CIVIC UNION'S VIEW

of corruption in U.S. unions

Discussing corruption in the
trade union movement, partic-
ularly in the United States,
the Newsbulletin, organ of
the Vancouver Civic Employ-
ees’ Union (Outside Workers),
asserts that the “root of the
problem’ is to be found in
what is called ‘business
unionism.’ ”

A leading article in the
Newsbulletin states:

A business union leader is
one who sees himself as a
businessman, and looks upon
his union as a private business
~enterprise.

To some, this may seem
very practical and most ef-
ficient. “We live in a society
dominated by business and
business ethics, so why -not
run our union: like an effi-
cient business organization?”

But if this method is effi-
ent, is it democratic?

The business unionist iis dic-
latorial, running the union
from the top down, in the
interests of efficiency, just
like the head of a big busi-
ness corporation. But the
democratic trade union mem-
ber wants to run the union

from the bottom up, even if.

this means less efficiency.

The business unionist pie-
tures himself as a _ big-time
executive who has cornered
an important market for
labor. Like the lumberman,
most vital commodity of  all—
the steel manufacturer, or the
mine owner, he has something
to sell in the market place,

In most cases, he tries-to get
the highest possible price for
his commodity, but he is also
interested in the highest pos-
sible profit and power for

_ himself, The fact that such
labor leaders are out to fea-

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ther. their own nests. leads

many of them to sign “sweet-'

heart” agreements (selling out
the workers), to cooperate
with gangsters and to use
union funds as if they were
personal funds.

The democratic trade union
member rejects the idea that
his-union leader can sell him
on the open market like a
lumberman can sell a million
board feet of lumber. To him,
the labor movement is people
and the union belongs to thé
membership. He sees the labor
movement as an expression of
idealism and human progress
—as a tool shaped by working
people for the job of creating
a more just and more humane

- society.

The business union leader
wants to be paid as much as
the executives of big busi-
ness and is not averse to pri-
vate business speculations.
His connections with the em-
ployers facilitate this type of
investment, too often in re-
turn for unethical favors, The
more money he makes, the
more he. begins to live and
think like a business tycoon.
This, in turn, makes him less
and less sympathetic to what
trade unionism means to the

rank and file of his union.

He is opposed to political
education and strong political
action by the labor move-
ment, unless he has his own
political axe to grind at the
moment. In this, he has the
same, conservative reaction of
the big businessman who fears
the emergence of labor as a
strong political force, inde-
pendent of the old line parties,

In order to make it easier

-to run the union as a private

preserve, and in order to be
in a better position to. deal
with rank and file opposition,
the constitution is shaped ac-
cordingly.

The labor tycoon uses every
possible constitutional device
(and some _ unconstitutional
ones!) to perpetuate himself
in power and to throttle his
critics. He and his trusted

clique gather more and more

Duroid, Tar and Gravel
Gutters and Downpipes
Reasonable
NICK BITZ PA. 603

OCT. 1

control into their own hands,
and do their best to replace
elected officials by appointees,
all down the line,

Such labor leaders call
themselves practical trade
unionists.

They have no time for is-
sues like anti - discrimination
legislation, better educational
facilities, foreign policy and
social security legislation, un-
less they are compélled to
speak up. They are more in-
terested in magnificent’ and
luxurious headquarters than
they are in low-rental hous-
ing fog low income groups.

This then is your union

jieader who runs his union like:
a business. He may be an hon-.

est businessman or just a low-
down crook. But in the last
analysis to him the labor
movement is merely, a vehicle
for his own personal advance-
ment. This is the root of: the
evil corruption and gangster-
ism in the U,S. trade union
movement.

What is needed in the U.S.
is for the labor movement to
clean up its own house, and
to rededicate itself to the fun-
damental ‘aim of the move-
ment: to lift up the working
people, to build a better soc-
iety through conscious, demo-
cratic efforts of working
people. >

CCL to continue a :
‘Business unionism’ at root (LC-merger talks —

;

adian Labor Congress.

The motion set forth condi-
tions which would give the
confederation more autonomy
that it would have had under
conditions first recommended
to the convention by its labor
unity committee.

“One of the committee’s re-

commendations struck out by
the convention, would have
accepted settlement of juris-
dictional disputes with other
CLC affiliates, according to
the ‘CLC -constitution.

Another rider added by the
convention was a provision
that the CCCL should keep its
freedom to expand — to con-
tinue its efforts to” organize
the 70 percent. of Quebec
workers who belong to no
union. :

The considerable opposition
within the CCL to affiliation
arises in large part out of
continuing jurisdictional dis-
putes-with CLC unions. There
are particularly bitter differ-
ences in the construction in-
dustry.

The municipal employees’
association holds that affilia-
tion is impossible, “until the
day CLC local rid themselves
of American international
unions to form an authentic
Canadian labor movement that
takes account of Canadian
political factors.”

The next step will be for

ry
QUEBEC ©”

‘ ‘ ion
By a narrow: 15-vote margin, the recent convent
the Canadian and Catholic Confederation of Labor a
decided to continue negotiations for affiliation with the

Cat

CCCL officials to Rie Le
representatives 0 f
aes whether the tet
affiliation the CCCL ae oe
ship wants are acceptab S

If the CLC ee fe
they are, the terms =
submitted at the CLC Pane
tion in Winnipeg next +7
and the Catholic workers
cepted as an affiliate. © <
the terms be considered bs ip
ceptable - they would *occh
be referred back to 4 ~ ae
convention and affiliation ;
layed.

In the yearly re
board. of the CCCL, Jean tat
chand, general secretary; ”—
ed that during this past of 1h
the CCCL has had to #8 re
strikes in widely sepa%#
parts of Quebee including oi
struggle at Arvida as es
in the shoe industry, #2 ~ 7.
struction, in bus transPe ve
tion, chemicals, and 12 cate
and ladies linen manus a

The convention adoP ab
solutions calling for freé Js"
lic education for all, le rig!
tion for the establishme®
a national health ins : alie!
plan and a program ine
of the unemployed. -O! antl
pensions of $80 per mi
Were demanded.

The CCCL now repres
well over one third of 4 ait
ganized workers in the ;

ince of Quebec... ae

port of bd

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BUSINESS PERSONALS

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BARBER SHOP — 204 Main
St., 2 blks. north of Hastings.

HASTINGS BAKERIES LTD.
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specialty. 716 East Hastings
Street.-Phone TA. 9719.

0.K. RADIO SERVICE —
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SERVICE, 1420 Pender St.
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CLINTON HALL, 2605
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an) -

REGENT TAILORS LIP’ ay
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couver 3, PAcific 8455

BIG 7 USED FURNITUS

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October 11, 1957 — PACIFIC TRIBUNE—PAGE