IWA starts ‘hot’ conciliation for wages

BERLIN

worst tradition of the Goebbels

whose ashes lie in that city, false

and inflammatory prupaganda for news of actual events. Contrary to all B.C. dailies, the Soviet

Union never threatened to use

starvation as a political weapon

in Berlin, and never demanded tiat the western powers get out.

It is the Western powers who cut off their sectors of Berlin by attempts to force carrying on of all transactions with their illegal cur- rency. Hoax of the face-saving and ludicrous aerial “lift” is exposed by the Soviet’s shipping of over 100,000 tons of food for citizens in affected sectors, to be paid for without dis- crimination. in regular zone curren-

cy.

Key to the Berlin crisis is this simpie question: since four- power occupation of Berlin was set up to administrate a single Germany, and since the western Pewers have bisected Germany through seizure of its western half, what purpose can they have for wanting to stay in Berlin other than aggression? This ques- tion lies at the bottom of Soviet insistence on discussing plans for a united democratic Germany, since the Berlin affair is the pro- duct, not the cause, of the Ger- man crisis,

Millions died to make possible the Potsdam agreement for the de- nazification, demilitarization, dem- ocratization and unification of Ger- many for the sake of world peace. Millions could die again, unless there is return to the _prin- ciples of that agreement. The west German puppet state is being rear- ed in collaboration with notorious Nazis. \It’s purpose is war.

The separate currency consum- mated the split, Attempts to intro- duce it through Berlin into the eastern zone constituted economic aggression aimed at* disorganizing the economy of the zone where Naziism has been rooted out.

St. Laurent’s “Canadian” diplo- mats backed to the hilt the tearing up of Potsdam. They — and the Honorable Minister for External Affairs himself—pioneered in call- ing for the replacement of the Un- ited Nations by the western axis they are working to cement for their American masters, <

It was never more urgent for every Canadian to act to rescue our independence, compel the govern- ment to defend the United Nations and work for a peaceful settlement of Soviet-American differences. _

This is a job for the workers ‘who bear the brunt of war, for the veterans who fought for lasting peace, forethe mothers as part of motherhood.

In our land, too, the people are stronger than the warmongers, provided we can unite—now—for peace! \

Arrest of US. Communists —

seen as desperate election bid —

—NEW YORK.

The common fear of the Truman administration and the Republican leadership, of Congress that the popular movement gathering around Henry A. Wallace’s third party

will destroy their war-bent policies was revealed this weet in the arrest of national lead-|'

ers of the U.S. Communist Party. Of, twelve leaders indicted on charges of violating

“conspiring to teach and advocate the overthrow of the United States

Shith Act provisions against

‘cated the desperation of the move j

government by force and violence,” |t© fan a flagging anti-communist

seven had been arrested, one had

| hysteria and so intimidate and dis-

surrendered voluntarily and four | 'Upt the growing opposition to bi-

others were being sought by the

FBI, as the Pacific Tribune went | tiated

to press, Arrested were: William Z. Foster, national chairman; Eugene Dennis, general séeretary; New York City Councilman Benjamin Davi3; Henry Winston, organiza- tional secretary; John B. William- son; trade union secretary; Jacob Stachel, educational secretary; Carl Winters, Michigan state chair- man. All were arraigned in court and released on $5,000 bail each.

John H. Gates, editor of the Daily Worker, New York, surrend- ered voluntarily.

Others indicted were: Robert G. Thompson, New York state chair- man; Gilbert Green, Chicago dist- rict chairman; Gus Hall, Ohio state chairman; Irving Potash.

The pattern of dévelopments leading up to the indictments indi-.

' partisan - policies. It also substan-

the Communist Party’s charge that the indictments were “a monstrous frameup.*

“The American people can now see to what desperate provoca- tions Truman is driven in an ef- fort to win the election, by hook

> or by crook. As the New York Sun flatly stated, the reported indictment of the Communists is neatly timed to embarrass the new people’s party now holding its founding convention in Phila-

delphia.” In the calculated manner of the Canadian “espionage” cases, the

FBI surrounded the indictments with an official secrecy while al- lowing information to leak to the daily press, which is blowing it up into sensational and mislead- ing headlines.

FIVE SEAMEN WOUNDED BY SHIP’S OFFICERS

TLC, CCL back rally as CSU blood flows on Lakes

Attempted murder of five strik- ing members of the Canadian Sea- men's Union at Sarnia has stirred the anger of Canadian labor from Vanccuper to Cape Breton. Two of the men are in hospital in critical condition (one shot just below the heart) from bullets which the union charges were fired on the defenceless seamen by Captain ce

€ Lethbridge and Sts Bory page of Canada Steamship Lines’ publicly stated policy of using firearms against

pee protest has ecmpelled Ontario's provincial attorney-gen- eral to have charges laid against the two cfficers in what he terms & “test case” to see if the company has a right to shoot down strikers.

Focal point of protest on the

Coast this week is the mass rally called by the Canadian Seamen’s Union in the Pender Auditorium Friday July 23, Both AFL and CCL councils have backed the rally with quarter page advertise- ments in the daily press.

Trades Council here cited the companies’ record of lawlessness and states: “Every trade unionist should protest to his member of parliament against such flagrant violations of Canadian labor regu- lations. Every citizen who believes in democracy must protest. The defiance of the law cannot be cov- ered up by crying “communism.” We ask you, Mr. and Mrs. Canada, ‘Which side are you on?’.”

Trades Council has set up a special committee to co-ordinate activities of its affiliates in support of the seamen. Delegate Bob Cor- mack of the Street Railwaymen’s

Union raised the need for sympathy action to bring the piratical com- panies to terms.

‘On the day of the shooting the B.C. Federation of Labor (CCL) ‘wired Prime Mini$ter King and Labor Minister Mitchell as follows: “Ex- ecutive officers B.C, Federation of Labor, emphatically denounce un- lawful and gangster-like shootings of seamen in Great Lakes strike by captain and mate of SS Lethbridge at Sarnia. Demand prompt action immediately to arrest and bring the culprits to speedy trials; also instruct shipping companies to comply. with Canadian law and end present anarchy by employers.”

Example of the censorship dis- torting the strike picture was seen when IWA educational] dir- ector Al Parkin was banned by CJOR from stating the follow#mg

in his “Green Gold” breadcast:

“Company officials are pleading self-defense. But it is obvious that six men alone could not have intended to attack the full crew of a large ship. It is Gbvious that they were merely going aboard to plead with the crew to sup- port their strike for a 48 hour week and observance of labor laws of Canada.”

District Council of the United Electrical Workers (CIO-CCL) has unanimously decided to send pick- ets to join the seamen’s picket line around the Liberal convention in Ottawa August 5 and some B.C. unions are discussing plans to fol- low suit. ‘

Seamen in the Welland County jail have called a hunger strike against their illegal arrest and ex- orbitant bail demanded. Example of inhuman conditions in the jail is ledging of 28 seamen in a block with a maximum capacity of ten.

4

6

The IWA’s surprise appli- cation for conciliation this week set back operator strat- egy in both Coast and Inte- rior negotiations and strength- ened the position of 40,000 wood-

to meet the cost of living—a fight on which to-a considerable extent depends the level of prosperity of the majority of British Columbi- ans.

The IWA is holding its strike vote in reserve for use immediately occasion arises, and embarking on a vigorous campaign to consolidate the union on the job and to win the active labor and public support that can guarantee victory.

“This is an offensive in a new direction,” District. President Er- nie Dalskog told the Pacific Tri- buns. “We are not discarding strike action and certainly will not be stifled by a legalistic approach to the ICA Act. But first we must have full unity in our ranks.”

This remark was obvious refer- ence to attacks on the district un- jon from International President Jas. E. Fadling and his corporal’s guard from New Westminster. Only plausible explanation for the Stu- art Agency’s 78 days of provoca-' tion and stalling is that operators, in addition to counting on the Coalition’s slave ICA Act, also ex- pected to disrupt the: union prior to or during showdown.

That th@ membership is al- ready moving on this internal threat was evident when Sunday’s district council meeting, demanded Fadling’s resignation to his face. Council cited the Fadling group’s violations of the union constitu- tion, their public and inner-union campaign to destroy the district’s policies, and their sabotage of ne- gotiations in effort to obtain dist-

rict control.

Delegates insisted on restoration

B.C. membership, and established authority for council to take any necessary steps to protect the mem- bership and save the union, Operators have also counted on support of the government, with its Slave labor laws, on their unlimit- ed financial resources; on the power of the big business press and radio; and on the fact that the right-wing in labor has this year prevented a coordinated wage drive

move simultaneously into the front line.

Biggest strength on the union's side is that it has the militant sup- port of woodworkers without whom the province’s key industry cannot operate. This enormous power the union may have to call on at any time—a power strengthened by the union’s tradition of militancy and unity, and by its experienced and tested leadership. The conciliation offensive will allow the union to strengthen this power further by the moves against Fadling, to ex- tend labor support from quarters which are experiencing the legis- lative and red-baiting boss attacks for themselves, and to rally the majority in British Columbia for active support of a fair settlement.

Break of Coast negotiations left the union holding firm for 25 cents across the board, union shop, wel- fare fund and strict 40-hour week.

eight percent on wages and a flat “no” to all other demands. Only offer from Interior operators is 5% cents and the union is simul- taneously applying for conciliation ‘in this dispute also.

After enduring 78 days of at- tempts to compel collective bar- gaining in good faith, the union has clearly designed its program of job pressure and publicity of- fensive, plus preparations against showdown, to see there

ciliation.

workers in their fight for wages.

of full district autonomy for the ~

whereby big sections of labor could:

Only operator offer is 11 cents or

is no prolonged delay in con —