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Labour

More than structure at stake for CLC

By FRANK COX

It depends on whom you talk to among labour leaders these days but views of the upcoming Canadian Labour Congress convention vary widely.

Some see the event as promising about as much excitement as watching paint dry, a somewhat cynical perspective born of a sense that labour has been ground down to a state of paralysis. Others suggest that this convention will be an opportunity to raise important issues but expectations are low as to the actual out- come, given the prob- ability of the same old order continu- ing in the leadership found generally to be lacking a_pro- gram of action and much of any fight- ing spirit.

Still others sug-

ALLEVATO tion taking place at this time in our his- tory is rich with potential for posi-

sort of leadership that our movement puts forward, in the resolve to take up the fight in more effective ways, and

in our commitment to offer support and develop closer links with our allies in the community. Thestruc- ture of the CLC; issues of leadership; a program of action; democratic process — all are the kind of questions that top respective prior- ity lists of the var- ious labour leaders I aa, have talked to. NICHOL

A general consensus does seem to exist that the trade union movement is in a period like no other in its history, with unprecedented assaults from both employ- ers and their governments as they set out to re-structure our society to be part of the global economic “pac-man” game.

Even the most cursory inventory of the effects of free trade, deregulation, privatiza- tion, industrial restructuring and the rest of the Tory and corporate bag of tricks is sob- ering. Anywhere from 70,000 to 100,000 jobs are estimated to have been sacrificed as industry consolidates, shifts operations to the U.S. or Mexico, or just folds in the face of the competition.

Couple that with UI cuts, reduced health care funding, the erosion of social services and the GST and higher interest rates and it starts to fill in an increasingly familiar pic- ture. It certainly isn’t a year in which the labour movement can afford to treat this CLC convention as just doing usual busi- ness. Major campaigns are there to be fought and won — including the camapign against the GST — ifthe labour movement has the political resolve to do it.

John Fryer, president of the National Union of Provincial Government Employ- ees, and others have attempted to steer the attention of the convention toward the question of structure as the top priority — not to resolve, mind you, but to plan to resolve — but it seems to have ljttle sup- port, at least among many labour leaders here.

John Fitzpatrick secretary of the Van- couver and District Labour Council put it this way: “ Not only is structure not a prior- ity at a time when we should be concentrat-

FITZPATRICK _

ing on dusting off some more traditional tactics to fight what the companies and governments are up to, but we also don’t see much wrong with the structure as it is. Maybe one direction for improvement would be to turn more regional resources over to the labour councils.

“Consolidating more power in the hands of the provincial federations is not necessar- ily going to increase rank and file participa- tion. Put the resources where the action is,” he said.

Carmela Allevato, secretary-business manager of the Hospital Employees Union, Suggested that the structure issue “sounded a bit like Meech Lake for the labour move- ment.” She indicated that “plans for action was what her organization was hoping to discuss at this convention as a matter of urgency.”

Others seem to agree that while resources for education and organization would likely be better directed locally’and such sugges- tions should be discussed, this is hardly the burning issue of the day.

However, more will no doubt come out during the convention on this question, reflecting various attempt to strengthen power bases within the CLC. Stuart Crom- bie hinted at it in the April issue of Our Times when he stated: “Its hard to imagine anyone doing a good job in the president’s chair as the CLC is structured. A progres- sive leader who tried to turn the congress’s policies into effective action could be held hostage or simply ignored by conservative and powerful affiliates more concerned about protecting their fiefdoms.”

Reports that deals were made in exchange for slate support that would strengthen the hand of the international industrial unions lends support to this view and suggests much needs to be done to strengthen democratic process that likely has little to do with what some argue to be the essence of the structural issue. In any event, it would likely serve the trade union movement well, despite the obstacles, to give progressive leadership a try that would be prepared to lead the fight ahead.

There seems to be broad consensus around the need to go into this convention with a clear program setting out the priori- ties for the labour movement and an action plan to put them into effect. A preliminary CLC draft policy paper is reported to have been circulated to executive council mem- bers for comment called “* A New Decade: Our Future.” This lengthy tract is said to include many good points, but is a bit of a something-for-everyone, cover-all-the-bases sort of document. Lacking, apparently, is clear focus and sharp analysis giving a sense of the broader politics linking the multitude of issues facing the labour movement and the Canadian people. There is a tendency I am told to consider the ills of the system a

GS

question of inefficient management of the economy rather than deliberate restructur- ing for the benefit of a few.

“For all the excellent policies on the books at the CLC we come up short too often on effective action,” said Jack Nichol, president of the United Fishermen and Allied Workers Union. “There has not been the kind of mobilization that present condi- tions call for.” As chairperson of the free trade committee of the B.C. Fed he sug- gested that monitoring the effects of the free trade agreement “is important, but doing something about it is critical. The Congress should be giving more leadership to mobil- ize on these issues.

“The fight against the free trade agree- ment, the GST, UI cuts, rising interest rates, will completely dominate union activity particularly as employers take advantage of the situation to demand massive conces- sions. It’s time we had more rallies and other actions such as we had against UI cuts and wage controls,” he said.

In talking with various delegates that will be heading for Montreal May 14 a number of key issues emerge.

@ The fight for fair taxes ranks high with a consistent demand that April 7 and 9 be seen as only a start toward defeating this legislation and putting forward progressive tax policies. Action could include a day of protest as part of an escalating strategy.

@ The demand for the abrogation of the free trade agreement and exposing of the connection between ther FTA and the dis- mantling of social programs and the loss of thousands of jobs. Unity with coalitions and community groups is also vital.

@ A call for an end to privatization and the restoration of all public services.

@ The:demand for democratic control Over economic policy.

@ The campaign for environmental sus- tainability and conversion from polluting and dangerous or arms-related industry to socially useful production .

@ The fight for full employment.

@ Developing greater international solid- arity ties at a time of capital globalization for common struggle. An independent international relations policy for the labour movement.

e A stronger more united labour centre capable of, and willing to take on the neo- conservative agenda.

@ The building of stronger coalitions such as the Pro-Canada Network that would unite labour and our allies.

@ The campaign for economic justice for women.

No doubt many other issues will be iden-

tified, and some form of policy document

adopted together with an action program . One concern, however, that is often spoken of and is the cause of some degree of cyni- cism is the question of whether there will be

in fact the leadership that will do the job that the times require.

Some time ago a letter was circulated over the signature of a number of promi- nent trade unionists calling for someone to come forward that could genuinely enjoy the confidence of the trade union move- ment to lead the CLC in the period ahead. Some names were mentioned. None has so far decided to challenge the slate that was agreed to at the CLC executive council meeting.

Still, there is a movement afoot in some quarters I understand, to initiate a draft- Dave Werlin campaign. Without a doubt, Dave Werlin’s experience as the president of the Alberta Federation of Labour and on the executive council of the CLC, as well as his wide reputation as a skilled labour leader makes him potentially a strong contender for the top CLC post. But Dave has not, to my knowledge, put his name forward either.

The question of leadership flows into an issue that is possibly a very volatile one at this convention — the question of internal democracy. Again from the pen of Stuart Crombie: “We don’t need another pain- staking and elaborately arranged deal, fol- lowed by a coronation. We need to explore and demarcate, to properly assess different policy options and candidates, and after the fullest possible discussion, really choose and vote.”

In my opinion the depth of feeling on this issue is significant. Some I have talked to think, given the slate system now in place, and the fact that a good many capable mil- itant trade unionists are up to their prover- bial asses in alligators without having to worry about CLC politics, that this has the making of a pretty routine convention. | would tend to side with those that believe that this convention could well follow the pattern of the various federation conven- tions that have definitely belonged to the rank and file fresh from the battle ground. If that is the case, anything could happen.

GREETINGS ON MAY DAY

United Fishermen and Allied Workers Union, Local 15 Nanaimo

NOINN S.N3INaS\

May Day Greetings

from our membership & staff

_ Canadian Area International Longshoremen’s &

Warehousemen’s Union 020 - 1880 Triumph St., Vancouver, B.C. V5L 1K3

Pacific Tribune, April 30, 1990 « 9