Labour Raid threatens CUPW bargaining unity By MARION POLLACK Postal workers are fighting for our futures and our lives. On the one hand Canada Post is trying gut our collective agreements, and has embarked on an all- out campaign to harass postal workers. On the other hand, the Letter Carriers Union of Canada has begun a nationwide raid, in a futile attempt to regain its posi- tion as the bargaining agent for all outside workers, The timing of this raid couldn’t be worse. CUPW is in the midst of negotia- tions with Canada Post for a new collec- tive agreement. The corporation is demanding all sorts of cutbacks. It wants to take away our job security, gut our protections against unfair discipline, and ensure that the union has no power what- soever. At the same time Canada Post is contracting-out our work at fire sale pri- ces. The 7-Eleven store chain is opening up new postal franchises on a weekly basis! Parcel delivery in Vancouver has been given to Dolphin Delivery — a private company. Canada Post is also planning on bringing in new postal technology which will reduce jobs, and not improve service. It is a time when unity against the employer is urgently needed. Instead of fighting for this unity, the Letter Carriers Union of Canada is embarking on a raid. In the mid-to-late Eighties, the Canada Labour Relations Board took on a review of the bargaining units at Canada Post. At that time there were approximately eight different unions and over 35 bargaining units. The CLRB ruled that all operational workers should be in one bargaining unit. That meant that workers represented by CUPW, LCUC, and the components of the Public Service Alliance of Canada were to be merged into one union. When the decision came down, the three unions began talks aimed at reaching a merger agreement. Those talks were fruitful. In October, 1988 a merger agreement was reached. However, the Let- - ter Carrier Union of Canada decided to back out of the agreement. The result was that the Canada Labour Relations Board ordered a vote to deter- mine who would represent the operations bargaining unit. In January, 1989, the results were announced. By a margin of Labour Forum 900 votes, CUPW became the bargaining agent for all postal workers. Unfortunately, some of the leadership of the Letter Carriers Union of Canada were unhappy with that turn of events. A convention in Sudbury in the summer of 1989 resulted in the Letter Carriers Union setting up a “power base” whose goal was to try and split the bargaining unit and become the official bargaining agent for outside postal workers. The power base then began a series of attacks on the leadership and orientation of CUPW. One of the power base individ- uals stated he was prepared to fight CUPW before fighting the employer. Another power base staff called our nego- tiating team monkeys. It was clear from the outset that the power base was not interested in achieving integration and co- operating with CUPW. The constant attacks on the national union forced CUPW to declare LCUC a rival organization. This was followed by a series of actions, designed to ensure that CUPW executive and members were not giving their allegiance to the Letter Carri- ers Union of Canada. On a local and a national level, the situation worsened. It became clear, espe- cially locally, that no matter what the CUPW leadership did, the power base would criticize, attack, and disparage. That culminated in the current raid. It has allowed Canada Post to slow down the already slow pace of negotiations, and has given the corporation more impetus to push its rollbacks. The LCUC leadership is saying that it doesn’t want to split the bargaining unit. But the CLRB, after sev- eral years of investigation, determined that it would be one bargaining unit. It is highly unlikely that the decision would be rev- ersed, as it would have implications not only for postal workers, but also for airline workers, railroad workers and others. It is extremely probably that the raid will fail. But the damage it has done will be immeasurable. It certainly puts our job security on the line. Both postal workers, and our friends in the labour movement have to reject this raid. Unity is the only way forward. Marion Pollack is an executive member of the Vancouver local of CUPW. Job action seen to stop industry sellout Continued from page 1 closing B.C. plants and shipping fish directly to the U.S. for processing. But the most devastating impact may yet be to come if the multinational fish companies are also able to shift production of the huge herring and salmon fisheries out of B.C. to US. plants, many of which they also own. UFAWU president Jack Nichol warned unionists Monday that the herring roe fishery, which is scheduled to open at the end of next month, “stands completely exposed” to that danger. “We could see all the product -of that fishery exported unprocessed from Canada. It would mean that a payroll of $20-$30 million would be lost to Canadians,” he said. “And the government has said it is not prepared to do anything to protect it,” he said, noting that assistant deputy minister of fisheries Pierre Asselin had told the union that the federal government was “not pre- pared to do anything that would provoke a dispute with the U.S. to defend our fishery. “That’s a tragic erosion of our sovereignty — and Canadians cannot abide it,”’ Nichol said. Noting the action of UFAWU members who blocked exports of raw fish to the U.S. during last summer’s salmon strike, Nichol declared that the union was prepared to take similar action to defend the fishery and their jobs. “And if they’re going to use injunctions, then they'll have to be prepared to fill the © jails,” he said to a roar of applause. “Tonight's rally is just a kickoff to a fight right across Canada,” he declared. Federal NDP fisheries critic Dave Stu- pich told the rally that the union’s campaign had the backing of the federal caucus. Telling union members that the “weight of the campaign will be on your backs,” he likened their fight to that of B.C. fruit grow- ers in the 1930s who were compelled to lie down in front of trains carrying fruit as part of their campaign to gain a raise of one cent a pound for apple growers. “The real problem of both coasts is the Tory agenda,” he said, adding that the free trade deal “has to be scrapped — it’s what’s destroying Canada.” Both B.C. Federation of Labour presi- 12 « Pacific Tribune, February 5, 1990 dent Ken Georgetti and B.C.’ New Democrat leader Mike Harcourt pledged their support to the union’s campaign. Georgetti emphasized that the B.C. Fed and affiliated unions had rallied to support - the UFAWU during last summer’s salmon strike. “And we'll stand with you in the herring dispute as we did in the salmon strike,” he said. Still to be discussed with the labour cen- tral is the UFAWU’s proposal that a hot edict be considered in the herring season if it can be made effective in preventing the export of raw fish. The campaign is also likely to give new impetus to the Alliance of Canadian Fisher- ies Unions, formed last summer among the UFAWU, the Prince Rupert Shoreworkers — and Clerks (who have now joined the Uni- — ted Food and Commercial Workers) and the Canadian Auto Workers, whose ranks — include the Newfoundland Fishermen’s Union. “We have a common cause,” Cashin told the rally. “And we’ve got to share that cause with our communities.” UFAWU declares ‘pledge of resistance’ Whereas it is the fundamental right of all Canadians to share in the ownership of the resources of the ocean. Whereas it is the sovereign right of Canada to manage our fisheries, at the cost of millions of dollars, without foreign interference to ensure the total value of the resource Is realized. Whereas it is the basic right of fish workers, fishermen and coastal communi- ties to a fair share of the wealth of the seas through their combined efforts on the boats and in the plants. This right is entrenched in the Law of the Sea Agreement which gives Nation States the right to the benefits of their resources. Whereas the federal government has allowed the erosion of these rights until the very existence of our industry, both ashore and afloat, is being threatened by free trade, GATT and Pearse style fisheries regulations. Whereas the loss of control over the fisheriés is resulting in an ever increasing flow of unprocessed fish from Canada, leaving in its wake plant closures, unem- ployed workers and community devasta- tion. Whereas if the union, in conjunction with our allies in the community and the rest of the labour movement, fails to stop the flow of unprocessed fish, the result will be the final destruction of not only the fishing industry, but the resource itself. Therefore be it resolved that the workers of this industry recommit our- selves to a plan of action to protect the resource, coast communities and our country. Our actions will include: 1. Should all our efforts fail to bring the governments to their senses and we enter the herring season without the basic pro- tection necessary, the UFAWU recon- firms its position that all necessary actions will be considered, including picket lines, civil disobedience, plant occupations and demonstrations, to stop the export of unprocessed herring. Canadians have to understand that once the fish are gone, so is our future. 2. A meeting take place between UFAWU officers and the leaders of the Federation of Labour to explore what assistance can be garnered from affiliates and how a hot edict on the export of unprocessed fish can be applied by this herring season. 3. The UFAWU elect a delegation to meet with ALL herring processors in Brit- ish Columbia to get a commitment that their company will support the processing of the resource in Canada and refuse to export unprocessed herring. 4. A continued political campaign to force the federal and provincial govern- ments to enact laws which protect our resources, our communities and our coun- try. However, after three years of lobbies, days of protest etc. it is clear this political campaign must now include the election of new governments which would reflect the needs and aspirations of working people and communities on both coasts. 5. A renewed commitment to opening stronger ties of solidarity with shore- workers and fishermen on the east coast where government fisheries and trade pol- icies have led to the destruction of the resource, plant closures, layoffs and eco- nomic hardship for thousands. 6. A lobby of all federal MPs, with spe- cial emphasis on the British Columbian Tory MPs, to ensure that they understand that more foot dragging on this issue will result in political consequences for them. 7. In conjunction with the UFAWU locals in Victoria, a major lobby and polit- ical campaign aimed at the Social Credit government shall be launched prior to the herring season. A clear message must be given that the provincial government has to begin to openly criticize the failure of the federal government to act. 8. Continued efforts must be made to bring the community and other labour unions on side for this fight. All resources, not just fish, are at stake. This means redoubling our efforts to bring in outside individuals and groups into the battle. The union must make a renewed commitment to bring on side local unions, local governments, Indian organizations and community groups who have an interest in the fight for jobs and sovereignty. 9. A public campaign, including adver- tising, rallies such as this one, media events and educational work, shall be under- taken to ensure all British columbians and Canadians understand this industry is only the first to face the full brunt of the Tory agenda for Canada and the free trade agreement.