BCGEU statements reflect
differences on Fed policy

It is less than a month since the

Penticton convention of the B.C.
Federation of Labor, hardly
enough time for delegations to
report to their unions. But already
right-wing spokesmen are in-
dicating that to them the 1977
convention was only a step to the
1978 convention when they hope to
sweep the board in the elections.

In November issue of The
Provincial, organ of the B.C.
Government Employees Union,
there is anopen letter from general
secretary John Fryer, explaining
why he declined to leave his union
post to go to Washington as labor
attache to the Canadian embassy.

One of the reasons given by
Fryer is that “the trade union
movement stands on the verge of a
crisis. I am no quitter and don’t
have it in me to abandon the trade
union movement ‘ship’ at this
time,’’ he said.

Indicating his policy orientation,
Fryer stated ‘‘that the most
important positive initiative ever
taken by the labor movement in the
form of ‘Labor’s Manifesto’ is now
under concentrated attack from

within.” This is a signal that he.

does not accept the decision of the
1977 convention of the Federation
to scrap tripartism, the concept of
a partnership between labor, big
business and big business
government to improve the profit
system.

Fryer also offered the following
comment: ‘‘Toooften, trade unions
lose sight of these basic goals
(values of equality, fairness,
decency and social justice) and
begin pursuing those of economic
self-interest or of a particular
political party or philosophy. Such
activities weaken the credibility of
the trade union movement
amongst not only the public but
also our own membership.”’

It is ironic to look back at the
events of the 1976 Federation

convention and match them with’

Fryer’s statement that trade
unions arein danger of losing sight

of desirable social values in order’

to puruse the goals of a particular
polticial party or philosophy. What
stood out at the 1976 convention
was the alliance at the top between
the International Woodworkers of
America, the United Steelworkers
of America, the BCCEU and the
Canadian Union of Public Em-
ployees to unseat the Johnston-Guy
leadership. The main battle cry of
these delegations (with a

LABOR
COMMENT

BY JACK PHILLIPS

dissenting minority) was that the
Johnson-Guy leadership had
contributed substantially to the
defeat of the New Democratic
Party provincial government. In
line with the wishes of the Barrett
leadership, they fought for a policy
that the labor movement should
not have criticized the Barrett
government after it ignored the
recommendations of organized
labor in enacting labor legislation
and after it brought dowm strike-
breaking legislation.

Is this not a turning away from
the legitimate goals of the labor
movement in the interest of a
particular political party or
philosophy, to use the measuring
stick of John Fryer?

The line advanced by Fryer
appears to coincide with the
current drive of the right wing in
the NDP and the trade union
movement to make the Federation
and its affiliates completely
subordinate to the NDP before the
next provincial election.

Another article in The Provincial
reported that the Federation
convention passed resolution B-1.
It said “‘this will permit the BC-
CEU to elect delegates by local
instead of by provincial com-
ponents.” It should be noted that
this was not a constitutional
change, because the constitution

Fed demands controls
on energy, land costs

B.C. Federation of Labor
president George Johnson reacted
to last week’s announcement that
the cost of living has increased by
8.8 percent over the past 12 months
with a call for price controls.

“We need government action to
control the price of Canadian

. produced oil and gas; to bring
down mortgage rates; to control
land speculation; and other
housing ripoffs; to break the
stranglehold of the multi-nationals
on the Canadian economy. These
are the things that must be done if
the inflation rate is to be slow
said Johnston.

Tax cuts for lower and middle
income groups, increased pensions
and the creation of secondary
industry will stimulate the
economy. and provide jobs, the
Federation president said.

“All the economic indicators
point out that this government is
incapable of managing the
Canadianeconomy,” he said. “The
latest Consumer Price Index
figures are yet another in-
dictment.’’ The 8.8 percent hike in
prices is double the 4 percent in-
flation rate the government

predicted when it imposed wage

GEORGE JOHNSTON .-...

“break the stranglehold of the -

multinationals.”

controls in 1975, Johnston pointed
out.

‘*The B.C. Federation of Labor is
anxiously anticipating the next
federal election,’’ he added,
“When we will have an opportunity
to organize and express our views
to all those politicians, both Liberal
and Tory, who have saddled us
with this indefensible wage control
program and stagnating
economy.”’

specifically provides for affilation
by local unions. However, up to a
short time ago, the major part of
the BCCEU was_ internally
structured on the basis of 13
provincial components. It was not
the Federation that created this
structure nor the problems of
representation that later
developed.

When the BCCEU rejoined the
Federation in 1973, a represen-
tation formula was worked out at a"
meeting between its officers and
those of the Federation. The basis
of representation was amicably
agreed to by the parties despite the
fact that the main body of the
BCCEU would not be affilated to
the Federation through local
unions because of the union’s
component structure.

Now the BCCEU has been
reorganized and there will be only
nine provincial components with
approximately 90 locals, a local
being a territorial sub-unit of a
provincial component.

Under the Federation con-
Stitution, every affiliated local
union is entitled to send two
delegates to a convention for the
first hundred member plus one
more for every additional 500
members or major fraction
thereof. Thus, presuming that the
new structure will give the BCCEU
90 locals (as stated in The Pro-
vincial) they could be allowed a
minimum of 180 delegates, in place
of the current maximum of 108.

‘The Provincial also reported on
resolution B-2 as adopted by the
convention, instructing the
executive council to prepare a
written report and _ recom-
mendations on delegate entitlment
to the 1978 convention, “‘to ensure
that it more closely reflects the
members represented by af-
filiates.”

According to The Provincial, this
should increase the delegate en-
titlment of the IWA and CUPE. The
strange thing about this projection
is that the IWA and CUPE are
already organized on a local union
basis, with each local electing its
own delegates to Federation
conventions, as distinct from the
BCCEU with its component
structure and its appointment of
delegates from the top. In order to
change the basis of representation
for the IWA andCUPE, the basis of
representation for all affilates
would have to be revised con-
Stitutionally.

In The Barker of November,
1977, published by IWA local 1-217,
business agent Don Jantzen,
reporting on the Federation con-
vention, gives the BCCEU an extra
125 delegates in 1978.

“This” he said, ‘“‘could have a
significant influence for the 1978
convention which is an election
year.,”’

Fair and reasonable repre- - p=

sentation at conventions is a
principle no trade unionist can
deny. However, playing the
numbers game in order to impose
right-wing policies on the labor

movement, as some leaders seem .

to be doing, is not meant to make
the labor movement more
democratic or more effective in the
interests of the membership.

And a question still remains: If -

the BCCEU is allowed represen-
tation in 1978 on the basis of say, 90
local unions, will the delegates be
elected by the membership of those
locals — or will they be appointed
from the top, by the component
executives?

BCGEU SECRETARY JOHN FRYER ...

i
f

comments indicate con

tinued opposition to Federation policy.

CLC protests RCMP
activities in unions

The Canadian Labor Congress
has called for an immediate
inquiry into allegations of wrong
doing by the RCMP and military,
to be followed by a “clean up”’ of
the security services and a re-
structuring of the chain of com-
mand to place their operations
under control of parliament.

“The reports that taxes paid by
Canadians for. the purpose of
protecting them from attacks from
within and without are being
misused by the RCMP and the ©
armed forces to spy on their own
legally constituted organizations,
to assist employers against their
employees in collective bargaining
situations and to interfere in the
democratic process of trade union
elections are shocking beyond
belief,” CLC secretary-treasurer
Don Montgomery said in a release

‘last week.

“Tf these relevations are true,’’
he said, ‘‘they indicate the
presence in high places of power-
crazy individuals who are
prepared to go to extremes in their
battle against enemies conjured up
by their overactive imaginations.

“Tt’s high time the government
stopped -procrastinating and
launched a speedy and effective
inquiry into the operations of the
military and police . . . While
Canadians need protection from
criminals and hostile elements it is
becoming increasingly clear that
they also need protection from
their protectors. .

“Failure to take effective action
mayresult in a situation where our
country would degenerate into the
very kind of police state such
people profess to protect us from.”

In an interview with the
Canadian Tribune, Montgomery
said he had little confidence with
the McDonald Royal Commission

established by Trudeau to im |

vestigate the RCMP. A _ prope!
enquiry should fave
vestigatory staff, members of
parliament on the committee of
investigation and power to sub:
peona documents and witnesses,
he said.

Canadian Union of Postal

Workers president Jean-Claude |
Parrot told the Canadian Tribune |

that the revelations only confirmed |

suspicions his union has had sincé |
the 1975 postal strike when it was

discovered that CUPW telephota
were tapped.

Parrot said as well that he is.
waiting for a report-of an incident
in Montreal in 1976 that suggest:

RCMP interference in a local unit

election.

RCMP activity Mig part of al

general attack by the government
against labor,’’ Parrot said,

ments to the Public Service Stall
Relations Act.

“The government gave us thé

right to, strike, but not to negotialé
freely and when it faces unions liké

the CUPW who are prepared
fight for this basic right and won't |
buckle, they try to find out ou!

orientation by going through ou! |

mail and bugging our telephones.

In a statement from Canadial!)
Union of Public Employee)

president Grace Hartman, !
CUPE leader asked for a mee

- with the prime minister to discuss
reports that. the RCMP has 2}

special unit to gather informati0? |

on the union’s strategy and tactics |

the size of the union fund and thé
personal lives of union leaders.

Back the paper that

228 NRE Oey a tee Sak 4 Ow. be cae

fights for labor —

PACIFIC TRIBUNE

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Clip and mail to:

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expert im -

“in .
line with anti-labor legislation,
wage controls, and the new syste! |
of public sector negotiations about
to be introduced through amend |

—

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