The above scene was repeated all over B.C. last Friday as teachers staged the first province-wide teachers strike in the province's history to protest the government's pension policy. Photo above shows a Prince Rupert teacher on picket duty. Teachers general strike wins sweeping support Last week B.C. teachers made no bones as to where they stand regarding the latest and most flagrant attacks -by the Social Credit government on their rights. Nearly 100 percent of the 22,000 teachers took action through a one-day strike, the first strike by the profession in the province. Their action served notice on Education Minister Brothers and his government cohorts that they would not accept the picayune pensions now allotted to retired teachers. In a widely distributed leaflet, teachers outlined their dissatis- faction with the pension increases which affect some 2,250 retired members of the profession. On the same day hundreds of teachers who fall into the category journeyed to Victoria to put further emphasis on the protest. Teachers who have paid into the pension fund for many years see it as particularly unfaif they must live on amounts as small as $250 when there is $177 million in the fund, with a mere $6 million a year being paid out. The fund grew last year by some $12 million, with the result that annual interest alne amounts to more than $10 million. To add to their dissatisfaction, the Social Credit government has taken away the effective- ness of their organization, the B.C. Teachers Federation, by removing the automatic membership provisions, and has started moves to revise the regu- lations governing teacher tenure. The newsletter put out by the Federation points out that the BCTF has never been a ‘‘closed shop’’, but in a union shop in that once a person who finds a job in the profession, he or she ‘s required to join the professional association — in this case the BCTF— as a condition of empley- ment. (Lawyers, dentists and doctors presumably have the same type of professional organization. ) The teachers point out they have tried for 18 months to negotiate the pension situation with the government, but have always been refused. They say Provincial Secretary Black waited until second reading of the legislation to comment on their proposals. ace The B.C. Federation of Labor has called for full public support for the campaign of the teachers. “The difficulties faced by the Teachers Federation in trying to obtain decent pensions for retired members are very Similar to those often experienced by our affiliated unions”’ the B.C. Fed stated. “Frequently, attempts to win pension improvements require strike action. The members... . of the Federation should be commended for their willing- ness to translate concern for their retired colleagues into positive action. = . Recognizing this genuine concern on the part of teachers for the urgent needs of those who have retired, all sections of the public should give full support to this campaign. We are confident that trade union- ists and their families will make a particular effort to show support for the teachers. . . in the weeks ahead. Our Federa- tion stands ready to lend any possible assistance to this important struggle.”’ On Monday in the Legislature Social Credit members voted 31 to the opposition’s 16 votes for the dropping of compulsory Poster in a 1917 labor newspaper PACIFIC TRIBUNE—FRIDAY, MARCH 26, 1971—PAGE 12 BCTF membership and a number of other changes covering education. The vote followed a stormy session of the House, during which NDP and Liberals attacked the govern- ment for arrogance and with bringing in ‘‘legislation trying to break the BCTF.”’ * OK *K On Monday of this week the Committee on Indian Problems of the United Fishermen and Allied Workers Union went to Victoria to lay before the government the situation of fishermen and shoreworkers laid off as a result of fleet cutbacks and cannery closures. On their return a spokesman for the committee said they had learned where the provincial government stands — they say it is ‘‘not their responsibility’. Committee chairman Wm. Alexander told the press ‘‘The committee was in Victoria to campaign for jobs to alleviate the distress caused hundreds of fishworkers and fishermen by company rationalization of B.C.’s fishing industry. M.L.A. William Murray, (Prince Rupert Socred) whose area has been. hardest hit says ‘it is basically a Federal matter’”’. Murray said also the govern- ment was not prepared to put any pressure on Weston and New England fishing company interests from cutting back their fleet or closing down canneries. The Minister of Conservation and Recreation, Ken Kiernan, is not prepared to do anything to alleviate the hardships of the native fishermen either. When asked to fund a crash program of jobs for those displaced from the fishing industry, he indicated he was not going to allocate any of the $15 million earmarked for parks, towards such a project. Fishermen's representative Hamilton said “‘it is obvious that fishermen and wage- workers in the industry are ‘persona non grata’’’. $15 million for parks, $100 million for roads. a billion dollar budget and a picayune $66 thousand for com- mercial fisheries.”’ Labor at crossroad needs united actiol Cont'd from pg. 1 In face of this kind of situation, labor must adopt the old me which has stood it in good stead throughout its history: ‘one v4 and all for one.” The old parable that the enemy can break one* at a time, but he can’t break a bundle of sticks, should be upmos the minds of all trade unionists today. ert Those active in labor affairs know that there are many ine problems of jurisdiction and inner-political struggles. But the t® to whether labor has matured will be determined by whether ® trade union movément can rise above these divisive issues ‘of confronted by a common danger— and find the way to united acl! Labor in B.C. has shown before that when it takes united i action it has great power and can turn the tide in its favor. On® needs to recall the massive campaign launched to save host insurance nearly 20 years ago, which resulted in collectine , 200,000 names on a petition in a matter of days. This action led Oe defeat of the Coalition government with its overwhelming ma" in the House. UNITY A MUST The labor and democratic movement in B.C. must nde itself to be hypnotized by the Bennett government’s threal labor doesn’t behave there will be a provincial election. allt pal! naan ..This form of intimidation is aimed at dividing and siler labor. To allow itself to be driven into inactivity at this time, by? threats, is to court disaster for the trade unions and democt ii B.C. What could be worse than what the Bennett government }§ NOW with its overwhelming majority in the House? eh ll There is no alternative but for labor to unite, and with democratic forces, ‘‘resist this dictatorial attack on our dem? rights,’ as the press release of the BCFL put it on March 10. | Wy The special convention has the responsibility of reassessil tactics worked out at the last convention to defend labor from under Bill 33. i! The present situation obviously calls for an offensive sy rather than a defensive one which will enable labor to cou? the tactics of the government and employers — which is to PIG time and spot to attack. ee nimaianae 7 nf The March 10 press release of the BCFL said the F ederati “not going to sit by and see the trade union movement eman in this province.”’ The special one-day parley Friday will ce i task of putting teeth in that declaration, and of showing reae py! B.C. that the trade union movement speaks as one when fac j common threat to its survival. “ht ~ Along with working out more effective tactics in the fi counter Bill 33 and government and employer attacks, labor mati mount a strong public campaign for repeal of anti-labor legis and for adoption of a Charter of Labor Rights. LM 9 UU t Ys oe Yh iy ~ Yyy, fe SI jig “ L’ SN ” lll Maul! p ee Y igh 6 J Ya” SS SS Y, Yai y Wf’, L/. “ATTENTION: SAIGON TROOPS! YOU ARE NOT RETREATING FROM YOU'RE MAKING A--(éR)--stra-teGic re-de-ploy Y