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TRIBUNE

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“FRIDAY, APRIL 10, 1959

Te delegates re verse

decision of

executive

For the third time this year Vancouver Labor Council

delegates reversed a decisio

n of their executive committee

when they voted Tuesday night that in future the council
secretary must read and deal with all correspondence from

affiliated unions”

The hassle arose over the
executive’s handling of a let-
ter from Marine Workers Un-
ion, which was not brought
to the floor of the council.
Instead, it. was explained, the
matter had been referred to
the Canadian Labor Congress
for clarification.

“Before correspondence can
be tabled it must be placed
before this council,” argued
Bill Stewart (Marine Work-
ers). “The executive is not
empowered to take the course
of action it did, unless coun-
cil so decides.”

Chairman Ed Sims said he
was in no position to over-
ride the executive decision,
and put the matter to a vote.
Council delegates — most of
whom were not familiar with
the issue_raised in the Marine
Workers letter: — upheld the
executive, 112 to 74.

But later in the meeting,
under “reports from unions,”
Stewart was able to air the
whole matter, and read the
letter his local had sent to
council, protesting a commun-
cation from VLC secretazy E.
A. Jamieson to the North
Vancouver elections commit-
tee informing him that this
committee. no longer existed.

“To my knowledge, no in-
structions from the VLC were
given to anyone to dissolve
the elections committees,” said
Stewart. Therefore, the Ma-
rine Workers requested that

Michel prepares
for May. Day rally

MICHEL, B.C. — Plans for
a May Day meeting are pro-
ceeding here, sponsored by the

. United Mine Workers.

Proposed speakers include ~
Tom. Uphill, Art Roberts, Bill
Ure and Leo Nimsick.

at council meetings.

the letter to the North Van-
couver elections committee be
withdrawn.

In the earlier debate dele-
gate Eddie Apps had said: “I
do not think the executive
has the right to change policy
of council before the matter
comes before this council.”

Chairman Sims said there
was no desire to “bury” cor-
respondence, but that the
matter had been referred to
the CLC and “a full report
and discussion’ would take
place: when a reply was re-
ceived.

Reg Bullock (Marine Work-
ers) wanted to know what
specific questions the execu-
tive had asked the CLC.

“You'll get the report when
it comes in,” said the chair
man, and asked Bullock to sit
down when he attempted to

continue speaking.

Sims then announced the
next order of business, and
Stewart, reporting for his un-
ion, reopened the question.

Finally delegates voted, by
a sizeable majority, to have
the executive secretary read
all correspondence in future.

Another motion was passed
instructing the executive to
call a meeting of the heads of
all political education com-
mittees of the locals in the
near future. (The elections
committees were set up on
recommendation of the politi-
cal education committees).

In effect, these two motions
reversed the stand of the ex-
ecutive committee. On two
previous occasions in the past
three months delegates have
rejected executive recommen-
dations (once turning thumbs

down on a motion to “con- :

demn” organization of the un-
employed outside of ficial
council channels; and also re-

_jecting creation of a paid

council presidency post).

ae :
Striking office workers at. Forst’s are Relerbined ia hold out until ‘hey win,

40 office Ze yees at Forst’s —
hegin fourth week on picket lines

Some 40 office workers, employed by Forst’s Stores in Vancouver and New West- i
minster, will soon begin their fourth week of strike for more pay. This chain is owned
by the Great Universal Stores Limited, with head office in London, England,

By JACK PHILLIPS

octopus with 1,500 stores, 100 of them in Canada.

The strikers are members of
the Office Employees Union,
Local 15, AFL-CIO, with a
high percentage of women.
About 45 more employees,
members of the Retail Clerks
Union, Electricians Union. and
Teamsters, are respecting the
picket lines.

When I passed the store on
Hastings Street last Saturday,
it was. closed except for the
payment of bills.

Of the six stores in this
group, only three are on strike:
Hasting Street and Main Street
in Vancouver and the New
Westminster store. In the
North Vancouver outlet, the
four ofice employees voted
against strike. The union is not
certified as bargaining agent
in the Granville Street and
West Broadway stores.

Although the majority of the

employers

office employees in this Greater
Vancouver chain are on strike,
picketing has been limited to
the three stores where the
strike vote was carried. To
picket the other stores, even
with information placards only,
would mean to challenge the
new Trade-Unions Act, Bill 43.
So far, there is no indication
that the striking union, or the
British Columbia Federation
of Labor, is planning to make
such a stand at Forst’s.

Many thoughtful trade union
leaders in British Columbia are
worried about this strike. It is
obvious® that by the use of
multiple certifications, backed
by the threat.of Bill 43, many
will be able to
thumb their noses at the labor
movement, unless labor unites
for a counter-offensive.

When you study the rates

e Classification

HASTINGS STORE
Present Wage Offer Demand
Head? Clerk ©: 2-2 a.
Credit Supervisor ___/_-___-
Machine Operator ___-..__-
Stenosraphar, 225.
Stock Clerk (top rate) -__.-
Stock Clerks (majority) ___-
+ Crenit. Clerk 72550. 8 2
MailtiGlerk# = Be. sd
Telephone’ Operator -____--
(All rates are weekly rates.)

_ $88.50 $93.50 $96.50

$0.50 81.00 84,00
_ 49.50 53.00 54.50
_ 40.00 40.50 44.50
_ 80.50 80.50 $4.00

42.50 47.00 48.50
_ 40.00 48.00 51.00
_ 30.00 30.50 . 33,50
_ 52.50 53.00 54.50

April 10, 1959 —

PACIFIC TRIBUNE—PAGE 8

a financial q

which appeared in a Local 15
circular, you begin to under |
stand why the parent company
is holding out, Profits before
taxes zoomed from 3 million
pounds in 1948 to 19 million ©
pounds in 1956.
The main groups of unorgan. —
ized workers in B.C. are in the
office, clerical and service
trades. A clear victory ” at ©
Forst’s will open the door for
impressive gains in union |
membership. Every thinking ~
trade union member, every ~
friend of the labor movement,
is hopeful that the-top leader- ~
ship of the Canadian Labor ~
Congress in B.C. will rise to —
the occasion. f
The first thing that must be
done is to make it very clear
that no trade unionist, or mem.
ber of his family, should make |
a purchase at any of the six _
stores in this chain until the _ |

strike is settled. It will be a
sad day for the labor move-
ment when we are afraid to
ery “unfair!” ie
The strikers need financial ”
and moral assistance. Above —
all, they need the support of a
a united labor movement dedi-
cated to policies that will sur-
mount the roadblocks planted —
by reactionary employers and —
their obedient servants in ©
government. me