{BILL 43 UNIONS BLAST SOCRED i (lt (ea) Wey = Ts ae a i i. RY y t — pertain) Vol. 18 No. 10 Phtone MUtual 5-5288 Authorised as second class mail by. the Post Office Department, Ottawa 10c VANCOUVER, B.C. FRIDAY, MARCH 6, 1959. _ Executive's resolution angers VLC delegates A resolution “condemning” unionists who have been help- _ ing unorganized unemployed workers to organize. was intro- ducted -by Vancouver Labor Council’s executive at Tuesday’s meeting, and received rough treatment from angry delegates —including one executive member. It- was finally referred back to the executive for further consideration “in the light of ‘Although the resolution mentioned no names, it was obviously a criticism.of B.C. Federation of Labor president Pat O’Neal, who spoke at an Unemployed Action Commit- tee meeting-last week, along with John Hines of the Paint- ers Union. Mel Kemmis grabbed a mike as the debate opened and gave delegates some per- tinent information. “The executive board split on this resolution,” he inform- ed council, “and it was only passed by the deciding vote of the chairman. I don’t like to see breakaway meetings, but I feel that I can’t condemn any member for taking action to assist the unemployed. Furthermore, when I was ask- ed if L supported sending a BCFL speaker to such meet- ings I said yes, I did — I favor appearing before any group to put forward the posi- tion of the BCFL. So I urge _ the opinions expressed here by the delegates.” you to unanimously reject this resolution.” President Whalen rose to support the resolution. He de- nounced the ‘splitters’ who “are trying to organize the un- employed outside the trade - union movement” and termed them “self-imposed Messiahs.” Bill Stewart (Marine Work- ers) pointed out that thous- ands of jobless do not hold union cards. “We should re- - quest the CLC to let us open our ranks and take them all in,” he said. Orville Braaten (Pulp, Sup- phite), Bill Arland (IAM Auto Workers) .and John Hines (Painters) rose to oppose the motion, and urge a broadening of the struggle on unemploy- ment. On motion of Charlie Stew- art (Street. Railwaymen) the resolution was referred back to the executive for “further consideration.” LABOR ORGANIZES HT-BAGK RALLY “Vancouver Labor Council this week: called on B.C. Federation of Labor to “immediately call an emergency meeting of representa- tives of unions throughout the province to discuss Bill 43 and pos- sible action on behalf of the labor movement’ and BCFL president Bill Black told council delegates that such a parley would be con- sidered without delay. Blasting Bill 43, which he called “just the first gun being fired in the legislative war on labor,” Black said: “The Socred government has gone down the line with man- agement proposals. They have identified themselves as being one and the same. “This (Bill 43) gives the em- ployers the lever they require to continually harass, perse~ cute and prosecute the labor unions through the courts on the slightest pretext. “It proves beyond any doubt the desire of both government and management to legislate the trade union movement out of existence, and finally we believe it conclusively proves that management controls the government.” (Bill 43, introduced by La- bor Minister Lyle Wicks and given its first reading in the House this week, outlaws sym- pathy picket lines and sym- pathy strikes; token picket lines; secondary picket lines; and information picket lines.) “Labor at no level was con- sulted — the usual courtesies were ignored,” said Black. The new legislation, which would replace the Trade Un- ion Act passed in 1948 de- clares that unions and manage- ment organizations are legal entities. This would mean that management could sue unions in the event of strikes, and if the courts so decided, the un- 4jons could be heavily fined. Black warned that other anti-labor legislation may be introduced during the present session of the legislature. “I think they will try and amend the Labor Relations Act, too.” he told VLC delegates. Should the proposed legis- lation be passed, one effect would be to prohibit labor papers from publishing ‘We Do Not Patronize” lists, ex- cept in places where a “legal” strike was in effect. Whalen not on payroll: VLC rejects proposal A strong bid by Vancouver Labor Council's executive to amend the constitution and make the presidency — now held by Lloyd Whalen — a paid post, was rejected by dele- gates at Tuesday’s meeting this week. At the largest council meeting ever held, the motion carried 219 to 127 votes — just 12 votes short of the two-thirds majority required. For a moment Whalen — who recently ,lost his job as head of IWA Local 1-217 — thought he was on the payroll. Tellers had brought their re- sults of the standing vote to the head table, and Whalen, peering over secretary EB. A. Jamieson’s shoulder, grinned happily and announced, “The motion is carried!” Then, a moment later he corrected himself: “No, wait a minute the tellers will write the results on the blackboard.” Down went the figures: 219 for, 127 against. Needed to carry, 231 votes. (The tellers inaccurately put down 230). “The motion is lost,” said Whalen. Prior to voting a hectic but short debate had taken place, with several executive mem-. bers, including Jamieson, Ed Sims, J. Brown and George Johnston, fervently supporting the proposal. Opposing speakers included Bill Arland (IAM Auto Work- ers), Reg Bullock (Marine Workers), W. M. McNeil (Longshoremen) and another ILWU delegates, Charles Ross who infuriated Whalen when he remarked that “Whalen has a lot of capabilities and I have.no doubt several indus- trialists are competing for his services.” : “withdraw!” shouted Whal- en. “You have stated the place for me is working for the bosses!” “Not at all,” said Ross. “I .merely said you have undoubt- ed capabilities that many in- dustrialists would be happy to have at their disposal.” As delegates entered the hall they were handed a copy of a leaflet issued by Reg Bullock (Marine Workers) headed “An Open Report About A Closed Meeting” which disclosed details of a private meeting convened in the Steelworkers Hall Febru- ary 26 and “ostensibly under the sponsorship of Lloyd Whalen and E. A. Jamieson” where technique to be used at the VLC council meeting was allegedly formulated. - The Bullock leaflet charged that discussion would be limit- ed to 20 minutes and then choked off by the chair ac- cepting a prearranged motion to “move the previous ques- tion.” (Debate actually lasted 30 minutes and ended in the manney predicted.) ee The leaflet also predicted that executive members and a few other would “monopolize the microphones.” (Four ex-:- ecutive members spoke, but four opposition speakers also had the floor). Finally, the leaflet predicted a secret ballot. (The voting was by standing vote, with six tellers — two to an aisle — taking the count).° nae