HILL TORONTO —.A spring rally and brief to labor minister Robert Elgie will back up the re-intro- duction of a bill giving protection to Ontario’s 70,000 domestic workers, a public meeting of domestics resolved here Nov. 26. A private member’s bill on this issue, introduced by New Demo- cratic Party labor critic Bob MacKenzie was defeated Oct. 12 in the Ontario Legislature. At the meeting organized by Labor Rights for Domestic Servants (LRDS), MacKenzie read some of the transcripts from that de- bate, indicating the ‘‘awareness”’ the Tories possess of working people and their problems. Statements like those of MPP 3 Ramsey (Sault Ste. Marie) who worried that the bill would de- stroy ‘“‘the close, often personal relationships, employment and the means of earning a living for many thousands of people in a very satisfying way’’; or Mick Hen- nessey MPP for Fort William, who was concerned that low in- come people in his area would no longer be able to afford domestic help. MacKenzie congratulated LRDS for their militant action in defending the rights of their members, calling them ‘‘the only legitimate representative of domestic workers’. But he sug- gested that the legislative process was the only means of giving their members adequate protection. James Lockeyer, lawyer for Glenora Richards (see Tribune Nov. 19) announced that her ap- peal against deportation had been won and another hearing had been scheduled. Noting that dur- ing Richards’ hearing the Ad- judicator had dismissed Richards and the LRDS as uncredible wit- nesses while her employer, Tory minister Larry Grossman was considered so credible he was not even required to attend the hear- ings, Lockeyer cited class posi- tion as the underlying reason. which provide. LUTTE ULLUT TT fA | Labor Rights for Domestic Servants at a recent demonstration outside the home of Tory Minister Larry Grossman demanding back pay owing Glenora Richards. ‘Perhaps if Glenora had Larry Grossman’s money ‘this case would not have been so difficult’, he charged..- In setting the $1,000 bond for Richards’ release the courts re- vealed their racist attitudes, said Lockeyer. As a specialist in im- migration cases he noted that if Richards have been a white woman her bond would have been only $500, or release would have been on her own recognizance. ‘“*To raise $1,000 she would only have had to work for Grossman for three years,’’ he commented. He congratulated LRDS, not only for their efforts in challeng- ing the labor relations laws, but also the sexism and racism which exists in immigration procedures. Mary Brookes, an executive member of LRDS told of how her association with the group had helped her stand up to her boss and raised her self-esteem. The group was not only necessary to fight problems with their employers but to overcome the social isolation domestics face. A former member of a clothing trades union in her native Eng- land, she told the meeting that as much as women need a union in the mills they also need a union in the home. Speaking of uniting their strug- gle with that of the trade union movement, Nan McDonald of the Congress of Canadian Women suggested LRDS bring their ef- forts to labor’s attention. ‘‘Your brothers and sisters in organized labor will not let these injustices go unanswered,”’ she said. grams to federal immigra Marijana Tennebaum, LRDS, asked those present to b come active members of the ganization. ‘‘If one of your sisté is having a problem, don’t back,”’ she warned. ‘‘Today it her, tomorrow it may be you A representative from ganized Working Women, Glenora Richards also gave idarity greeting to the meeting Resolutions were passed by th u workers to give full support 1) Glenora Richards through ! letter-writing campaign Grossman, to force him to pay $500 owing her in back wages; ganizing a mass demonstratio’ front of his home; sending minister Ron Atkey to quash deportation order, and pack her trial with supporters whe takes place. In addition to the spring ré LRDS will be initiating a paign to make the contra signed by domestics when enter the country legally bind on their employers. Currently contracts which outline the co: tions of work for the domestic merely unenforceable guidelir Why are food costs climbing? With the cost of living continu- ing to climb, consumers are listen- ing for logical explanations as well as for ways out of the crisis. That is not surprising when the cost- of-living index is at 9.6% for the 12 months ended September 1979, and real incomes dropped by 2.2% in these 12 months. The Provincial, a publication of British Columbia government workers, offers in its Oct.-Nov. issue one ‘‘explanation’”’ of why prices are high, under the head- ing: How we are manipulated. It originates with the big Loblaw food store chain. **Loblaws said they had to raise the price of bread because of the increased cost to the supplier, the supplier being Westons which owns Loblaws. ‘Weston said it has to raise the price because of the. increased cost to its suppliers for milk and sugar, the suppliers for Westons being Donland and Royal Dairy ‘and WestCane Sugar, all owned by Westons. ‘‘Westons then said the flour had gone up from their suppliers, the suppliers being McCarthy Mill of Streetsville and Soo Line of Winnipeg, both wholly owned subsidiaries of Westons. Then they said the distribution costs were going up which would require an increase in bread p and the distributors inwol were National Grocers and Y' Trading, both subsidiaries of Weston empire.” . A footnote to the story George Weston Ltd., the p of all these greedy offspring, nine-month after-tax profit, ing Sept. 30, of $43,821,000. same nine months a year eaf the clear profit was $31,682 Westons also owns well-kno companies like McNair Produ Wm. Neilson Chocolate, Paper Co.., etc. It answers not only how we manipulated, but why it’s so tense — super profit. United action — key to victory Every passing day brings fresh evi- dence of the Clark government’s inept- ness in dealing with the affairs of state. However, there are two areas in which this government does not flounder, It knows where it wants to take the coun- try. It wants to move the country as far to the political right as possible. It wants also to take Canada down the path of low living standards — that is for the working people. eS In our present times, working people have shown their readiness to fight back. They refuse to blindly accept monopo- ly’s solutions to the economic crisis. The working class, in association with other sections of the working population, plays the leading part in the common struggle" against the effects of chronic inflation and mass unemployment. It plays the leading part in the struggle for redistribu- tion of the national income in favor of the working people. The working people have no other re- course but to fight back. It is either fight or sink deeper into the squeeze of monopoly’s grip. The readiness to fight back augurs well for the forging of a un- ited fightback. That is: to end the isola- tion of one struggle from another, and various groups of protesters from one another. This being the case, a grave re- sponsibility rests on the shoulders of the leading forces of the working-class and PACIFIC TRIBUNE— DECEMBER 7, we Sogn ~ Marxism-Leninism in Today’s World democratic movement to change this situation. * * * The need of these times is united ac- tion of the working people, unity in ac- ~ tion of the trade unions, unity in action of all workers in all industries so as to curb the power of the monopolies and to de- feat the drive to the political right. In this way conditions can be created to change the balance of forces in favor of the work- ing people and achieve new advances all down the line. Of major importance in advancing along this road is unity of action between the Communist Party and the New Democratic Party. To advocate such unity is not to deny the differences that exist between the two parties. The NDP is a party of reform. It fulfills a role in challenging the monopoly of the two old line parties of capitalism, detaching working people from their influence and furthering the process of independent labor political action. This, of course, is a political plus in developing anti- monopoly struggle for economic and democratic grins. * * On the other hand, the Communist Party goes beyond this initial step. It works to win workers for class struggle policies, for socialist policies — for a socialist Canada. But this should not constitute a barrier standing in the road of common action for immediate reforms or common aims between the NDP and the Communist party. The question of real socialism for Canada is for tomor- Tow’s agenda. The paramount question for today is the liberation of the working people from the evils of monopoly domi- nation and exploitation. This being the case, there exists plenty of room for cooperation today which could, in all likelihood, create a sound basis for co- operation in struggle for the socialist goal. The question of NDP-Communist unity in action is not a gimmick projected to gain some momentary advantage for the communists. It isa long-standing pol- icy of the Communist Party. It is a prin- ciple of the strategy and tactics of Marx- ism-Leninism directed toward healing the split in the working-class movement. It is anecessary ingredient in building the united front of the workers in their strug- gie against capitalism. It is likewise a necessary ingredient in building the anti-monopoly alliance. * ok * Communists have always maintained that all workers regardless of race, color, nationality, sex, religion or political be- lief have common interests. This is so ae SO EE EE TT By ALFRED DEWHURST because of their position of being | exploited part of society. This is the © jective basis upon which unity res This urge to unity cannot be denied. is sometimes diverted by splitting ta fostered by monopoly through 2) working class propaganda, as for | stance the current attempt to divide ¥” trade union movement as between ¥ ions in industry and those in the pu' sector. Or by reason of anti-comm propaganda aimed at sowing mis! and enmity in the ranks of the workers is sometimes dampened temporarily * result of betrayals of those who been placed in positions of trust leadership in the workers’ movemé and have — or appear to have, esp0 the interests of the owning class t0 detriment of the workers. a However, the urge to unity will ne be extinguished. It arises anew every set-back. This is particularly times of great danger facing the wot and their organizations. In these #., the danger facing the working peOP! terms of standards and rights is pe greater than at any time of Canada’ $%,, tory. For this reason the days ahead will see the urge for unity new high level. but in order to mé an effective and cohesive force, organized into united action to the interests of the working class working people. This is the t leadership at every level.