eT ee ee ae

BOR FRONT|

Donald Secord, secretary-treasurer of the Canadian |
Brotherhood of Transport Workers (CBRT), performed a use- |
ful service by focussing attention on the need for a greater)
measure of autonomy for the membership of international |
unions. in Canada than many of them now enjoy. ;

One must assume that Secord was not. speaking for him-
self but for the CBRT as a whole.

What he says is not particularly new. Communists in the
trade union movement have been calling for complete trade
union autonomy for many years.

What is new is the fact that in addition to Communists.
and left-wingers, other voices have now begun to speak up on
this vital issue and have thereby helped to make it a subject
of wide public debate throughout the trade union movement.

* *

As was to be expected, the capitalist press hhas chosen
to misrepresent the character of the debate as being one be-
tween the merits of national versus international unionism.
While these elements are involved in the discussion the. real
question at issue at this stage is not that but the over-riding
need to achieve a greater measure of autonomy for the Cana-
dian sections of international unions.

As was also to be expected Secord’s speech was not re-
ceived in too kindly a manner by the Canadian officers of
unions which have little if any_ autonomy. Characteristic were
the remarks of Frank Hall, Canadian vice-president of the
Brotherhood of Railway and Steamship Clerks, who dismissed
the issue by stating “most of us have all the autonomy we
want.” This may be true of Hall personally but is it true for

all the international unions in Canada?

Let us set the record straight.

& * ®

Ts it not a fact that Hall and every other Canadian officer |

of an international union was compelled to sign Taft-Hartley
affidavits as a condition for remaining an officer of the union?

Is it not a fact that many of the international union head-
quarters in the USA have insisted that local union officers in
panada also sign affidavits arising from the Landrum-Griffin

ill?

Is it not a fact also (as was divulged here recently), that a),
local of the IBEW in British Columbia was asked on the basis |
of this bill, to send an audited report of its treasury and fin- |

ancial transactions .to the U.S. authorities? And to add insult
to injury, it was billed for $300 for the audit. -

Is this the only Canadian local that has been compelled
to comply with a U:S. law? Is it not a fact that the Steel
workers’ union. constitution, as amended by the bill, was used
to prevent John Bellingham from standing for office in the

teel workers elections?

_Is it likewise not a fact that many of the Canadian directors
of international unions are appointed by the international
officers and not by the Canadian membership? Is it also not
true that their rights are restricted?

Is it not true that many international unions cannot, on
the basis of the present constitutions (hold national conferences
or conventions to work out uniform policies for the Canadian
membership?

. Is it also not true that some international union con-
Stitutions specifically bar Canadian locals from participating in
bolitical activity and also discriminate against the rights
of Canadian members?

eo ® *

_ One could add many more to the above list. How, in these
Circumstances, can Hall say that “most of us have all the
autonomy we want?”

This is not at all the opinion of a growing body of the
Canadian trade union movement which believes, and rightly
So, that no U.S. law should be imposed on unions im Canada,
that the Canadian membership should not only have the demo-
cratic right of electing its own Canadian officers, including the
right of every member to stand for office and be elected, but
also the right to hold national conferences and conventions to

ammer. out its policies. These are justified demands and need
to be fought for more vigorously than ever.

Ly fe ue
The Communist Party has never hidden the fact that it

Stands for: the complete autonomy of all unions in Canada,
hor has it hidden the fact that it looks to the. day when a

Completely independent trade union movement will evolve

in this country.
na Only. agents of U.S. imperialism could wish it otherwise.
This

Canadian soil. Far from being subversive it is profoundly

national and democratic in content. And that is why, no matter
Ow often it is suppressed,
Vigorous and buoyani fashion than ever.
Y the Canadian working class.

And it will be won

demand for a greater measure of autonomy arises out of

it arises again and again, in more},

Glimpses of Cuba

By Kay Edwards

evolution brings rebirth
of culture to new Cuba

HROUGH Canadian

friends, we met Nidia and
Miguel: These young profes-
sional workers who as stud-
ents had experienced the Bat-
ista Terror, were eager to help
us understand the new Cuba.
We questioned them on cul-

tural developments in the
country.
“Before Fidel—our culture

was submerged by the ‘cul-
ture’ of the casino and the
night club” cried Nidia, indig-
nation filling her dark eyes.
“Our writers and artists could
not breathe and because they
struggled against the regime,
they were outlawed and their
works forbidden.” She spoke
of Nicolas Guillen, a _ well
loved Cuban poet whose mes-

—

Hamish MacKay case

Ask Deportation
Order Be Dropped

A petition is being circulat-
ed in B.C. calling for the
squashing of the deportation
order against Hamish Scott
MacKay and William Mackie.

The petition is in support
of a private bill introduced
by Senator Wayne Morse call-
ing for cancellation of the de-
portation order. ©

Hamish MacKay and Wil-
liam Mackie were both deport-
ed in November under the
notorious Walter -
Act. MacKay came to Vancou-
ver while Mackie was deport-
ed to Finland.

ver have taken up MacKay’s

order.

Trade unionists in Vancou-

fight against the deportation

sage had been printed on
underground presses and sec-

his people.

We discussed the cultural
background of Cuba. In
aspects,

primary importance.
by the buccaneers as “piezas
de ebano” (pieces of ebony)
and cruelly enslaved by the
Spanish, the Africans have be-
come an integral part

their joy of life found expres-
dance. Out of Africa and out
new culture a

buried by corruption and only
now coming into its own.

a gigantic
containing

building | project
leries. We joined the crowds
and entered the National

construction, it promises to be
one of the finest in the world
When the curtain rose on a

were catapulted into a vivid
world of colourful
The vitality and. grace of the
young performers enchanted
the Spaniards, the African
simply adapted the rituais of
the church to his own_ primi-

tive animism.

is wildly beautiful.

erican way of life” in Cuba.

only now that
freely performed.

the quiet little bar

cussed the cultural program

. '
retly circulated from hand to |
hand. Now he is honoured by |
his government and read by |

all |
the presence of the |
African has played a role of}
Termed |

of
Cuban life. Their anguish and |

sion in music, in song and in|
of Spain evolved a dynamic }
heritage |
Our new friends took us to}

the Plaza Civica

theatres, libraries and art gal-|

Theatre of Cuba. Still under |

program of modern dance, we |

fantasy. |

us. Forced into Catholicism by |

The resulting
| expression in music and dance |

Last on the program was a |
rollicking satire on the “Am- |

First written in 1927—it was |
it could be}

After the concert, we visited |
in our |
hotel and over daiquiris, dis- |

{est artists in the world are
|being invited to Cuba. Sub-
sidized by the Government,
they perform to capacity audi-
ences who pay only twenty-
five cents to attend. Talented
young Cubans are assisted in
their studies and’ sometimes
go abroad for special training.
The government has_ estab-
lished a department of folk
lore under the able direction
of Argeliers Leon. Films are.
not forgotten and it is now
possible to attend the best of
foreign movies for as little as
twenty-five cents.

Our conversation turned to
personal things and we
learned that Niguel and Nidia
had planned to study abroad
this year. They had postponed
their trip because both believe
that in crucial times, their
work should be at home with
their people. Nidia is a prac-
tising Catholic. Her husband
is a Marxist but these fine
young people are united in
|their devotion to the revolu-
tion and to all that it implies.
Miguel’s leisure hours are
| with the Milicianos for the
defence of his country. Midia
works in the great educational
program.

Our evening ended quietly
as Nidia told us of the life of
Marti, the great Cuban leader.
When only thirteen, he and his
father, involved in an uprising,
were thrown in prison. For all
of his his wrists ahd
ankles bore the scars of the
manacles placed on him by the
Spanish. Killed in the war
against Spain, his body was
thrown across the back of a
|burro and paraded through
towns and villages to degrade
him in the eyes of his people.
Today, all Cuba reveres this
great man and his teachings
live in the new social order.
| As someone said, “Marti has
|shown us the road and we

life,

of the Government. The fin-| travel over it with Fidel”.
MeCarran ss =

COMPANY |

Banquet for

Edwin Suksi
Sat., Jan. 28 - 8 p.m.

CLINTON HALL
2605 East Pender St.

Hot Dinner, Program,
Dancing
Admission — $1.25
Sponsored by: Finnish

“€ :
“A year ago we started setting aside something every
|month, even if it was a small amount. Now we're up te

Ore. of Canada.

$2.90.”

{

January_27, 1961—PACIFIC TRIBUNE—Page 7