Labor Front By WILLIAM KASHTAN With close to one million workers entering negotiations, this, as the Financial Post aptly declares, promises to be a **hot?’ year. The demands being advanced are as variedas the industries, but , a red thread running throughall of them is the demand for substantial wage increases, for reduced hours of work, for job security, for im- provements in pension and medical plans, and not least, for measures to cope with the effects of technological developments. Over the last few years, arising from tech- nological developments, the beginnings of auto- mation and consequently layoffs, considerable attention has been focused on the fight for job security. The railway uhions have been demanding that no layoffs take place except as a consequence of ‘enatural attraction” - the death ofa worker, re- tirement or voluntary withdrawal from employment. At the same time they have sought through legislation, to conipel the railway companies to assume responsibility for laid off workers. The International Longshoremen and Warehousemen’s Union tackled the problem of automation and mechanization in a somewhat different manner and were able to effect an agreement with employ- ers which established a mechanization and modernization agreement. This, the first agreement of its kind, altered certain working condi-— tions and removed bars to automation. In return, workers are guaranteed against layoffs and received other wage and benefits. * * * In both cases there is anattempttoprotect the job of the worker. In neither case, however, does it getatthe problem of automation and unemployment and of the growing body of young people leaving school and entering the labor market. The demand for job security, important in itself, thus tends to be a defensive struggle as long as it is restricted to these approaches. To get at the problem presented by technological development and automation and by the growth ofthe labor force, requires moving away from the present defensive position and going over to the offen- sive around the demand for reduced hours of work with no reduction in take-home pay, while at the same time pressing for government policies of ‘‘full’? employment based on 4 continuing expansion of the Canadian economy. This is necessary to the working class on two counts. First, to cope with intensified speed-up and exhaustion and give more leis- ure time. Secondly, to strengthen ties with young people and others who could be turned against the organized labor movement unless it shows itself able to lead an effective struggle for jobs and economic secur- ity. As yet the organized labor movement is hesitant about making the plunge for reduced hours of work even though numerous resolu- tions have been adopted in supportofit. True enough, various unions have begun to nibble at the question, but it has not yet become the central demand around which the entire labor movement could be united and move into action. Whether this will be changed in current negotiations remains to be seen. . However, there are more ways than one of skinning a cat and more ways than one of getting at the question of reduced hours. of work. This is to be seen in the growing demand for extended va- cations and more holidays which, while not asclear cut as the direct fight for reduced hours of work, nevertheless leans in that direction. * * cd It is to be seen too, in a growing demand for action to cope with overtime in industries where it has been particularly widespread. The demand for overtime was one of the means used by the trade union movement to penalize employers and force them to hire additional workers. Employers generally, however, have preferred to pay overtime which they considered cheaper than hiring new workers and paying fringe benefits for them. In the course of doing so they have also broken down the 40-hour work week and created conditions whereby it is virtually impossible for workers to manage without overtime pay. Be this as it may, trade unions ought to give consideration to pressing for increased penalties for overtime and demand that over- time pay start at 32 or 35 hours, as an integral part of the struggle for reduced hours of work with no reduction in take home pay and as part of the struggle to compel employers to take on additional workers. Another aspect of the struggle for job security which technolo- gical development and automation makes necessary is the demand for company responsibility with respect to retraining of workers, ade~ quate severence pay and consultation with unions regarding the in- stallation of new machinery which may affect the jobs of workers. These and other questions such as pensions and medical plans do not stand‘in contradiction to substantial wage increases which the situation makes necessary. The railway unions are presently engaged in a struggle to achieve parity with durable goods. The Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers Union is presently engaged in a struggle to achieve a national wage rate for workers in the industry. Other unions will likewise be pres- sing for substantial gains. All in all, it indicates the need for coordination of effort by the trade union movement, particularly by the Canadian Labor Congress, so that the great strength of organized labor can be used most ef- fectively te ensure that every union in negotiations is able to achieve its objectives. This year’s negotiations may well aniticate a new dimension to the struggles of the workers basedon their recognition that they need to strive for new objectives - job security, health security, economic security, through negotiations with employers and pressure on gov- ernments. CP OF B.C. HOLDS 15th CONVENTION JAMAL AE YL Cry of ‘nuclear free zone) can rid Canada of A-arms ‘“‘While U.S. monopolies are gobbling up B.C.’s timber, water power, mineral ores and other natural resources the American government, in return, sends its nuclear death to Comox,’’ Leslie Morris, national leader of the Communist Party of Canada, charged at a public meeting last Sunday evening. Morris addressed about 500 people at the Pender Audi- torium on the theme: ‘‘Parlia- ment Must Act To Get The Bombs Out of Canada.’’ He pointed out that because of ‘‘the contemptible way’? in which the first load of warheads was sneaked into the country on New Year’s Eve, because the minority Liberal government has no mandate to do so, and because of Canada’s signature on the Moscow test ban treaty, ‘‘the Pearson regime is most vul- nerable on this question. “The Pearson government can be Morris emphasized, Far from being a‘‘ peaceful and tranquil session,’’ the forth- coming session of Parliament could be quite interesting, he said. In addition to the nuclear question, the giveaway of the Columbia, French Canada’s de- mands for a new Canadian con- stitution, and ‘‘other sore and pressing matters would have to be faced by Pearson. *But the most mature issue defeated on this issue’’ , at the moment was still the nuclear one. Given a spark, the various peace groups, univer- sities, high schools, women’s groups, trade unions and other forces opposed to nuclear death could unite*and demand that the government accede to the people’s wishes. ‘And that spark might very well be provided by the latest proposal of the Canadian Peace Congress to make Canada a nu- clear free zone,’’ he said. Morris urged that this demand be taken up by the widest possible sections of the people because it is a' practical, realistic expression of the genuine desires of the Cana- dian people. : The public meeting wound up the 15th provincial convention of the Communist Party, which had held its sessions all day Saturday and Sunday. Morris also addressed the con- vention, telling delegates that confederation, as it presently is © constituted, cannot long survive. ‘¢French Canada is today the Himalaya of Canadian politics,”’ he said, informing the parley that a delegation from the CP of Quebec will meet this week with representatives from the Quebec government, to outline Communist proposals for re- solving the crisis of Confedera- tion. The convention itself was the liveliest meet in recent years, aa L