LABOR B.C. Fed steps up pressure on Bill 19 Declaring that unionists were “becoming increasingly impatient with the govern- ment’s reluctance to remove Bill 19,” the B.C. Federation of Labor last week announced its intention to proceed with a stepped-up “phase two” of the campaign against the Socreds’ anti-labor legislation. The federation’s executive board — com- prising the executive council and representa- tives of labor councils from around the pro- vince — unanimous- ly endorsed a 16- point action program that includes contin- uing the information campaign against Bill 19 but also out- lines a program for further action as well as a strategy of non- compliance with the legislation should the Socreds force it through. GEORGETTI Federation president Ken Georgetti told reporters following the meeting April 23 that federation officers would immediately begin meetings with leaders of local unions throughout the province “to discuss with them strategies for further action to prevent Bill 19 from becoming law.” The executive board meeting came amidst growing demand from unionists for more immediate and intensified action — including job action if necessary — to block the Socred legislation. Delegates to the Vancouver and District Labor Council had unanimously endorsed Demonstrate For Workers Rights in B.C. Robson Square (Art Gallery) 7 p.m. Labor & Political Speakers Dance For Freedom in Southern Africa Chinese Cultural Centre 50 E. Pender 8.30 p.m. Tickets $6/$3 Mango Dub Ginger Group & Special Guests ANC Speaker Proceeds to Van. Unemployed Action Centre & A.N.C. a resolution April 21 calling on the federa- tion to “increase public activities,” includ- ing the possibility of strike action, against Bill 19. Several letters from local unions pressing for stepped-up ‘action to stop the legislation, were also forwarded to the B.C. Fed. On April 22, the 20,000-member Confed- -eration of Canadian Unions told Labor Minister Lyall Hanson that the confedera- tion would support action “up to and including a general strike” to halt the legis- lation. Georgetti told reporters that there was “an increasing amount of resistance on the part of our affiliates to the legislation. “The more they study it, the more frus- trated and angry they are. They’re telling us and we're telling the government that we’re getting impatient with the government’s reluctance to remove Bill 19 from debate and re-draft the legislation.” The unanimous vote given the program at the executive board meeting also indi- cated that the federation committee draft- ing it had addressed the demand for a harder position against the legislation. “This program is designed to stop the legislation but is also based on the principle that we will not be governed by bad laws,” it stated. “A continuing policy of boycott, non-compliance and non-co-operation can be an effective and aggressive strategy if it is maintained and enforced ... “This program can work if each union gives it their complete support and is pre- pared to carry out those activities necessary to support affiliates implementing the pro- gram,” it stated. It calls on the federation to: @ Hold public information meetings and rallies across the province; @ Carry out a co-ordinated media cam- paign in opposition to the legislation; @ Continue to develop recommenda- tions through the strategy committee for the officers and executive council; e Establish a Bill 19 defence fund to pay for the media campaign and, where neces- sary, legal costs; ® Deliver vote results to the government accompanied by a rally and demonstration to be held in conjunction with the presenta- tion; @ Hold closed door meetings on a regional basis with all local union executives to review the program of action and develop plans for work stoppages, and to explain other aspects of the program includ- ing the necessity of a strong boycott and the possibility of job action to support unions in non-compliance with orders issued under the legislation; @ Develop co-ordinated action to take place across the province on a timetable to be determined by the officers in consulta- tion with the affiliates; @ a) Boycott all activities of the Adjudi- cation Division (of the Industrial Relations Commission) including not filing applica- tions, responding to applications, not initiating proceedings, not attending hear- ings, not complying voluntarily with subpo- enas; STOP BILLS 19 &20 NOW! U.F.A.W.U. Ladner Local 4 b) Boycott the Disputes Resolution Div- ision including not attending hearings, not meeting with mediators or inquiry boards; c) Co-ordinate non-compliance with back to work orders and necessary support actions through the federation officers; d) Follow existing notice provisions for legal strike votes; @ Hold a series of special conferences on areas such as organizing, bargaining, boy- cott strategies and remedies; ® Call on labor members and vice-chairs at the Labor Relations Board to state pub- licly that they will not accept new appoint- ments under the IRC; @ Call on labor members of other boards and agencies to resign if Bill 19 is pro- claimed into law; @ Withdraw from joint union-employer economic and productivity initiatives if Bill 19 proclaimed; e@ Advise lawyers that they will not acceptable to labor as arbitrators if thé) accept appointments with the IRC; @ Request money from the CLC for tht defence fund; j ® Call on the CLC and provincial lab@ federations to advise their members all employer groups of the implications of Bib 19 and 20; F e Investigate complaints against the leg islation through the Charter of Rights ang © the International Labor Organization. The executive council also moved Apt 23 to establish a defence fund based on contribution of $2 per member. ; Meanwhile, the federation rallies are com tinuing across the province with the last tw! rallies of the series slated to be held April 2 in Kelowna and April 29 in the Castleg@ Arena. The meetings have drawn huge tuf nouts in virtually all the communities whet! they have been held. _ in celebration of all workers, CUPE Local 389 marks May Day, 1987 men and women, Standing together for economic, social and trade union rights. MAY DAY GREETINGS from Local 701, Vancouver United Transportation Union The UTU is proud to be in the forefront of the campaign for safety and jobs on the railway. Our union is an active participant in the CLC fight against deregulation of the transportation industry. 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