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ROLE REDEFINED

-Shake-up in

Polish unions

WARSAW

A stormy democratisation movement sweeping through the Polish trade unions has uprooted the leader-

ship..

It has redefined the role of the unions in a socialist society and established their independence, with the main

tasks of defending. the rights and conditions of the working people.

The movement, a trade un- ion revolution, must inevitab- ly influence other countries in the socialist group.

At a recent plenum session of the central council of the Polish trade unions; called to discuss the resignation of top officials, more than 600 dele- gates turned up, although the normal attendance is around 100.

They were elected direct from factories, mines, mills, shipyards and other enter-

prises. As one speaker said: “This isn’t a plenum, it is now a congress.”

These delegations, crowding into the large hall of the state planning commission, literal- ly took over the trade unions.

A report submitted to the session frankly admitted thai the unions ‘had been crippled by bureaucratic centralism over the past few years.

In face of everyday exper- lence revealing the need to de- fend the workers’ rights, the leaders had remained passive and become isolated from their members, more concerned with government economic aims than the workers’ just de- mands, the report declared.

The unions henceforth will be independent organizations with the main task of defend- ing the rights and conditions of the working people.

Guided . by this principle, their role in socialist society is being redefined.

The unions will be involv-

ed in the governing of the country, particularly in the financial budget, émployment policy, the economic develop- ment of districts, and all mat- ters affecting the living stan- dards of the people.

“The Polish unions have never been non-political,” said

the report , “therefore they should have parliamentary representation.”

In all places of work the unions will be the mass demo- cratic basis for the new self- governing plant councils being set up. They will be the spokes- men of the labor movement and should ensure that the new councils do not become bureaucratic. Many delegates were bitter in their denuncia- tion of the past.

A metal worker from Poz- nan’s- Zispo plant recalled the way in which the central council of the union had ig- nored their repeated pleas for help to solve the problems that led up to the Poznan events, the demonstrations and the riots.

He said: “This attitude of the general council was re- sponsible for the bloodshed that followed.”

When the union chairman had come to Poznan he had not even visited the plant.

The fact, too, that 360 offic- ials were employed by the cen- tral council in Warsaw was deplored, particularly when it was related to the fact that only 100 officials were em- ployed throughout the coun- try.

Readers in city celebrate papers 25th anniversary

Readers and supporters of the Czechoslovakian -weekly paper Ludove Zvesti (Unity) celebrated the 25th anniver- sary of their paper with a banquet in Russian People’s Home here on Friday last week. Some $200 was raised for the paper’s sustaining fund. :

Twenty-five years ago the first progressive paper Nase Slovo was published in Cana- da in the Czech language. In speaking of the history of. Lu- dove Zvesti as its successor, the guest speaker, Joe Durian-

chik, editor of Ludove Zvesti said:

“We Czechs in Canada are part of the history of the Can- adian working class. No. one can divide us from that class just because we are Czechs and Slovaks. We have been part of that struggle since its be- ginning.

“We came to Canada as im-

migrants with one desire, to.

improve our lives and make our contribution to the land of our adoption. Even the lat- est imigrants come with that desire, and in that respect we should help them.”

Continued

DRIVERS

“Over the past few years and again this week we made recommendations to the B.C. Electric which would go a long way to lessen tension on the operator.”

According to the union, 1956 has brought “a marked in- crease in nervous disorders” among its members. It will appear before the commission- ers of the Workmen’s Compen- sation Board to ask that heart disease be recognized as an occupational ailment.

In the Denby case, as in the previous case earlier this month, the coroner’s jury re- commended compulsory medi- cal examinations at regular intervals for bus drivers.

Dr. H. D. Barner, personal physician to Denby, testified that he had been treating him for heart trouble for three years prior to his death.

Charles Stewart and John Hayworth, business agent and president of the union, said they have no objections to such examinations, but quali- fied their acceptance by add- ing that much more had to be done to solve the problem.

“Many people have medical _ examinations and were given the O.K. to resume work and within hours were struck down by a heart attack. We feel that above all else it is necessary to remove the causes that make for nervous tension.”

Colin Dobell, BCE director of transportation, safety and training claimed that only “five or six” drivers had died while in control of their buses in the past 30 years.

A bus driver with 20 years seniority was interviewed by the Pacific Tribune and he dis- agreed sharply with Dobell:

“Vancouver was a small city thirty years ago, with very few automobiles. Most people travelled by street car, which ran on tracks in the middle of the road and was operated by the motorman and conductor. Today, under much worse con- ditions, the bus driver has to do the work that two men did in those days.”

Another bus driver who started with the company in 1946 had this to say:

“TI don’t need any charts to prove that more and more cars are appearing on down- town streets. I know it from my work. What I want to know is why can’t the city council deal with this traffic problem?”

In response to questions dir- ected to them by the Pacific Tribune, veteran bus drivers came up with the following ideas: ® A shorter work week for

transit operators.

@ More frequent service for the public, to ease the strain on drivers.

@ Bold action by city coun- cil to reorganize and speed the flow of traffic in downtown areas.

had.

Vancouver policemen win — new deal on promotions

Vancouver city police have won a new deal on pro motions, something they were unable to do under the tested regime of former Police Chief Walter Mulligan.

The Vancouver Police Union, CLC, has actively

campaigned for a change in seniority provisions.

Under the new plan, the un- ion will share in the adminis-

Mine-Mill leaders post $65,000 bail

DENVER

Fourteen top officials of Mine Mill in the U.S. indicted on charges of conspiracy to violate the Taft-Hartley Act, have posted $65,000 in bail with the U.S. Marshal’s office in Denver.

The union posted the $5,000 bonds required for each of 13 defendants. The 14th was Maurice Travis, former union president permitted to sign his own bond without posting cash because he is free on $15,000 bail, pending appeal of a pre- vious Taft-Hartley conviction.

The 14 were charged with conspiring to defraud the Fed- eral government by filing false non-Communist affidavits un- der the Taft-Hartley Act.

The union has branded the indictments “an attack on an old and respected labor union and its members.”

tration of promotions.

Ability, intelligence and pe formance will be the mal? basis of promotion through competitive examinations. Seniority will be a minor face tor. However, senior men wil be protected to the extent that no. police officer with less than ten years’ service will be eligible for promotion to sergeant or detective.

The plan applies to uniform ed men only, It was draw? He a by Commissioner Willi@ ; Murphy and a committee oe cluding Dean Geoffrey Andy of UBC, Chief Constable 4 cher and Superintende? John Fisk.

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