| By OBSERVER The 15th annual convention of the B.C. Federation of Labor Will take place at a time when Canadian democracy is in Mortal danger. The delegates Can render a great service to the Nation by demanding the lifting Of the War Emergency Act, as the Vancouver Labor Council did atits last meeting. While making it clear they Were opposed to the tactics of Le Front de Liberation du Quebec (FLQ), the three most important labor bodies in Quebec issued a JOint statement on October - 17, €nouncing ‘‘The @egime of force imposed by the Trudeau 80vernment’’. The declaration Was signed by the officers of the Uebec Federation of Labor (CLC), the Confederation of National Trade Unions and the | Mtebec Teachers Corporation. “There is no doubt that the Positive stand taken by the Majority of the New Democratic arty caucus in the federal Parliament will have an impact °n the B.C. Federation ohvention, particularly since ir action was endorsed by the Provincial executive of the Party. If the convention takes a firm Position for the removal of the ff Measures Act, it will Urther the cause of civil iberties across the country. Ommy Douglas, national leader Of the NDP and the 15 NDP _ Members who voted with him against the War Measures Act, €serve the support of every labor federation. The B.C. Convention, the first in Canada Since the yote in parliament, Could set the tone for other Ba ntions and labor assem ies, In calling for the lifting of the” ar Measures Act, the labor Movement must be prepared to Carefully scrutinize any special legislation brought in by the Tudeau government in order the protect the rights of labor and the people. BILL 33 MUST GO The sharp confrontations tween organized labor and big Usiness in 1970 will receive a lot Of attention in the report of the '*“xXecutive Council, in resolu-, tions and in debate. Looking _Pack on this period, and without Closing our eyes to the negative features, we must note the posi- tive developments. When the provincial govern- Ment was faced with a united - trade union movement last July, Withdrew its compulsory back- O-work order. for the construction unions, issued under the provisions of Bill 33. While this action does not mean the end of Bill 33, it proves that the Act will not work as long as’ it is actively opposed by a united labor movement. This convention should, if it is to be consistent, declare its intention to finish the job in 1971 and eliminate compulsory arbitration once and for all. In that connection, there seems to be a growing dis- enchantment with Bill 33 in certain business and political circles. Further, we hear rumors that the provincial government may introduce amendments to the Act at the next session of the legislature. We cannot take it for granted that any amend- ments brought down by the Socred government will be acceptable to the labor movement. This means it is time to increase the pressure. Plans should be laid to mobilize every section of the labor movement to impress upon members of the legislature that labor wants a Bill of Rights, instead of a Bill of Wrongs, (Bill 33). The incoming Federation executive should be fully empowered to take whatever action it considers mecessary, including the mobilization of a mass lobby at the legislative buildings in Victoria. » While co-ordination in wage struggles since the last convention leaves room for improvement, the fact remains that the co-ordination achieved through the B.C. Federation of Labor played an important role in the winning of substantial gains in wages, working conditions and benefits. As far as B.C. is concerned, the Trudeau wage guide lines are smashed. The convention should insist on co-ordination becoming a permanent feature in future contract negotiations. The Federation can take pride in the fact that Canada has fully recognized the People’s Re- public of China, because it repeatedly called for such recognition. It can render a further service to the peace of the world by giving its support to the OUTNOW petition campaign, a broadly sponsored effort designed to lend weight to the creation of conditions for peace in Vietnam by the withdrawal of all American troops. The issue of natural resources has been highlighted at past conventions. This year’s convention has the responsi- “BIG ISSUES FACE B.C. FED PARLEY _Lahor meets during national crisis From Steel Labor, Voice of United Steelworkers THE HANGING TREE . « ” 3 FORGOTTEN MEN — HUNGRY THIRTIES OR 1970? The above photo sent us by a PT reader shows destitute unemployed youth sleeping on the floor at the Vancouver post office during historic sitdown in hungry thirties. Reminds you of today’s scene? All indications point to this coming winter being a tough one with bility to tackle the question bold- ly in terms of the export of jobs io other countries, while unemployment continues to mount. As pointed out by the Pacific Tribune recently, to give only one example, B.C. exported $114 million worth of copper to Japan in 1969. If this ore had been smelted in B.C., we would have been richer to the tune of $1,114,000,000. If the B.C. government was more concerned about such matters and less concerned about the so-called deadbeats in receipt of social assistance, we could begin to come to grips with unemployment. In respect to unemployment, the convention should give a clear lead on two fronts. First, in terms of the national and provincial policies required to radically change the situation. Second, in terms of assisting local unions and labor councils to organize their unemployed members for action to create jobs at trade union wages and to look after their immediate needs. POLITICAL ACTION When Pat O’Neal of the International Brotherhood of Pulp, Sulphite and Paper Mill Workers publicly advocated that “the trade unions should quit the NDP and form their own labor party”, he created quite a stir in labor and progressive circles. _ Such statements objectively play into the hands of those right- wing NDP leaders who blame organized labor for their failure to make greater gains in the last election, and into the hands of Liberals who seek to win votes which in the past have gone to the NDP. But this is not the whole story. The fact remains that the provincial leadership of the NDP under Barrett, as well as Berger, failed to take a timely and principled position in almost every major confronta- tion between labor and big business. To compound matters, the NDP caucus in Victoria does not have one member who is actively connected with the key economic struggles of organized labor. It is obvious that the Liberal Party is hoping to make substantial gains.at the expense of the NDP. They are hopeful -in a political fashion. Any actively support the economic thousands of unemployed youth having no jobs or place to go. This is one of fhe REAL emergencies the Federal and Provincial governments should be adopting special measures to deal with. The 15th annual convention of the B.C. Federation of Labor is scheduled for the week of November 2nd to 6th. The Federation, which represents some 335 local unions with a total membership of more than 146,000 workers, will meet in the ballroom of the Ba Guest speakers will include Howard Pawley, Minister of Municipal Affairs in Manitoba; Arthur Smith, chairman of the Economic Council of Canada; Donald MacDonald, president of the. C.L.C., Cyril White, chairman of the Workmen’s Compensation Board; and Bruce Yorke, chairman of the Vancouver Tenants’ Association. Welcoming address will be given by E.T. Staley, president of the B.C. Federation of Labor. hore Inn. that a vacuum will be created when Bennett leaves the scene and they hope to fill that vacuum. This means winning a lot more NDP and labor votes. The NDP leadership, on the other hand, has been moving towards the right, hoping to attract more votes from middle class, professional and politically backward elements. Hence Barrett’s repeated statements about the NDP not being a labor party. In short, the ‘name of this game is to be’ elected, instead of electing on the basis of an anti-monopoly program. While rejecting the O’Neal — concept of a new, provincial labor party as divisive, the convention should reassess. labor’s political role. The working people of this province and their families are the majority of the population. The trade unions, with 350,000 members, need to speak out independently on every vital issue confronting the people, in between elections and during election campaigns. It must be recognized that almost every struggle for a new collective agreement is highly political and must be approached political party which fails to struggles of the workers, or its confrontation with government over anti-labor legislation, does not deserve the support of the trade unions. It should be obvious by now that the failure of the trade unions to speak out independently during the last provincial election campaign, for fear of embarrassing the NDP, objectively helped the Socreds. If there is to be any 2 Gee cee ome ome me me ee ee ee ee ee ee ee ee ee ee deep-going changes in social. relationships, the trade union movement must play a leading role. It cannot do so as the satellite of a parliamentary caucus. Powerful forces exist in B.C. and in Canada as a whole, which, if united, can defeat monopoly capital and its political parties. Such unity would bring important gains for labor and, its people. It would also facilitate the achievement of socialism. There will be no fundamental changes in economic, social and political relationships without the working class and its trade unions. In creating the climate for a left turn, one of the first prequisites is all-in unity of the left. ; This convention will provide an excellent opportunity for the responsible left, irrespective of party affiliations, to unite around constructive policies. ee Workers Benevolent Assn. Of Canada Progressive Fraternal Society Caters to all your needs in the Life Insurance field LIFE INSURANCE ENDOWMENTS PENSION PLANS WEEKLY BENEFITS Apply to: B.C. office at 805 East Pender St. or National Office at — 595 Pritchard Ave. Winnipeg 4, Manitoba oe «PACIFIC TRIBUNE—OCTOBER 30, 1970—PAGE 3 te Dy ee eons BOIS Re eee pee! en.