: LABOR FRONT By WILLIAM KASHTAN Very little has been heard about the big drive to organize the white collar workers which the Canadian Labor Congress convention last spring set as one of its main tasks. One of the reasons presumably is that some of the CLC affiliates are still mainly preoccupied with raiding and juris- dictional disputes so that very little of their time and energy is left for what is most important. Another reason undoubt- edly is that the task itself is a difticult one and will only be solved if the maxi- mum unity and coordination are achieved based on the kind of militancy which made the drive to organize the industrial unions possible in the 30’s and early 40’s. The coming provincial Federation of Labor conventions ought to give close at- tention to this task even though it might appear to be outside their jurisdiction. But organization of the unorganized is the responsibility of all sections of the labor movement and the sooner it is accepted as such, the sooner will an effective drive be mounted. . = * & Perhaps it is too much to hope for, but would it be asking too much for the Ontario Federation of Labor convention to “correct the record” and have Messrs. Jodoin, Archer, Sefton and other “‘liberators’’ apologize for forcing through one of the most shameful resolutions ever adopted at a trade union convention? I am referring to the resolution which upheld the Steel and CLC drive to destroy Mine-Mill in Sudbury and elsewhere and to Jodoin’s scandalous attack on the handful of delegates who had the courage and foresightedness to stand up and vote against that particular resolution. I am referring also to Jo- doin’s uncalled for attack on these delegates as ‘foreign agents” who should go back where they came from. ‘ * * * Today, looking back at the situation more calmly and soberly and properly estimating the growing difficulties fac- ing the trade union movement, difficulties which right-wing policy did so much to bring about, and seeing, too, the shambles of CLC-Steel leadership with respect to Sudbury, a growing body of trade unionists can see more clearly who really are the “foreign agents’ — those who stood by prin- ciple and for a truly united trade union movement dedicated to advance; or those who voice the policies of division and disunity — the very policies which monopoly is always seek- ing to impose on the working’ class. A case in point, if such were needed, is the “golden voice” of the Globe and Mail, whose Labor Day editorial was an open call to trade union ‘‘statesmen”’ to give up the ‘‘obso- lete” class struggle and go over to open policies of class colla- boration. Such voices will rise in crescendo in the period ahead as government and monopoly strive to impose their austerity program onto the backs of the workers and working. people. The class struggle, however, cannot be wiped out of existence either by the Globe and Mail or by Jodoin. In fact the austerity program itself is a form of the class struggle waged by government and monopoly against the working class which in turn is forced to resist in order to defend its jobs and living standards. * Such a fight-back program ought to find reflection at the provincial Federation of Labor conventions. These conven- tions ought to assess, too, the growing use of the courts to decide the policies of the trade union movement, including which union a worker may or may not join. * * & Not least, the Federation conventions ought to draw the proper conclusions from the process of automation and mech- anization which is spreading throughout the Canadian econ- omy. Here, too, the illusions being spread by the right wing about a “golden age’”’ have given way to the nightmarish real- ity of mass unemployment which automation and mechani- zation are bringing about. Speaking at the Labor Day rally in Toronto, Donald Mc- Donald, secretary-treasurer of the CLC, stated that the “prob- lem of unemployment in this nation constitutes nothing less than a national disgrace” and that ‘we in labor must help resolve it in whatever ways are open to us.” One sure way of getting at the problem is to mount a united drive for the 35-hour work week with no reduction in takehome pay. The Federation conventions are a good place to push forward for such an objective. GLOBE TOURS YOUR COMPLETE TRIP CAN BE ARRANGED WITH US INCLUDING RESERVATIONS AND Hotel — Air — Rail -Steamship Bookings SPECIALIZING IN TOURS TO: @ USSR @ RUMANIA @ BULGARIA @ HUNGARY @ CUBA @ CHINA For Details Phone or Write To: GLOBE TOURS 613 Selkirk Ave. GAS PRICES EXHORBITANT Columbia River development aired at resources parley By NIGEL MORGAN KELOWNA, B.C. — One hundred and fifty dele- gates, representing government agencies, university and educational circles, management and laber, registered for the 14th B.C. Natural Resources Conference here on - making the theme, “River Basin Development.” As was to be expected, dis- cussion centred around the Columbia River project, with labor represen: tatives injecting much of the controversy that went into the three-day con- ference one of the liveliest for several years. While con- frence planning and panel speakers skirted many of the real issues of B.C. river de- velopment and appeared sur- prised at labor’s interest and varying viewpoint, at several points in the three-day con- ference appreciation was ex- pressed of the contribution labor representation had made. The Communist Party was the only political party officially represented. A highlight of the gather- ing, held for the first time outside Victoria, was the ad- Dr. James Endicott is arriv- ing in B.C. on Sept. 28 to re- port on the recent World Con- gress for Disarmament and Peace, held in Moscow. He will ‘speak at a number of centres, including Vancouver on Sunday, Oct. 7, at the Pen- der Auditorium, 339 W. Pen- der St. largely - vice given delegates by a Washington State University professor to ignore pressure from the U.S. on the draft Columbia River Treaty. ‘If I were a Canadian, I wouldn’t be concerned about pressure from the U.S. to get the Treaty ratified,’ Marion E. Marts, professor of geography from Seattle, and formerly with the U.S. Bureau of Re- clamation and author of many technical articles on the Columbia Treaty, declar- ed. G. S. Andrews, Surveyor: General and Director of Sur- veys and Mapping for the provincial Department of Lands and Water Resources warned delegates that ‘“While we have had 14 quiet years since the 1948, Fraser Valley flood in which the controver: sial Moran dam _ (which threatens destruction of B.C.’s fifty-million dollar © Fraser River fishery: Editor) has been overshadowed by the Columbia and Peace develop- ments, it could arise again immediately at any time.” He told the conference “The government has been studying, surveying and dia- mond drilling” with a view to development of a dispersal plan for water flow. K. Kristjanson, director of the Economics Division of the Manitoba presented a treaty on the history of planned river developments review- ing the conflict between var- ious provinces, provincial and federal authorities and inter- national boundaries. UNIONS SPEAK Tom Parkins, representing the United Fishermen’s and Allied Workers Union put in a strong word for a ‘more basic discussion of B.C.’s river development. What about the give away to the United States?” he asked plaining implications of | draft Treaty from the adian viewpoint. A que which the chairman © panel shunted off, with explanation that it mV too much detail for dise! here. : Mine Mill and ®! Workers representatives the Kootenays (site ®% projected Columbia da pursued the issue with” gates Booth of Kimbe Gerry Flannigan and Muir of Trail posing au® that brought the cont back into focus as SE cussion proceeded. : A question addressed b writer to P. R. Purcell engineer of the B.C. Board regarding the 7. @ documented propoal of Ce Beggs, general manage! the Saskatchewan y for diversion of part ° Columbia water-flow inl South Saskatchewa? for irrigation and hyd? in the prairie province cited the informatio? “neither the necessit¥ 1% or feasibility of such #7, had been evaluated % 4 sidered by the Internal? Joint Commision OF quet studies.” The Conference . by Dr. Jack Davisss research director of B.C. Electric Company np “natural gas prices ar third higher than wa Yet Winnipeg has 22” gas as long as vancouve” al fewer customers being a ar ler population, and 3§ ot by two private compar, “B.C. Hydro’s Natur service earns more 4 ca per cent on its investe ‘ tal” he charged. “A? 0¢ long this will rise to cent and than 15 pet Z the meantime B.C. Al earnings will be 6 a co? Why not pass on to he # sumer of natural g@§ ei ings. which flow 9, creased consumption, ed. ; = e was iy 12) c<) = 33 J Ustice 6-1886 Winnipeg 4, Man. Wm. KASHTA SPEAK ON- PROSPERITY vs. AUSTERITY ENTERTAINMENT HEAR: SUNDAY, SEPT. 23rd, 8 P.M. ~ THE PEOPLE CAN DECIDE LABOR SECRETARY, COMMUNIST PART ‘Hastings Auditorium — 828 HASTINGS ST. EAST QUESTION PERIOP AUSPICES VAN. CITY C’TTEE—C.P.C.. ROOM 506 FORD BLDG i Sept. 14, 1962—PACIFIC TRIBUN!