UNDAY work, imposed by »

business and
practically without hind-
rance in the rest of Canada, is
still being firmly opposed by
Quebec’s national trade unions.

Recently the pulp and paper
workers’ unions affiliated to the
Confederation of National Trade
Unions reiterated their opposi-
tion to Sunday work in that in-
dustry in Quebec. There are ap-
proximately 20,000 workers in
pulp and paper industries in
Quebec.

In a joint brief, the CNTU
and the National Federation of
Pulp and Paper Workers stressed
that the companies asking for
amendments to the Sunday ob-
servance act had not produced
satisfactory proof of the “ne-
cessity” for such changes.

Testifying before a royal com-
mission set up by the Quebec
government, the union spokes-
men insisted it was up to the
companies to substantiate the
need of such amendments.

“After careful study of the
companies’ briefs,” said the
CNTU, “we came to the conclu-
sion that they have not succeed-
ed in establishing the economic
necessity for Sunday work.”

The CNTU thus maintains its
previous position on the sub-
ject, opposes the companies’ re-
quests and demands that ap-
propriate steps be taken to stop
all Sunday work which is not
absolutely necessary.

Unions affiliated to the CNTU
are almost the only ones to op-
pose continuous production in
the pulp and paper industry.
The CNTU notes that American
unions, expressing a widespread
feeling among their Quebec
members, have sided with the

A return of USS.

monopoly -

SUNDAY WORK?

One of the byproducts of
Quebec’s current indus-
trial revolution is the
““seven-day-week” crisis.

‘The

industrial: upsurge

has attracted new plants;

companies to request a change
in the present legislation.

In its brief to the provincial
royal commission the CNTU
agrees that Sunday work can-
not be completely prohibited.

The companies insist that
continuous production has be-
come an “economic necessity”
in their case if they want to be
in a position to meet the com-
petition from other countries,
and even. other provinces in
Canada.

But the CNTU disagrees. It
examines the following argu-

control ?

Needed:

N a memorandum to the Can-

adian Labor Congress mari-

time trustee C. H. Millard
proposes to replace the govern-
ment trusteeship over the mari-
time unions with a union trus-
teeship predominantly Canadian
and primarily responsible to the
CEC.

It is reported that the CLC
executive is to consider this
proposal early in March.

Seamen and trade unionists
should give Millard’s proposal
a long, hard look — and then
turn it down!

His proposition moves toward
a return to U.S. officer control
of international seamen’s unions
in Canada and toward reversing
the small gains made by sea-
men in strengthening Canadian
trade union autonomy since the
trusteeship was established.

Basically, what is involved in
the dispute around the maritime
unions is the right of Canadian
workers to build a democratic

a hard look at Millard’s proposals

Quebec unions
in the CNTU
are definitely
opposed to it

but these firms, many of
them monopoly giants,
would like to scuttle the
traditional Quebec ban
on Sunday work. At the
moment, the fight has the
Confederation of Nation-
al Trade Unions lined up
against giants such as
Dominion Tar and Chemi-
cal,
Paper Corp. While most
of the rest of the prov-
ince has knuckled under
to the demands of the
pulp-and-paper monopo-
lies (Domtar has already
been promised the seven-

and Consolidated

day week by Lesage), the
CNTU is continuing its
battle for a ban on Sun-
day work.

ments: >

@ The companies claim their
productivity would be increased
by one-sixth with Sunday work.
The CNTU does not share this
optimism. It stresses that the
universal law of decreasing out-
put also applies to the pulp and
paper industry. Continuous pro-
duction would increase the out-
put—but in a proportion small-
er than one-sixth.

® Increased productivity would
result, for the workers, in great-
er risks of intermittent unem-
ployment.

LABOR SCENE

By ALF DEWHURST

union free from outside control,
be that control by the com-
panies or by U.S. officers of an
international union. -

At issue also are the rights
of Canadian shipping.

In 1963 around the conflict
between the Canadian Maritime
Union and the Seafarers Inter-
national Union, the CLC leader-
ship was impelled to take up
cudgels for Canadian trade
union autonomy. The _ issue
could then be described by the
following question — was the

CLC a fully autonomous body
with sovereign rights or was it
controlled by international union
headquarters in the USA?

Millard’s proposal on_ the
trusteeship brings these issues
sharply to. the fore again.

So far the trusteeship has
failed to grapple decisively with
these issues. Achievements in
strengthening the
process in the maritimes unions
setup are mainly the result of
united rank-and-file activity in
wage and contract struggles. To

democratic ©

Indeed, it is to be presumed
that enterprises will be inter-
ested in producing at full cap-

acity only during peak periods,

then working on a_ reduced
scale when the demand is get-
ting lower.

Thus, in addition to losing
the privilege of a common rest-
ing day, the workers will have
to face the difficulties and in-
conveniences arising from such
practice.

© The companies argue that
the average production cost
would be reduced with Sunday

some extent the existence of the
trusteeship probably assisted in
the development of these strug-
gles.

In view of this there is no
reason why Canadian unionists
should add their voices to those
of SIU President Paul Hall and
the AFL-CIO maritime depart-
ment, who want to end the gov-
ernment trusteeship in order to
re-establish their old positions
of control in Canada.

The possibility still exists in
the present situation to build a
firm Canadian union of seamen.
Success could open the door to
strengthening the autonomy and
unity of the entire trade union

-movement in Canada,

As a step toward this end
Canadian seamen could create
a federation of maritime unions.
This would take into account
the existence of the SIU in
Canada and the seamen who are
members of it, and could lead
in the direction of one union of

the strengthening of the SoM)

-in favor of labor. The )?

work, The CNTU points out i
as inasmuch as the demaél
does not exceed the plant’s PY
ductivity on a six-day basis~
as is now the case — Sunil)
work would bring no reductid
in fixed expenditures. As @
fluctuating expenditures, the”
dustry would have to expect!
sensible increase, as is the @
in British Columbia, where Ul
and a half has to be paid #
Sunday work.

© Regarding external comp”
tition, it is not sure, accorill
to the CNTU, that Sunday wo!
would significantly improve ©
competing position of the QM
bec industry. This is a measly
of limited scope only, whi)
once it has been applied, is ™
bound to bring further devel
ments.

Before a decision is reach!
Quebec must be aware of ™
other factors on which actly
could be taken, and considé,
whether the advantages resill)
ing from continuous producti)
could not be obtained oll#
wise.

Finally, the CNTU bri
blames the enterprise manab
ment for avoiding certain *|
pects of the question which#
of primary importance to
workers.

For instance, the work?
would like to know what wou!
be the consequences of contisl
ous production on their act
income, present or future, Y
well as on their working cond!
tions and employment secutll)

dh

The companies state in ad
tion that continuous product!
will result in a marked ex
sion of the industry, but tht!
do not refer to any precise 0V
all expansion program.

Finally, the spokesmen of
pulp and paper industry 45°)
that a number of  problel)
would arise from continu
production, such as the diffie
conditions in which rep,
would have to be made, ©.)
have suggested no_ pre
measures against this.

cases

‘sey

Canadian seamen at a MY
stage. t

At the same time, as part

eignty of the Canadian ta
union movement, the | fin?
should establish a mat! igh
trades department, By inclUS
of all maritime unions sU
department would be able t@
ordinate activity, develop
grams and generally strengt!
the unity of action of
unions.

=
SS a

These proposals are not nth
but they deserve to be re
at this time. 3

With the appointment of ch
Director of Organization J:
Kenzie, representation of
board of trustees has ch@

must now correct its courte
must overcome wrong ‘0 i
cies and help to create a f",
able climate for . demoey
unionism among Canadian
men.

March 5, 1965—PACIFIC TRIBUNE—Page ° 7