a

CLC delegates criticize manifesto!
DEMAND GENERAL STRIKE — RANK AND FILE POWER!

When the ith Constitutional
Convention of the Canadian
Labor Congress convened in
Quebec City on May 17, the 2,300
delegates assembled were called
upon to debate and act upon a
rather philosophical policy state-
ment called Labor’s Manifesto
For Canada.

The 13-page manifesto refers to
a two-fold challenge — ‘‘to defeat
wage controls and to mobilize our
strength behind the task of creat-

-ing a more equitable and just soci-
ety in the wake of that defeat.”’ It
sees the next few years as
“‘tumultuous and difficult times’’,
but also filled with ‘‘tremendous
potential for the trade union
movement to mould and trans-
form the economic and political
institutions of Canada,’ and,
providing, “we have the vision to
seize upon the times we can be a
leading force for social good.”’

The manifesto acknowledges:
“‘The tide of opposition to wage
controls is mounting with rallies,
marches and demonstrations
from one side of the country to the
other... The response of the
Congress to the government’s at-
tack on the incomes and rights of
working people has been consis-
tent and unequivocal but it re-
mains defensive.”’_,

It goes on to state: ‘*The time
has come to move to the front —
to escalate our opposition to wage
controls and to formulate a labor
program for the political,
economic and social future of this
country... The national debate
about controls has been expanded
to a debate about post-control
society or ‘decontrols’.”’

_ Again: ‘‘The introduction of
controls necessitates the de-
velopment of ‘decontrols’ and by
this the government means more
direct powers of economic man-
agement for itself. .. If we do not
have the power to resist wage
controls then we will ultimately
be co-opted into serving the
government’s intentions. In this
case we would have liberal

LABOR
SCENE

By BRUCE MAGNUSON

corporatism... In this develop-
ment tri-partism would mean that
the institutions of organized
labour would function to ensure
the acquiesance of workers to de-

‘cisions taken by new institutions

in which their representatives
have no real power. .. However,
if we do have the power to resist
wage controls, then we also have
the power to create social cor-
poratism.”’ (This term was later
amended in discussion to read so-
cial democracy — BM)

Later in a section dealing with
Tri-partism and National Plan-
ning, it is stated: Labor must
make it clear that it will never en-
ter into any tri-partite arrange-
ment at less than full partnership
status. Full partnership means
that national planning must in-
clude more than an incomes policy
in which only wages and salaries
are restrained,’’ (emphasis added)
““Labor must not willingly enter
into any arrangement where only
half the income equation i.e.
wages is to be determined... To
enter into a tri-partite agreement
under such circumstances would
indeed be using the union organi-
zation as an arm of both business
and government to restrain the
workers.

_ ‘Nevertheless, this is not to
say that tri-partism or the equal
sharing of all powers between
labor, business and government

Should not be an objective of

labor since the wresting of power
away from business and its gov-
ernment in the interest of labor is
our legitimate goal. This is the
price industry and business must

pay.”

‘TLhe-+ CLG=; Jeaders® * see
Trudeau’s proposed patriation of
the BNA Actas an integral part of

. the ‘decontrols’ directed at a cen-

tralization of powers in Ottawa.
‘‘National planning on social and
economic issues demand strong
central powers. The question for
the CLC is whether it wishes to be
in the forefront in planning the
structure of the future in the way
in which it believes will best serve
the workers’ interests or not. The
game is dangerous but the stakes
are high. It is really not a question
of ‘cooperating’ with the govern-
ment but one of strength and bar-
gaining ability — of which the
labor movement has both.”’

The last section of the man-

‘ifesto deals with Labor’s program

for the- Future, including the
CLC’s 10-point social and
economic program.

The Manifesto recieved an al-
most unanimous vote of the Con-
vention, but not without much
critical discussion which pointed
to the failure of the document to
come to grips with monopoly
power and the need for public
ownership of the means of pro-
duction as the real and only possi-
ble way of securing meaningful
economic and social planning.
Also the need for a new political
realignment on a broad _anti-
monopoly basis and involving all
anti-monopoly forces.

In a second policy statement
entitled Program of Action the
Executive Council asked for an
receivéd ‘‘a mandate to organize
and conduct a general work stop-
page or stoppages, if and when

_ necessary.”

But a proposal by the Execu-
tive Council and its Commission
on Constitution and Structure to
amend the Congress Constitution
to limit the participation of rank-
and-file delegates at future Con-
ventions was decisively and most
significantly defeated by a vote of

three to one.

(More to follow later

_ Whatis peaceful co-existence?

Leukemia in rubber :
workers investigated

NEW YORK (LNS) — “This
is just one more example of gov-
2mment'concern after the bodies
are lying on the floor,’’ said one
chemical union leader, respond-
ing to the recent United States
government investigation of
leukemia deaths among synthetic
rubber workers. Recent statistics
indicate that cases of leukemia
run three times higher among
rubber workers than among the
general population. |

At Firestone Tire and Rubber
Company, six recent leukemia
deaths have been reported. A
number of cases of leukemia have
been reported recently among 800

workers at a B.F. Goodrich plant —

in Texas and a Texas U.S. Chem-
icals plant. Both plants produce
styrene-butadiene, a product
used in the manufacture of tires.

Four former workers at the
Goodrich ‘plant have died of

_ blood cancer since 1971 anda fifth

is now undergoing treatment. At
least two cases have been re-
ported at the Texas U.S. Chemi-
cals plant.

Now under investigation are
the leukemia deaths over a 10-
year period of six workers in a
Goodyear Tire and Rubber Com-
pany plant in Akron, Ohio. The
deaths aré believed to be linked to
chemicals used in making plastic
food wrapping.

Goodyear officials have admit-
ted that the six deaths were
‘‘work related’? and said they
‘‘may have resulted from expo-
sure to benzene.’’ This pet-
rochemical, used in making paint

thinner and solvent, has been:

linked to blood cancers such as
leukemia. Goodyear spokesman
William deMeza claims that the
men died of aplastic anemia, al-
though the Akron Beacon Journal
reported that leukemia was listed
as the cause of death in the work-
ers’ medical records. In addition,
the Akron newspaper reported
that seven Goodyear workers had

By ALFRED DEWHURST

‘workers in the U.S. could be if}

died of leukemia, while the com}
pany reported only six deaths. |
It is unknown just how mail
rubber workers are adversely 7
fected by exposure to the over 10)
chemicals they handle. Busines
Week estimates that over 10,C0)

volved, and thousands more mi
have been in the past..

Angolans, Sovie a
olding talks |
on Africa events |

MOSCOW — Soviet-Angolall
talks opened here May 24. Takin)
part in the talks are Premier Lop?)
~do Nascimento of the People®
Republic of Angola, Premié
Alexei Kosygin of the Soviet Ut
ion, Soviet Foreign Minister At}
drei Gromyko and Defenct
Minister Dmitri Ustinov. a

These talks follow discussion
in Moscow between Soviet gov)
ernment officials and a delegatiol
from Mozambique headed ¥))
President Samora Machel. ‘

In ajoint communique issued 4}
the end of five days of talks,
Soviet Union and Mozambiq
said the present situation in Afn@)
is characterized by ‘‘the mounting
struggle of the peoples for n@)
tional liberation and social liber#)
tion, for peace, democracy ail®
progress.

‘‘Unity of action by the peopl
of Africa, Asia and Latin Ameft)
can with the socialist countnie) —
and other progressive forces
the world is asymbol of success!" ~
their anti-imperialist, anti
colonial struggle.” :

The two countries said
stand for ‘‘further improveme!
of the international climate, fo!
preservation and deepening of if)
ternational détente, for assertiO!)
of the principles of peaceful :
co-existence. —¢

es}
a4

\

A reader writes: ‘‘Would you please
explain what is meant by peaceful
co-existence, and who it benefits?”

Peaceful co-existence refers to rela-
‘tions between states with different
economic and social systems, namely,

_ socialist and capitalist. Once accepted
as the normal relations between these
two opposing systems peaceful co-

existence will bring untold benefits to
all humanity.

* * *

__- The struggle of the peoples to end the
arms race brings to the fore the prime
‘question of our times. That is, what
should the policies of international re-

lations between states with different —

- social and economic systems be
based on?

_ The socialist and capitalist states are
co-existing until the transition from
capitalism to socialism on a world scale

is completed. This historic transition is
the main feature of our times. It is a
process which, historically speaking,.is
irreversible, despite the violent and,
sometimes frantic, efforts of the
capitalist monopolists to impede or stop
it.

The transition from capitalism to
socialism projects the class struggle be-

tween the workers and capitalists onto

the international political arena.
PACIFIC TRIBUNE—JUNE 4, 1976—Page 8 .

Marxism-Leninism in Today’s World

The struggle between capitalism and ~

socialism on a world scale cannot be
wished away, no more than the class
struggle in individual countries of the
capitalist world can be wished away.
Both represent an objective process
that is rooted in irreconcilable class an-
tagonisms arising out of the exploita-
tion of man by man and nation by nation
under the capitalist system.

* * *

Co-existence of these two antagonis-
tic systems is a fact of life. The main
question facing humanity is whether the
co-existence should be peaceful in
terms of state relations during the
period of time the peoples are collec-
tively deciding which system they
desire for their country? Or, should
these relations be only of non-
belligerency; i.e., of a cold war nature?

The major imperialist powers have
opted for the latter. That is, a co-
existence that rests upon imperialist
polices of ‘roll-back’’, ‘‘containment”’,
and “‘restoration”’. This is the source of
the arms race — of the deterrent
“theory’’.

Non-belligerency is, at the best of
times, only steps away from active

belligerency, in other words war. This
is not only a highly dangerous policy, it
is at the same time a bankrupt policy
based as it is on maintaining a social and
economic system that has already out-
lived its time. :

; * * OO

The socialist countries, on the other
hand, base their foreign policy on the
principles of peaceful co-existence.
These principles are: sovereignty,
equality, territorial inviolability ofevery
state, big or small; non interference in
the internal affairs of other countries;
respect for the rights of every people
freely to decide their social, economic

and political system; the settlement of _

outstanding international issues by
political means through negotiations.

The aims of the socialist states, true
to the theory and practice of
Marxism-Leninism, is to achieve
fraternity and friendship of the people
of all countries, and a world without
war — without arms. This is so because
socialism and aggression are wholly in-
compatible concepts. These are the

aims of all Communists, all Marxist-.

Leninists.
The people in power in the socialist

- co-existence.

_ the people of all countries.

countries are workers and farmel>:

wars. The workers and farmers of
socialist countries want their system
triumph as soon as possible in order
achieve as quickly as possible
maximum fulfillment of their econo
social and cultural requirements.

is why they work hard in defence

peace.

Ps Bh oS a eg eG

pe ee Te Stet

* Kk OK

Of late the cold war has been gi
way to a policy of easing internatio!
tension and cooperation between sta
with different social systems.
favorable development is thanks to
peace policy of the socialist coun
and the struggles of the people of 4
countries to compel the imperial!
powers to accept détente and peace!

What is needed now is to com
ment political détente with détente !
the military sphere, to end the’ art
race, to begin reducing arms stockp
and start the process of disarmame!

This is an immediate program !
peace that serves the best interests °

To sign the Stockholm Appeal to En!
the Arms Race will serve to adva
the cause of a world without arms. —