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Nigel Morgan
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Labor at Victoria

T HE greatest Labor lobby ever to assemble in Vic-

toria in support of much-needed labor legisla-
tion is now completing a week’s work in the B.C.
capital. Over 300 delegates from approximately
190 trade union locals and central labor bodies par-
ticipated in this monster lobby.

In contrast to the 1945 lobby in Victoria, this
lobby is fully united. Unions from both the Trades
and Labor Council (AFL) and the Camadian Con-
gress of Labor (CCL) are on hand, with a joint steer-
ing committee of both trade union centres directing
the work of the lobby.

Supporting the trade union delegates are rep-
resentatives of the Canadian Legion, the Army and

Navy Veterans of Canada, and the Canadian Corps
Association. Also, and of no less important in the
struggle for advanced labor legislation, is a body of
leading B.C. churchmen from the Ministerial As-
sociation, who also made representations before the
government in support of Labor’s legislative de-
mands.

Chairman of the lobby, Alderman R. K. Gervin
(AFL) has declared that there is complete unanimity
in all ranks behind Labor’s brief.

The lobby is demanding the enactment of a
40-hour week; the establishment of a minimum wage
in B.C. of 65c per hour; a provincial labor code, pat-

terned along the lines of PC. 1003, but with teeth

in it to guarantee compulsory collective bargaining,
Union security and check-off. The brief also puts
forward sweeping changes in the Workmen’s Com-
pensation Act, to provide for 100 per cent compen-
sation coverage to all injured and disabled workers
in industry, and to cover other categories of workers
who are at present excluded from the benefits of the
act.

In the Speech from the Throne at the opening
of the B.C. Legislature, it was apparent that decisive
measures to advance the interests of labor were
omitted. From this, and subsequent statements of
certain coalition members, it was apparent that the
Hart-Maitland coalition, returned to ipower last

fall with an increased majority, felt.pretty sure of
its ability to by-pass any major labor legislation
during this session. From the reports of many lobby-
ists, it is clear that a good few of the coalition mem-
bers were “cagey’’ in making any commitments
in support of Labor’s demands.
: Unions throughout the province supported their
lobby delegations by forwarding hundreds of letters
and telegrams to the government demanding action.

The lobby of organized labor, supported by
veterans Organizations and progressive churchmen,
establishes a new landmark in the history of B.C.
labor. A landmark for Progress.

As a result of the lobby it is apparent that some
measures of Labor reforms will be introduced. The
best assurance of this is for the Labor lobby, backed
by the veterans and other progressve forces, to keep
up the pressure and to demand a commitiment from
every MLA. The time has come when every MLA‘s
position on labor should be clear and unequivocal.

PACIFIC TRIBUNE — PAGE 4

Cuban Marxist Party
Urges Real Reciprocity ty som car

The third national convention of the
People’s Socialist Party of Cuba was a
gathering permeated with enthusiasm and
full of lessons for all of us in the western
hemisphere. This was the opinion of Sam
Carr, natienal organizer of the LPP, who
just returned to Toronto, having attended
the Cuban convention as a fraternal dele-
gate from Canada.

HE third national convention of the Marxist
party of Cuba raised the problems facing the
Cuban people who, having achieved the status
of a free American nation, now fight for their
economic independence from the stifling influ-
ences of American imperialism.

Today Cuba’s economy hinges on its sugar
crops. Sugar represents 80 percent of the coun-
try’s total exports, the balance being made up
of tobacco, fruit and vegetables and a small
quantity of nickel and copper.

The United States purchases the entire crop
of Cuban suger, the price this year being set
at about 334 cents. Apart from the 300,000 tons
permitted the Cubans for home consumption,
the U.S. only allows the Cuban sugar industry
50,000 tons a year for sales on the world market
The rest of the sugar crop which runs to some
four million tons is taken by the United States
jnterests who sell it at the world prices in the
vieinty of seven or more cents per pound.

The convention supported the demand of the
Grau government that the U.S. should allow
Cuba to sell 250,000 tons on
the world market at the best
possible prices. Today sugar is
in short supply and the Cubans
can establish market relations
with countries in Latin Ameri-
ca, Canada and the world at
large. A failure to do so now
will in the eventual days of
economic crisis leave the Cuban
economy in ruin, once the Unit-
ed States no longer purchases
the entire sugar crop even at
the present low price the USA
pays. Present trade relations
leave Cuba at the complete
merey of United States inter-
ests.

FOOD SUPPLIES

HE convention dealt with
the serious situation facing
Cuba in relation to all essen-
tial supplies. The country being:
sngaged in the main in sugar
production, imports the most
important needs of the people,
chiefly from the USA. Prices
have risen by 118 percent since
1939 and black marketing and profiteering are
serious problems facing the people.

Today Cuba has to buy Mexican food pro-
ducts, as well as Canadian paper from the Unit-
ed States, so paying extra profits. The Mexican
and Canadian people buy Cuban sugar from the
USA.

The convention demanded that a true reci-
procity agreement be negotiated with the USA,
making Cuba free in its trade relations with
the world. :

The party supported proposals of the Cu-
ban president that when the governmen is able
to sell 250,000 tons of sugar at world market
prices, the companies are to be paid the price
of 354 cents, the balance to be used for govern-
ment measures to reduce the cost of living: in
the country. The most reactionary elements of
Cuban and American capital are fighting to
add “extra millions to their own substantial
profits.

The party convention raised sharply the need
to extend all measures for industrialization of
the country and for the widest possible diversifi-

cation of the agrarian production. Reactionary _

elements sabotage all such developments. They
wish to maintain their position of advantage
over the people, flowing from the utter depend-_
ence of Cuba’s economy on one single item, i.e.,
sugar.

SUPPORT GRAU GOVERNMENT
‘pete People’s Socialist Party pledged itself
to continue support to all progressive meas-
ures of the Grau government which the conyen-
tion characterizes as a progressive-democratic
government’s measures in the field of labor
legislation, and its measures to prevent evic-
tions of peasants, the party called upon the

government to resist more firmly the p
of the reactionary elements, and to figh
consistently for policies which will advanc
on the road to progress.

The party called for speedy goveri
action to improve the lot of the peasai
pecially by breaking up the large land h:
by breaking the hold of the sugar cor
which often keep large tracts of land
cultivation. The party called for the S
ment of “a Cuban National Bank and a\
merchant marine. The party demanded ;;

program for low-rental homes.

Great attention was paid to the comiz
tions. In June, one-half of the House’
House of Representatives is to be re
While there is only one senatorial vac:
be filled all municipal councils are to
elected and everyone in the country realiz
the election this June will have a decis
fluence on the 1948 presidential electia:

Today four parties support the |
ment—the Republicans, the Cuban Rey
ary Party (the party of Grau, the presi
Cuba), and the People’s Socialist Parti

The Opposition parties are the Der
and the Liberals.

However, some of the most reactions
ments in the country are in the Republicar
in which dissension against the gover)
progressive policies is leading to split

The Diario de la Marina, a daily new
the chief organ of reaction and the ma
of U.S. imperialism, is gathering forces
feat the march of prog:
foisting a reactionary pi
upon the Republic.

AGAINST REACTION.
Wats the People’s ¢'
Party hopes to enle
present representation Go”
members of Congress an
Senators, the main ta
party undertook was to
the reactionary plots
Cuban progress. The pa
clared that it will ju
candidates and parties
basis of their attitude ©
most burning issues in
life.
3 The convention resol’
problem of party orga:
which gave rise to difi.
of opinion. The People’s
ist Party carries out a ~
registration of its suj
every four years. This -
vided by the Cuban ¢€-
law. Some 150,000 su; e
Were registered by ou ~
in 1944. Wowever, oni
75,000 took out party membership boc
only some 15,000 were actually active
party activities. :

The convention decided to broaden tis
basis of the party by drawing more ar
of its registered electoral supporters in
activity in the party. At the same time.
great stress upon the widest utilization of BY!
Leninist education to enlarge steadily +1
ber of active Communists in this gree!
party. z

FIGHT BROWDERISM qi
ENS ROCA, the dynamic Marxist le §

Cuba devoted an important section |
main report to an expose and consider:
all ramifications of Browderism in Cu
pointed out that although the general ¢
of the party rejected Browder’s liquid: §
and capitulation to imperialism, the &
thinking and working were gravely inj
the accéptance and propagation of the un- |
utopian perspectives elaborated by Brov |

The convention was attended by ff
delegates from the United States, Ganada
Chile, Puerto Rica, Venezuela, Spain ar fi
lonia. :

It was a great and inspiring gathe 2
demonstrated that the Cuban people’s
party is a great force in the life of the ;
the leading party of the labor movem
Canadians should turn their eyes to the |.
cas, our neighbors in this hemisphere. Mo |
cultural and fraternal relations will help
ture of Canada and Cuba, of Canada ©
Latin-American countries.

FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 1¢