For just Mideast peace “The charge that the PLO is a terrorist organization is a smokescreen behind which the Israeli Government aims for the annihilation of the PLO rather than negotiate with it.” This statement was made on Decem- ber 18 by the Central Executive Committee of the Communist Party of Canada in response to Israel’s continuing refusal to recognize and negotiate with the Palestine Liberation Organiza- tion. This refusal, in the light of the United Nations’ recent re- cognition of the PLO as the legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, further points out Israel’s unwillingness to seck a just settlement of the Middle East crisis. The full text of the statement issued by the Communist Party is as follows: The situation in the Middle East has ‘become increasingly dangerous and could erupt again into another war with disastrous’ consequences for the people of ‘that region and the cause of peace and security in the world. This dangerous situation ari- ses from the refusal of the Israeli Government to recognize the PLO which has been recog- nized by the United Nations as the legitimate national expres- “Hunger stalks Detroit as lay- offs spread,” says the headline in the U.S. Daily World, Decem- ber 12. The mayor of Detroit has estimated that 105,000 persons in this auto-producing metropo- lis are now hungry and malnour- ished. What do the hungry do? “My friend William Allan, from whose column these facts qre culled, supplies the following answer: “Some of them sit in restau- rants around town, watching for a chance to sweep into their pockets, scraps of food left by others.” * ba * The International Labor Office claims there are 14 million un- employed in capitalist Europe. This figure is equal to the total population of Czechoslovakia, where, as in the other socialist countries, unemployment is un- known. Some statisticians have calcul- ated unemployed in the USA at ~ 15 million. When dependents are counted it means at least triple this amount of people dir- ectly touched by unemployment in the mightiest of the capitalist countries, not to mention the wealthiest. Capitalist governments assert that a drop in cosumption with wage stability would help to protect jobs. But the UN Com- mission for Europe has come to the opposite conclusion: “The drop in purchasing power. is at the root of the economic reces- sion threatening the industrial- ized countries.” (Read the ad- vanced capitalist countries — BM) * * * The current wave of unem- ployment; which in various ways and to a greater or lesser degree affects all sectors of workers, whether manual workers, ser- vice personnel, technicians, ma- e. ing class. sion of the Palestinian Arab peo- ple, and is in effect, refusal to recognize the national rights of the Arab people of Palestine. - The charge that the PLO is a terrorist organization is a smokescreen behind which the Israeli Government aims for the annihilation of the PLO rather than negotiate with it. The Is- raeli Government has not given up its annexation aims. This is the source of the crisis. Critically Dangerous Experience has already de- monstrated that such a course leads not to peace but to war. The situation will remain cri- tically dangerous [until a just political settlement is achieved. A just political settlement must include: 1. Israeli troop withdrawal from all occupied Arab territo- ries seized in 1967; 2. Recognition of the right of self determination including the establishment of a homeland and Statehood for the Arab people of Palestine in territory presently occupied by Israeli troops; 3. Recognition of the right to. existence of all states and peo- ples in the Middle East, includ- ing the State of Israel, as a sovereign and independent State. ‘More layoffs at GM ST. CATHARINES, Ont. — Jim Connell, president of Lo- cal 199, United Auto Work- ers (UAW), said last week 600 General Motors of Can- ada Ltd. employees will be laid off their jobs indefinitely starting Jan. 10. Connell said the union in St. Catharines ‘thad been told earlier that 200 persons would another 400 to it now.” He said this was probably just: the beginning here of layoffs that have been taking place at plants in both Cana- da and the United States. 4. The Geneva Peace Confer- ence in the Middle East must be convened as soon as possible and include representatives of the Arab people of Palestine on an equal footing will all other participants. - Rather than sitting on its hands and continuing to give tacit support to the annexation- ist aims of the Israeli Goyern- ment, the Canadian Government must be compelled by peace lov- ing Canadians to speak up for a just political settlement of the Middle East crisis on the basis of the well known UN resolu- tions on the subject. WN: ES #24 The challenge in 1975 BY BRUCE MAGNUSON nagerial staffs or farmers; is the result of a system in the grip of a profound. crisis, a system which tries to use unemploy- ment, inflation or reduced con- sumption in ‘order to get out of the rut which it has got itself into. Seeking.to adapt-to-the deep= ening crisis in the capitalist eco- nemy, the monopolies are using cutbacks and layoffs to over- come relative over-production, reduce inventories and gear their production more closely to what the market. can absorb, while maintaining high prices and profits. The result of this policy is to further reduce the purchasing power of the working people, placing the main burden of the crisis on the backs of the work- Simultaneously all smaller independent businesses are being hit hard or pushed out altogether by the monopolies. The policies of the monopolies even. include reduced working hours minus wage compensa- tion, premature retirement, and obstacles to hiring more person- nel while pruning present staffs. % * What makes the present crisis particularly significant, is that the customary cyclical crisis in the capitalist economy takes place within a profound and deepening general crisis. Sec- ondly, for the first time since 1929 there is a synchronization of crisis conditions in all ad- vanced capitalist countries. Thirdly, the crisis is not only economic but moral, social and political. As the statement of the Cent- ral Executive Committee of the Communist Party of Canada points out elsewhere in this is- sue, the U.S. recession has al- ready spilled over into Canada and there is no evidence to sup- port any contention that the crisis will be a short one. Work- PACIFIC TRIBUNE—FRIDAY, JANUARY 3, 1975—Page 6 ers should not harbor any illu- sions on that score. What matters now is the fight- back, which must go beyond the purely economic struggle for concessions to alleviate the immediate situation, to include meaningful political action to come to grips with more funda- mental questions bearing upon the causes of the present situa- tion. The responsibility for the crisis rests upon the employers and the government. It is they who must be made to pay for it. The demand must be raised for work or wages, with full compensation for laid-off work- ers. The working people are not responsible for the crisis, which has been brought about by monopoly control of the mark-. kets, price fixing and profiteer- ing. Edward Broadbent, parliamen- tary leader of the New Demo- cratic Party was not on sound ground when he suggested that the government could win sup- pert for wage restraint if it pledged to tax the rich more heavily as the Labour Govern- ment in Britain has done. Harold Wilson’s so-called “Social Con- tract” is opposed by British workers and has only qualified support by the British Trade Union Congress. It has nothing to offer Canadian workers. There must be no concessions to monopolies and to the govern- ment that will place any part of the cost of the present crisis on che backs of the workers. Only the big capitalist monopolies and their governments, and they alone, are responsible for the crisis. In other words, they must carry the responsibility for it. The struggle for jobs, for full employment as a right for all at full remuneration, strikes at the unpatriotic and anti-national policies pursued ‘by the govern- ments, both federal and provin- cial, to the benefit of the mono- polies. be laid off, but they’ve added WILDCATS TIE UP POST OFFICES TORONTO — About 100,000 Christmas parcels ready for deli- very in Metropolitan Toronto . were left in storage last week after about 20 post office em- ployees set up picket lines at five locations in the city. | The workers, most of’ them vehicle mechanics, are members of the general labor and trades séction of the Public Service Al- liance of Canada. The union is negotiating in Ottawa for a new contract. The previous agreement expired Nov. 24. WEEKLY EARNINGS UP 13.8% OVER LAST YEAR OTTAWA — Average weekly earnings of more than four mil- lion workers rose by 13.8% dur- ing the 12 months to October, Statistics Canada reported last week. During the same period the consumer price: index went up by 11.6%. Since about mid- year wage gains have been run- ning ahead of increases.in the price index while in several prior months price inflation was greater. The October average, which was adjustedto account. for seasonal factors, was $186.68, compared with $183.39 the pre- vious month. UNIONIST ASKS ‘DON'T SHOP AT DOMINION’ TORONTO — George Watson, Canadian director of the Textile Workers of America, wants the unicn’s 18,000 Canadian mem- bers to stop shopping at Domi- nion food stores until the com- pany agrees to take “non-United Farm Workers” grapes and let- tuce off its shelves. In a telegram to Dominion president P. G. Bolton, Mr. Wat- son said union officials were “outraged” at the arrest Dec. 18 of two members of the clergy after they and 15 other people refused to leave the headquart- ers of Dominion Stores Ltd. on Rogers Road. The clergymen, Rev. Floyd Hcney, executive secretary of the Canadian Council of Churches and Rev. Van Mather, pastor of Our Lady of Lourdes Reman Catholic Church on Sherkourne Street, were spokes- man for the group, protesting against Dominion’s refusal to stop carrying California grapes and lettuce. UNIONS PLEDGE SUPPORT TO CSAO TORONTO — A strike by the province’s 20,000 operational employees supported by most of Ontario’s powerful unions would “cripple” Ontario, a spokesmé for the Civil Service Associatit of Ontario (CSAO) said. ; “We'll retain optimism for #| settlement until the very lash hour,” said Jake Norman, CSA general manager. “But right not | it doesn’t look good.” 4 The CSAO has threatened pull employees, including sn plow drivers and water t ment plant technicians, off t jobs beginning Jan. 1. Arthur Riseley, Ontario re nal director for the Canadii Union of Public Employees a Lou Murphy, president of Toronto local of the Canad Union of Postal Work (CUPW), were two of z0 unid leaders to face reporters wl Mr. Norman at a CSAO preé conference. 4 Mr. Risley said he will dire! CUPE locals throughout On ari 7s Df I A WW! . to advise members to resist al orders from superiors to 4 work usually carried out DP | provincial government empl} E ees. The directive would affe) ¢& municipal roads crews who a asked to plow highways or roa under provincial jurisdiction. 4 FEDERAL EMPLOYEES ~ WIN 11.5% INCREASE OTTAWA — Drafting and } lustration employees working [0 the Federal Government hav won an arbitration award givin them up to 11.5% pay increasé in the first year and 10.5% 3 the second year of a two-yeé contract. About one-third of th’ 2,000 members of the bargainimé unit will receive additional i creases as a new pay incremelt has been added to the old salar} range. Annual salaries for abou! half the members of the group are between $10,288 and $11,834 FORD (CANADA) —_— PLANS PRODUCTION _ CUTS | OAKVILLE, Ont. — Ford Mé tor Co. of Detroit is cutting 7 production more than 28% the first three months of {978 throwing 48,000 workers at | J assembly plants off the job ° part of the period, includin 6,300 at plants in Oakville am St. Thomas. A spokesman for Ford Maid Co. of Canada Ltd. said bol Canadian plants will be ciose beginning Jan. 6 for two week reopening again for the week 9 Jan. 20 and closing again for week beginning Jan: 27. : A total of 3,800 workers i be affected at the Oakville pla! and 2,500 at the St. Thom plant. The truck assembly pl at Oakville will continue in " duction. : United Automobile: Workers on strike against the Boeing Vert ‘helicopter plant near Philadelphia are using motor boats to pick on the Delaware River. The UAW has been picketing on the river ' prevent the company from supplying the plant from river barges: