Wording

~~

Norman Richards, president,
B.C. Government Employees

‘| Union, writes: I hope you will al-

low us space to correct some of
the factual errors in the article on
the proposed changes to the B.C.

| Federation of Labor constitution

Tegarding delegate entitlement
(Tribune, Nov. 13, 1981).

_ First, the formula would re-
duce the BCGEU entitlement
from 269 to 177. It would give us
16 percent of the total number of
delegates. We represent 17 per-
Cent of the total membership of
the B.C. Federation of Labor.

_ It would correct the absolutely
Indefensible situation where the

UFAWU, with 7,000 members,
can seat 76 delegates while the
IWA, with 49,000 members, seats
122 delegates. It takes 400 IWA
members to count the same as 92
UFAWU members.

That abhorrent situation will
be changed to one in which every
local gets a delegate for each 250

members it represents. How that

would diminish the ‘‘rank and file
character and wide local union
representation” escapes me. And
despite Jack Nichol’s statement,
it is hardly ‘‘disproportionate as
hell.’’

We stand by what was said in
the Nov. 13 article. It stated that
the BCGEU, as well as some

Delegate system termed ‘abhorrent’

other large unions, would get
“more than half again as many
delegates as they had at the 1980
convention’? — a correct asser-
tion. That the BCGEU managed
this year to renegotiate its affilia-
tion agreement with the B.C. Fed
to affiliate by local rather than
component — pushing its dele-
gate entitlement up from 105 to
your stated figure of 269 — isa
separate issue which was duly
noted in some detail in the article.

The ‘‘indefensible situation”
you refer to was also dealt with in
the article and was one which, ac-
cording to our interviews, the
smaller unions were prepared to
see changed — provided it meant

, entitlement without a corre-

-Sentation’”” of the convention

only a reduction in their delegate

sponding increase in that of the
larger unions. The formula now
proposed would do both, promp-
ting Jack Nichol’s comment
about it being ‘‘disproportion-
ate.”’

Finally, it would seem obvious
that when two large affiliates con-
trol more than one-third of the
delegates — as the BCGEU and
IWA would, according to your
figures — the ‘‘rank and file char-
acter and wide local union repre-

would be profoundly af-

fected—Ed.

Native organizations across the
Country continued to press for full
Constitutional guarantees of
aboriginal rights as the Liberal
80vernment introduced a new
@mendment to the Charter of
Rights containing a‘new — and
Possibly profoundly significant —
change.

_ Led by president Bob Manuel,

- Some 500 people from the Union of

B.C. Indian Chiefs met Trudeau as
he arrived in Vancouver to address

- aLiberal luncheon Tuesday — the

day: after the-Liberals introdiced
the amended formila in the House
of Commons calling for recogni-

_ Hon and affirmation of ‘“‘existing”’

aboriginal rights. ;
The amendment did not,
Owever, provide a consent clause

_ Which Native groups have insisted
' 4Snecessary to guarantee that there
_ Will be no amendment without

their consent.
Manuel said Tuesday that the

' Change announced by the govern-
Ment was ‘“‘worthless.”? °

Other Native leaders, including
Dene leader George Erasmus and
Ishga vice-president Rod Robin-
Son, have also indicated serious
Teservations over the amendment

proposed by the federal govern-
ment.

In answering questions in the
Commons, justice minister Jean
Chretien claimed that the introduc-
tion of the word “‘existing”’ was in-
tended only to clarify the meaning.
But the government’s record of
tactical ploys on the constitution
issue, and the fact that Tory

premier Peter Lougheed had earlier .

indicated that “existing rights”
should mean only those rights
recognized by the provinces, has
underscored the,concern of Native
groups. #
The government’s maneuvering
on the issue, first introducing a
flawed aboriginal rights guarantee,
then withdrawing it and finally re-
introducing it again in amended

form, has created a deep suspicion _

that the government’s main objec-
tive is to create division among
Native organizations so as to get a
watered-down rights proposal
through Parliament.

Earlier demands raised by B.C.
premier Bill Bennett that the
federal government reimburse the
provinces for any costs incurred as
a result of aboriginal rights
guarantees, would also suggest that

the new wording could prejudice
land claims — and was therefore
introduced to appease such pro-
vinces as Alberta and B.C.

Rod Robinson, vice-president of
the Nishga Tribal Council, pointed
out that there are no existing rights
as such in British Columbia al-
though several bands have extens-
ive claims yet to be negotiated.

It may be that it was because the
new wording could nullify or at
least prejudice such land claims,

that Bennett was prepared to agree
pa HOFer lo beerodt te

That point was emphasized by
the B.C. provincial executive of the
Communist Party which warned
last week that Bennett and. the
Social Credit government ‘‘stand
opposed to genuine human
rights.”’

“This is especially true on the
issue of aboriginal rights,’ said a
statement issued by the party’s ex-
ecutive. ‘‘Bennett wants to block
any progress towards extending
Native rights and land claims for
fear this may interfere with the ex-
ploitation of British Columbia’s
natural resources by the multina-
tional corporations.”’

Natives demand full rights guarantee
| in Trudeau's constitutional resolution

The Communist Party .em-
phasized that the constitutional
resolution ‘‘was flawed from the
Start’? because of its failure to
guarantee Native and women’s
rights and the national rights of
French-Canadians.

It urged that the present resolu-
tion be turned down and, ‘‘while
there is still time that steps be taken
towards a genuine made-in-
Canada constitution with full
rights for every Canadian, in-
cluding women, Native peoples,

» labor: and full national rights. for

French Canada.’’

It also urged support for Native
and women’s groups seeking full
constitutional guarantees of their
rights.

Earlier, the Squamish tribe laun-
ched a petition which calls on the
federal government to include in its
patriation proposal the following
provision, which would not be sub-
ject to provincial legislative veto:

@ The aboriginal and treaty
rights of the aboriginal peoples are
hereby recognized and affirmed.

@ Subsection 1 shall not be
amended without the consent of
the aboriginal peoples of Canada.

GLOBE TOURS

We will professionally look after all
your travel needs. We specialize in :
tickets, tours, passports, permits
and reservations. Call us today —
for prompt personalized service.

_ 2679 East Hastings St. Vancouver, B.C.

Phone 253-1221

The complete
travel service

_V5K 125

Monique and | wish to express
our gratitude for the kindness
and sympathy of our friends
during our bereavement
following the untimely death
of our beloved son, Paul Brown,
Nov. 14, 1981.

Vern and Monique Brown, Peter Brown

CLASSIFIED
ADVERTISING

COMING EVENTS

NOV. 28 — C.O.P.E. Cabaret with
Ash St. Players, 6:30 dinner and
dance, at Peretz School, 6184 Ash
St. Tkts. — $15.00 or $10.00
0.A.P. available at Co-op Books,

, 353 W. Pender. All Welcome.

NOV. 29 — Report-back and slide
show from the World Congress of
Women, 2 p.m. 600 Campbell Ave.
Sponsored by the Federation of
Russian Canadians.

DEC. 6 — Christmas Labor Bazaar,
Ukrainian Hall. See display ad for
details.

DEC. 11 — Solidarity Cafe. A sa-
lute to liberation struggles in Latin
America. ,Hastings Community
Hall, 3096 E. Hastings St., Van.
(entrance on Pender St.). Adm. $3.
Doors open 8 p.m. Sponsored by
YE

DEC. 12 — UFAWU reunion dance
9 p.m.-? Fishermen’s Hall, 138 E.
Cordova, Van. Bring your friends,
meet old friends. Reserve early.
Tickets $5. BYOB. Ph. 988-0585 or

‘ COMMERCIAL

CONDOR’S PAINTING &. build-
ing maintenance. Free estimate.
Phone 433-1145. A progressive firm
owned and operated by Chilean
Canadians. Reasonable rates.

ELECTRICAL, plumbing, appli-
ance repairs. Don Berg. 255-7287.

ROOF REPAIRS — New proofs.
Reasonable. 277-3352.

GRAMMA PUBLICATIONS.
Complete printing services.
Brochures, menus, leaflets, etc.
Special rates for the progressive
movement. A union shop. 1595 W.
3rd Ave., Van. 733-6822.

HANDYMAN, reas. rates. Ken
437-8386.

ODD JOBS, carpentry. 874-1665.

WANTED
ONE PERSON needed to share

~ spacious East Van house with three

others.
873-6679

USED BOOKS, appliances, rec-
ords, toys etc. for Labor Bazaar
white elephant sale. Bring articles
with you to bazaar Dec. 6, begin-
ning at 12 noon, Ukrainian Hall, 805
E. Pender St., Van. All donations
much appreciated.

Call Calvin or Debbie,

DIRECTORY

COMMUNIST PARTY OF CAR-
ADA offices located at 102-2747 E.
Hastings St. Ph. 254-9836. For in-
formation on political issues or as-
sistance in political activity.

Beat the monopoly rip-off!
Do your shopping at

Sunday, Dec. 6,
Ukrainian Hall,

Int'l food mart @ handicrafts
home baking @ plants
@ white elephant

All welcome!

Noon to 5 p.m. |
805 E. Pender

@® books

LEGAL SERVICES

RANKIN, STONE, McMURRAY
& BOND, Barristers and Solici-
tors. 157 Alexander St., 2nd Floor,
Vancouver. 682-3621.

HALLS FOR RENT

RUSSIAN PEOPLE’S HOME —
Available for rentals. For reserva-
tions phone 254-3430.

WEBSTERS. CORNERS HALL —

- Available for banquets, meetings,

etc. For rates: Ozzie, 325-4171 or
685-5836.

UKRAINIAN CANADIAN CUL-
TURAL CENTRE — 805 East
Pender St., Vancouver. Available
for banquets, weddings, meetings.
Ph. 254-3436. $

ee rome PACIFIC TRIBUNE—NOV. 27, 1981—Page 11

Vi ree

“Spe c rhs PP Lent
Ot ow tte Jor EOLA