CONTENTdm
[The Labour Statesman]
BC Historical Newspapers
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■ ' . _V_~i—UUIIB '.fli The Labor States OWNED BY THE VANCOUVER AND DISTRICT LABOUR COUNCIL No. 713 Vancouver, B.C., March 31, 1961 PEOPLE AND THEIR PLACARDS Socreds *,,'"»S"3«*-«_^^ »^p5 labor law Combined opposition fails to halt anti-labor Bill 42 PART OF THE mile-long column of unemployed which moved through Victoria earlier this month in the protest march on the Legislature is shown in this Labor Statesman picture. The orderly demonstrators carried placards demanding government action to help create jobs and measures to relieve suffering of those who have been without work for many months. A full report on the march and the brief carried to the cabinet is carried in this issue of your labor paper. MILE-LONG PROTEST work, relief measures :-.W. \m\ VICTORIA — The largest post-war demonstration against unemployment moved in on the B. C. capital city this month. The labor-sponsored "march on Victoria" drew an estimated 1.7Q0 placard carrying, chanting unemployed who demanded government action to put more people to work. Sponsored by the B. C. Federation of Unemployed, the mass demonstration drew supporters from the Lower Mainland and all parts of Vancouver Island. It was an orderly demonstration. Delegations from the marchers presented a brief to the cabinet which urged: • A special debate in th* Legislature o n unemployment. BC statute strikes at race bias VICTORIA. — B. C. has become the sixth Canadian province to pass anti-discrimination legislation covering pub- lie accommodation. The new law bans discrimination by business firms which serve the public and also prohibits discriminatory advertising in connection with public accommodation. It sets a maximum fine of $100 for violations and contains provisions for investigation and conciliation of complaints. ' • Work projects in the public sector — building of schools, hospitals, roads, etc to put more people to work in a building program aimed at fulfilling needs of the day • A boost in the social assistance rates. • A moratorium on debts of unemployed to protect loss of homes, etc. Delegations also met with the CCF caucus and the Liberal members. Both these groups endorsed the brief. The Lower Mainland group came by bus and ferry and more than 450 had to be turned away at the bus depot in Vancouver when they rallied at 6.30 a.m. A CCF motion to introduce a special resolution on the floor of the House on the day of the demonstration calling for a debate on unemployment was ruled out of order on a technicality by the Speaker. The Speaker's ruling was challenged and Social Credit backbenchers and some cabinet ministers rushed mto the House to vote to sustain-the chair, even though some did not know what they were voting on. The motion was defeated, 28-18. Labor men reported that Premier Bennett and his cabinet listened with deaf ears while the brief was presented. The ministers then outlined their departmental "programs" in well-rehearsed fashion, each one suggesting that "everything possible is being done to provide jobs. Said the delegation spokes man: "The rather pathetic reports of the ministers, coupled with the premier's weak reply that he would give the brief 'consideration* constitute either an expression of the government's inability to give leadership and provide concrete action to improve the unemployment picture or represents a tactic admission that the Socred administration has no intention of taking action — that it will continue to look after the interests of the big money boys who keep it in office and remain ind fferent to the rights and welfare of the citizens of B.C." (Continued on page 8) RESIGNS — Dave Block, president of th. B.C. Government Employees Association, has resigned because his recent job promotion will put him on call 24 hours a day with no time left for union affairs. A. L. B. Clark of Kamloops, first vice-president, steps in to take the post. *r *r *r APPROVED—Request of Canadian Postal Emplpyees, Vancouver branch, that its position regarding the New Party be recognized was accepted this month by VLC delegates. The union Said that under the Civil Service Act, its members were disallowed from any connection with contributions or The Social Credit party by weight of its majority in the provincial Legslature rammed through Bill 42 this month despite one of the toughest fights by opposition members in the history of the B.C. House. Debate on this labor bill -ranged over 27 hours and through all-night sittings. A last-ditch bid by the CCF to suspend the bill for six months was defeated on March 25 by a 29-16 vote. Leading the battle againstt Bill 42—amendments to the Labor Relations Act — CCF leader Robert Strachan at one point declared: "The principle of this bill is the furtherance of Social Credit's anti-worker, anti-labor policy. This government is determined to get trade unions. This is part of the overall strat- Sodal wing reactionary party, the government of big business." The opposition debated the measure clause-by-clause and "the vote on the controversial section 5—banning use of any part of union dues for political action or education—was 30- 20 with CCF and Liberals combining against the government. The CCF attempted to delete the clause while the Liberals wanted a "contract in" clause which would require that union members must specifically notify their union if they want part of their dues to go to any political party. * * * The B.C. Federation of Labor made a final bid this month to win fuller hearing amendments to the Labor Relations Act, but the Social of controversial "Bill 42" — Credit government ignored the request. And despite this special appeal and the protestations campaigning for any political party. 9f* if* *J- APPOINTED—Labor's member on the Board of Directors of the Community Chest will be Bill Dunsmuir of Bookbinders Local 105. if. 9ft 9p FACES—Newly seated delegates at VLC this month included: T. F. O'Neil. Laborers Local 602; Pat Slinson and lta- . bella Rogers, Garment Workers Local 190; Maurice L'Heureux and James R. Nichols. Longshoremen Local 502; Thomas M. Cook, Firemen and Oilers, Local 134; M. Rasmussen. W. Pooghkay.i D. Fleck and K. Sekfcon. IWA Local 1-217. -J. *f* *t* Henry Mattson and Victor Schierman. Bakery Workers Local 468; James R. Black. Plumbers Local 170; J. L. Crick, Vancouver Policemen's Union; P. Cain, Longshoremen Local 509; T. B. Fleming. and hard fighting of oppostion members in the Legislature, the amendments in ,B i 11 42 were passed by the simple weight of Social Credit members as all government backbenchers rode along. Labor's final appeal made these points: • The Legislature's Stand ing Committee on Labor should have dealt with the Bill to allow a full and fair hearing for all. This was not done. • If the government desired to restrict the political liberties of unions it should do so by amending the .-lections Act, and not the Labor Relations Act Any provision (Continued on page 2) FIGHT against the government's Bill 42 was led by the B.C. Federation of Labour and its secretary Pat O'Neal. A last-minute appeal setting out the federation views was made but was ignored by Premier Bennett. The Labor Statesman gives a full report of these views on page 2, the first time they have been published. Bricklayers Local 1; Stan Tapping. Brewery Workers Local 300; James W. Ryan. Carpenters Local 452; Eleanor K. Brown and Peter Busch. Tex* tile Workers Local 1484. * * * ADVICE — You're living a dull iife if all you do in your spare time is sit in front of the TV or go fishing, VLC del*' gates were told by Peter Bennett of the Vancouver F«.-lv»aI Society. Enjoyment of cultural arts — be they classical 'music, jazz, dancing or what— will give you a good boost, he said. * * * AFFILIATE — VLC welfare services committee has won support for its recommendation that the Front Street Mission in New Westminster should affiliate with the United Good Neighbor fund. THIS PLEA WAS IGNORED 'An open invitation for labor and * K - - "■ • - - - __•_•_.__ ___.__.__ _ j.i.«:i ers to itoul This story sets out labor's stand on Bill 42 as presented to the labor mnister in a special brief late this mon'h. '^«—ia*»w*^'«'?Er*"*382r*-';' -^*—^p-*«»Eiw^apwift' ..^—rowoTOKtB,*-- The brHtf is Widely held throughout the trade union movement, that the government'would be well advised not to proceed with this bill. Its provisions * indicate drastic changes of far-reaching consequence in legislation governing 1 a b o r-management relations. Organized labor has a great deal at stake in the terms of this statute. Whether the law deals fairly or unfairly with trade, unions, is a matter which vitally affects their ability to safeguard the living standards of their members. We believe, that in dealing with legislation of this type, all points of view should be open- Jy heard by the members of the Legislature. We claim the right to be heard before the Standing Committee on Labor. We may cite many precedents for such a procedure. At the present Session, the representatives of other organizations have been heard and questioned by the appropriate committees. We fail to understand why the trade unions, representing a large section of the population, should be denied this customary access to democratic consideration of their requirements. Unions have job Our claim in this regard bears special emphasis. We are charged with responsibility to seek lawful ways and means for the maintenance of industrial peace. Trade unions are expected to rely on methods of conciliation and mediation for the settle- -nent of industrial disputes. It is of great importance, therefore, that the procedures required by the Labor Relations Act should be generally understood and command confidence. Trade unions should be enabled to meet employers as far as possible, on the basis of equality at the bargaining table. The powers exercised by government agencies, should be administered in a manner that insures even-handed justice. For these reasons we urge that conditions of industrial peace will be furthered by consultation with organized labor. We believe that the record of the trade unions in this province deserves such consultation. No place in Act . . We regret the fact, that the government has introduced a clause. in the amended Bill, which bans political contributions of a certain type. In our opinion, such a clause has no place in the Labor -Relations Act. If the government desires to restrict the rights and political liberties of trade unions, it should propose an amendment to the Provincial Elections Act and we suggest such an amendment should require full reporting and disclosure by all parties .of all' political contributions. We point to the fact that the proposed clause creates the impression that the government is ranged against the rights al ready established by the unions in a long struggle for freedom of association. If the Labor Relations Act is to become a poli- ^TiclOh-fr^ toryM1Jij*rfI^jace&4*if government in times of industrial unrest, "will become seriously limited. The government's fears that the unions contemplated any violation of rights of individual members are groundless. The Canadian Labor Congress and the B.C. Federation of Labor, have given repeated^ and public assurances that no coercion would be exercised upon any group or indivdual member. Refusal to make any political contribution that might be suggested would be so administered, it was declared, that the membership privileges and rights of individual members would under no circumstances be jeopardized. The amending Bill deals with a situation that does not now exist and in all probability will never exist. No constitutional changes have been authorized by the trade unions, such as contemplated by the Bill. Discrimination We point out the amending Bill dealing with check-off is discriminatory. It is aimed at only one section of the community. Other large organizations make contributions to political parties, but are not restricted in the manner proposed for industrial workers. We claim the constitutional right to decide by the usual democratic trade union procedures how we shall spend our own money. We claim for the individual member, the right to make or to refuse to make a political contribution. We resent the fact, that the prohibition proposed in the Bill, with regard to the checkoff, also extends to funds in reserve administered by authority of the membership. Invitation to fight VL COIHICll A number of clauses in the any offer during a strike or lock-out negates the principles of collective bargaining. Until this clause is given effectr the union is the-recog-"■ 'dmmWk legal* iwrgaining agent for the • employees. If such a vote is taken on any offer the employers may choose to make, without negotiation with the duly elected and responsible committee, the union is set aside. We recognize this provision as a strike-breaking device. It has long been requested by employers for no other reason than that they might use their economic strength to determine that might is right and to disrupt trade union support. When such provision destroys all incentive to engage in genuine bargaining, it places in the hands of employers a weapon lo prevent effective bargaining. If written into the Labor Relations Act, it makes a farce of the bargaining procedure which previous sections of the statute require. Back door method We regard this clause as a back-door method of preventing effective strike action. If trade unions are deprived of the right to take effective and lawful strike action, they are denied a basic civil right and are forced to submit to the terms of the employers. We are unalterably opposed to such laws as they reduce workers to the status which prevails, in all of the dictatorships. That ariy government in Canada should contemplate enacting such legislation is unbelievable. We consider that another clause in the amending Bill, Clause 17, extends the principle of compulsory arbitration Seminar planned by amending Bill provide that a conciliation officer may recommend no conciliation board be appointed and the minister may so advise both parties to a dispute. As there does not appear to be any provision for continuing concilation, this evidently means an invitation to fight it out. At this point, it appears that the employers are given all the advantages and allowed to impose their terms of settlement on the employees. The prohibition against any change in rates and conditions now in the Act, ends at this point. There is no suggestion in the Bill that with such a recommendation a membership vote can be taken on any outcome of the conciliation conducted to that point. It is. presumed that the union concerned will have no alternative but to ask for a strike vote, seeking authorization of strike action because of rejection of original demands. Thus, the effort of a union to bargain conscientiously and in good faith goes out the window. Negates principle The clause which may require a membership vote on A spring seminar to discuss major topics of the day may be sponsored by the education committee of the Vancouver Labour Council. Committee chairman John Hayward said the committee plans the seminar in conjunction with any local union which may be planning a similar event. Subjects under consideration are: People and the New Party; Your Children and the Chant Report; People and Welfare; Labor Legislation, the Labor Relations Act; National Resources Report; Columbia versus Peace. Hayward said the committee ers to address meetings of the also plans to invite top speak- labor council to "arouse interest in current topics." Pqge Two Ihe Labor Statesman — March 31, 1961 Vullfamy & Brownell CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS 2205 Fir St. Phone RE. 8-3233 Vancouver, B.C. This was labor's last-minute bid to wjnsenstbk thinking in BX. indtisfrial relations... Full text of B.C. Federation of Labour's appeal, first time published. to matters which should be dealt with in general negotiations. We believe too, that the Act in its present form is very much biased in favor of employers. A study of the Labor Relations Board decision from 1957 to 1960, reveal that of 69 orders made by the Board, 65 were directed against employers, whose tactics of coercing and intimidation employees during organizational campaigns and other offences against the Act, indicate they were using the legislation exclusively to gain their own ends. No penalties other than "cease and desist orders" were ordered by the Board for these infractions. To further load this legislation in favor of employers, at the employer's request, is not we submit the act of a government acting as a fair or wise umpire in this already unequal relationship. In conclusion, we renew our request for a hearing before the Select Standing Committee on Labor and for a full and frank discussion by all concerned, of those matters which vitally affect the welfare of our people, and indeed of all British Columbians. Important negotiations now in progress are proceeding in an atmosphere of uncertainty and foreboding. This legislation is bound to bring confusion and misunderstanding. We earnestly ask the government to abandon its present attitude of prejudice against the trade union movement. Experience has shown over the last 50 years that fair treatment of trade unions and reasonable protection of collective bargaining rights have resulted in a greater understanding of the problems involved and the orderly transaction of business arising from labor- management relations. , Should be impartial One inescapeable condition of industrial peace for the province, is that the government should act with complete impartiality and establish an atmosphere in which industrial workers may seek just redress through fully democratic means. When mediation is required, the mediator must have the confidence of both parties in any conflict if we are going to promote and advance better labor-management relations in B.C. This and this alone we submit should be the objective of government in its j approach to labor legislation.] Bill 42 will not accomplish] these objectives. In fact, we believe, it will have exactly the opposite effect. _»?*' TURNED DOWN (Continued from Page 1) should call for full reporting by all parties of political contributions. This was refused. • Bill 42 weights the bargaining procedures in B.C. even more heavily than before in favor of employers. • Bill 42 Invites a "fight it out" approach for labor- management relations and thus will cause greater industrial unrest. NO MEDICAL COVERAGE? No worker in B.C. should be without medical care protection. Comprehensive coverage is available to groups of three. employees up to any number, anywhere in the province, through C.U. & C.'s Group Plan. The employee who retires or who is laid off can still be covered through *C.U. & C.'s Individual Plan, closely resembling the Group Plan, or *C.U. & C.'s Limited Benefit Plan which protects him against major medical bills. For full information, write or telepuone C. U. & C. Health Services Society 96 East Broadway TRinity 9-5711 Vancouver 10, B.C. "Health Insurance at Cost, tfae' Co-operative Way" Mount Pleasant Chapel Limited ~ KINGSWAY at ELEVENTH AVENUE KINDLINESS — UNDERSTANDING — DEPENDABILITY LADY ATTENDANT Phone TRinity 6-2161 „i Council fills 28 posts Vancouver Labor Council this month named the 1961 members of its standing committees. Names submitted and . approved,!-**-.delegate were as ^-SHows*-""""
the Social Credit Government Security Act
We Telegraph Flowers Anywhere in the World
the revolution in human rights legislation.
@en, "Title changes in chronological order: The Labor Statesman (1924-04-25 to 1965-03), The Labour Statesman (1965-05 to 1969-09). From 1924-04-25 to 1965-03 The Labour Statesman was owned and published by the Vancouver and District Labour Council. From 1965-05 to 1967-07 it was published jointly by the B.C. Federation of Labour and the Vancouver and District Labour Council. From 1967-08 to 1969-09 it was published by the B.C. Federation of Labour."@en ; edm:hasType "Newspapers"@en ; dcterms:spatial "Vancouver (B.C.)"@en ; dcterms:identifier "Labor_Statesman_1961_03_31"@en ; edm:isShownAt "10.14288/1.0439695"@en ; dcterms:language "English"@en ; geo:lat "49.246292"@en ; geo:long "-123.116226"@en ; edm:provider "Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library"@en ; dcterms:publisher "Vancouver, B.C. : Vancouver and District Labour Council"@en ; dcterms:rights "Images provided for research and reference use only. Permission to publish, copy, or otherwise use these images must be obtained from the Digitization Centre: http://digitize.library.ubc.ca/"@en ; dcterms:source "Original Format : UBC Library"@en ; dcterms:title "The Labor Statesman"@en ; dcterms:type "Text"@en ; dcterms:description ""@en .