ae er _ = to the streets | ays union head —Pg. 5S _ Edmonton recently. Photo shows police dragging off one of the demonstrators. See story page 3. ‘City unions plan parade, rally on Plans are moving ahead in Vancouver for a massive parade and rally to mark labor’s Day of Protest on Oct. 14. The Vancouver rally will be the largest in B.C., with similar demonstrations planned for most centres in the province. In outlining plans for the protest, the CLC has announced that not only are all trade unionists urged to take part, but wives, husbands, friends and neighbors as well as other public organizations. The public are urged to bring placards, picket signs and banners iden- tifying their organizations. The Painters Union has volun- teered to do 3 ft. by 10 ft. banners for $11 each, including banner material. Phone number of the union is 438-7191. ° Marchers will assemble at nine assembly paints in the city at 8. ‘a.m. ‘sharp. These assembly points are: Fishermen’s Hall, 138 E. Cordova; Granville Square; City Hall; Victory Square; Sunset Beach; Alberni and Jervis; Under north end of Granville Bridge; foot Smithe and Taylor Way; B.C. Teachers Federation parking lot, Sixty-one people were arrested at an anti-apartheid demonstration in 6th and Burrard. City unions have been assigned to rally at one or another of these centres. Merchant fleet demanded - Jeff Power, president of the Shipyard General Workers’ Federation of B.C., has appealed to the federal government to begin immediate implementation of the government’s Darling report _ which called for the construction of a Canadian merchant marine. -Power’s demand was prompted by __ the critical situation which exists _ in the B.C. shipbuilding industry, where today only one half of the __ work force is employed. - In a letter to Prime Minister _ Trudeau Power said that some _ shipyards have laid off as much as 90 percent of their workers. He cited the cases of Allied Ship- _ builders which normally employs anywhere from 175 to 300 workers, but now has less than 12, and Bel- Aire Shipyards which has only 30 people working whereas they usually employ 250. Power said that work forces at other shipyards are running at about 50 percent of the normal standard, and that no yards have any future contract lined up. Though industry spokesmen have,claimed that “high wages” _ are to blame for the employment crisis in the B.C. shipyards, Power said such claims are ‘‘nonsense.”’ _ “The fact of the matter is that _ lay-offs are taking place in Eastern Canada too, where wages are _ lower. Shipbuilding firms are just running out of contracts — it’s as simple as that — no whether their wages are high or low.”’ Power said that the whole unemployment situation was ‘“‘so frustrating because it is com- pletely unnecessary. Government has it within its powers to take action which would result in full employment in the shipbuilding industry across Canada.”’ That solution, Power stated, lies in building a Canadian merchant matter . Vanderhoof verdict in A Vanderhoof inquest, charged throughout with accusations of racism and RCMP intimidation of witnesses has determined that 21 year old Stoney Creek Indian Correen Thomas’ death was the result of negligence on the part of the white driver of the car which ran her down. Though these charges were not answered by the jury, it recom- mended that the RCMP ensure that a parent or guardian is present when juveniles are interviewed by police and that the Stoney Creek Band Council and the village of Vanderhoof establish a friendship centre in the northern town. marine, something on which the government refuses to take any action. In addition to dragging its feet on the building of a Canadian mer- chant marine, the federal government is taking no action on another matter which would bring employment to the Canadian shipbuilding industry, Power charged. ‘‘Now that we’ve ex- tended our fishing limits to 200 miles, we should be building more patrol vessels to police these waters. But here too, no action is being taken by the government.”’ Power said that plans should be being made now to expand the patrol fleet, as a certain amount of time is involved in letting out contracts and gearing up for the construction of new ships, and if action is not taken soon, the present work force of skilled tradesmen will be decimated and dispersed through unemployment. Such a workforce would take years to replenish. The Shipyard General Workers’ Federation will continue to press the federal government for the construction of a Canadian mer- chant marine, “built in Canada, owned by Canadians and operated by Canadians” Power said, and that they intend to make it clear to all parties that we want a Canadian merchant marine.” SHIRLEY CARR, CLC executive vice-president, will be feature speaker at Vancouver rally. Marchers will converge along different routes to the AIB office in the North Tower of Pacific Centre ‘and then east on Georgia to the Queen Elizabeth Plaza for a mass rally. Keynote speaker at the rally will be Shirley Carr, executive vice- president of the CLC. Other speakers will include George Johnston, president of the BCFL; Len -Guy, BCFL executive- secretary; Syd Thompson, president of the Vancouver and District Labor Council; Gerry Stoney, president of the New. Westminster Labor Council; and Cy Stairs, president of the B.C.- massive Oct. 14 Yukon Building: Trades Council. The B.C. Federation of Labor has issued a special message appealing for a full turnout for the Day of Protest (see below). Unions in. Greater Vancouver have gone into high gear to achieve a maximum mobilization for the day. This week the Joint Council of Hydro Unions, which includes transit workers and IBEW Locals, has posted notices calling for a full turnout of their memberships to the Oct. 14 protests. ‘‘This is not a holiday nor a strike against B.C. Hydro. Oct. 14 is a Day of Protest against the government’s wage control policies,” says one appeal to electrical workers. Plans were also announced this week for a giant parade and rally to the legislative buildings in Victoria, starting from the city hall. Preparations for Oct. 14 were advanced last week with the an- nouncement that the B.C. Government Employees Union had pledged ‘‘wholehearted support.”’ . It was also announced that the ferry service will be shut down. Nanaimo area will mark Oct. 14 with a public rally in Caledonia Park. Union members from Duncan, Lake Cowichan, Youbou, and Ladysmith will travel to the rally in a car cavalcade arriving at the park for the rally at 11 a.m. It was also announced last week that 5,000 members of the United Steel Workers in Trail, Kimberley and Salmo will walk out Oct. 14. ditions in recent years. cratically in Convention. nied. Sanpete GEORGE JOHNSTON President A MESSAGE FROM THE B.C. FEDERATION OF LABOUR Working people in British Columbia have made real progress in improving living standards and working con- — The main reason has been the strong and determined support by rank-and-file trade — unionists for the policies which we have adopted deme: We urge all trade unionists to give the same kind of solid support on October 14th to the nation-wide day of — protest called by the Canadian Labour Congress on the. Z instruction of delegates to the 1976 C.L.C. Convention. It is vitally important that Canadian workers make it clear to the Liberal Government that we are not prepared to sit back quietly and allow our living standards to be ~ attacked and our right to free collective oe de- LET'S GIVE ee A MESSAGE ON OCTOBER 14th. og LEN GUY _ Secretary-Treasurer Si a a ea Sar a - From B,C. Federation of Labor leaflet.