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Secret police bill back again

OTTAWA — Solicitor-General Robert Kaplan intro- duced revamped legislation in Commons Jan. 18 to replace last session’s mangled efforts to_establish a new civilian Security Intelligence Service to replace the Royal Canadian Mounted Police security service. The new force would be permitted a number of previously illegal methods

’ of obtaining information; and would be under the ultimate control of the solicitor-general.

Federal investigators at Key Lake

REGINA — Federal officials have joined four other teams investigating the spill this month of 100 million litres (22 million gallons) of radioactive water at Saskatchewan’s Key Lake uranium mine. Ottawa’s entry into the probe was announced Jan. 16 in Commons by Environment Minister Charles Caccia. At about the same time another spill of about 800 litres (176 gallons) containing Radium 226 at 60 times the safe limit occurred. The company said the latest spill was contained at once. Caccia turned down a request for a federal royal commission.

Fines for hospital user fees

ST. JOHN’S — Newfoundland’s Health Minister Wal- lace House was the first provincial health minister to state, in the wake of new Canada Health Act regulations barring hospital user fees, that he is prepared to abandon the practice. While the province realizes about $1-million a year from the fees, it would lose:that much in fines when the new regulations become law.

Currently, five other provinces — Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia, Alberta and New Brunswick face the choice of dropping the fees or being subject to penalties.

The act would allow Ottawa to withhold one dollar in federal medicare grants for every dollar collected in user fees or extra-billing by doctors. :

The draft regulations relate specifically to “insured ser- vices”, and leave in force many charges presently in effect.

Oppose involuntary shock treatment

TORONTO — The Toronto Board of Health will accede to the decision of a public meeting, Jan. 17, and urge Keith Norton, Ontario’s Minister of Health to impose a moratorium on the use without consent of electroshock treatment. The aim of the moratorium would be to prevent involuntary use of the therapy until after a public inquiry reported its findings. Used by some doctors to treat patients suffering depression and schizophrenia, the treatment has been called into question, and Toronto medical officer of health told the board he had no doubt that “it causes harm”. He said, however, he did not think it should “disappear” as a psychiatric treatment.

Farmers organize to fight bankruptcy

SMITHVILLE, Ont. — Farmers, fighting for release of their grain from the bankrupt Niagara Grain and Feed Co. Ltd., elevator, have decided to form a chapter of the Canadian Farmers’ Survival Association. On the same day that they met with association representatives, Jan. 12, the Ontario Government opened the way for an “interim release” of grain.

Meanwhile farm bankruptices across Canada jumped by 16 per cent in 1983 over the 1982 figures — aggravated by a 100 per cent increase in the Prairie provinces. Ontario led with 165 failures, but Allen Wilford, president of the

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eting of banks and lobbying for legislation to suspend foreclosures, had helped keep some farmers on their land.

CFSA, said the association’s disruption of auctions, pick-.

6 e PACIFIC TRIBUNE, JANUARY 25, 1984

Cape Breton miners face decision about future

Three thousand Cape Breton coal miners, are facing an historic:deci- sion which will determine whether they remain within the mainstream of the Canadian trade union movement.

For the second time since Aug. 1982, they’ve become the target of a raid against the United Mine Workers of America by the Canadian Mineworkers Union, an affiliate of the diminutive Confederation of

Canadian Unions.

CMU came within a few hundred votes, last March 9, of winning certification of the miners because of serious misconduct and mis- management of the District 26 leadership and the business unionism of

the international.

The recent defeat, of the UMW International leadership by a rank and file-inspired movement produced new international officers who _re- sponded to the first CMU raid and vigorous rank and file protest against the district leadership with promises of reform, removal of the district leaders from office and the imposition of a trusteeship over the Nova

Scotia branch of the union.

With the election Jan. 17 of anew executive, that trusteeship was lifted, and the UMW has taken steps to reverse what it admits was a breakdown in democracy, mismanagement and misconduct by the former district

officers.

Time will tell whether the UMW reforms and promises of better leader- ship can restore the miners’ confidence in the union. Veteran miners,

whose struggles have taught them the crucial need for one strong union in -

their industry, are determined to make the International keep its promises because it is only on the basis of a return to rank and file democracy and militant trade unionism that miners will stick with the UMW and remain

inside the house of Canadian labor.

In the accompanying article, George MacEachern, a pioneer, of in- dustrial unionism and a key player in numerous militant labor struggles, in Nova Scotia, takes a look at some of the historical background on which Cape Breton’s coal miners must make today’s crucial decision.

By GEORGE MacEACHERN

SYDNEY — Jurisdictional dis- putes are not new to the coal miners of Nova Scotia, the first recorded being a raid by the Knights of Labor in 1899 on the Provincial Workmen’s Association (PWA), the first N.S. miner’s union, which was formed in 1879. The raid failed.

In 1906 the United Mine Workers of America was invited to come to Nova Scotia by the late J.B. McLachlan, at that time president of Drummond Lodge of PWA at Syd- ney Mines.

The success of the UMW of A. in signing up members brought retalia- tion from the coal company. UMW supporters were fired on the slightest pretext. Others, who were part of a general layoff were by-passed in favor of PWA members when re-hir- ing began.

A referendum, held in 1909, was won by. the UMW. The PWA and coal company refused to accept the results because less than half of those eligible to vote turned out. But the UMW stayed in the field, without recognition, until 1918, changing its name to United Mine Workers of Nova Scotia to avoid the charge of “foreign domination’’.

In 1909 the UMW struck the Cape Breton mines. Here they faced the combined opposition of company, government and PWA. It was a hard-fought, bitter strike in which families living in company houses were evicted regardless of their cir- cumstances.

The UMW did pay strike relief but, after an unbelievably tough winter, called off the strike.

AMU Born

In 1917 another struggle was on the agenda when a Royal Com- mission, which had been requested by both unions, was set up by the federal government. Among other things the commission recom- mended that the two unions give up their jurisdictional dispute and form a new union. This was agreed to and

the Amalgamated Mine Workers of N.S. was formed.

In 1918 a referendum was held on affiliation with the UMW of A. Ninety-eight per cent of those voting favored the American union. District 26 was set up and has continued to this day.

This is not to say that it has always been satisfactory to its members, or that it has always been the majority choice.

In 1928 agitation for a change was gathering momentum. This was nip- ped in the bud by the discharge of two of its promoters.

In 1932 the Amalgamated Mine Workers of Nova Scotia was revivéd and soon built up a very substantial membership. In fact pithead re- ferenda showed it to be stronger than the UMW. At least it was strong enough to have its dues checked off.

Here again the allies of the UMW were brought into the act. The Lib- eral government of Angus L. Mac- Donald amended the Coal Mines Regulation Act to allow for only one union to have its dues checked off.

Unity Movement

The loss of the check-off was a severe blow to the AMW. Besides this the favoring of UMW members at the work place was demoralizing the AMW membership.

When the unity movement began in 1936 it offered the only road to- ward unity and progress. When completed even those who were blacklisted in the late twenties were reinstated on their jobs.

The infusion of AMW militants into the UMW and the temporary change in the attitude of John L. Lewis brought District 26 back into the mainstream of the Canadian labor movement. Soon the whole district leadership was made up of ex-AMW members.

Of these, one, president Freeman Jenkins, was a disappointment. Tough and ambitious, he did not hesitate to have anyone who dis- pleased him fired. In the 1954 district

tently with his own idea of how the —

-U.S., took over.

election he was defeated by Tom McLachlan, a son of J.B. Tom McLachlan, although reputedly honest and courageous, was con: servative and this, after the Jenkin experience, did little to keep t UMW progressives.

During the 1950s the coal industry fell on evil times. Conversion to 0 for heating and power became the order of the day. Closure of miné was inevitable. :

The federal government took ove the mines and instituted a program 0 ““phase out’’. It was freely sta that coal belonged to the past. The main effort of the union was direct towards holding whatever jobs the could, demanding jobs outside th coal fields for the younger members and obtaining pre-retirement leav for hundreds who were in their late — middle age.

Time Will Tell

Later the high price of oil changed all this and the workers, who had fallen far behind those of other in dustries, began to think of catching up. ;

The coal strike of 1981 added fuel to the flames of discontent when It was found that there were to be no — strike benefits. To make a bad matter — worse, Sam Church, the Intel — national president, was reportedly — sending out letters to all UMW affiliates, asking for donations to the — United Appeal. :

Shortly after this, the CCU sent. people to organize a raid on Distric 26. The miners were signing up 11 ~ good style when the scene changed. The election of International officers - brought a new type to the top — Rick © Trumka — a UMW lawyer, (who had worked in the mines,) appa-

situation should be handled. :

After a personal visit to Cape Bre- ton, where he talked to many rank and file miners of both camps he sent in a team of investigators who evi- _ dently reported that what the UMW’s critics were saying was sub- — stantially correct.

The executive of District 26, which had only a short while earlier been re-elected, was deposed and an ~ administrative body made up of one from the district and three from the —

Promises of reform were broad- cast but when the vote on represen- tation was held by Canada Labor Re- — lations Board, March 9, the UMW won by only 354 votes, (UMW aa 1,750, CMU — 1,396). 4

Another vote has been called on © the CMU’s Dec. 31 application and the CLRB are in the area checking on the signed CMU cards. ~

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