san A BBB, HA ana Since October 14 of last year, when over 1,000,000 workers went on strike for an end to wage control, the restoration of collec- tive bargaining and for an expand- ing economy and jobs, the right- wing leaders of the trade union movement and of the NDP have held the workers back from other forms of struggle and from the battle for jobs. Instead,. the trade union movement was sidetracked into a discussion of tripartism and more recently, on a3-point government program which includes wage re- straints. Under pressure of the rank and file and of trade union leaders at different levels, and-on the background of growing un- employment and lowered living standards, this 3-point govern- ment program was rejected by the CLC and all its affiliates. In its place the CLC advanced a program of its own, placing par- ticular emphasis on a country- wide campaign for jobs. NEW CONDITIONS This development marks an important step forward and opens the door for an organized and un- ited fightback against the crisis policies of monopoly and its gov- ernments. Indeed, conditions are maturing for a new upsurge as purchasing power narrows and living standards decline. To make the fight back effec- tive, however, workers will have to demand a break with the policies of class collaboration which tie them to the mechanism of state monopoly-capitalism. Tripartism leads in that direction. It is a bankrupt concept whose aim is to modernize capitalism, at the expense of the working people. We can already see its consequences in layoffs in indus- try, as rationalization and the scientific and technological rev- olution proceed apace. Tripartism undermines inde- pendent political action and un- ited political action against wage controls and unemployment. While rejecting tripartism thé workers must continue to press ~ for new trade union rights, rights which they presently do not have. They must demand a say on all questions of concern to working people, for real participation by workers in deciding questions of technological change, the moving away or closing of plants, layoffs, health and safety. NEW POLICIES NEEDED Opposing tripartism however is not enough. The trade union movement must oppose it with an alternative policy, a democratic economic policy which leads to the curbing power of monopoly and the multi-nationals and opens the way to a radical restructuring of the economy in the interests of working people. In working for such an alterna- tive it is also necessary to make clear that working people are not against all controls. They. are against wage controls. But they are equally for price controls on selected foodstuffs; for rent con- trols, and for democratic control over monopoly. Such an alternative to the crisis ee ~ “Working people are not against all controls. They are against wage controls. But they are equa policies of monopoly must in- clude an effective wage policy whose aim is to win compensation for price ‘rises plus current in- flation, as well as improving living standards. Within this framework the government’s efforts’ at im- posing average ‘‘comparability”’ in wages for public sector employées, another way of taking away their rights to collective bargaining, must be rejected. An effective wage policy must also include efforts at achieving job security and further improve- ments in social security for the working class at the expense of profits. : A DEMOCRATIC ALTERNATIVE Secondly, what is required is a democratic alternative to the whole economic and social policies of state monopoly- capitalism and its government. Such an alternative, which in- cludes an end to wage controls and the restoration of collective bargaining, should be based on an expansion of the economy, a re- duction in unemployment leading eal lly for price controls on selected foodstuffs, for rent controls, and for democratic control over monopoly.” PACIFIC TRIBUNE—NOVEMBER 11, 1977—Page 6 Excerpts from the Centté Committee meeting, Communist Party Canada, held October 14-16, in Toronto. towards full employment, a redis- tribution of income in favor of working people through expand- ing social services, increased pension payments and reduced taxes, a stepped up program: of low cost housing, equal pay for work of equal value, price con- trols on essential foodstuffs and continuation of rent controls, public ownership of energy and natural resources, and the development of secondary indus- try on that basis, development of an urban transportation system, a new made-in-Canada Constitu- tion based on an equal voluntary partnership of the two nations, English-speaking and French- speaking, and expansion of trade with the socialist and newly- liberated countries, a guaranteed annual income, stable markets’ and prices for the farmers, a 50% reduction in arms expenditures, and withdrawal from NATO and from NORAD. THE RIGHT TO A JOB This is a program to PUT CANADA BACK TO WORK. It is a program to strengthen Canada’s independence. It is a program to strengthen the real unity of Cana- da. The fight for jobs and for ris- ing standards must come at. the centre of attention of all sections of the working class and demo- cratic movement, with particular attention being paid to the fight for jobs or vocational training at trade union rates of pay for young people. The young generation must have the right to a job, to useful, creative work, the right to acquire skills and training, the right to education, indeed, the right to a future. An alternative policy also re- quires a policy of unity in the shops, mines and mills; trade union unity, working class and democratic unity, to advance the economic and political struggles and make them both more effective. Such varied forms of united ac- tion, such a solid united front is all the more necessary in view of the refusal of the government and of monopoly to end wage con- of trols, and instead embark on# anti-labor campaign to divide ™ workers industry by industl? and impose wage restrainl© on them. The refusal %” the government to adopt mé i sures against unemployment fi t in with the aims of monopoly, © build up a large reserve of une™ ployed to dampen the wag movement and depress wages: ployment has become the talé of so-called full employment to” aimed at in the capitalist worlé RIGHT-WING POLICIES Instead of uniting the worké against such policies: the mg! concentrated their fire against the left wing with the aim of dz lodging them from positions of oy fluence, be it in.union locals, Oe other levels of the trade und! movement, and perpetiate 1 split in the working class. The! aim is to tie the trade uml0%al movement to the policies of sta! monopoly-capitalism. Right-wing policy can be de feated providing the left a centre forces in the trade unid! movement unite their effom around a common program aM fight unitedly for its realizatio™ The elements of such a minimU™ program have already beé indicated. . ; To, this should be added demand for a reduction in working week from 40 to 30 at hours’ pay, the organization the unorganized, the fight fof i fully sovereign, united and ind’ pendent trade union movemell! ; the demand for legislation whi¢ would give workers a voice on al questions of concern to them, fo! : all inclusive political action. , — Within this broad framework ! is possible to work for left-cen! coalitions in unions, in 1a councils and labor federatiO and perhaps influence the comi!2 * CLC Convention next April # Quebec City. . The achievement of such co wg tions is directly related to thin, perspective of sharpened strugg?