a “Stop complaining. If | didn't have my profits, you wouldn't have your job!”

‘Recognize GDR’ Society wires PM

Prime Minister Trudeau and external affairs Mitchell Sharp were urged to recognize the German Democratic Republic in a telegram sent to them by the Canada - GDR Society on Sunday, Oct.

19.

The members and friends of the society met at the Peretz School in Vancouver to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the founding of the German Democratic Republic.

The wire. unanimously endorsed at the gathering urged that Canada also support membership of the GDR to the United Nations, and said, ‘‘The German Democratic Republic ranks among the ten most industrialised countries in the world today. It has carried out the Potsdam agreements as

stipulated by the allied powers at °

the end of the second world war, and makes no territorial claims against other countries, and it adheres to the principles laid down in the Charter of the United Nations including . the principle of peaceful coexistence between states - principles for which Canadians shed their blood during the second world war.

“It is absurd’’, continued the telegram, ‘“‘that 24 years after the end of World War II and 20 years after the founding of the German Democratic Republic Canada should support the claims of the Federal Republic

| - in great numbers.

Wide supp

Tickets for the giant “End the War in Vietnam” rally, at which Dr. Benjamin Spock and two representatives of the Provisional Revolutionary Government of South Vietnam will speak in Vancouver's Queen Elizabeth Theatre, are selling rapidly.

A member of the sponsoring committee for the rally, which is being held on Wednesday, Nov. 5 at 8 p.m., told the PT that the tickets are in great demand and that half the tickets are already out. She urged that those who want to attend should hurry to get their tickets, which are $1.00.

The rally is attracting a great deal of attention and will likely be one of the largest peace rally’s ever held in the city. Members of the sponsoring committee told the PT that great interest in the rally has been shown by young people, who have been buying tickets

of Germany ffor_ sole representation for both Germanys.”

The wire, signed by E. Crist, president of the Canada - GDR Society, closed by saying, ‘‘We believe that failure to recognize the German Democratic Republic. will put additional strains on the already fragile structure of peace in the world and that it will do Canada great harm.” :

‘Sincere Thanks’

The Vancouver Committee of the Communist Party. received the following message from the North Vietnamese delegation in Paris in response to a message of condolences on the death of Ho Chi Minh, sent from a public

~memorial meeting:

“The General Delegation of the Government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam in France, profoundly touched by the expressions of sympathy which you sent at the time of the death of the President of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam,. Ho Chi

Minh, begs you to accept this —

expression of our deepest gratitude and sincere thanks.”’

Speaking with Dr. Spock will be Mr. Huynh Van Ba, Charge ‘d’ Affaires in Havana, and Mr. Le Psuong from the Vietnamese Embassy in Stockholm, Sweden. Net proceeds from the rally will go to the Canadian Aid for Vietnam Civilians.

Tickets are available at the Co-Op Bookstore, 341 W. Pender St., or from Mrs. S. Young, 1768 West 11th Ave., Vancouver 9, Tel. 733-9018.

TTT TT

Vital issues face labor | at B.C. Fed convention |

The 14th annual Convention of the British Columbia Federation of Labor (BCFL), ‘ scheduled to open its sessions in Vancouver on November 3, confronts the deleg®™ body representing its multi-union membership of some 140,000 with a number of very 3

deep-going basic questions affecting all labor in B.C.

Among these will be the necessity of a thorough-going review of BCFL stewardship in respect to the extent and effectiveness of its opposition to Bill 33 (compulsory arbitration) ; a unanimously pledged struggle adopted at it’s 13th convention one year ago and which, in the opinion of a majority of BCFL rank-and-file unionists, never really got off the ground, either

in the interim period nor during ~

the August 27 provincial election campaign.

In this review also, and

especially related to the election -

campaign, the almost total absence of any _ independent political action by the BCFL and its affiliate unions, other than through the media of a right- wing NDP-BCFL. leadership, which sought to avoid political “embarassment” by keeping labor quiet — on the hustings, in the union hall, and on the picket line.

The final election results, ‘with it’s dissapointing results for the

-NDP in terms of losses, must of

itself compel a frank review, however limited, of NDP-Labor relationships.

On this, a lengthy editorial in the current issue of the Lumber Worker, organ of the B.C. Region of the IWA was compelled to observe that, “If the NDP now turns its back-on the trade unions, they invite political disaster .. .”’ Such a move would indeed spell disaster — for the NDP, and for not a few of its supporters in the top

echelons of organized labor. Nor ~

would it assist in the least in helping labor and/or the NDP to determine how to overcome ‘‘what went wrong’’. in ‘the election campaign.

Such problems can only be solved by a realistic evaluation of the issues facing organized labor.

WAGE STRUGGLES

Looming up for 1970 are big wage struggles and the termination of many union wage contracts. Substantial wage increases are needed to meet steadily rising living costs.

The Trudeau government’s so- called ‘‘austerity”’ program with its economic ‘‘guidelines’’ is

over-all policy arrived at

primarily designed to head off wage and salary increases. This on top of a mounting attack on labor standards by government- monopoly agencies. The formation of the B.C. Employers Council and similar bodies, geared to anti-labor activities, and loudly calling for federal legislation ‘“‘similar to Bill 33” merely indicates what lies ahead.

It is noteworthy that while the Trudeau government committee is ostensibly ‘‘inquiring”’ into the

causes of inflaticn, and promoting an ‘‘austerity’’ atmosphere, it has already

advanced its ‘‘guidelines’’ on wages. C.L.C. President Donald McDonald, in a radio broadcast has described this procedure as “putting the cart before the horse? 7 The BCFL convention will undoubtedly be faced with the need of challenging this federal “‘austerity’’ wage obstruction, - by mapping out strategy for the big wage struggles of its affiliate unions, by the creation of much greater coordination and unity in all its ranks.

UNITY VITAL

Other questions, equally grave in their longer-range perspectives face the BCFL 14th annual gathering. Inter-union questions involving centralized jurisdiction and authority; which body is to direct the rising cycle of economic and political struggle a centralized authority with an unanimous mandate from its affiliate body, or one or more of its subordinate affiliates? Much of the unity so often talked about in labor’s ranks, depends to a major extent on a viable resolving of this problem.

While the BCFL does not and cannot determine the wage demands of its affiliates, it does have the responsibility by majority decision of its conventions, of providing the maximum unity and coordinated activity in support of these wage demands. This can only be achieved by all affiliates adhering strictly to BCFL policies between conventions.

At its 13th Annual Convention the BCFL, as part of the struggle against Bill 33, approved a complete boycott of the Bill 33 Mediation Commission, by all affiliated unions engaged in wage struggles, and for the BCFL to ‘“‘come to the aid of the first union under attack by Bill Soe

The Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers Union, now in its fourth month of strike action against six major B.C. oil distributing firms, is now in violation of BCFL’s mediation commission ban, having spent nearly two weeks of ‘‘hearings’’ before that body, in opposition to BCFL policy re Bill 33.

Thus if there is going to be any measure of all-inclusive labor unity, adherence to policy and recognition of a duly elected leading authority must be adhered to, and any changes in

Sn See See

-bring the whole

. exploitation.

_— collectively, rather that by individual affiliates. be Nor can the fact now Ai ‘ignored that the continued lee Bill 33 with its Mlé complimentary court os injunctions, exparte OF one against the right of wage eae i to withhold their labor power support of collective bargaining; now assumes — in fact mi election results, 4 or a menace to organized labor t A ever before —a menace that ¢ only be effectively met PY “fl maximum of labor amity A mutual agreement, instead the opposite.

POLITICAL ACTION

Perhaps it may be argued ae one of the glaring failures of a | BCFL, a failure forcefully t forth in the issue Of a Lumberworker referred t0 ™ of the almost total absence independent political actio® hut only on a year-round basis: most evident during the AUE™ 27 election campaign. ;

Obviously the absence of al trade union independent pole a action, and most especially # election campaign, contri oe greatly to NDP losses, and mm ne) it more easily possible 10) 1, Socred forces and Benn@ 4 inject the spurious slog), | “socialism vs. free-enterprs | | thus scoring a_ victory trickery that would have ; : impossible had labor cond cal 7 its own independent pole 4: action campaign on all 1S al! q while at the same time 81, strengthening its support ® ae NDP. That omission has act valuable lessons for the :

convention. !

Moreover the fact that aN ‘ce right-wing leadership ti greatly in short-cireul” labor’s independent action, does not excuse, #© or mitigate such a Se omission.

FEA (0 In view of the foregoiie> jy a which much more COW i) — added, it is clear the delegay on the 14th annual BCFL conve) are going to have a busy We"

To map out strategy whi a hor -

movement into the fight

employer attacks upon labo! the people;

: e

To strengtlien its ties with u

NDP — as a challenge ' ing forces of Socred reaction ee

an assurance of future vict®

To replace the Tri “austerity” program will indicating a greater meas” og prosperity and social advan for’ labor and the P® generally;

a

To halt the squandering or }

vast portion of the nav’ ADE wealth through NATO, NOM % and other war treaties: aS

To greatly widen Jabot participation in the strug peace and an end to aggression in Vietnam, 2°. as in other world areas St!" for freedom from oppressio®

ries: ~