PT ADAD COAUT BOR FRONT $ By WILLIAM KASHTAN Canada’s National Productivity Council sent a fact-finding g mission to Western Europe recently to study labor-manage- ment relations. Its report merits close scrutiny by trade unionists because, if monopoly on the one hand and the right wing in the labor move- ment on the other have their way, it may well set the pattern for labor-management relations in our country. The report points to the fact that ‘all countries visited accepted the necessity of some form of planning.” But when ex- amined closely what is the content and direction of such planning? The report says: “In practically all European countries industry is en- couraged to rationalize its productive resources as a means of increasing its efficiency, reducing costs and improving its competitive position. To achieve these ends companies may merge or form agreements with each other. “In most instances, companies entering into such agree- ments must register the agreement which is then subject to examination to ensure that it is not intended to restrict trade or to fix prices arbitrarily. The philosophy and practice of rationalization are that greater efficiency and reduced costs are in the national interests and enhance the competitive posi- tion of the country.” The essence of “planning” then, as indicated here, is to help enhance the economic power of monopoly and, in the name of the national interest, to rationalize industry so as to make it more competitive. Rationalization of course, is not a foreign word to mono- poly here. Mechanization and automation have been pushed ahead at quite a fast pace and one of its results is to be seen in the displacement of labor from industry after industry. Does the railway worker who is faced with almost 100 percent slashing of jobs need to be told about rationalization? Does the auto worker, with over 10,000 less employed in the industry or the woodworker out in B.C., with over 5,000 jobs gone? No. monopoly has been rationalizing with a vengeance and it is stepping up this process under the specious slogan of combatting “feather-bedding” and changing work rules. What is “new” to the Canadian scene ig the specific Proposal being advanced by some monopoly interests for specialization in industry so as to compete in the capitalist world market, a proposal which the Canadian Labor Congress leaders have likewise taken up and are pressing for. Inherent in this proposal is the drive of monopoly to strengthen its control over the Canadian economy at the ex- pense of non-monopoly sections of the economy and, not least, at the expense of the jobs of workers. And what is the solution offered by the right-wing CLC leadership? Adequate compensation to employers who will be lforced to the wall and to the workers who will be forced out on the streets! ; Thus “economic planning” as practiced in Western Europe and as envisaged in Canada turns out to be a means. of strengthening the domination of monopoly over the economy at the expense of the Canadian People. The report does not stop there, however; it states: “Increased production has been a major factor in Euro- pean economic successes. Changes in productivity are ac- cepted in both labor and: management as being one of th® major guideposis for wage determination. Productivity on the basis of a national measurement is used as the guideline rather than changes in productivity for particular industries.” In plain language this means a new yardstick for wage policy — that from now on wages be related to increased productivity and the total increase in national production. This is the other side of the coin of rationalization or, as monopoly prefers to call it, “economic planning.” Boiled down to its essence it is an appeal to work harder and if they produce more they will increase their wages. What about the worker who wants to work but cannot find it? Does the worker decide then about product.on? As everyone knows, it is monopol,y not the working class, which decides whether production continues, whether it expands or decreases. 2 Monopoly, not the working class, is the owner of the means of production and it is monopoly and government pol- icy which determine the level and volume of national production. For the working class to be tied to a wage policy related to national production, means to accept what monopoly and government has been striving for, for quite some time: a form of wage restraint or wage freeze. What is required is that the labor movement advance its own national economic program — a program of national de- velopment based upon the expansion of the economy, the rais- ing of living standards and jobs. As against those who call for wage freezes and wage re- straints, the labor movement should go all out for raising purchasing power, so that increased production results in higher living standards. As‘against those who say strikes are obsolete, the labor movement must safeguard its right to strike and to organize. As against those who want labor to bear the brunt of mechanization and automation, the trade union movement needs to press for the 35-hour work week with no reduction in take-home pay. : This is a program in the national interest. It is such a program, which needs to be The recent convention of the B.C. Federation of Labor, held in Victoria from Oct. 22 to 26, indicat- es a growing desire on the part of the trade union movement to close ranks in order to beat back the onslaught by big business upon the living standards of the Canadian working class. The general analysis off this latest convention can prob- ably best be summed up by the remark most often heard in conversation with various delegates: “‘The best conven- tion since the merger of the TLC and CEG?’ Rank and file participation on a whole .number of key questions and resolutions was “excellent and the right wing leadership (or, ‘“‘The Mach- ine,” as it is known in some quarters) suffered some inter- esting setbacks. Added to this was the fact that many dele- gates were new, some had never attended a convention previously, and, because of this, they sat back and listen- ed to ALL the arguments— not just what the leadership had to say. ‘Labor parley shows growing desire for unity to beat attack As a result, an attempt by IWA President J. Moore and his Public Relations Commit- tee to scuttle the annual un- employed trek to Victoria was rejected by the conven- tion and was referted back to committee for further study. In making its final report, the committee had to modilfy its orignal position. RAID'NG HIT And this example was indi- cative of the winds of change which are beginning to make their presence felt. The ques- tion of raiding was debated heatedly for almost an entire session and support for a pol- icy of anti-raiding came from some unusual (but most wel- come!) quarters. For example, three differ- ent delegates from Steel loc- als got up to condemn Steel’s raid on Mine Mill in Sudbury; furthermore, they. made it plain that they were speak- ing not in a personal way — - they had been instructed to take this stand by their locals. Untfortunately, the end re- sult in this case was a weak- ly-worded resolution “‘to pro- mote the maximum degree of unity . .. in line with CLC policy,” but the’ resolution took into account that ‘“‘all trade unionists recognize the rights of individuals to chi by majority vote the unld their choice.” q Despite the fact thal tually all the top lea found it necessary to t floor in defence of “ce types of liberation,” the raiding forces came will whisker of scoring a SH ning victory — and the is far from over. for ? go on at the local levé NO NUCLEAR ARMS The convention also plished the following: © Reaffirmed the pre stand of No Nuclear Arm Canada; 4 e Agreed to back the: of the Columbia Rivé Canada Committee; ® Decided to “suppor! campaign for a shorter day or shorter work ye ® Urged the government to Medicare vlan which cover medical, surgical. cal, dental care and dr @ Pledged support al couragement to “any Trade Union” engage fighting unfair labor Je tion and asked its au unions not to agree “tO tration proceedings undef Arbitration Act.” Communist Party plez ‘Now - end cold war’ Con’t from pg. 1 2. General and complete dis- armament, with that inspection and control now made possible by modern science. 3. The ending of all tests and abolition of all nuclear weapons. 4. Joint negotiations to speedily settle the Berlin and German questions on the basis of a demo. cratic treaty. 5. No interference in the in- ternal affairs of countries. 6. World economic cooperation and trade. Thermonuclear war can be pre- vented only by ending the cold war. The ‘Canadian government capitulated to the Kennedy pro- vocation. It imposed its own blockade of Cuba. It announced its support for the U.S. military mobilization and elerted Cana. dian armed forces. The Liberals and Social Credi- TOM McEWEN, Pacific Tri- bune editor, will be feature spéaker at a conceri-meeting marking the anniversary of the Russian Revolution, to be held Wed., Nov. 7, 8 p.m., at the Russian Hall, 600 Camp- bell Ave. advanced and fought for today. ters were even more outspoken supporters of Kennedy than were the Tories. The NDP group in the House of Commons failed to speak for peace and to dissociate itself from U.S. policy and from the government in the forthright way its followers had a right to ex- pect. With honorable exceptions, the labor movement’s spokesmen did not rise to the occasion and fail- ed to rally the trade union move- ment in defense of peace. At the same time, throughout the country, many people, and particularly young Canadians, set a fine example of public protest against Kennedy’s blockade and spoke up for Canada. PRESS FOR PEACE The conclusicn is plain: the Canadian people must coniiaue to press for a policy of peace, to organize and demonstrate for peace to build the peace move- ments, and to enlist as champions of peaceful policies millions of Canadians still to be brought into public activity for peace. The Canadian government must s at once be pressed to advocate in the United Nations an end to the cold war and active negotia- tion of all outstanding differ- ences. At this moment, when the Canadian government is discuss-_ ing the establishmet of American nuclear warheads in Canada, it must be told: To put these mis- siles here will increase the dan- ger of war. Now is the moment, when liquidation of foreign bases is on the agenda in Cuba, Turkey and elsewhere, for Canada to declare: There will be no US. Fi weapons on Canadian terril! 0 The Diefenbaker gove must make this decl without delay. Pe Once more peace has tl ed. Let us make _ that secure by ending the cold woe Earl Russell pay tribute fo Khrushchev “Mr. Khrushchev is P® se responsible for the avole a war of nuclear destructio” has acted with the greates straint in’ a crisis of se magnitude.” 3 This was the tribute pale Earl (Bertrand) Russell to Premier Khrushchev for © in the Cuban crisis. “He out every letter of the pr? made in the message B me,”’ said Russell. The U.S. did not 7 Russell’s telegram whieh sent simultaneously with © to Khrushchev.