Wording

~~

Norman Richards, president, B.C. Government Employees

‘| Union, writes: I hope you will al-

low us space to correct some of the factual errors in the article on the proposed changes to the B.C.

| Federation of Labor constitution

Tegarding delegate entitlement (Tribune, Nov. 13, 1981).

_ First, the formula would re- duce the BCGEU entitlement from 269 to 177. It would give us 16 percent of the total number of delegates. We represent 17 per- Cent of the total membership of the B.C. Federation of Labor.

_ It would correct the absolutely Indefensible situation where the

UFAWU, with 7,000 members, can seat 76 delegates while the IWA, with 49,000 members, seats 122 delegates. It takes 400 IWA members to count the same as 92 UFAWU members.

That abhorrent situation will be changed to one in which every local gets a delegate for each 250

members it represents. How that

would diminish the ‘‘rank and file character and wide local union representation” escapes me. And despite Jack Nichol’s statement, it is hardly ‘‘disproportionate as hell.’’

We stand by what was said in the Nov. 13 article. It stated that the BCGEU, as well as some

Delegate system termed ‘abhorrent’

other large unions, would get “more than half again as many delegates as they had at the 1980 convention’? — a correct asser- tion. That the BCGEU managed this year to renegotiate its affilia- tion agreement with the B.C. Fed to affiliate by local rather than component — pushing its dele- gate entitlement up from 105 to your stated figure of 269 — isa separate issue which was duly noted in some detail in the article.

The ‘‘indefensible situation” you refer to was also dealt with in the article and was one which, ac- cording to our interviews, the smaller unions were prepared to see changed — provided it meant

, entitlement without a corre-

-Sentation’”” of the convention

only a reduction in their delegate

sponding increase in that of the larger unions. The formula now proposed would do both, promp- ting Jack Nichol’s comment about it being ‘‘disproportion- ate.”’

Finally, it would seem obvious that when two large affiliates con- trol more than one-third of the delegates — as the BCGEU and IWA would, according to your figures — the ‘‘rank and file char- acter and wide local union repre-

would be profoundly af-

fected—Ed.

Native organizations across the Country continued to press for full Constitutional guarantees of aboriginal rights as the Liberal 80vernment introduced a new @mendment to the Charter of Rights containing a‘new — and Possibly profoundly significant — change.

_ Led by president Bob Manuel,

- Some 500 people from the Union of

B.C. Indian Chiefs met Trudeau as he arrived in Vancouver to address

- aLiberal luncheon Tuesday — the

day: after the-Liberals introdiced the amended formila in the House of Commons calling for recogni-

_ Hon and affirmation of ‘“‘existing”’

aboriginal rights. ; The amendment did not, Owever, provide a consent clause

_ Which Native groups have insisted ' 4Snecessary to guarantee that there _ Will be no amendment without

their consent. Manuel said Tuesday that the

' Change announced by the govern- Ment was ‘“‘worthless.”? °

Other Native leaders, including Dene leader George Erasmus and Ishga vice-president Rod Robin- Son, have also indicated serious Teservations over the amendment

proposed by the federal govern- ment.

In answering questions in the Commons, justice minister Jean Chretien claimed that the introduc- tion of the word “‘existing”’ was in- tended only to clarify the meaning. But the government’s record of tactical ploys on the constitution issue, and the fact that Tory

premier Peter Lougheed had earlier .

indicated that “existing rights” should mean only those rights recognized by the provinces, has underscored the,concern of Native groups. # The government’s maneuvering on the issue, first introducing a flawed aboriginal rights guarantee, then withdrawing it and finally re- introducing it again in amended

form, has created a deep suspicion _

that the government’s main objec- tive is to create division among Native organizations so as to get a watered-down rights proposal through Parliament.

Earlier demands raised by B.C. premier Bill Bennett that the federal government reimburse the provinces for any costs incurred as a result of aboriginal rights guarantees, would also suggest that

the new wording could prejudice land claims — and was therefore introduced to appease such pro- vinces as Alberta and B.C.

Rod Robinson, vice-president of the Nishga Tribal Council, pointed out that there are no existing rights as such in British Columbia al- though several bands have extens- ive claims yet to be negotiated.

It may be that it was because the new wording could nullify or at least prejudice such land claims,

that Bennett was prepared to agree pa HOFer lo beerodt te

That point was emphasized by the B.C. provincial executive of the Communist Party which warned last week that Bennett and. the Social Credit government ‘‘stand opposed to genuine human rights.”’

“This is especially true on the issue of aboriginal rights,’ said a statement issued by the party’s ex- ecutive. ‘‘Bennett wants to block any progress towards extending Native rights and land claims for fear this may interfere with the ex- ploitation of British Columbia’s natural resources by the multina- tional corporations.”’

Natives demand full rights guarantee | in Trudeau's constitutional resolution

The Communist Party .em- phasized that the constitutional resolution ‘‘was flawed from the Start’? because of its failure to guarantee Native and women’s rights and the national rights of French-Canadians.

It urged that the present resolu- tion be turned down and, ‘‘while there is still time that steps be taken towards a genuine made-in- Canada constitution with full rights for every Canadian, in- cluding women, Native peoples,

» labor: and full national rights. for

French Canada.’’

It also urged support for Native and women’s groups seeking full constitutional guarantees of their rights.

Earlier, the Squamish tribe laun- ched a petition which calls on the federal government to include in its patriation proposal the following provision, which would not be sub- ject to provincial legislative veto:

@ The aboriginal and treaty rights of the aboriginal peoples are hereby recognized and affirmed.

@ Subsection 1 shall not be amended without the consent of the aboriginal peoples of Canada.

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Monique and | wish to express our gratitude for the kindness and sympathy of our friends during our bereavement following the untimely death of our beloved son, Paul Brown, Nov. 14, 1981.

Vern and Monique Brown, Peter Brown

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING

COMING EVENTS

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, 353 W. Pender. All Welcome.

NOV. 29 — Report-back and slide show from the World Congress of Women, 2 p.m. 600 Campbell Ave. Sponsored by the Federation of Russian Canadians.

DEC. 6 — Christmas Labor Bazaar, Ukrainian Hall. See display ad for details.

DEC. 11 — Solidarity Cafe. A sa- lute to liberation struggles in Latin America. ,Hastings Community Hall, 3096 E. Hastings St., Van. (entrance on Pender St.). Adm. $3. Doors open 8 p.m. Sponsored by YE

DEC. 12 — UFAWU reunion dance 9 p.m.-? Fishermen’s Hall, 138 E. Cordova, Van. Bring your friends, meet old friends. Reserve early. Tickets $5. BYOB. Ph. 988-0585 or

‘ COMMERCIAL

CONDOR’S PAINTING &. build- ing maintenance. Free estimate. Phone 433-1145. A progressive firm owned and operated by Chilean Canadians. Reasonable rates.

ELECTRICAL, plumbing, appli- ance repairs. Don Berg. 255-7287.

ROOF REPAIRS — New proofs. Reasonable. 277-3352.

GRAMMA PUBLICATIONS. Complete printing services. Brochures, menus, leaflets, etc. Special rates for the progressive movement. A union shop. 1595 W. 3rd Ave., Van. 733-6822.

HANDYMAN, reas. rates. Ken 437-8386.

ODD JOBS, carpentry. 874-1665.

WANTED ONE PERSON needed to share

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USED BOOKS, appliances, rec- ords, toys etc. for Labor Bazaar white elephant sale. Bring articles with you to bazaar Dec. 6, begin- ning at 12 noon, Ukrainian Hall, 805 E. Pender St., Van. All donations much appreciated.

Call Calvin or Debbie,

DIRECTORY

COMMUNIST PARTY OF CAR- ADA offices located at 102-2747 E. Hastings St. Ph. 254-9836. For in- formation on political issues or as- sistance in political activity.

Beat the monopoly rip-off! Do your shopping at

Sunday, Dec. 6, Ukrainian Hall,

Int'l food mart @ handicrafts home baking @ plants @ white elephant

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Noon to 5 p.m. | 805 E. Pender

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LEGAL SERVICES

RANKIN, STONE, McMURRAY & BOND, Barristers and Solici- tors. 157 Alexander St., 2nd Floor, Vancouver. 682-3621.

HALLS FOR RENT

RUSSIAN PEOPLE’S HOME — Available for rentals. For reserva- tions phone 254-3430.

WEBSTERS. CORNERS HALL —

- Available for banquets, meetings,

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UKRAINIAN CANADIAN CUL- TURAL CENTRE — 805 East Pender St., Vancouver. Available for banquets, weddings, meetings. Ph. 254-3436. $

ee rome PACIFIC TRIBUNE—NOV. 27, 1981—Page 11

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“Spe c rhs PP Lent Ot ow tte Jor EOLA