a unionists from the Vancouver and surrounding areas
filled the Orpheum Theatre and Commodore Cabaret
March 7th, to protest the federal and provincial governments
attempts to destroy the bargaining rights of working people in
the public and private sectors.

The rally, the last and biggest in a series of eight rallies held
throughout the province, was addressed by a number of
prominent labour leaders who warned that governments were
making a concerted attack to hold down labour.

The meeting was chaired by Gerry Stoney, President of the
New Westminster & District Labour Council. Syd Thompson,
President of the Vancouver & District Labour Council, chaired
the Commodore meeting, estimated between 700 and 1,000,
which was the overflow from the Orpheum.

The speakers, B.C. Fed President and Secretary-Treasurer
Jim Kinnaird and Dave Macintyre; B.C.G.E.U. General
Secretary, John Fryer; CUPE President, Grace Hartman; CLC
Vice-President, Shirley Carr; NDP-MLA Bill King; addressed
both meetings.

Regional President Jack Munro drew a tremendous ovation
from the crowd when he blistered the Socred government for
its recent amendments to the Essential Services Disputes Act.

He bitterly censored the government for its actions and in blunt I ‘

lanqua Bae that it moe up to working people to see that the OTHER SPEAKERS at the rally included Bill King, MLA and former NDP Labour Minister; Grace Hartman,
guag A ; P - gP PI President, Canadian Union of Public Employees; John Fryer, General Secretary, B.C. Government

present gang in Victoria was kicked out of office and the New Employees’ Union; and Gerry Stoney, acting in his capacity as President of the New Westminster & District

Democratic Party was re-elected. Labour Council, who chaired the meeting.

JIM KINNAIRD, President, B.C. Federa