[ Joe Davidson wins friends. _with release of biography ma that,”” Mackasey sald, “I’m the minister and I’ll sign it.” Two months later Mackasey. ‘had changed his tune — technological change was not negotiable. It required the bitter 1975 strike to win ‘‘Article 29,” the provision that obliged the post office to eliminate the harmful effects of automation, but Mackasey signed it. Six months later the government repudiated Article 29. If the CUPW strikes in 1978 it will be largely to win Article 29 all over ‘again. The CUPW’s militancy is not only a result of its struggles - with government. It is due as well to the internal struggles for unity and principle, struggles which the government was Aid for Southern Africa Rev. R. A. Burrows, K. Chetty, the citizens of Western nations to lessen racial bitterness, such as that which led to the recent massacres at Kolwezi. A gesture of good will on our part, and the _sending of timely help, may serve to show that there need not be bitterness between blacks and whites. Canadian Aid for Southern African Refugees (CASAR) has already sent $3,500.00 through Archbishop Milingo of Zambia, the Patriotic Front, and the Christian Council of Zambia, to give humanitarian aid to refugees from racial tyranny in Rhodesia, Namibia and South Africa. Though the sums that can be provided by individual Canadians will meet only a fraction of the enormous needs, they are a practical way for those of us in the West who are appalled at the systematic racism practised in Southern Africa to M.D., Prof. Geoffrey Durrant, Alan M. Inglis, M.D., Prof. Thomas L. Perry, M.D., of the Canadian Aid for Southern African Refugees write: The spreading racial war in Southern Africa continues to claim hundreds of human lives and to drive many victims into exile in countries which are themselves improverished and unable to provide the needed relief for refugees. A United Nations report last year stated that 1,500 persons had died as a result of Rhodesian ‘Government raids on refugee camps (Manchester Guardian, Dec. 25th, 1977). Since then, there have been further raids, and in particular, the South African ar- my’s recent raid on the refugee camp at Cassinga in Angola during which, according to. the correspondent of the British JOE DAVIDSON, by Joe David- Son and John Deverell, James Lorimer and Company Publishers, Toronto, 1978, $2.95 paper. Available soon from the Co-Op Bookstore. Joe Davidson and John Deverell Of all trade unions in Canada, few have been villified and maligned by politicans and the media as much as the Canadian Union of Postal Workers. In a Sense, that was to be expected for since its transformation into a genuine trade union in 1965, CUPW has become one of the Most militant and principled Components of the Canadian ‘labor movement and has sripped Canada in five national | postal strikes and numerous other local disputes. CUPW’s militancy won for it and its leaders many friends ' 1 Like most union officials, education. Much can be done by Davidson assumed leadership because he was pressured from the membership to take responsibility for a job that had to be done. He was a reluctant leader, guided by his “own brand of socialist philosophy,” who in his outlook never strayed far from the work floor. Even during his three years in the presidency of the union, Davidson was not the most articulate or technically competent of the leadership. The most able he admits was Jean Claude Parrot who ranking among those con- Station C. B.C., V5T 4G3._ ; tending for the honor of being, : in his own words, “the most j f || and supporters, but it ensured side of the eee tangled always willing to exploit to its Financial Times who visited the express our indignation and our as well that it would become the a f deceit and doublecross advantage. Davidson takes camp after the raid, a large sympathy for the victims. We butt for the abuse of the anti- ee oh e CUPW faced with ‘time to detail this part of the number of students and school therefore appeal to your readers to labor media and the demagogy Cae cessive postmasters- union’s life as well. children were killed : make whatever contributions they f of right wing politicians. eneral. By far the best was Perhaps the most likeable Those who have fled from racial can to our funds. Contributions are d It won for its most colorful a cKi Becat who took the jobin aspect of this book, however, is persecution and have escaped the tax-deductible, and should be sent f and well known leader, Joe ey ond impressed the CUPW the portrayal of Joe Davidson, raids are in need of food, clothing, to Canadian Aid for Southern ¢ Davidson, the reputation of 4. ae and dedicated,” ‘the man and the union leader. | Shelter, medical care and African Refugees, P.O. Box 24865, only to have his relationship with the workers undermined by the cost cutting, political demands of the cabinet. By far the worst of the postmasters-general was Bryce — Mackasey. More than anyone else, Mackasey typified the double dealing dishonesty of the government and post office officials in dealing with the CUPW which is mainly responsible for the acrimonious relationship that still exists between union and management in the post office. Transit facts Nathan Davidowicz, Vancouver, writes: Recently, the 1977-78 an- nual report of B.C. Hydro and Power Authority was released. I would like to point out that at least one thing was missing from this year’s report compared to previous reports. For some strange reason the number of passengers carried by B.C. Hydro Transit was not reported. Can anyone imagine missing Across the border in Seattle, which is a city where transit is on the move, there was a 7 percent increase in ridership in 1977. Ac- cording to my calculations the ridership in B.C. Hydro’s transit operations in Greater Vancouver, has fallen again below 90 million compared to 94 million in 1976-1977. I have my doubts that the new Urvan Transit Authority Act will establish Vancouver as a city hated man in Canada.” For the sake of promotion, Davidson has likely presented a 4 rather unbalanced view of his , public image, but even if he has few friends that situation will change if his recently published autobiography, titled simply, Joe Davidson, gains the readership if deserves. A founding member of the CUPW in 1965, Davison’s life Since then is synonymous with that of the union. His autobiography reflects that and rightfully assumed the giving statistics about a transit where transit is on th ei is ina real sense a chronicle of | Just prior to the 1975 postal presidency when Davidson system without giving the number si ita cas | the brief but turbulent history of _ strike, Mackasey had arranged —_resigned in 1977. | of passengers carried? The Ss the CUPW.It is equally a par- 4 late night secret rendezvous ~ But the qualities which passengers are the people that nm memory of keep our transit system alive. One of the reasons why B.C. Hydro omitted from the report the number of passengers was probably because for the first time since 1971 there was a decline in. Davidson had — those of.a class conscious, honest trade unionist — made him a good union leader, and they have enabled him to produce, with the assistance of writer John with Davidson to discuss a of tradé unionism. and of the “proposal.” The proposal was CUPW’s actions, and it is a an indication that the govern- dispassionate and objective ment would sign a memoran- account of the bureaucratic dum of agreement that would automation and tisan and impassioned defense mess in Canada’s postal make 1S ; system. : ~ technological change — the Deverell, a sketch of his life that the number of passengers carried. “The CUPW’s militancy isno ™ajor grievance of the CUPW _will bea lasting contribution to’ } Some of the reasons for the decline | woh and whose frcondohips are the various quarterly bus service cutbacks, lack of proper marketing techniques and the — negotiable. Davidson pointed out to Mackasey that his proposed memorandum the labor movement. It. will be available soon, in paper or cloth, from the Peoples ideological hangover of the. 1930’s,”’ Davidson argues, “But a practical necessity of the amon Ti poeition on the in- ee panes sant eg rt ed Wilson } : eit ae seh gow and family | | CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING | COMING EVENTS SRE. BUSINESS PERSONALS q z ‘i §=SULY 8— Send Off Dance for B.C. JULY 15-16 — Reform or J delegates to World Youth Revolution? YCL Weekend > f 7 | i. Festival, Saturday, July 8 at 8 School at Webster’s Corners yy ie RV | CE I p.m. in the Ukrainian Hall, 805 E. Hall. Subject: Social Democracy g, 7 ‘ : : Pender. Dancing, refreshments, in Canada and around the world.. eucllen ( i prizes. Tickets $3.00 — reserve For more information phone 732- JEWELLERY REPAIRS, a We will professionally look after : by phoning Sue at 254-9797 or 5480. remodelling, appraisals at 1 : FT Lydia at 874-4806. Everyone : reasonable charge. For ap- Y) all your travel needs. 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