Civil Rights conference to rally fight against attacks on liberties ‘The new wave of government-inspired assaults on human rights and freedoms in Canada will be met head on by delegates to the National Conference on Civil Rights who are meeting in Toronto this weekend to launch a national campaign for a Bill of Rights. Planting of a police microphone at a Trenton, Ont. union meeting; the attack on members of ° the Plymouth. Brethren in Shawinigan Falls, Quebec; fines levied against the AFL plumbers’ union m Ottawa: police terrorism against strikers at Richmond,’ Quebec; presence of detectives at a meeting of the Winnipeg Unemployed Association; these and many more flagrant violations of civil rights give a A.rceuiing oreantzaton to Police mikes hidden ~ City May Day in hall. at Trenton para As 46°Ge tional civil rights organization to TORONTO : held April 30 campaign for a Bill of Rights to protect the fundamental freedom of Canadians will be the main point of discussion. The conference will open with a e Trenton _ textile strikers, on the picket line for 16 weeks, will tell their story of police- Vancouver trade unions and pro- hidden microphones and _ police gressive organizations are determ- brutality when the National Con- | ined to make May Day, 1950, a day long remembered in the struggle for peace and progress. s s D: s Unionist out on bail After being released on $10,000 bail, Harold Christoffel, former president of United Auto Workers’ Local 248, chats with Milton . Wolf, national field director for the U.S. Civil Rights Congress. | Convicted of perjury in testimony before an inquisiterial congres- ' sional committee, Christoffel was sentenced last month to two Saturday. | Montreal Civil Liberties Union, Toronto Civil Rights Union and Timmins Labor Defense League are cooperating to call the national meeting. More than 150 delegates and ob- public rally this Friday, April 21, ference on Civil Rights con- and continue in panel discussions on venes here this Friday, Apnil to six years’ imprisonment. WIU proposes election of action committees Election of action committees on the job to enforce working rules and prepare for possible strike action on June 15 if the lumber barons refuse to grant a 17-cents wage increase 1s being -urged by Wood- workers Industrial Union in a “fight back’’ bulletin issued in leaflet form this week. Calling for all IWA, WIUC and unorganized woodworkers to for- get past differences and unite on the job to defeat the bosses’ offen- sive and win a pay hike in 1950, the WIUC statement says: “Protect the 40-hour week. Stand firm and united for a wage hoist of 17 cents and union secur- ity. Elect action committees on the job to press the fight against the employers’ offensive. Victory can be won only by the whole army of labor participat- ing in the struggle. “The lumber bosses haye turned thumbs down on a wage increase. They are out to scuttle the 40-hour week. They want to uproot the solidarity of the ‘workers through separate agreements for each divi- sion of the industry. And they are seeking to plant an escalator clause in the contract through which they can slash wages and boost camp board rates whenever they deem E. H. SKEELES Transfer & Fuel . CEDAR, B.C, ATTENTION ! - MICHEL NATAL FERNIE CRANBROOK Saturday, April 29, 1950 UNION HALL, NATAL Admission: by Labor Press| ‘Dance Tickets the time ripe to make another raid on the pay packet. (“The 48-hour week proposal made to IWA representatives in Vancouver: last week is not an empty bargaining gesture. It is counter-blast against a wage in- | crease. It is an integral part of the employers’ program.” The WIUC leaflet went on to cite raids on working hours by Cana- dian Forest Products at Englewood land Pacific Veneer, and continued: “Today B.C. sawmill offices are plugged with orders. ‘Lumber prices are at the highest peak in history and a further increase of ‘$4 per thousand is expected. Profits are hitting the ceiling. Woodworkers have had no wage increases for two years. - “The drive against wages and working conditions will not be stem- med by top level discussions. The most powerful group of employers in the provinee are not going to be blocked by arguments around a conference table. They will be stopped only by united action from below, only by >the firm solidarity of the workers on the job. That is where the real power of all unions lie, the only power that the bosses will heed. “We propose: “that action committees be set up on an operation basis in every camp and mill on the B.C. coast. = That the first task of these committees be full enforce- ment of every regulation and working rule provided for in the contract. “—That these committees rally’ , smd prepare the workers for a united fight to win a wage in- crease of 17 cents an hour and union security. — oe na iQ that amy and every attempt . to lengthen hours or othere wise weaken working conditions be resisted and fought against to - the utmost limit. | “Unite and fight to win a wage not an issue raised merely as a | servers from trade unions, fraternal organizations, co-ops and other or- ganizations will participate along with ‘many individuals, the organ- izing committee here reported this week. George Burt, Canadian director of the 50,000 strong United Auto Workers union and R. H. Carlin, head of. the’ 20,000-member Mine, Mill and Smelter union, are among the trade union leaders whoshave pledged support. In addition to the keynote ad- ~ dress on ¥riday night by Mrs. Margaret Spaulding, chairman of the Toronto Civil Rights Union, a highlight of the evening will be the ilustrated presentation show ing violations of civil liberties in Canada over the past year con- trasted statements of leading Can- adians- on the kind. of liberties “we are supposed to enjoy.” Another event will be the per- formance of “Trial on Timmins” by the Temple Theater group, a skit around the assault of fascist DP’s on the Ukrainian Hall at Timmins. Jobless score police attendance at meet WINNIPEG Following refusal of Det.-Sgt. leave a regular meeting of the Winnipeg Unemployed Associa- tion when requested to do so by) unanimous vote of the member- ship, the association has sent a vigorous protest to the Police Commission. “We condemn this unwarranted police interference in the lawful business of an unemployed associ- ation and intend to take all pos- sible action to rouse the labor movement against the dangerous practite of police intimidation,” said the statement. “The associa- tion wants to know since when has unemployment become crim- inal and since when has the right to organize been done away with?” The meeting was further anger- ed when a member of the associa- tion phoned Inspector Nicholson ‘tion, Nicholson threatened to send down additional police officers. Legal action to protect the funda- mental right of labor to organize and to conduct business without ‘police surveillance is being con- sidered. ‘ 21. ‘The Trenton case received national attention when _ the strikers discovered two police- hidden microphones planted in the public hall used by. the union to discuss strike strategy. So blatantly was the police- state aspect of the issue that newspapers hostile to organized labor have been compelled to demand that an _ investigation into the affair take place. Young of the Winnipeg police to . to protest Det-Sgt. Young’s ac- | Meeting in Pender Auditorium on Wednesday night, delegates round- ed out plans for the great march and rally to be held on Sunday, April 30. The parade will start from the west end of the Georgia Viaduct at 1 p.m. to march through Vancouver’s downtown streets to the rally at Lumbermen’s Arch in Stanley Park. ; Among the unions and organiza- tions entering floats are the Fisher- men, Fur and Leather, Seamen, Woodworkers and Boilermakers; the LPP, NFLY, Scandinavians, ‘Ukrainians and the Pacific Tribune. ‘Ask aid for fire victims — Several victims of the fire which swept {through a three-storey, frame rooming house at 1934 ‘Hornby, in one of Vancouver's worst. slum areas, more than a week ago are | still in hospital, and will need cloth- come out. Mrs. Enid Lane, 930 Hornby, is "| proving herself to be a good neigh- bor by visiting societies and indi- victims. : “Three men still in hospital will need clothing when they are dis- | charged,” Mrs. Lane told the Pa- cific Tribune. “They are all big men, six-footers, so perhaps some husky loggers or longshoremen could help. As all three were un- employed at the time of the fire, and not drawing UIC benefits, . they will need some money, too, in order to get back on their feet. Anyone wishing to help should contact me at my home address.” Still in hospital are Robert Pratt, Charles Frame and Clarence Paul. Also a bed patient is Mrs. Hedi fractures, P The old frame structure was left a charred, roofless ruin. Fire spread rapidly through the building, forc- ing many tenants to jump from win- dows. Like many Vancouver rgom- ing houses, it had only one fire es- Fact that more than a dozen per- sons were rendered homeless as a result of the fire underlined the overcrowded housing conditions in this downtown area, one of the old- est in Vancouver, and the pressing need for a slum clearance and low rental housing program. =s_— hoist of 17 cents an hour!” STANTON Barristers, Solicitors, Notavies SUITE 515, FORD BUILDING, 193 E. HASTINGS ST. ‘ - (Corner Main & Hastings Sts.) MArine 5746 & MUNRO PACIFIC TRIBUNE—APRIL 21, 1990—PAGE 7 jing and cash assistance when they |- viduals to solicit help for-the fire Gabanek, suffering from two back. Members of the; National Federa- tion of Labor Youth will join the parade riding gaily-decorated bi- cycles. The May Day Committee an- nounces that permits for the parade and rally have been secured. A total of 30 organizations were rep- resented at the conference. . “Everything in Flowers’ | | FROM... ee EARL SYKES 56 E. Hastings St. PA. 3855 Vancouver, B.C, Highest Prices Paid for DIAMONDS, OLD GOLD © Other Valuable Jewellery STAR LOAN CO. Est. 1905 - : 719 Robson St. — MA. 2622 EAST END TAXI — UNION DRIVERS 0334 \ FULLY 24-HOUR SERVICE 811 E. HASTINGS ST. NEW ADDRESS» 9 EAST HASTINGS Corner Carrall I invite you tc visit my new office. I have “no connection with ans other dental office. Sy oS wer