{

;
’

Polar 8 victim of Tories’ priorities

By WILLIAM SCOTT

Michael Wilson’s Feb. 20 announce-
ment that he was reneging on the govern-
ment’s commitment to build a Polar Class
Eight icebreaker at Versatile Pacific ship-
yards was a bitter blow to shipyard
workers in B.C.

Gone are the prospects of four years of
stable employment for an industry that
has suffered erratic employment levels
since the Second World War. Gone also is
the notion that with federal government
support, West Coast shipbuilding and
design could establish itself in the forefront
of icebreaker technology.

The Tories’ Polar Eight promises
included funding for facility upgrading
and extensive training for shipyard
employees. Local West Vancouver Con-
servative MP Mary Collins was re-elected
on her word as the purveyor of these
promises.

Even the most casual political observer
must wonder at the direction taken by this
government, to withdraw from the ice-
breaker project, ostensibly to save money,
while it continues to fund the Canadian

Labour Forum

Patrol Frigate program at a cost of $6.2
million and the TRUMP program, which
is the updating and re-arming of four 1972
Tribal Class Destroyers at a cost of $1.6
billion.

Canada is also party to the NATO Fri-
gate Replacement Program for the 1990s
(NFR-90). The scheme was supported by
eight countries, with the idea to have the
baseline ship designed by Internationale
Schiffs Studien, a Hamburg company,
and then to build up to 59 ships, with each
nation adding its own choice of equipment
and weaponry. However, the United
Kingdom, France and Italy have with-
drawn support for the scheme and the
remaining five countries are now talking
of 35 ships (six for Canada).

What with the historic political and
economic upheavals occurring in the so-
called Warsaw Pact countries it is widely
predicted that other nations will withdraw
from this round of military spending, and
Canada’s military brass is already lobby-
ing in Ottawa for approval of the modified
five-nation program. Their target is Asso-
ciate Defence Minister Mary Collins (yes,

the same one we know!). If Collins is
overly beleaguered by the nagging of
commanders and admirals, she could
remind them of her other new assignment,
the status of Canadian women, for which
there is no funding at all!

On a more positive note, the Conserva-
tive budget cutbacks have given B.C.’s
Socreds an opportunity to do a little “fed-
bashing” and the province’s Ministry of
Economic Development is heading a dele-
gation of shipyard industry and labour
official who are in Ottawa protesting the
Polar Eight decision and arguing for fed-
eral support of West Coast shipbuilding.
Transportation Minister Rita Johnston
has announced the immediate call to
tender for two 85-car ferries, which are
long overdue, and the $20 million refit of
the Queen of Burnaby. The two super
ferries will not be bid until the fall of 1990
which means that line-ups at ferry termi-
nals will be as bad as last year or worse.

The B.C. Ferry and Marine Workers’
Union has put out an interesting paper
called “Toward 2000 — a transportation
strategy for B.C.’s ferry system.” The ferry
workers are concerned that the fleet has
been allowed to become rundown and has
fallen behind the demand for service on
busy routes. They recommend scheduling
on a 24-hour basis, with hourly sailings
from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and incentives for
“off-peak” travellers. .

They also recommend:

© Building from V Class ferries;

e Expanding tourism, mini-cruises and
call for public input;

e Establishing safety and environmen-
tal accountability, accurate passenger
counts and strict safety procedures;

e@ Providing employment for British
Columbians.

Shipyard workers in B.C. are anxious,
to say the least, that shipbuilding at capac-
ity at Versatile Pacific shipyards has a
future. The withdrawal of the Polar Eight
leaves the West Coast facility little better
than a Second World War shipyard, while
eastern shipyards have been modernized
by the facility upgrading funding that has
accompanied the frigate program.

In July 1989, J.K. Irving, owner of St.
John Shipbuilding, speaking at the chris-
tening of HMCS Vancouver, announced
that he had installed a $35 million compu-
ter system in his yard and called on the
federal government to keep the support

TRIBUNE PHOTO — SEAN GRIFFIN

"Marine Workers and Boilermakers Union members march to MP Chuck Cook’s

Ce

office demanding action on Polar 8 April 15, 1988.

and contracts coming. By contrast, B.C.
yards face the ever-present threat of urban
encroachment and long delays between
federal contracts, tending to increase that
vulnerability.

What the labour movement has been
calling for from Ottawa is a comprehen-
sive maritime strategy in which shipbuild-
ing would be one component. Such a
policy would have to be administered ona
fair and equal basis across the country. If

we cannot have such an arrangement from
this government, then shipyard workers,
just like fish processors and so many other
victims of free trade and the Tory agenda
have to fight to keep the infrastructure of
their industry in place until the Mulroney
government is gone.

William Scott is secretary-treasurer of
the Marine Workers and Boilermakers
Industrial Union, Local No. 1.

"Sn EONS SE ame es ohare ey

i
i i
i i
3 i
a i
y Published weekly at 2681 East Hastings Street |
i Vancouver, B.C. VSK 1Z5. Phone 251-1186 g
Dr a 5 me rk > os ea ea ee ee
Boccccrrttts tes eeees Postubijade.. . 2... «ata eene :
g 'amenciosing 1yr.$200 2yrs.$350 3yrs. $500 Foreignityr. $320 g
i Bill me later Donation$........ |

Abortion rights
under attack!
Public meeting

with Dr. Henry
Morgentaler

—e—————————————————————EE———————————————— EE

12 ¢ Pacific Tribune, March 19, 1990

SATURDAY, APRIL 7
7:30 P.M.

John Oliver Secondary
41st Ave. & Fraser
Admission: $5/$3

On site childcare: register by
March 28. 873-8898 or 278-8480

Advance tickets at:

Ariel Books, 2766 W. 4th Ave.
Octopus Books, 1146 Commercial Dr.
Women’s Bookstore, 315 Cambie St.
Peregrine Books, 2932 W. Broadway

Sponsored by the: B.C. Coalition
for Abortion Clinics

VISIT THE

SSR

For all your travel
needs, big or small. Let
Globe Tours find the

best way for you.

GLOBE TOURS

2720 E. Hastings St.
Vancouver, B.C.
Phone 253-1221