SHANE PARKHILL / 50 CENTS

This is the cover of a newly-published pam
in Toronto-Eglinton in the last federal
published by the Young Worker Publishing Compan
the PT office after Oct. 10.

election.

phlet by Shane Parkhill who ran as a Communist candidate
“Powderkeg Politics — 25 Years of NATO” is
y. Copies, which sell for 50c, can be ordered from

LABOR COMMENT

By JACK PHILLIPS

This weeks’s convention of the
Provincial Council of Carpenters in
Prince George will be followed
immediately by the convention of
the British Columbia Building
Trades. Council, also in Prince
George.

Construction unions, by their
militant opposition to compulsory
arbitration, played a significant
role in building up the pressures
that led to the defeat of the Socreds
in the last provincial election. They
were not alone in this connection.
The B.C. Federation of Labor,
many of its affiliates and the
Teachers’ Federation also con-
tributed to the build-up of the anti-
Socred sentiment among working
people.

Now that the New Democratic
Party has formed the government
for two years, many union
members are assessing that
government. There is no doubt that
construction unions are still
resentful of the fact that
organizational picketing is_ still
unlawful, as it was under the
Socreds — and that employers can
still resort to court injunctions in
such cases.

Also, there is a fear that con-
struction unions may be forced into
a council of unions for the purpose
of collective bargaining
irrespective of their wishes.

In the area of social policy, there
are building trades workers who do
not believe the government has
done enough to promote public
housing on a large scale. There is
also criticism of the government
over its failure to move on such
election promises as nationalizing
B.C. Telephone and removing the
education tax from homes and
family farms.

On the other hand, others are
alarmed by the concerted attacks
on the NDP government by big
business and the big business

TENANTS

Cont'd from pg. 1

The B.C. Federation of Labor
also issued a statement on the
meeting calling for the con-
tinuation of the 8% ceiling until a
full study is completed and em-
phasized that the only long term
solution to the housing crisis “‘is a
massive program of publicly-
owned housing.”

press. They take the position that

labor should not criticize the NDP

because such criticism could be
magnified out of proportion and
contribute to the return of the

Socreds.

There can be no moratorium on
criticism by. the labor movement,
but criticism should be con-
structive and based on the vital
needs of the people. To abstain
from responsible criticism would
be a disservice to the working
class.

. Many local unions in the building

trades have taken a positive stand

in favor of Canadian autonomy for
their unions in Canada. This has

Sparked a reaction from some

international representatives and

from some of the more con-
servative members.

For example, in the May, 1974
issue of the Guage, published by
Local 882 of the International
Union of Operating Engineers,
there is a report on the Canadian
Labor Congress convention by G.
Anderson, a_ local executive
member. The following quotes are
informative:

“The 1974 Canadian Labor
Congress convention has ad-
journed and with it [there is] the
very great possibility that the
International Union of Operating
Engineers, along with most other
international unions, may with-
draw from membership.”’

The reason given for that threat
of withdrawal is the fact that the
CLC established standards for
international unions operating in
Canada which would require:

e Election of Canadian officers by
Canadians.

@ Policies to deal with Canadian
national affairs to be determined
by the elected Canadian officers
or members.

e Authority for elected Canadian
representatives to speak for the
union in Canada.

e Separate affiliation of Canadian
sections of unions affiliated with
international trade secretariats
to insure a Canadian presence
and voice at the international
industry level.

e Action by the union to ensure
that Canadian members will not
be prevented by constitutional
requirements from participating
in the social, cultural, economic
and political life of Canada.
Anderson is greatly incensed

PACIFIC TRIBUNE—FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1974—Page 12

over the enforcement powers given
to the Executive Council of the
CLC, including the right to suspend
and to take necessary steps to
maintain the membership in the
Congress.

Says this writer: ‘As far as
Local 882 of the International
Union of Operating Engineers is
concerned, we welcome the op-
portunity to leave the Canadian
Labor Congress because we have
gained nothing from affiliation
except frustration. He further
“warns”? that the CLC will
“collapse” because of this move
and that another body will be
formed, comprised of the ‘Trades
and Craft Unions.’

It may seem unfair to pick out
what one delegate wrote and to
suggest that he speaks for his local.
However, he is an executive
member of that local and the paper
leaves the impression that the
report is an official policy
statement. It should also be
remembered that this viewpoint is
quite widespread in some con-
Struction locals, particularly. in
higher circles, but not exclusively
So.

The. Building Trades convention
can do a great service to the labor
movement in Canada by reaf-
firming its position in favor of a
wider degree of autonomy for
construction unions and rebuffing
any attempts to promote secession
from the CLC.

RESULTS THIS WEEK

Continued from Pg. 1

McLean, president of Local 480 in
Trail, last Friday, he charged that
“the company is responsible for
the fact there are no meetings and
that the strike is continuing. It is
absolute nonsense and tampering
with the truth to suggest anything
else.”

McLean said that when the
negotiations broke off on Wed-
nesday, September 18, the com-
pany had already made up its mind
to break off negotiations and that
publicity was already in the hands
of the media ‘even before the
union presented our counter

_ proposals.”

The PT has learned that the
Cominco representative in the
bargaining sessions chose to insert
two new issues into the dispute
without offering much on _ the
major issue of early retirement.

One issue the company wanted
written into a new agreement was
that the expiry date be changed
from July 1 to the date of signing of
the new agreement. This would
have put the union in an un-
favorable position in the next
round of negotiations which, if a
strike became necessary, would be
carried out during the winter
months.

The second issue the company
threw in was that workers at the
Kimberley concentrator go on
continuous operation instead of the
present 5-2 schedule. This was
totally unacceptable to the union.

It is understood that the union
was prepared to agree to a two
year ageeement from July 1, but
that bargaining on wages would
take place after one year, with
workers having the right to strike.
This was considered necessary as
a protection against inflation and
rising prices.

Monty Alton, regional
representative of USWA, said that
the union made major com-

! diccs
‘Unable as we are ta pay your
increased unemployment
insurance premium...

youre fired.’

promises on all outstanding iss!
but that the company fail
respond. .
Meanwhile the company,
attempt to influence the
circulated extensive materia
employees and their families: iis
union’s bargaining committe®
appealed for an overwhelming
in- support of their propos
reject Cominco’s latest oe
In a letter circulated to ™
members by Al Read, secrelall
the Joint Bargaining Council,
that “100 per cent support ving
only road we can travel 10 A
about the earliest possible
tlement of the strike.”

vote;
toa

IWA PARLEY

Cont'd from pg. 1
in Vancouver, called for |
mortgage rates, subsidiZ
cost housing, land banking ‘
removal of the federal i: Wy
building materials. While the
receiving the support owt
delegates, it was referred baer is
the legislative committee sot
instructions to add another 5
calling for the removal ©
provincial sales tax. ;

Delegates. also unanip
endorsed a resolution urging ip
provincial government to mathe
the 8% rent stabilization. A™ a
aimed at the federal governt
called for the rejection of ¥ 4
controls, a rollback of price? “4
interest rates, rent contro opal!
prosecution of mones”
profiteers. tion df

Speaking on the ques’ pert
soaring interest rates,

Local delegate George Mg
charged that the ripoff yell
money lenders has been ©.
responsible for the housime
“It’s a disgrace,” he said,
nothing more inflationary a the
rising interest rates — an or ie
produce nothing but wealth
finance companies.”

Close to 100
resolutions are expecte enti
debated before the ¢OnV’ i
winds up Friday, inclu i
calling for the provincial 8
ment'to take over B.C. Tele of
and another urging the & Us
ment to place the forest 1”
under public ownership. ter?
the resolutions are 12 ener?!
however, reflecting the 8 itsel!
tenor of the convention, ]
marked by little debate 0” ©

licy questions. : aaa
Teac executive election iy
also slated at this year® test’
vention but no significant C7 apr
were expected among !
didates.

owerel

mous!)

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