Published every Saturday by The People Publishing Com-
pany, Room 104, Shelly Building, 119 West Pender Street,

The
PEOPLE

Phone MAr. 6929

Equal Status

ECENT lay-offs in aircraft and to a lesser

degree in shipbuilding have stimulated wide-
spread discussion in Vancouver on the future
Status of women in industry. It is understand-
able at a time when plans for reconversion are
slow in taking shape that some sections of the
workers concerned with their own jobs should
be prone to take a superficial view of the prob-
lem and be prepared to support discriminatory
lay-offs on the grounds that some women work-
ets were in the bést position to -dispense ‘with
their jobs.

Since the period is at hand when post-war
policy on women in industry will begin to crys-
tallize, it is profitable to consider standard pro-
visions for collective agreements for women
workers in the United States.’ The struggle of
the labor movement and democratic people gen-
erally across the border has borne fruit in a
policy which will place the United States first
among the capitalist democracies in the position
accorded to women in the national life.

A report in the September issue of the
Labor Gazette outlines American policy in the
following terms:

~A general clause rules out all discrimination
based on sex or marital status. A second pro-
vision stipulates that classifications founded
on sex are to be eliminated and a policy of the
tate for the job accepted. This is to include
identical starting rates for both sexes and the
Same increases. Another provision declares that
women are to be given seniority rights on the

Same basis as men and are entitled to the same -

rights of provision and transfer to other depart--

ments.

“A final provision declares that pregnancy is
not a ground for dismissal. If a pregnant wo-
man’s doctor certifies that her work is too dang-
erous or difficult for her, she is to be transferred
to more suitable work. Women workers are en-
titled to maternity leave for six weeks before
delivery and two months after, and may be
granted additional leave up to a year if a doctor
certifies it is necessary. They will continue to
accumulate seniority for the first three and a
half months absence and retain full seniority for
a year from the date of leaving. If an employee
wishes, she may be paid at the beginning of
maternity leave for all unused sick leave and
holidays with pay. A woman returning from
maternity leave is to be assigned to her former
job at the same rate of pay as she formerly re-
ceived. If the job is no longer available or suit-
able she is to be transferred to an equivalent
job for which she is qualified.”

West coast unions were among the first to

Editor ;
Cc. A. SAUNDERS

Vancouver, British Columbia and printed at East End @
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Associate Editor
MYER SHARZER

Secure acceptance of the principle of equal pay
for equal work and it is only consistent that they
should now take the lead in securing an interpre-
tation and where necessary a revision of agree-
ments to prevent discrimination on any basis
whatsoever. At the same time a halt must be
called to Selective Service policy of terminating
employment on the basis of sex and marital sta_
tion.

Such measures have the appearance of eas-

ing the employment situation but in reality open
the door to wholesale discrimination. They are
at complete variance with perspectives of “full
employment for all who are ready and willing
to work’ envisaged in government statements
and supported by all democratic sections of the
people. ;

Having earned a reputation for aggressive
and progressive leadership throughout Canada’s
labor movement, west coast unions should now
follow through and interpret the fight for equal
status for women workers as an inseparable patt
of the struggle for full employment and social]
security for the nation as a whole.

On The Spot

Op ae decision of the CCF provincial executive
against acceptance of the candidacy of H: W.

Herridge has met with stiff resistance from the

West. Kootenay CCF council.

The West Kootenay council, flooded with de-
mands to stand firm on Herridge’s nomination,
is well aware that the present nominee, a unity
candidate with the full backing of labor in the

district, is the only CCF candidate able to carry
the constituency.

However, it is precisely because Herridge is
a unity candidate, because he was one of a group
putting forward a policy of cooperation with the
Labor-Progressive Party at the provincial con-
vention of the CCF, that they now find ‘consti-
tutional’ reasons for challenging his right to be
the “standard bearer.”

The CCF executive now find themselves in
a peculiar position. Will they withdraw their ob-
jections in the face of the overwhelming rank
and file demand? Or will they persist in an atti-
tude that can only result in jeopardizing labor's
chance of representation in this riding, and pos-

sibly widen an already apparent breach in their.

Own ranks.

Whatever the decision of the leaders, the
course for Herridge and the West Kootenay
Council is plain.

The workers have spoken plainly. They

nominated Herridge.

‘The

Fir

By llya Ehrenburg

: A™MONG the archives left by the Germs
was found a folder with a mysterious title

23.

‘Moscow.

One might think it was a Utopian novel

of the kind.
telephone messages.

It appears that the Germans
in Poland were very anxious
that Moscow might, fall before
they were ready for the event.
Hxamination of the documents
in the folder reveals what the
Nazis were thinking about in
the autumn of 1941:

As we know, the Germans
call Poland a “governor-gen-
eral.” In 1944 the adminis-
tration of the government-gen-
eral had its headquarters in Cra-
cow. The chief of the propa-
ganda department was a cer-
tain state councillor, QOhlen-
busch. He was the first to raise
the alarm. We know not only
the date but even the historical
hour when. Herr Ohlenbusch in-
formed his subordinates in War-
‘saw, Radom and Lublin of the
coming fall of Moscow. Tt was
July 30, 1941, at 13 hours and
30 minutes o’clock.

Here is a translation of his
order: “Strictly Confidential.
Re- Fall of Moscow. The day
the capture of the Soviet Rus-
sian Capital is reported, cele-
brations are to be held im all
towns where German troops are
stationed, in order that the bril-
liant successes of the German
army may be specially marked.
Gelebrations wherever possible
should be held in the open air.
It goes without sayine that all
Germans must take part in
them. rai

“Tt is extremely desirable
that as large a number of Poles
as possible attend the celebra-
tions as spectators. The precise
date of the celebrations will be
duly communicated te you. In
Cracow the governor general
will deliver an address on the
oceasion. Im the evening a fire-
works display will be given on
the banks of the Vistula oppo-
site the Castle. You must at
once proceed to make prelimin-
ary arrangements for celebra-
tions. In particular, orators
chosen at your own diseretion
should be engaged immediately,
as for technical reasons only
brief notice will be given of
the date of the celebrations.
(Signed) Ohlenbusch.”

But that wasn’t all. Ohlen-
busch most likely kept awake
all night, working out the de-
tails of the coming celebrations,
for the next day he delivered
himself of another order. He
was even more precise this time
in markine the exact historical
minute he signed the document.
It was on July 31, 1941, at 11
hours and eight minutes o’clock.

“Confidential. Re: Changes
of names in connection with
celebration of fall of Moscow.
In pursuance of ‘campaign
fiye’ carried out in the occu-
pied regions, large streets, es-
pecially those bearing foreign
names in towns in this area as
well as in the protectorate, es-
pecially in Prague, should be
changed to ‘Viktioriatrasse’!
This also applies to cafes and
hotels. Various celebrations are
contemplated in the govern-
ment-general, in connection with
the fall of Moscow. This will
offer a suitable occasion to
make certain changes in names
which were decided upon long
ago, but which were not car-
ried out owing: to lack of a fit-
tinge excuse. In view of the fact
that thanks to the victory of
German arms the population of
the government-general are
saved heavy war expenses, this
will be a sufficient excuse for

The folder contained orders,

changing the ne

-to ‘Wilktoriastra:

governor-seneral
consent to the a}
you to duly info
of districts. (§
buseh.”

Herr Vandrey
Lublin departmi
ganda, informed
ates on August -
coming celebrat;
up a detailed pla
mony and dictate
display poster.
Vandrey’s éffusi

“Where Adolf

mands, there ¥

tain! Moscow i
celebration of {
(space for date)
works display wil
tween the railwe
the town (on Pils
Speaker: Globots
o’clock sharp. (S
fer. Stands rese
mans on Pilsuds]
That same day
very naturally s
Warsaw request
sites pertaining ©
fireworks displa
with the conse
Moscow might
minute, he mar
“Very Urgent.”
reads: “Re Fail

jet me know wh

send me all requ
ES ee
Rea ea

This Stin(g)s_
Dear Sir-

As a milant Sc

of long standi
compels me to tak
the claim of M
federal leader of
his party is socié

My criticism ¢
based on the fac
as I know, neitk
party have yet s_
by anything but
MacInnis, M.P:, +
in Hurope arounc
German ally, A
Started his cam™
the Bolsheviks, b
record that he aic
Nazi colleagues i
blood of commun
sewers.

To be sure, he
weak imitation of
convention some
when he advocat
the communists ~
dunghill they car
these are words, (
windy» words. H:
helped us bury. Rei
pools of occupied
we fingered them
saviours. ;

_ To be sure, he

Coldwell are alw
finger them here
country it is a ni
tine business for

eracy, not attende
that we took in

stance, that some
ron Franco would
of Mussolini-and a
they help in Canar