From Page 6

“Early Union Story Brought To Light’

evidence supplied by a Legislative committee of a sale of paupers by auction in 1888. Eleven paupers were sold, including three orphans of five, seven and nine years; a girl of fif- teen; a boy of thirteen; a man of fifty-eight who had tuberculosis; a blind woman aged fifty-eight; a one- armed man of sixty-eight; a man of

’ the work of Dr. Barnardo in bring- ing English “street arabs” to Can- ada. Dan blasted the scheme.

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seventy-one and a woman of eighty- one.

Don O'Donoghue was elected to the Legislature in the birth year of J. S..Woodsworth and William Lyon Mackenzie King, both of whom played different but important roles in Canadian labour history. Indeed, one of the most interesting chapters in the book portrays the hypocrisy practised by Mackenzie King on labour matters,

Dan O'Donoghue was one of the earliest and most ardent advocates of political action by labour. His converts succeeded in winning the support of the early Trades and Labour Congress for direct action by labour in the political field.

Political Action Won Early Support

The greatest pressure for political action came from British Columbia, it is recorded, “The West Coast unions were young and yeasty and considered it a major feat to bring the 1906 convention of the Trades and Labour Congress to Victoria.” The Convention in 1900 had passed a resolution favouring the formation of an independent labour party. Thirty labour candidates had been elected in Great Britain in 1905. Keir Hardie, British Labour M.P. address- ing the Congress, had stated “I hold strongly that trade unionism without political action is lop-sided”.

Three prominent members of the Congress’ Executive were elected to the House of Commons. This early chapter in trade union political ac- tion makes interesting reading in the light of recent developments. It was largely the influence of the American International Unions that obscured for many years the intention of Canadian trade unionists to enter politics. a;

Nevertheless, important political achievements stand to the credit of the early pioneers of political action.

These include:

The universal franchise.

The right of collective bargaining.

The secret ballot.

Legislative protection for immi- grants,

The abolition of convict labour.

The eight-hour day and forty-hour week in agreements.

Vastly improved standards of liv- ing.

Adequate Workmen’s Compensa- tion and Factory Acts.

Minimum wage scales.

The chapters dealing with political action draw an interesting parallel with the development of the New Democratic Party. The language of debates on this subject has changed little in the last one hundred years.

We are grateful to Doris French not only for telling us the story of a great trade union leader, but for reminding us of glorious chapters in Canadian trade union history. The growth of the British trade union movement has been described as a “Magnificent Journey”. The growth of the Canadian trade union move- ment she has portrayed as no less magnificent.

Fines Upheld For Quota Exceeders

Fines assessed by a union against members who exceeded production quotas was recently upheld by an examiner of the National Labour Relations Board in the United States.

The examiner recommended dis- missal of a complaint against a United Auto Workers’ Local at a plant of Wisconsin Motor Corpora- tion.

Ind

luntary Lab ispensable

eer

In N.D.P. Gains

(Reprinted from The Democrat)

The full story of trade union

participation in the recent federal election will never appear in print. If it did, the

luminaries in

the Attorney-General’s Department would distort the facts and Bill 42 provisions with the usual Social Credit venom. Suffice it to say that the voluntary effort organized by a number of interested unions became an indispensable factor in gaining new ground for the Demo- crats. More happened in this area of campaign operations below the surface than appeared on the surface, Say the unions-——“let the

results speak for our work”.

The idea of direct trade union political action is comparatively new. It has not taken hold in Canada, as in Great Britain, which in this re- spect is fifty years ahead of Canada. This election campaign proved to be a “shake-down cruise” into the poli- tical arena. Some unions were over- enthusiastic, forgetting that the tech- niques of job organization and union discipline are not readily transferred to constituency political mobilization of volunteers but they went “all-out”.

Support Varied Some unions were too wary of

Bill 42 prohibitions, and surren- dered too easily to the unfounded fears of apathetic members. Other unions had leadership cither com- pletely indifferent or openly hostile to the New Democratic Party. To those outside the trade union move- ment this presented a confused pic- ture not in the least indicative of the true state of affairs.

Several factors solidified the trade union vote in industrial ridings de- spite conflict of leadership opinion. The B.C. Federation, from the out- set, led the way and fearlessly pro- claimed support of the New Demo- cratic Party. This action was warmly supported by the larger unions, not- ably the TWA. In some instances, political action was a spontaneous de- yelopment within a Local Union of Internationals which were reluctant to make the plunge. Outside the Canadian Labour Congress the United Fishermen and groups of Civic Workers openly declared their support. Notwithstanding the cross- currents, the ‘total trade union sup- port was formidable.

Bill 42 Backfired

The Bill 42 prohibitions against trade union political action boomer- anged against the Social Credit Gov- ernment. Workers were so angered by the loss of civil rights that they saw in the federal election an oppor- tunity for revenge. In a very real sense, the election campaign became for them a campaign against anti- Jabour legislation, and a trial run for action at the polls in a provincial election. The trade unions at the outset were perplexed with several questions. How can we circumvent the pro-

Labour To Aid Latin Americans

To assist trade unions in Latin American countries, the American Institute for Free Labour Develop- ment has recently been created — principally sponsored by the Ameri- can trade union federation AFL- CIO. It opened on June 18 in Washington, D.C. George Meany, AFL-CIO president, was appointed vice-chairman of the Institufe.

The purpose is to help unions to construct low-price dwellings and medical clinics, set up cooperatives, and organize vocational and adult education. It will train each year over 100 trade union students from the Latin American and Caribbean countries. Classes will be held in English and Spanish.

CREDIT UNION DIRECTORY

IWA Credit Unions and other Credit Unions

supported by IWA Local Unions in B.C.

Alberni District Credit Union, Head Office: 211 Argyle St., Port Al- berni, B.C. Alberni Branch: 280 Merrifield St., Alberni, B.C.

IWA 1-217 Savings, Broadway & Quebec Streets, Vancouver 10

IWA (N.W.) Credit Union, Room 21, 774 Columbia Street, New

Westminster

Local 1-118, IWA (Victoria), 904 Gordon Street, Victoria Chemainus & District Credit Union, Box 229, Chemainus

Lake Cowichan and District Credit Union, Lake Cowichan, B.C. Courtenay Credit Union, Box 952, Courtenay

Duncan & District Credit Union, Box 1717, Duncan

Prince George & District, 1046 - 4th Avenue, Prince George

Nanaimo & District Credit Union, 499 Wallace St., Nanaimo Ladysmith & District Credit Union, Box 154, Ladysmith, B.C. United Labour Credit Union, 1475 East 43rd, Vancouver Salmon Arm Credit Union, Shuswap Ave., Salmon Arm, B.C.

visions of Bill 42? How can we get into the constituency organizations without creating the impression that we are throwing our numerical weight around? And most important of all, how can we activize the entire political movement politically?

Most of these questions were re- solved at a conference on political action to which the B.C. Federation of Labour summoned key and poli- tically-conscious trade unionists.

Two Main Projects

Two main lines of political en- deavour were outlined. The trade unions interested would open trade union channels that New Democratic Party candidates might more easily sell the Party’s program to the work- ers. A determined effort would be made to rally the working-class vote to the polls, in the belief that a more general exercise of the franchise would favour the New Democrats. In both respects the trade unions par- ticipating did an admirable job.

Quite apart from these major pro- jects, the trade unions found im- portant means of relieving the fin- ancial pressure on the constituencies. Well-financed Local Unions under- took propaganda projects that would ordinarily have cost the constituency organization large sums. The propa- ganda machinery at the disposal of the trade unions suddenly found the Opportunity to place great emphasis on union legislative objectives which coincide with Party objectives. The B.C. Federation of Labour did this most adroitly, with magnificent re- sults,

Staff Members Aided

Members of trade union staffs ap- plied for and secured leave of ab- sence, and gave their full time to campaign activities. In some ridings these workers, through their full-time effort, formed the backbone of the working force under the direction of campaign committees. Headquarters campaign staff was supplemented by such workers without cost to the Party.

It must now be recorded that, in ridings where trade union activity was properly integrated with the con- stituency organizations, a reservoir of new workers was tapped. Some ridings reported that, due to trade union help, for the first time they were able to man their polls fully.

Trade unions assisted this integra- tion by breaking down their member- ship and job steward lists by con- stituencies. When a nucleus of poli- tically active trade unionists was formed in the riding, important ad- vantages followed this liaison. Affili- ation at the constituency level also helped to swell the roster of indi- vidual members.

The election results in B.C. fully vindicate the formation of the New Democratic Party with trade union participation. This participation was spotty, it is true. It needs encourage- ment and development, for it is only at its beginning. It will grow as it has done in the United Kingdom. In the meantime the New Democratic Party in B.C. must acknowledge that trade union support was one of the important elements in the majority won for the Party in B.C., June 18.

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