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Strike Solidarity basis for new unity

The recent federal ruling that the unions
at Canada Post must unite is more than a
shotgun marriage edict. It is the proverbial
cat thrown in among the canaries.

Since when has the state been con-
cerned about the unity of the working
class?

Now it is true that a closer relationship
between the unions at Canada Post is not
only highly desirable, but also highly
necessary. That was established during
last year’s two postal strikes.

A walk on the picket line of either the
CUPW or Letter Carriers’ strike estab-
lished the growing amity and unity of the
rank and file. re

Deregulation and privatization, under-
lying issues in those strikes, are aimed at all
groups of workers at the post office. Can-
ada Post, despite last years’ postal
workers” heroics, has not abandoned its
plans, and postal employees are in for the
fight of their collective lives.

So, can the Canada Labour Relations
Board ruling be interpreted as a nudge to
the unions to get together to battle the feds
more effectively as well as their neo-
conservative agenda?

Hardly.

Canada Post, as the employer, sought
such a ruling. Besides, it is highly out of
character, despite the odd pro-labour rul-

ing, for the federal labour board to con-

Labour in action

George Hewison

cern itself with strengthening the labour
movement. The board has the job of pro-
viding the ground rules for mitigating the
effects of the class struggle. At least that
was the case before the neo-conservative
offensive was unleashed.

Postal unions are in a similar situation
to their counterparts in the recently dereg-
ulated and privatized transportation
industries. In the airlines, and on the rail-
ways, some unions have emerged as
“winners” and some “losers”’. In fact, the
entire trade union movement is the loser,
as unions have battled one another to
defend their traditional jurisdictions,
many of which have nearly lost all mean-
ing.

The scenario at Canada Post is not
unlike that in the construction industry
where nearly a score of craft unions all
deal with a common employer. In B.C.,

where the struggle for unity of the trades
has reached its highest level, the historical
threat of an imposed joint bargaining
council by the B.C. Labour Relations
Board and government has brought about
an alliance, however imperfect, of the B.C.
trades.

Labour’s experience suggests several
options for postal workers:

The unions can merge. This is the most
desirable of the possibilities. But is it realis-
tic, at this time? Are the paths walked by
each union not so different that some time
will be required to develop common expe-
rience and the mutual trust which devel-
ops in the crucible of shared struggle?

The unions, as a second option, can
conduct a ballot of all employees, with a
“winner take all” approach. The “winner”
of such a ballot would, however, obtain a

pyrrhic victory in gaining thousands of
“captive’ members. The potential for
unity within the enlarged victor union
would be about as strong as a spouse in an
unhappy marriage.

The third option is the path of unity in
action, leading to voluntary union, down
the road. This approach has been attemp-
ted in the past with some unhappy
results — or has it? In any event, that was
B.M. — Before Mulroney. It was before
the all-out attack on postal employees and
the trade union movement of Canada.

Now, the unions are faced with a “new
reality.” They will swim together or sink
together. Perhaps, on reflection, there
were elements of the old bargaining coun-
cil which guaranteed the failure of the
structure, elements which could be recti-
fied in a new arrangement.

It is heartening that discussions are
going on within both the Letter Carriers
and CUPW, and between them to find the
best possible solution. It illustrates that the
leaders of those unions are aware of their
considerable responsibilities not only to
their own membership, but to the entire
trade union movement.

If a practical, unifying solution can be
found to the challenge thrown down by
the CLRB, it will be one more nail in the
coffin of the Tories, and their union-
busting agenda.

PARIS — An.international trade union

gathering here Feb. 17, once more lashed

out at the human, financial, ecological and

material waste created by the global arms
race, and laid the blame on the military
industrial complexes which are becoming
increasing transnational.

The conference, Trade Union and Inter-
national Economic Security, drew delegates
from 74 countries and 128 national,
regional, and international trade union
organizations. Representatives of the Inter-
national Labour Organization and United
Nations agencies also participated in the
meeting of which the World Federation of
Trade Unions was an organizer.

A conference communique welcomed
the recent Soviet-American INF Treaty,
linking it to renewed prospects for restruc-
turing military industries and for conver-
sion for useful, social production.

V. Provotorov, speaking on behalf of the

- Soviet trade union central, AUCCTU, cited

the example of a machine building plant in
the Urals, in the town of Votkinsk, which is
associated with the production of medium-
range ballistic missiles.

It is on a U.S.-Soviet list of military
enterprises tied to INF missile production,
and will employ American inspectors after
the treaty comes into effect.

_~ Aside from its fame as the birthplace of

the renowned Russian composer Peter
Tchaikovsky, Votkinsk has attracted the
attention of trade unionists interested in
peaceful industrial conversion because of
programs in process there even prior to the
INF treaty.

The AUCCTU secretary reported on a
new transfer line geared to producing high-
precision numerically controlled machine
tools. It went into production last Decem-

ber.
The new line is set up to produce process-

‘ing systems for the dairy industry, car joints,

washing machines, as well as other consu-
mer goods. The aim is to create the condi-
tions and develop sufficient experience over
a short time period to completely switch
from missile to peaceful production, Provo-
torov told the conference.

_ World labour backs conversion

SPENDS 4 1,500,000 PER MINUTE

WorRLD MILITAIR Y

vnc. 3.37-me

Many delegates stressed the massive
resources that conversion could liberate for
the purpose of tackling overwhelming social
problems.

Some cited United Nations data showing
how $14 trillion has been spent by the mil-
itary over the past 24 years.

Meanwhile, about a billion people live
below the official poverty lines, 780 million
go hungry, 850 million can’t read and write,
and more than half a billion can’t even get
basic, let alone adequate medical care.

A one per cent cut in global military
spending would feed 200 million kids, but
the arms race swallows up $1.5 million
every single minute.

Several trade union leaders urged a
world-wide trade union campaign for a 10

per cent cut in military budgets with the
proceeds going to help developing countries
tackle social and economic needs.

There was also considerable support -

from delegates, including the Soviet delega-
tion, for convening a special trade union
forum on conversion.

Throughout the conference, participants
stressed the common interests shared by all
trade union organizations regardless of
their orientation, and the breadth of the
gathering here re-emphasized the need for
broad trade union co-operation in the face
of growing mass unemployment, the ravag-
ing of purchasing power and the offensive
by transnationals and their governments
against social security and trade union
rights.

on CLC agenda

__ has been asked to focus on the links ~ |
_ between the economic ersis and the
- Toronto Labour council at its Febru- -
_ary meeting ask the CLC to “under--
take a comprehensive analysis of the _
- economic effects of the arms race” _
and produce a policy paper and edu-
cational materials on the subject.
“We need a new approach in the
labour movement on the question of
peace,” said Jon Cartwright, a Car- |
penters delegate and newly elected
executive member. “We must educate _
our members about where the mil- |
itary build up is taking us and carry —
that fight into the CLC convention.
The council policy statement exam-
_ ined the role of militarization in the
| US. stock market crash, and the
potential for a repeat of the 1929 —
_ depression unless government spend-
ing priorities are changed.
Military spending has caused the —
U.S. to fall behind its other major —
_ trading competitors, the statement
- points out. “Japan, which heavily
subsidizes the research and develop- |
ment of new civilian goods, spends —
only two per cent of the R&D money
_ onthe military. This contrasts with 35
per cent in Canada and over 70 per
cent in the United States” ==
_ A second resolution calls on the
_ CLC to establish an “Economic Con-
version Committee” to examine the
conversion of plants “from military to _
socially useful production”

The same equipment and skills that —
Now produce the guidance system for
the cruise missile could produce sight _
aids for the blind or accident avoi-
_ dance systems for aircraft, the resolu-

Pacific Tribune, February 24, 1988 «7