The demand that labor ine asa

Labor demands share of wealth -

- By BEN SWANKEY

y in the introduction of automation continues to grow. The

views of the B.C. Federation of Labor on this vital issue were presented to the provincial gov-

erment on January 6.

Specifically the Federation
proposed:

* The establishment ofa select
committee on labor by the pro-
vincial government to make a
study of automation,

* That labor have the right to
strike during the life ofan agree-
ment if management introduces
labor saving machinery and tech-
niques that threaten the jobs of
workers,

* Eighteen months’ notice by
employers of any intention to in-
troduce major changes in tech-
nology. =

* That employers must obtain
government permission to re-
locate or close down an operation,

* Relocation subsidies to all
employees who move to the new
operation,

* That employees be kept on
payroll until alternate employ-
ment is found or until enrolment
in a government subsidised re-
training program,

* Special subsidies to employ-
ees over 40 years of age with 15
years’ service,

The Federation’s brief also
stressed the need for higher edu-
eation for all in this age of
automation.

It suggested that B.C. -follow

Mr. Lawson: ‘Goodwill’ doesn’t exist

By CHARLES CARON

Last week the Truck Loggers
Association met and expressed
great satisfaction at last year’s
operations, which resulted in
unheard-of profits in the indus-
try.
convention was, of course, to
continue with the good results
of last year and maintain this
trend in the face of this year’s
contract negotiations with the
IWA,

It is most interesting that the
association chose, as one of its

Speakers, Ed Lawson of the
Teamsters,
John Olding, labor reporter

for the Vancouver Sun, referred
to Lawson as a virtual outcast
from the house of labor.” It is
true that the Canadian Labor
Congress’ policy of expelling
unions is an attempt to make
outcasts of these unions, which
weakens their bargaining posi-
tion with the employers,

Such a policy must be correct-
ed, A good time to tackle the
problem would be at the CLC
convention, scheduled to tak
place in April, :

Regardless of the discrimina-
tory position Lawson finds him-
self in at this time, it does noi
_ justify departure from working
-¢@lass policies, In other words,
_ because you are not united with
labor does not mean that you
_ unite with the boss,

The main concern of the -

the example of Newfoundland and
provide free university educa-
tic.. and vocational training, New-

foundland, it noted, will be paying :

Salaries to full-time university
students this fall,

Strong opposition was regis-
tered against the importation of
skilled labor from Europe,

Shortage of skilled workers
can be overcome, said the Fed-
eration, by upgrading technical
and vocational training right here
at home with the training of dis-
placed workers and youth without
jobs.

Adequate living allowances for
students and their families was
asked,

The brief also called for a joint

federal-provincial agency to co-
ordinate all manpower programs
in Canada,

Employers were criticized by
the Federation for their “ada-
mant refusal to consider any
viable solution” and for their re-
liance on “management. rights
as an excuse to evade and avoid
their responsibilities to employ-
ees threatened by job loss asa

‘result of automation,”

At the same time the Federa-
tion endorsed proposals on auto-
mation made by Mr, Justice
Samuel Freedman in his report

The content of Lawson’s
speech at the Truck Loggers
convention explains why the as-
sociation chose him as one of
the speakers to address the get-
together,

In his speech he accused “both
sides” of approaching negotia-
tions in the “haggling spirit of the
gypsy bazaar merchant.” Con-
sequently, according to Lawson,
“the majority of strikes—even
those in which the Teamsters
participate—are a public declara-
tion of irresponsibility and im-
maturity on the part of labor
and management,”

He went on to say that “labo
always goes to the bargaining
table asking too much; manage-
ment always offers too little,’
To him, this simple process of
bargaining is presented as the
kernel of the problem in labor-
management relations, and one

ON THEAIR —

“HESAYS JF You WANT To Go OVER
BIG, ANNOUNCE A Pay Rise!"

on CNR run-throughs, The judge
noted the unfairness of laws which
require labor to abide by a con-
tract once it is signed but permit
management to make any changes
it desires in working conditions.

“The present situation,’’ said
Mr, Justice Freedman, “which
permits management to make
unilateral changes in working
conditions during the contract
period is a manifest inequality
which clamors for attention and
correction.”

He suggested that management

“Men!

What we lack in man-
power we must make up in horse-

power. From now on

you work like
horses.” ;

that can be resolved through
“good will,”

What he suggests is that if
labor was reasonable in its de-
mands, did not haggle, was arm-
ed with facts to support its de-

“mands, the conflict between labor

and management would evaporate
and we would have one big, happy
family.

There is an old, familiar ring
to this idea, But labor has done.
the very opposite that Lawson’
charges it with doing, Labor has
been too moderate in its de-
mands. Government statistics on

Communist Party meet

*The struggle to end the war

- in Vietnam and force U.S, with-

drawal is the most urgent task
that confronts all of progressive
mankind,” William Kashtan, na-
tional leader of the Communist
Party, told a five-day plenary
session of the party’s national

- committee in Toronto last week,

Top priority inthe committee’s
deliberations was given to the
fight for peace, This found its
reflection in the opening report
presented by Kashtan, in the
report of the party’s delegation
just returned from Vietnam, and
in the speeches of most of the
members,

“A third world war is not in-
evitable,” Kashtan told the meet-
ing. “It is possible to defeat
U.S. imperialist policy and com-

Must have say in Automation

be compelled to. negotiate with
labor those technological changes
that threaten jobs. This could be
done, he said, through the In-
dustrial Relations and Disputes
Investigation Act, amended if
necessary.

Furthermore, said Mr. Justice
Freedman, “, . . when techno-
logical change is introduced, the
cost of reasonable proposals to
protect employees from adverse
consequences is a proper charge
against its benefits and savings.”

Mr, Justice Freedman’s fair-
minded and reasonable recom-
mendations are meeting with
strong opposition from the em-
ployers,.

An executive of a large oil
company, according tothe Finan-
cial Post of December 25, de-
scribed himself as “slightly
horrified” at the proposal that
technological change be a subject
for collective bargaining. Other

labor’s share of the increase in
the Gross National Product show
a decline,

Labor has also gone to great
pains in preparing and presenting
supporting facts and arguments
for its case—many times, to no
avail,

What is wrong with Lawson’s
argument (which, incidentally, is’
also the argument of thenew head
of the Canadian Manufacturers
Association) is simply this:

~ monopolies are motivated by one

consideration only

super

pel the U.S, to adhere to a policy
of peaceful coexistence,

“But coexistence,” he warned,
“does not mean maintaining the
status quo. It must be based on
the recognition of the independ-
ence and sovereignty of all peo-
ples and of their right to deter-
mine the social system they wish
to have.”

The meeting also examined and
discussed the numerous strike
struggles of the Canadian work-
ers of the past several weeks,
the increasing resistance against
the domination and control of
Canada’s economy by the U,S,
monopolies, the militant move-
ments of the French Canadian
people for complete equality with
English Canada and the growing
ferment among the young people,
particularly students,

January 21, 1966—PACIFIC TRIBUNE--Page 12

employers regard it as an i”
vasion of management rights.

Two changes recommended PY -
the Federation and Mr, Justice
Freedman must come into beilé
Unless they do,-no job is certaill;
no one’s future is secure.

Failure to implement them will
result in a continuation of what
the Federation called the “unde!”
currents of apprehension and if”
security amongst workers which
have precipitated strikes and
work stoppages in the past 12 4
months,” 4

Until some such protection i$ —
provided, any worker can at any —
time be laid off and quickly forced —
down to that level of poverty
which now, according to govern= —
ment reports, engulfs 20 to 29
percent of our population, 4

Labor is asking only what iS |
reasonable and fair, the right tO —
share in the new wealth it is
producing,

~The Fisherman

profits, Goodwill has no place ©
in their thinking, ;

If the head of the Teamsters
union has evidence to show that
the operators havechangedinthis —
respect he has made the dis- |
covery of the century,

The whole history of the labor _
movement has been one of bitter |
struggle imposed on labor by |
capital, Lawson reflected this
truth when he wistfully said: «If
the employers would simplytreat —
employees fairly and honestly —
they’d make unions obsolete.”

In his reportKashtannotedthat
since the recent election there ~
are indications of a trend to the
right by the Liberal minority.
government, “Tocheckthistrend —
and compel Parliament to act in
the interests of the Canadian
people will require powerful and
united action embracing all sec-
tions of the labor movement and |
democratic Canadians,” he said.

He projected the perspective —
of ‘ta democratic alternative to —
the parties of monopoly and the
election of ademocratic majority
in Parliament which could begin —
to challenge monopoly power and

Pt ee i

adacéeT

its dominant positions in the
economy and the state,”

To help bring this about will

require unity of all the forces of
the left, _