City ratepayers step up fight against threatened tax boost

crisis in Vancouver will bring the working By ple, small business and fessional people to the and replace them with sentatives who will c@ through long overdue; uine tax reform measul® “Growing ressures ff the people has made the oe cil aware of this fact. nis why they are even consi® ing the proposal of Ald Wilson for a $2,000 pasi emption. At the same » they are desperately about for other two-bit ? ods of diverting the gr? wrath of the ratepaye “What is needed ni the maximum pressuU compel the council to hol line-on homeowner taxes ©) year. The council should’ : told* “Boost our taxes |.

such measure for fifteen wi years is vigorously cam- paigning for its adoption, and at the same time is calling for the application of the gen- eral purpose mill rate to the machinery assessment.

They point*out that in Van- couver at present only the school mill rate is applied to the machinery tax, while in Burnaby and many other municipalities both the.school mill rate and general pur- pose mill rate is applied to the machinery tax, This would mean a saving to the average homeowner of $38.89 if it were applied to the mill rate in Vancouver.

A steady stream of letters and petitions are coming into city hall supporting the pro- posal for a $2,000 exemption. The Vancouver Labor Coun-

Ratepayers and_ civic groups in Vancouver are stepping up their demands that there be no tax in- erese on city homes when the annual budget is brought down this month.

The Vancouver Central Council of Ratepayers is blitz- ing the city with a petition calling for a $2,000 basic ex- emption on the assessed value of residential property.

This petition is given add- ed emphasis by a motion sub- bitted by Alderman Wilson to the Vancouver city council. The council adopted the motion to give consideration to the matter of a $2,000 ex- emption and asks the Board of Administration to- report ‘on the feaesibility of such a measure as well as what ac-

Cuban’s are actively increasing output of dairy products. Photo shows a newly built shed in Rosario People’s Farm in Pinar del Rio province. Many cattle have been bought from Canada, including choice breeding stock. With more liberal credits Cuba could buy many surplus Can- adian products.

Unionists says Cubans eat better

“The people of Cuba never munist Party.

had enough to eat before the revolution and now they are eating food they very rarely ate.”

This was the answer given by Ted Foort to a question regarding the present ration- ing of some foods in Cuba. Foort- was speaking at a public meeting at the Nor- quay Hali on April 5, spon- sored by the Kensington and

Norquay clubs of the Com-

Foort, who has just return- ed from a visit to the Carri- bean island, pointed out that even in a nation of plenty, such as Canada, there are times when food rationing be- comes necessary, as it did during the war.

He showed films of his trip, spoke and answered other questions asked by an audi- ence of approximately 65 people.

tion would be needed by council to bring it into effect.

The immediate result of such an exemption would be an average reduction of $40 to the homeowner on his tax bill and a shifting of this load unto high price residential property, downtown business and industry.

The Civic Reform Associa-' tion, which has worked for

Woodworkers face fight

Cont'd from pg. 5 UNION DEMANDS

MODEST

The demands of the union on the other hand are mod- est, fully justifable and ob- tainable.

Twenty-five cent increase in wages, with no increase

last year,>and the profits of

MacMillan, Bloedel and Pow- ell River up to $56 million. A 25 cents an hour is not ex- cessive or out of line.

Three more weeks holidays with pay, is no substitute for the seven hour day but it could easily be afforded by the employers.

Double rate for overtime, a:

good number of unions have this already including the Longshoremen.

The other demands are not

cost items and are only in-

tended to eliminate some weaknesses in the agreement.

PREPARATION-KEY Experience proves that ad-

equate preparation, well in advance is the key to success in any struggle, and exper-

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ness to put up a fight. for their rights is often the best way for workers to avoid a knock down, drag out fight.

Anyone knows that even a baseball team must spend many months “getting into shape” before it goes out to win the pennant in a major league.

It is now the time, when the I.W.A. needs to start get- ting into shape for June 15, there is no time to waste. The woodworkers can’t just: sit there and let such a serious threat as the employers de- mands hang over them with- out doing something about it, nor can they be satisfied that they are going to win any of their own demands unless they are prepared.

With two months left to go

“now is the time for action.

The following steps are neces- sary. . Publicity — The employers aims and objects must be ex- posed. The union has the means to do this, it should see to it that the public, the

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‘rest of the labor movement

and its own members are made fully aware of the greedy, grasping nature of the profit mad monopolies who are the employers. Information on Negotia- tions — The membership should be told the whole story as it unfolds and they should control, through rank and file participation, the policies of their negotiators. Strike Preparation — No one wants a strike but exper- ience proves that strikes are forced onto workers when they least expect it. There- fore strike machinery should

‘be set up and everything

made ready for any event- uality. All the operators of a strike should be ready to function and the members prepared very soon. Involvement — It is not only the men but the wives and families that need to be made ready. Ladies auxiliar-

‘jes should be formed in all

locals where they don’t exist and strengthened where they do. The wives and families should be involved and given a voice in the union’s affairs as soon as possible.

Labor support — All the

other unions need to be ral- lied to support the I.W.A. and steps should be taken soon to get pledges of support from

the whole labor movement of ©

Canada and elsewhere. It may be necessary to call on them later for financial sup- port as well. ALL LABOR SUPPORT

The woodworkers have spent many thousands of dol- lars over the years, paying per capita and other costs of maintaining their .member- ship in the C.L.C., Federation and other labor bodies. The purpose of this is not to maintain all the ap- paratus of these bodies but primarily to strengthen the

unions when they meet the.

employers at the bargaining

the B.C. |

cil, Fishermen’s Union, Office Employees Union, and many

other organizations and indi- -

viduals have bombarded the council with letters and wires urging passage of the meas- ure.

Indications are that house- holders will face a tax hoist this year estimated from $20 to $40. Even so this will be accomplished by chopping down on a whole number of much needed services.

Bill Stewart, secretary of the Communist Party in Van- couver, told the P.T.: “The NPA dominated Vancouver city council faces a dilema. If they continue to serve the business and real estate inter- ests which elected them they precipitate an ever deepening

table or on the picket line. The I.W.A. can now call on that support if it is necessary to win the demands this year.

The I.W.A. is a big union. It is faced with a critical sit- uation. It has great resources at its disposal. It is up against a formidable opponent. Now is the time when every min- ute counts, because it may not be possible to avoid a fight in any case.

To rely solely on the nego- tiating ability of a few people on a committee and neglect the steps necessary to organ- ize and rally the thousands of members on the job spells disaster.

To win the demands is necessary and possible. When

the membership are- deter- :

mined to win they can do it.

The important thing is, the employers must be defeated, the union must win. There has never been a better time

we'll boost you out of oe next election”. Ag

AID CUBA Miners from the West! hemian town of Horni kov have raised money. to? fit a school at Giron f in Cuba — where the inv® of counter-revolutionaries™ repulsed last year. } wo 4 Obituar Archie Mathieso? Many people in thi union and progressive | ment were saddened week by the death of # Mathieson, who passe in his 79th year last” day morning. i Born in Glasgow, scot i he was orphaned at sits, youngest in a family of © chilldren. As a boy he ¥ to Canada as a farm V and later went to wor steamfitter, joining the at 18 years of age. mained an active membe the Plumbers and sie fitters Union for almost years, holding a numd© | executive positions. } His wife, Helen, Wj troduced to the Sg movement by Archie 4 ‘went on to become an #9 member of the Comml, Party, holding leading Fe in the Party for many Funeral was held 08 | day at Roselawn Home. A tribute to the ceased was made by Pie Tribune associate editor "4 A rice Rush, who exe condolences to his wi family on behalf of i in the labor and progt movement.

to do it.

AGAINST COMMON MARKET. Photo shows miner Decazeville coalfields in France demonstrating agait of the European Coal and Steel Community to clo

the mines in 1965.

ee ee a al April 13, 1962—PACIFIC TRIBUNE—