LABOR

Trail strike targets Cominco stand

TRAIL — Backed by 94 per cent strike votes, members of five locals of the United Steelworkers put up picket lines at Cominco’s operations in Trail and Kimberley May 9 to back demands for retention of the union’s hard-fought COLA clause, improvements in pen- sions and job security language that would give unionists some measure of protection from the devastation of their jobs through technological change.

Although the strike — launched Sat- urday with a skirl of bagpipes at Comin- co’s smelter — has none of the bitterness of last summer’s forest industry walkout, it is very much a dispute sparked by corporate dictates.

In the last offer tabled before the strike, Cominco demanded that the -union’s COLA clause be tied to the price of zinc in world markets and has resisted

pension and severance improvements for the Cominco workforce which has been cut by one-third over the last six years through a government-financed moder-

“What it means is that we could end up with nothing unless the cost of living risés and zine prices go up astronomi- cally,” Dean said.” If the cost of living goes up and zinc prices stay the same, our members would lose. And if the cost of living stays the same while zinc prices rise, they would still lose.”

What makes it all the more galling for Steelworkers members is that the union has supported Cominco in its bids for government financing of modernization programs even though Cominco employ-

ees have paid dearly in jobs. : : “Th kf that we’ve done our part. Now its their e work force hasbeen cutby 1,500 tury to give,” he said.

since 1981 and we’re facing the net loss of On Monday, members of the five another 100 jobs when the lead moderni- locals agreed to seek new bargaining

zation program is completed,” Dean meetings with Cominco through provin- cots - -__ cial mediator Vince Ready. Although the Cominco, now owned by the mining _ locals, covering production and mainte- _ multinational Teck Corporation, received = nance workers in Trail and Kimberley, financing from both senior levels of supervisors at Kimberley as well as office — government to carry out its moderniza- workers in both centres, do not bargain tion as well as tax breaks from local _jointly, they agreed to make joint repres-

company made $26 million profit overall

for the first quarter of 1987, including $5

million from its metals division. The Trail smelter itself netted $7.5 million “profit for the same period.

Ironically, company representatives still complain publicly about depressed metal prices and the need to trim payroll costs accordingly.

“Prices are up, productivity is up but our members are way down,” Dean responded, “And we're still turning out record amounts of zinc.

“It’s time the company recognized

slap in the face” for union members who have supported the modernization pro- gram and have worked to increase pro- ductivity, said Steelworkers Local 480 recording secretary Miles Dean.

“We've taken the position that we’ve done our part to help the company out — and now we want some recogni- tion for it,” Dean told the Tribune in an interview.

The union is seeking retention of the existing COLA clause, negotiated after a four month strike in 1974, as well as improvements in pensions and job secur- ity language. The current agreement gives union members quarterly increases of nine cents for every 0.35 rise in the Consumer Price Index.

However, Cominco has demanded a new formula it euphemistically calls “participative COLA” which would add a new condition based on zinc prices. In the last year only of a three year agree- ment, workers would get increases based on either the existing formula or the new

nization program.

The company’s stand has been a “‘real’

May 20 demonstration ‘a decisive step’

The bold call of the Vancouver and Dis- trict Labor Council for limited job action May 20 against Bill 19 and Bill 20 escalates _ the labor movement’s fight for democracy to a new stage of economic and political action which could build into a full scale general strike.

By setting the B.C. Federation of Labor’s proposed rally during working hours, the labor council is pushing the Fed’s action program. However, now it is with the approval of the federation’s chief officers who are also prepared to step up the fight- back and to move into industrial action.

The plan of action unanimously adopted by the executive council of the B.C. Fed last Thursday also called for co-ordinated, regional job action when Bill 19 is reintro- duced into the legislature — and that will likely be within days of the 20th. Debate on Bill 19 has been temporarily suspended while the government concentrates on ramming through Bill 20.

Individual unions would then be encour- aged to take further actions during the clause by clause debate on Bill 19, which could be extended several weeks if the NDP opposition maximizes its ability to delay the Socred agenda.

The Fed plan leaves open the option of further strike action as the legislation approaches passage in the legislature. There are already voices being raised for a general strike, and as council secretary Frank Kennedy put it after the VDLC’s special conference which issued the call for May 20, if a province wide general strike is required to force Vander Zalm to back up, there is wide support for meeting that challenge.

How far the next stage of industrial action will escalate, however, can’t be blue- printed at the moment. It will depend on the dynamics of the struggle and the leadership given in the weeks ahead.

The call to action on May 20 is the first decisive step by the trade union movement towards the kind of escalating political and economic action which can defeat the legis- lation. For the first time, the labor leader- ship is sending a clear message to union members that industrial action is necessary and will be carried out.

12 e PACIFIC TRIBUNE, MAY 13, 1987

company formula, whichever is the lesser.

But reports from trade unionists around the province indicate that a much fuller and more comprehensive message has to go out province-wide to facilitate the escalation of action needed. The preparedness of the Vancouver Labor Council to do everything necessary to stop the legislation with some exceptions is far from a provincial standard. And it is readily accepted by VDLC leaders that not nearly enough has been done to galvanize the membership for the kind of fight ahead.

Altogether, too few unions have yet taken special steps to mobilize their own membership. The B.C. Fed vote served a useful purpose as an educational tool, but even this was largely restricted to scheduled union meetings. The B.C. Government Employees Union was an exception to that and conducted a full membership vote at worksites after study sessions on the legisla- tion. According to BCGEU activists, the result of that process is a decisive majority of provincial government employees pre- pared to take action, even while the BCGEU leadership discourages member- ship action in favor of a public relations campaign.

The Hospital Employees Union on the other hand, has published its own literature on the legislation and has called a special convention of the union for May 22 and 23. The large numbers of HEU blue jackets seen at the meetings and demonstrations to date are a reflection of that leadership.

Neither can it be said that the full unity of the labor movement needed to stop the Socreds has yet been forged. In particular, 30,000 B.C. teachers still find it necessary to

qualify their support for the B.C. Fed’s action plan against Bill 19 with a rider that they will engage in joint action only if Bill 20 is also a focus of the action plan. That rider

municipalities. As a result of the rationalization, the

a

was attached to the BCTF’s action plan adopted Saturday which endorsed moving into phase three of their escalating program. Phase three involves further job action in concert with the labor movement, after votes to endorse the specifics of those actions in local teacher associations.

May 20 could be rather critical in this regard as well, for this job action is clearly directed at both Bill 19 and Bill 20. Needless to say, teachers would be justifiably upset with a call for them to support continuing economic and political action against Bill 19, if the B.C. Fed has done nothing con- crete to stop Bill 20.

The Confederation of Canadian Unions has likewise agreed to participate in joint action against Bill 19 and 20, but it too has legitimate qualifications to its involvement. The CCU understandably would like to be involved in the decision making, and not merely assessed $2 per member and instructed what to do. While the B.C. Fed has so far been unwilling to establish that relationship with the CCU, many labor councils have established working relation- ships with CCU affiliates.

TRIBUNE

Published weekly at 2681 East Hastings Street Vancouver, B.C. V5K 1Z5. Phone 251-1186

00.0000 0 tS 4 4.0 16ie swe oe ae

- entation in an.effort to re-open negotia- tions.

Fie e260 elem» $10 818. 0b e (ees ov Creep be 69 Pm, 08 tol to 09 610! € 0 ln ache, a.) 09 82 ore

o° Deis Oy 08 50.00, 010,008 Dio .¢. 0 8 $28 OEY 0/0: 059° 050 Bi 0e) 8.6 9 05650 + #0 8 98 8

Postal Code

: lam enclosing 1 yr. $160) 2yrs. $280) 6mo. $100 4 Introductory offer, 3mo. $3 Foreign 1 yr. $250 Bill me later 0)

READ THE PAPER THAT FIGHTS FOR LABOR

By far the most important consideration in building past May 20 towards a general | strike is the desperate need to politicize the fight against Bill 19 and 20 and to make the fightback against these bills the rallying point for everyone prepared to defend democracy. +

While much has been made of the serious economic consequences for B.C. by forcing the labor movement into a protracted struggle for its existence, much too little has been said about the fundamental demo cratic issues at stake. What precedent 15 there for forcing 30,000 workers to join an organization they do not want to join, a Bill 20 does? There is a precedent, but it takes one back to Germany and Italy in the 1930s. The brutal powers of Bill 19 regard- ing compulsory arbitration, strike breaking and union busting and the introduction of “right to work” laws, likewise are compal- able only to the anti-union crusades of fas- cist and neo-fascist regimes.

When these issues are understood and linked with the social consequences for all other sections of society in the wake of the attack on labor, there will be public suppot for the necessary action now to stop the assault on democracy. :

Without that understanding, no publi¢ opinion poll will ever show popular suppo!t for a general strike. The strike may be neces sary regardless. But if workers and the pub- lic are told the truth about the principled issues, and if economic action is blende with political action involving a broad bas¢ of democratic movements, the people will stand with labor.

sp oe 0 weve a: 40) 0 6:0. 8 el Se" 8. 88