OF MA 1 STRIK Day E FOR 25 years ago... GREETINGS ON MAY DAY Hearty May Day greetings to our readers and supporters. Great advances have been made by the forces fighting for human liberation since last May Day. We should be proud and joyous this May Day for peace in Korea and the world is going to be won. Big battles lie ahead here in Canada and across the world. The people will win through their unity, courage and solidarity. Solidarity forever. The Tribune warmly thanks you for your confidence and unwavering support in the struggle. We ask you to continue this support — to put our $27,000 Sustaining Fund over the top, to renew your sub, to help win new readers. This is a federal election year, a year of testing. Our slogan is Put Canada First, Peace Now. Tribune May 4, 1953. | MP" oa Se a a ae ee ‘ WANNA TRY TAKING..TH/S LUN 50 years ago... PITTSON MINER CONVICTED Eleven jurors voted to acquit Sam Bonita, Pittston coal miner . and progressive union leader, on trial for the death of Frank Agati as the result of an aggres- sive fight on the contractor sys- tem. One obdurate juror forced a verdict of involuntary man- slaughter with a penalty of one to two years. But a reactionary judge pounded his desk and sent the jury back with orders to disre- gard their convictions. Reluc- tantly they found Bonita guilty of manslaughter and recom- mended “extreme leniency.” Judge McLean tossed the recommendation in the waste basket and gave Bonita the maximum penalty of six to twelve years at hard labor in the penitentiary. No appeal will be taken. : The Worker May 5, 1928. lp | tlt H ASA _ BUSINESS EXPENSE ON OUR. INCOME TAx ? PACIFIC TRIBUN E—May 5, 1978—Page 4 IDITOMUAL COMIWIEINT Confident of victories ’ May Day embraces the struggles of working people the world over — with international solidarity topping the May Day banners. It is no accident that the working class which, daily, takes the dirt, the heat, the strains and harassment of an exploiting system (right down to its petty flunkies), is, in many parts of the world, the class that holds power. It is no accident for it is workers who are in the front lines in the | battle against monopoly capitalism. In the same breath it is workers who create the billions in wealth which the present temporary rulers use against us. For workers in socialist societies, this May Day opens another year of building the future — and extending the gener- ous hand of aid to those fighting col- -onialism, racism and aggression. On the eve of May Day a mighty sec- tion of the world trade union movement met in Prague and created a trade union Bill of Rights. Fresh in our minds are the, decisions of the recent Canadian Labor Congress convention, where genuine spokesmen of the workers argued for a program capable of facing up to the sys- tem’s hardening assault on labor. And significant progress was made. The federal Liberals have given work- ing people overwhelming reason not to vote Liberal in the coming election — from the wage-slashing, union-busting: Anti-Inflation Board to a scandalous million-and-a-half unemployed. ' The federal Tories, pushing for more’ right-wing policies and free rein to pri- vate sector bosses, want to show they can serve the monopolies better. Tory pro- vincial governments are examples of what they would do with power. _ The Davis Tories in Ontario are in- famous for their anti-labor conniving, the orgy of cutbacks of social services, and callous increases in medical care. There’s the Sterling Lyon bunch in Man- itoba, dismantling any legislation of worth to labor, and inflicting economic genocide on the public service. Contempt for these two old parties,. dear to the monopoly corporations, found expression at the Canadian Labor Congress convention. Their “works”, the deepening of economic crisis, attacks on workers’ living conditions, and multi- national and U.S. power over our lives, brought out among other things, the CLC call for public ownership in key industrial sectors. All of this emphasizes the need for a stubborn fight to replace anti-labor crisis policies with policies guaranteeing workers a decisive say in their own lives. It’s time for a real change to benefit thousands of working-class families. The Communist Party of Canada (CPC) therefore directs its election platform toward unity in the struggle of workers, farmers and all who work and defend democratic rights. At its March central committee meet- ing the CPC called for opening the workers’ struggle for control of _parlia- ment. This May Day we are three weeks away from the United Nations Special Sessio# on Disarmament — of prime concern fot working people, threatened with arms escalation by NATO’s and the USA$ waving of the neutron bomb. Canada’s government can be col vinced to veto the neutron bomb and 0 _ work unflaggingly for disarmament only if that most powerful of bodies of Can dians, the labor movement, throws 16 . weight decisively into such a demand — | and does it now. Canada’s spending on arms not only | cuts the ratio of jobs, but costs workels cutbacks in -social services, undermine Canada’s independence, takes the set ous toll on democracy we have witnessed; and is capped with the terrible threat 0 nuclear holocaust. Canada’s workers are armed this May Day with the experiences of the recent! — past, added to the long history of work ing-class struggle. In unity they ca? successfully challenge monopoly domr nation and win a say in all matters affect ing their lives. Just as surely, for a grow ing number, this battle to end exploit# tion is another battle on the road socialism. Labor and election policy “The working class and democrati¢ forces are strong enough to turn ba the drive to the right and to political reaction,” and to struggle for “a reé democratic alternative ... a democrat coalition including the New Democrat -. Party and the Communist Party. Elect 4 progressive majority, including Com munists, to parliament, around new policies to ensure real change!” Only workers will take up the cudgel in their own interests. “Focusing on thé question of government even though #! may not yet be a realizable objective 4! this time, nevertheless can act as ? stimulant of the working class and den” ocratic forces and impel consideration 0! the kind of democratic alternative thé times call for.” : The position held out by NDP leade! Ed Broadbent relies on a Liberal or Tor) - minority government, made “stable” (i-¢ . ys kept in power) by the NDP. In return fo! this Broadbent says, the governmet! would grant concessions to the NDP an® supposedly the labor movement. What a way to go to workers — wh? have been through the Day of Protest the AIB farce, mass unemploymen’ mass layoffs, and had a bellyful of Trudeau arrogance! Stable government is not the issué Trudeau has been amply stable as he went about undermining labor, an strengthening the military-industria! stranglehold. : The question is how, in the face of hardening right-wing policies, to break through with gains for the working clas®: That is what Communist Party policy se out to do — to change the fate of parlia” ment, to elicit all-out workers’ responsé to the burning needs of 1978 and beyond — utilizing, not throwing away thé strength of unity.