire Council of Ministers, includ- ing Prime Minister Willi Stoph, resigned Nov. 7. The next day, the entire 18-member politburo resigned, on the eve of the meet- ing of the party’s central committee. The politburo was replaced by reformers and streamlined to 11 members. Swankey noted that the GDR is the most prosperous country in the socialist world with the highest standard of living, and is one of the top 10 industrialized nations. But there is dissatisfaction with the lack of hous- ing, the quality and variety of consumer goods, and the absence of many goods read- ily available in the neighbouring Federal Republic of Germany. “The GDR has had great accomplish- ments, but obviously people believe they are not enough and the changes are not coming fast enough.” Swankey noted the role the government of the FRG has played in the exodus, citing the fact that enticements including a free car, housing, a job or unlimited unemploy- ment Insurance, free medical benefits and a generous resettlement fund were offered to emigrating East Germans. That has caused a crisis for West Germany’s leaders, who are now trying to stem the flow, he observed. Demonstrations for change have been led not only by opposition groups like New Forum, but-by the Communist Party itself, Swankey said. It has called for a country- wide dialogue of all groups, and has demanded a “true-to-life” media to play a key role in the debate over the GDR’s future. The party is willing to engage all sectors of society in the debate, but stresses there will be “‘no retreat from socialism, and the republic will not give up its sovereignty,” Swankey said. ne Unions ally to save fishing industry, New abortion law hit Some 150 pro-choice people rallied Nov. 4 outside of the Sinclair Centre in Vancouver, home of the local offices of Health and Welfare Canada, to protest the federal government’s move to recriminalize abortion. Another demonstra- tion followed on Nov. 6, and rallies were held also in Calgary, Ottawa and Toronto. ‘ipo notes of Sianine By FRED WILSON nomic and social issues around which There is a surge thousands are mobilizing; indeed, can of hope through- the Socreds be defeated without those out the province clear alternative policies? that the oppor- Of course 37 years of Socred govern- tunity to end four ments is lesson enough not to underesti- decades of almost mate the ability of this province’s estab- uninterrupted rule lishment to manoeuvre — and by Social Credit there will be all kinds of political moves, may be at hand. - gimmicks and pork barrelling to reverse That hope, how- the government’s fortunes. _ _ ever, is tempered — WILSON © _ by another Scale held peereot Abou where B. C. is headed. . of cynics would. have to admit that the | government is beset with internal div- _ isions, saddled with a highly unpopular leader, isolated “two. es ‘swirl i oineay eit a an NDP government have any —— to” Nevertheless, even the most ‘seasoned 2 a short list of major 1 public issues, and, as five consecutive — __ byelections demonstrate, cepeatatle at to November 13, 1989 50° Vol. 52, No.41_ jobs Canada’s major fishing unions have banded together to fight the “Conservative agenda,” citing the recent free trade panel ruling on fish landing requirements as the latest example. In a statement released last week, five unions representing 34,000 fishermen and shoreworkers on both coasts and the Great Lakes announced the formation of the Alliance of Canadian Fisheries Unions “to fight for the future of our fishermen, our fish plant workers, our communities and our industry.” “This vital sector of our national econ- omy is under attack from the national con- servative agenda, and in particular the Free Trade Agreement;” said the ‘statement released by the unions: the United Fisher- men and Allied Workers Union; the Cana- dian Auto Workers; the Fishermen, Food and Allied Workers of Newfoundland (a CAW component); the Maritime Fisher- men’s Union and the Prince Rupert Amal- gamated Shoreworkers and Clerk’s Union. A key target of the new alliance will be the recent free-trade disputes panel’s ruling backing U.S. contentions that Canada’s landing and grading requirements for B.C. salmon and herring violates the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. The fed- eral government has announced it will accept the ruling, which will allow the export of unprocessed B.C. caught fish and cost thousands of jobs in the industry. “The FTA disputes panel has rocked the fishing industry and the fishing communi- ties of British Columbia with a ruling that has threatened our jobs, our communities and our ability as a nation to manage our own resources. This ruling now stands as a threat to fishing communities across the country,” the alliance charged. Ghe statement said the alliance will work in conjunction with the Canadian Labour Congress’ campaign against the Conserva- tive government’s agenda, which it charac- terized as a “survival of the fittest mentality.” “Seasonal work is a reality in the fishing industry, yet the federal government is sys- tematically dismantling the Unemployment Insurance program that provides a crucial income to seasonal workers. “The fishing industry is also paying a heavy price for the federal government’ Ss artificially high interest rates and the cor- tespondingly over-valued Canadian dol- lar,” the alliance stated. Other immediate issues include fish quota reductions by the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans, plant closures that have been plaguing the Atlantic provinces, and “American attempts to erode Canada’s sovereignty in the fishing industry, such as changes in lobster import regulations.” The alliance will also tackle collective bargaining, health and safety, workers compensation, the DFO’s resource man- see FISH page 8 —