Year of struggle Big class hattles taught workers victory depends on united action By JOHN HUNTER Looking back to Labor Day 1958, we can see that the past year was highlighted by a stepped-up offensive against the trade unions. The employing class, with the big monopolies in the lead, have resisted every attempt of the workers te-beat-inflation and improve living standards through collective SDEaSEE Aan .Despite our so-called recov- | : ery, it is obvious that for some years to come we will fave a permanent army of un- employed, unless the labor movement is able to establish the shorter work day on a wide front and compel Ottawa to trade extensively with the Socialist countries. We are still a long way from national health insurance, be- cause our Tory government, supported by the Liberals and CCF, continue to squander $134 billion a year on arma- ments, not to defend Canada, but in support of U.S. imperial- ism. In British Columbia, the Soc- reds have played a despicahkle role by passing Bill 43, at the request of big business pres- sure lobbies. This law makes every union a- legal entity for the purpose of being sued, drastically reduces the right to picket and forbids the circula- tion of ‘‘We Do Not Patronize”’ lists. Since the passage of this law, court injunctions have been issued on a_ wholesale basis. When the Bill was first un- véiled, there was a strong de- mand from many powerful tunions for a one-day work stop- page. This demand was debated at a special conference called by the B.C. Federation of Labor, but was squashed by right-wing CCF forces. If the CCF opposition in the legis- lature had sharpened its ‘ai- tack on the bill and lent public sipport to the idea of a pro- iést- stoppage, the - bill could have been defeated before ii became law. “But were the workers ready for such action? The stibse- quent «strike of Ironworkers and the epic battle against the Northland Navigation Com- pany answer “‘yes.” In the case ef the Ironworkers, strikers re- fused to return to work, des- pite court injunctions and des- pite fines of $19,000 levied against their union and three ef its officers. They stuck to their guns and compelled the employers to make an honor- able settlement. In the case of Northlands, what seemed like gure defeat was turned into a bfilliant victory because of mass, solidarity action. Victory was gained in the Northland dispute by what subsequently became known as “fhe Northland Formula.” When striking Marine Engin- eers were replaced by scabs and forbidden to picket by in- junction, along with lLong- shoremen whose jobs were af- fected and who were supporti-' ing them, the B.C. Federation | of Labor, in defiance of Bill 43, declared all cargo carried by Northland ships to be hot cargo. As if by magic, all pic- ket lines were replaced by even larger groups of observ- ers, drawn from many unions in the city. More injunctions were issued, bui the- observer lines continued to grow. They paraded up and down in froni of the Northland premises, with no signs and without say- ing a word. Truck drivers with loads of cargo to deliver to the company were turned away by their own union officers and scabs left the docks. In_ the end, the company was forced to surrender and to withdraw all legal actions. When the B.C: Federation of: Labor meets in convention on October 5, there will be many delegates who actively parti- cipated in these big, class battles, If they will speak up for thé application of the Northland Formula in every strike where the workers are hampered by injunctions, they will render a great service to the labor movement. The events of the past year’ have sharpened the interest in the creation of a parliamentary alternative to the parties serv- ing big business, as outlined in. the Winnipeg CLC resolu- tion. If the convention will ap- proach this problem’ in the same spirit of unify that was displayed in the Northland Strike, policiés can be hammer- ed out that will lead to the election of a labor-farmer gov- ernment. In line with the Winnipeg Trade union unity won the Northland strike. resolution, broad conferences should be held in every con- stituency in the province, in preparation for the provincial election, expected. for 1960. These _conferences should be open to eyery trade union, farm group and popular organ- ization supporting the . Winni- peg. resolution. Both the CCF and the LPP should be invited to. participate by the sponsor- ing organization, the. B.C. Fed- eration of Labor. Every provin- cial election held since the 1958 convention of the Federa- tion have proven that the nar- row policy of tying the labor movement to the coat tails of the CCF cannot bring into be- ing the kind of an alternative envisaged in the Winnipeg resolution. The B.C.: Federation of Labor convention Should strike a bold course and sponsor these con- stituency conferences quickly, for the purpose of nominating candidates who will best repre- sent the interests of labor, the farmers, small business people, professionals, pensioners and all who favor democratic re- form in opposition to the par- ties of big business. Such con- ferences should make the ne- cessary preparations for the next election and the partici- pating organizations should be charged with drawing up the election program. ~Given such an approach, labor can become the core and heart of a broad, people’s movement that will replace the Socred government which, in the provincial field, is basically no different than the reaction- ary Tory government in Ot- tawa, and certainly no better than the Liberal government in Newfoundland and _ the Union Nationale government in Quebec. hook, you can renew of a free premium = hook with renewal of your sub for six months or one year al our regular rafes, | or if you don’t want a your sub af special reduced rales -- $3.50 for 1 year, $2.00 for 6 mos. This offer, open to both old and new subscribers | will expire on Nov. 15 CLIP AND MAIL RENEW []~ ENTER Gl my subscription at your special rates: 1 year (3.50) 2. [7 6 mos. 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