Steelworkers set policy By. STEEL WORKER The more than 400 rank and file delegates to the 32nd Na- tional Policy. Conference of the United Steelworkers of America ._ meeting in Toronto last week hewed to a generally progres- sive course. Redbaiting was at a minimum level, although some of the unreconstructed ‘“Com- miephobes” tried sporadically to raise its tattered banner. The hard realities of unemployment, peace, national autonomy and independence, civil rights, etc., etc., gave an aura of unreality to these attempts. The Canadian National Policy Conference, established first in the early 1940’s, sets program and policy for the union’s 160,- 000 members in Canada. While it has no constitutional basis within the framework of the In- ternational Union, it represents a defacto autonomy that is both vigorous and recognized by the International Union. “We are meeting today at a time of considerable tension. in our country,” said Canadian Na- tional Director Wm. Mahoney in his opening report. “The tension is both economic and political. We would appear to have wea- thered the storm of the October '(1970) crisis, but with some bad bruises to show. We are facing the economic strain of unem- ployment . . . which we have not weathered at all,” he said. Main Issue He drew a sharp parallel be- tween the present and the situa- tion immediately following World War II. He said, “We were in the forefront of the fight for the preservation of union- ism and the struggle not to re- vert to the attitudes and eco- nomics of the pre-war 1930’s. “The most urgent issue now is unemployment,” he said. It was this question that sparked the greatest discussion in the Conference. The resolu- tion adopted called for the un- ion to “undertake a new area of organization and orientation directed toward unemployed workers, in particular those un- employed former members.” This would include “units of the unemployed in all major cen- tres.” The resolution also called for this program to be developed by all other unions through the CLC and for a “top level con- ference, with all persons con- cerned in the trade union move- ment to determine a fair and equitable policy for the locked- out unemployed .. .” Some speakers felt the resolution did not go far enough in calling on the labor movement to get into a free-swinging united political battle at all levels of govern- ments for “jobs now.” On Autonomy : ‘On the question of Canadian autonomy, the conference gen- erally accepted the position of the leadership that a wid: meas- ure of autonomy already existed and that a “retreat into narrow _ nationalism” would be _ disas- trous. Espousing the ‘“national- ist” point of view were some delegates from Hamilton and Sudbury. Apart from _ these, there was no sentiment for any breakaway movement from the International Union, and heavy emphasis was laid on the need for greater international solidar- ity with metal workers through- out the world. The facts are, that while a high level: of autonomy< does: _ PACIFIC TRIBUNE—FRIDAY, MAY 21, 1971 exist »within. the union in) Can: ; Combat war, repression ada, it is not constitutionally guaranteed. While the Interna- tional Executive Board, includ- ing the Canadian officers, have largely been able to avoid or minimize any “national conflict” areas, there are no guarantees that real “crunches” may not lie ahead on a number of issues.: The resolution dealing with prices and incomes policies stat- ed flatly that there was “no jus- tification for suppressing wage incomes when inflationary price increases and profits have al- ready occurred” but then water- ed down this position by pledg- ing the union “te co-operate in any bona fide, alternative pro- gram by which the government may propose to explore the rela- tionship between wages, prices and all forms of non-wage in- come including. profits, interest, rents, speculative gains and pro- fessional earnings.” Significantly, when NDP lead- er David Lewis addressed the closing session of the confer. ence and came down hard for price controls, he _ received thunderous applause. “But when. he too added the idea of “co- operating” with government to establish some form of the above mentioned study, leading inevitably to wage freezes, the delegates sat on their hands. Anti-War Stand Resolution 63, on the war in Indochina was clear and to the - point: “The conference goes on record as pressing for Canada to cease all arms sales to the U.S. and live up to the U.N. principles, and further urge Ot- tawa to press for the immediate withdrawal of all U.S. forces in tion that called on the federal government “to desist from en- acting any further emergency powers legislation” and branded the Emergency Powers Act as having “produced more infringe- ments on civil rights than it had protection for public order.” In- an interesting departure from status-quo income main- tenance for the ill, unemployed, injured, etc., the conference endorsed a policy calling for “the negotiation of ‘cover-all’ group insurance and Supplemen- tary Unemployment Benefit income of workers, willing but unable to work (no matter what the cause) at a level equivalent to at least 75% of normal earn- ings” and called for a political action program to “seek the eventual elimination of the present confused multi-agency ~ system and its replacement by a Single government run agency . . . for all cases of inability to work due to unemployment or temporary disability.” - In all, almost 100 resolutions from local unions stretching from the Yukon Territory on the west and north to Newfound- land on the east were dealt with in the two-day conference. Limi- tation of time on debate under these conditions was inevitable. Younger Men Noticeable among the dele- gates were the younger men who formed a majority attend- ing, reflecting the actual age groups in the widely varying jurisdiction of the Union. Delegates from the Allied and Technical Workers, District 50, soon to merge with the USWA, southeast Asia...” the resolution were also in attendance as said. Only the lunatic fringe of guests. Vice President Jos. “Commiephobes” spoke and Molony brought greetings from voted against the resolution... the International Board and perhaps three or four delegates. The conference was equally emphatic in endorsing a resolu- Racist judge given gate SAN RAFAEL—The sixth ap- plicant, Superior’ Court Judge Richard E. Arnason, was assign- ed by California’s chief justice to preside over the case of Angela Davis and Ruchell Ma- gee. The previous judge, Alan Lindsay, had been disqualified on a challenge by Angela’s co- defendant Magee. Last month Miss Davis had filed a disqualification motion ‘against Lindsay, charging him with white racism, but another judge at a special hearing ruled Lindsay was qualified and the State Supreme Court upheld that decision. ; Arnason, whose two predeces- sors. disqualified themselves, said he would set an early date - for the resumption of pre-trial hearings. : The hearings will decide on motions by defense attorneys that the charges be dismissed and, barring that, bail be set for ‘Miss Davis and approval given for her to act as her own attorney in conjunction with the defense team. In another development, the first such action by a unior in- ternational, the International Longshoremen’s and Ware- housemen’s Union voted at its recently concluded convention in Honolulu to support the free- dom fight of Angela Davis. —PAGE 8 Si a told the delegates of the devel- opments in the critical bargain- ing there this year which will encompass 750,000 of the one million United Steelworkers members in the U.S. this year. Included are basic steel, non- ferrous mining and aluminum. A settlement was recently reached in the container industry there. “Canadians have certainly set high standards for U.S. workers to shoot at,” he said, noting the fact that many Canadian hourly rates are above the U.S. in the Union’s jurisdiction. By JEAN PARADIS ‘“MONTREAL—The Prime Mi- nister of Quebec, Robert Bou- rassa, declared that his govern- ment intended proposing legis- lation that would force secret ballot for strike situations in Quebec. After spending several days ‘in the United States seeking ‘out investments for Quebec in exchange for favorable condi- tions for prospective American exploiters of her natural and hu- man resources, Mr. Bourassa then decided to look towards Europe in order to further sell out Quebec’s resources and man- power, this time to Europeans. In making the above declara- tion, Mr. Bourassa set’ out to prove that his government could control Quebec workers, and to guarantee that there would be _no labor troubles in the prov- ince which might discourage foreign investment. ~ plans which would maintain the By ALAIN PATRIE MONTREAL—With a display of pyrothechnics reminiscent of good Yankee showmanship, Premier Robert Bourassa has announced to Canada as a whole and to Quebeckers in particular that Armageddon has arrived in the guise of the James Bay pro- ject. Mayor Jean Drapeau must have been his mentor — Mont- real’s mayor is famous for bringing circuses. to the metro- polis, and Quebec’s Premier did no less, with klieg lights, films, brass bands and thousands be- ing paid to attend his monster presentation. The project deserves careful examination, made difficult of course by the paucity of infor- mation available. What has been firmly estab- lished is that the Quebec goy- ernment definitely committed it- self to building a goliath hydro project spanning forests, mus- keg and ten rivers. It promises to be the biggest hydro electric power project in the Western Hemisphere—costing an estima- ted $7 billion. The size of the undertaking, its location and its intent certainly deserves to stir the imagination of every adven- turous and ingenious Canadian. What young men or women would not find self-fulfillment knowing that they are involved in building the future for the. benefit of mankind? The strug- gle against nature is a noble vocation. But the project sours rapidly as soon as some questions are asked. What’s the Deal? The initial inquiry must be why Consolidated Edison, the U.S. power company was so quick to open its largess and prepay for two billion dollars of electricity. The sum dwarfs the imagination. It constitutes pay- ment for electricity which will not be delivered for at least seven years. This fact alone sug- gests that the Americans did us a deal which will keep them. laughing up their sleeves for years to come. Bourassa has not dared to spell out the price at which he will sell them electri- city. Another manoeuver which was announced removes Hydro- Quebec from the scene and sub- stitutes a crown corporation. United Quebec labor say No The three Quebec trade union centres lost little time in declar- ing their opposition to this plan of Mr. Bourassa. In discussing Mr. Bourassa’s remarks, Fernand Daoust, secre- tary of the Quebec Federation of Labor, commented that. this Statement was “a veritable iJe- claration of war against workers and against the entire trade union movement,” and that “we are going to oppose ‘fiercely’ this kind of government legisla- tion.” Marcel Pepin, president of the Confederation of National Trade Unions, declared that “the gov- ernment must not imagine that we would thus permit it to un- load its involvement with for- eign capital on the backs of our workers.” Speaking further, Yvon Char- bonneau, president of the Que- bec Teachers Federation, said that ‘it’s a question of the same. Kind of manoeuvering that went Ostensibly the reason gi that the corporation wi not only the hydro but est and mineral deve’ This sounds reasonable is noted that Hydro manages Manicougan P® forest areas and , ts - wealth. What has been ed is that the capital James Bay has exPit manded that James Bi outside Hydro’s author to facilitate future priv@ pulation. Also it 18 control who gets thé © and lucrative contract And who is the cap! James Bay? Bourassa confirmed that he talked W! Rockefeller, chairmal! Chase Manhattan * proudly underlined ! ment that they were 0 name basis and beyOn® ~ tended no information is If indeed Rockefeller rolling the endeavor it¥ of interest to note W Mercantile Bank of get into the act. Re federal government anoint U.S, control by removing the cap!” tions imposed on na banks. If the U.S. a its capital into the bil certainly serve aS 4 © American-owned busi this country to favor financial institutions: tion leads to the eve? i bilities of the U.S: our banking complex: Quebec is the on to possess the fiscal Hi offset certain unwelct sals in Finance son’s white paper 0 For the last 10 province has tried 1 ancing for the develOh an ae ent failed. What induce Bourassa offer Rockefeller? Insofar as the poast ° diate jobs is conce!™ them will last for ? time and must be © ian against the plea, by i ai Max Gros Louis wh? © 4 thousands of Indians ess e-) the Quebec Northwe displaced and disP0” the arrogance an vine attitude of the P!Ov ernment. E t, OFF in to the appointmet oft mission of inquiTy cis. during the October %” Has Mr. Bourassa # og cided what his 0V0"4¢ 60 do in these matter’ | ime ask the opinion 0! © cof of this Consultative on Labor, establis™ en government with rep nite of the trade union © ers. ernment, and ene The Quebec gover ml ates all sorts 2 dy and councils to see of the highest IMF gre their recommendatl© applied. Such wa$ oa) @ the unanimous PFOP ie same committee ge or French as the lang¥ in Quebec. ae The trade union ine must carefully exam ation, as sooner OF have to withdraw © these bodies, x =