7 Labour Labour Notes Union counters privatization The provincial government denies it’s involved. But all the evidence points to a central orchestration of several offers to buy piecemeal British Columbia’s high- ways maintenance service. That’s the accusation from Jack Campbell of the B.C. Government Employees Union. Campbell has been touring the province to counter efforts by local highways maintenance supervisors who are making remarkably similar efforts to buy the to-be privatized service. Campbell said supervisors around the province have been encouraging employ- ees to buy shares in companies they’ve formed to buy out the local service. He said privatization will only mean cuts in the workforce and the elimination of the union, calling it “a case of where the fore- man carries the music, and the workers carry the piano.” “The government denies any involve- ment, but there’s a remarkable similarity in all those schemes,” Campbell said. The BCGEU and NDP privatization critic Dale Lovick are also up in arms over the highways ministry’s handing over of Vancouver Island employees’ names and addresses to potential buyers. Contractors - have been phoning employees at their homes urging their endorsement. “It’s clearly a breach of the collective agreement,” said union spokesman David Gellateli. He said grievances have been filed. Lovick revealed an internal government memo in the legislature on May 19. It stated that “the names and address of each regular employee affected by privatization in contract area No. | has been presented to each of the firms.” He called it “unethical, unfair and yet one more example of the Socreds’ unfair treatment of the working people of B.C.” Gerow resigns HEU position Hospital Employees Union secretary- business manager Jack Gerow, a promi- nent figure in the province’s labour movement and an outspoken opponent of Social Credit privatization of health care, announced Friday that he will be stepping down fromthe key Ff union post in the 27,000-member union. He cited family and personal rea- sons for the deci- sion, adding that his move was com- ing ata time when the union wasat its strongest. : “T’m proud of GEROW the part I’ve played in making HEU one of the most democratic, progressive and important unions in the province,” he said in a statement. “I’m stepping down at 4 time when the union is thriving and united as preparations get underway for contract negotiations in 1989.” : Gerow, who was first hired to the posi- tion in 1974, has been particularly proml- nent in the labour movement in the last four years following the union’s agree- ment, worked out in conjunction with the Canadian Union of Public Employees, t0 re-affiliate to the Canadian Labour Con- gress. Gerow was instrumental in negotiat- — ing the agreement which has seen the HEU become an important part of the B.C. Federation of Labour and local labour councils. “The union is also a prominent advo- ~ cate of medicare and high quality health care,” Gerow added. “HEU will continue to fight for a single medical system that — delivers medical care to all British Colum- bians, regardless of income.” . Although his post is a non-elective post- tion, Gerow has been the main executive officer for the union. No date has yet been set for his resignation to take effect. Continued from page 1 the bill, Sinclair noted that the legislation “degrades the institution of Parliament by transferring parliamentary powers to cabinet and ultimately to Washington. “Ifit passes, Parliament just won’t matter any more,” he said. “If they (the opposition) have to, they should just walk out and go to » Dewdney Trunk Rd. the people and demand that the federal government call an election on the issue.” In Parliament Monday, opposition lead- ers reiterated the demand that Mulroney call an election over the trade deal as pro- cedural discussions over the enabling legis- lation got underway. Both NDP House leader Nelson Riis and Websters Corners Haney ae (1st light) i ee . ke oe For info Lougheed Hwy. i Proceeds to ee phone 251-1186 Pacific Tribune Liberal House leader Herb Gray challenged the validity of the omnibus bill tabled by Crosbie, arguing that the legislation should not be allowed in its present form. Speaker John Fraser was to rule on the admissibility of the legislation this week. Even before the debate began, however, the Pro-Canada lobby demonstrated the breadth of opposition to the trade deal that exists among Canadians. Several partici- pants commented that they had never before seen a delegation which represented such a broad sweep of groups and such large numbers of Canadians. The more than 30 groups which partici- ‘pate in the Pro-Canada Network represent a combined membership in excess of 10 million people. Despite that breadth and the crucial importance of the debate over the trade deal, the lobby received scant attention from the media. “We don’t think the Canadian people have free trade fatigue — but it appears the Ottawa press corps does,” said Sinclair. Monday’s lobby was also a kickoff to the actions across the country planned by the Pro-Canada Network for June 12 — the Day of Action against Free Trade. Various coalitions and groups have organized actions ranging from a teach-in on free trade in Newfoundland to door-to- door leafletting in Alberta to a rally at the legislature in Victoria. Rallies have also been called on Parliament Hill and at pro- vincial legislatures in Prince Edward Island and Quebec. In Ontario, demonstrations have been set for several border towns where opponents of free trade will meet with their counter- June 12 set for actions against trade deal parts from the U.S. side to protest the deal. The largest is expected to be at the Queenston-Lewiston bridge where demon- strators will be converging from Toronto, Hamilton and other centres. 3 In this province, the day of action will be marked by car cavalcades, rallies and pic- nics. In Vancouver, participants will be gather- ing at 11:30 a.m. at seven locations for a car cavalcade through Vancouver before going to a picnic and rally at Brockton Point in Stanley Park at 1 p.m. Marshalling points are: BCTF Building, Burrard and 6th; Pub- lic Housing Tenants, 37th and Main; Car- negie Centre, Main and Hastings; Grand- view Park, Commercial and Charles; Maritime Labour Centre, 111 Victoria Drive; Carpenters Hall, 2806 Kingsway; and CAIMAW Hall, 707-12th Street, New Westminster. — In Victoria, a rally is planned for 12 noon at the provincial legislature, organized by several groups, including the Victoria Labour Council, the Council of Canadians» and the Social Justice Commission of the Catholic Church. On June 14, Citizens Concerned About Free Trade has organized a public debate between David Orchard, chair of the citi- zens’ group, and political economy profes- sor John Crispo, a promoter of free trade. It will be moderated by broadcaster Jack Webster and will be at John Oliver Audit- orium, 41st and Fraser at 7:30 p.m. Citizens Concerned About Free Trade — has also scheduled a public meeting with Orchard for June 16, 7:30 p.m. in the Italian — Cultural Centre at Slocan and Grandview — Highway in Vancouver. — Name Address ey eee eer eee errr esses Bill me later F Published weekly at 2681 East Hastings Street Vancouver, B.C. V5K 1Z5. Phone 251-1186 cd Postal Code lamenclosing 1yr.$2010) 2yrs.$350) 3yrs. $500) Foreign1 yr. $320 me Donation$........ E : i READ THE PAPER THAT FIGHTS FOR LABOUR } | 8 e Pacific Tribune, June 1, 1988