BC Fed spearheads autonomy fight

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By SEAN GRIFFIN

More than 500 delegates to the B.C. Federation of Labor conven- tion wound up their week long meeting late Friday afternoon with some business still not completed but determined to maintain a policy of political -independence and determine to spearhead the fight for Canadian autonomy for members of international unions.

After several resolutions sub- mitted by various union-locals on the issue of autonomy had sparked a lengthy debate, the resolutions committee was instructed to bring back a more comprehensive posi- tion. On Friday morning, a lengthy resolution was presented to the delegates that was the measure of the delegates’ resolute stand on the issue. It carried unanimously.

The position adopted by the con-

vention called on the Federation to urge the CLC “‘to fight vigorously for functional autonomy for all Canadian locals of international unions in whatever- form is ap- propriate to the needs of each un- ion.

The resolution also outlined several points necessary for func- tional autonomy: :

¢ to guarantee Canadian control over Canadian finances. negotiations, terms of collective agreements and decisions on strike action.

* to establish the right of all af- filiates to have a Canadian conven- tion electing Canadian officers and deciding all policy matters.

¢ to ensure that no international union grants or revokes Canadian charters against the wishes of the Canadian membership.

See LABOR pg. 11

Labor minister Bill King looks somewhat anguished in the face of the united demand from labor for amendments to the labor code.

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It is not often that the Pacific Tribune gives over some of its - front page to deal with the financial problems of the paper. But this

time, because the situation is urgent, we are forced to do so. #54 ba .

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Readers will note that in the last two issues we have had te give e use of color and a fifth B.C. page. The editorial board was

“reluctant to take these steps, but we were forced to do so as

economy measures.

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The fact is that we are caught between rising costs and the slowness of returns in the current circulation drive, which we

hoped would bring us the revenues to carry on with until our spring

financial drive.

One of the problems crippling us is this: with only one week left to go until Nov. 15 when our circulation drive is due to end, * there are 450 readers who have not yet renewed their subs. ‘Ultimately most of these readers will renew. But their slowness in renewing has put a heavy financial strain on the paper. If you are one of those whose sub has expired and you have not renewed you are directly contributing to our difficulties.

We are appealing to our readers: If your sub has or is expiring

_ jn November PLEASE renew at once, If your press club is behind in its quota take emergency action without delay. If you know anyone who you can sell a new sub to don’t put it off — see him or

her now.

In the final analysis, it’s up to our readers to decide how quick- ly we will be able to return to a fifth B.C. page and to color.

Don't let us down!

EDITORIAL BOARD

Delegates to Moscow peace parley to speak

Delegates to the World Congress of Peace Forces recently held in Moscow will report to a public meeting in the Unitarian Church, 49th and Oak St., Wednesday, November 14 at 8 p.m.

The Congress was attended by’ more than 3,000 delegates | from many countries, and was divided into fourteen Commissions for dis- cussion of the vital issues facing the world today: the situation in Indochina, the Middle East, peace and security in Europe, disarma- ment, colonialism and racism, etc.

The meeting will afford all those interested in these important issues of our time an opportunity to hear firsthand reports Of this

ihigue Congress and to ask

questions of the delegates. Admis- sion is free.

Ten delegates from B.C. attend- ed the Congress, seven of them from Vancouver. The city’s delegates are Bob Hamilton, Bridget Moran, Angie Dennis, Jim Foulks, Lois Boyce, John Beeching and Ruth Smith.

Delegates from other B.C. points who will be addressing report-back meetings are Mayor F.E. de Vito of Trail, Mary Cox of Victoria, and Bert Ogden of Nanaimo.

Tribune

Vol. 34, No. 45

15°

at BC—NDP convention

When up to_800 delegates take their seats at the NDP provincial convention in the Vancouver Hotel this weekend, they will have before them more than 400 resolutions to consider along with major issues on which sharp criticism is ex- pected of the party leadership and government.

Delegates will undoubtedly welcome the progressive legisla- tion enacted by government dur- ing the 14 months it has been in of- fice. These include the car in- surance scheme, the land act, Minicome and other improvements in social welfare legislation. But

criticisms of the failure of the government to carry out policies adopted by previous NDP conven- tions and relationships between the Party and the government is ex- pected to dominate the debate.

A major issue at the convention will be the failure of the govern- ment to enact a labor act supported by the province’s trade union movement. The new Labor Code with its anti-labor features has been the subject of a large number of resolutions from NDP regional councils and clubs, many of which Support the stand of the B.C. Federation of Labor and are highly

critical of the legislation.

Accompanying this criticism is the growing concern among NDP members over the alienation of labor by the government, and the increased signs of retreat before the pressure of big business shown by the Barrett government.

When Premier Dave Barrett ad- dresses the convention on Friday, Nov. 9 and again on Monday, Nov 12 he is expected to face heated question periods when delegates will demand answers to problems seriously concerning NDP members.

See NDP pg. 12

For the first time in the history of the B.C. Federation of Labor fellow trade unionists from the USSR addressed an annual convention — and were honored by a standing ovation. Delegates cheered when Federation president George Johnston (standing) noted that, while “we're proud to have passed the 200,000 member mark, these men represent some 3.9 million members.”’ From left to right, Johnston, Sergei Belyaev, secre- tary of the Food Industry Workers Union of the USSR, Vladimir Kirilov, their Soviet interpreter, Timofei

Tokarev, chairman of the union’s Sakhalin regional committee.

—Sean Griffin photo