LABOR All signs point to a major dust-up at the post office this summer. First, Canada Post has tabled more than 50 pages of concessionary demands. That in and of itself is enough to cause concern. Concessionary demands are commonplace in Canada these days; but so too are strikes by workers resisting con- cessions. But the 50 pages of basic takeways are only the tip of an emerging campaign to take on the postal unions, and through them, the entire trade union movement in Canada. Some leading Tories have already flo- ated the concept of Canada’s armed forces carrying mail in the event of a postal strike. Despite official denials, much evi- dence exists that strikebreakers are being recruited, and trained by Canada Post. Canada Post appears to have no inten- tion of settling the dispute with its unions at the bargainging table. That means that the dispute will end up on the picket lines. There are reports that helicopter pads are being developed or up-graded at major post offices around the country. The only possible logic for such a measure is to avoid the mass picketing which inevitably follows from attempts at strike-breaking. Such a development brings to mind the defeated strike by British print workers against Rupert Murdoch at Wapping des- pite massive, but insufficient, trade union support. Labor in action A management document which “fell off a truck” and into certain union acti- vists’ hands reveals plans to engage in unprecendented personal searches of pos- tal employees on the job. What is Canada Post looking for? Food to be smuggled into the post offices to be used in a pro- longed union sit-in to protect their jobs? A fantastic scenario to be sure, but no trade unionist should be lulled into believ- ing that this struggle will be an ordinary battle. Letter Carriers’ president Bob McGarry has been removed from the Canada Post board of directors. Why? So there will be no leaks of management plans to divide and conquer the postal unions? Finally, there is the conciliation process, through which all postal unions must pass before they are ina legal position to strike. The Canadian Union of Postal Workers has been told that its particular concilia- tion officer won’t have any open dates for meeting the disputing parties until October. This is hardly in keeping with the urgency of the situation flowing from the fact that the other postal unions will likely be out of conciliation and forced to strike much ear- lier. Again, the state is rigging the deck to guarantee that strike action for the most part wil be illegal, and will involve the full force of the state being brought to bear against all postal workers. And if by some chance, the postal workers do find themselves in a co- ordinated strike, the government of Brian Mulroney, buoyed by the Supreme Court decision that the right to strike is not ensh- rined in the constitution, still has a large majority in Parliament poised to enact strike-breaking legislation. Behind the attack on the postal unions, is not only a serious Tory, big business shot at trade unionism, but an attempt to Gainers tactics seen in PO dispute promote, in an unfettered way, the federal government agenda of privatization of the post office. Already, the jobs of letter car- riers and inside workers have been placed _on the chopping block, rural carriers and .eleaners among them. At Willowdale, Ontario, the regular postal service has been abandoned and contracted out to Shoppers Drug Mart. Not a single new job has been created. All that has happened is the postal work is being done on the basis of paying workers less than a living wage. The community is robbed of decent service and the disposa- ble income resulting from a unionized payroll. This calculated assault on the postal unions must be stopped. All-out unity of all postal unions, despite past and current differences, is imperative. Secondly, the entire trade union move- ment must rally behind the postal unions in the same spirit as it did for the Gainers workers in Alberta. Strike support com- mittees need to be set up immediately in every labor council, federation of labor, and co-ordinated by the Canadian Lavor Congress. Third, the community must be brought on side by linking the struggle to destroy the postal workers’ unions with the strug- gle to maintain a vital service for the peo- ple of Canada and not build a source of super-profits for the transnational corpo- rations. Teachers to ‘continue resistance to bills’ Continued from page 1 means of deflecting some of the labor movement’s opposition. Vander Zalm announced Tuesday that he would be taking part in the meeting, insisting all the while, however, that there could be no change to the philosophy or the intent of Bill 19. Only amendments based on clause by clause study would be consi- dered, he said. But from the rally platform, both laber council secretary Frank Kennedy and B.C. Fed president Georgetti emphasized that there could be no compromise on the legis- lation. “We have a responsibility to see to it that Bills 19 and 20 are scrapped in their entirety — there can be no compromise on that,” Kennedy told the crowd. ““Demo- cracy is not negotiable.” Georgetti also stated that the content of Bill 19 was not up for negotiation. “Vander Zalm has said that he wants to negotiate on Bill 19. Well, in our view, Bill 19 is not negotiable. “Tt goes — or we fight” he declared to a roar of applause. “Tomorrow and in the days that follow,” he pledged, “* we will make every effort to stop Bills 19 and 20 by whatever means that are necessary.” He urged unionists to remain united and to “make sure we’re all marching in the same direction.” What direction that is will be determined in meetings of the federation’s strategy committee. But the demand for a concerted campaign of job action has continued to grow. On Tuesday, delegates to the Vancouver and District Labor Council voted unanim- ously to reiterate their demand for the com- plete withdrawal of both Bill 19 and 20 and to “continue to press for escalating job action to defeat this anti-labor legislation.” A faster escalation of the B.C. Federation of Labor campaign against the legislation is also expected to be a focus of discussion at an emergency provincial conference called 12 e PACIFIC TRIBUNE, MAY 20, 1987 by the 25,000-member Hospital Employees Union for May 21 and 22. HEU delegate Fred Muzin told labor council delegate Tuesday that unionists could not be expected to keep coming out to rallies just to hear speeches. “They need action and they need leadership,” he said. B.C. teachers will be meeting this Satur- day to discuss the results of votes held throughout local teachers’ associations on the possibility of further job action against Bill 20. The bill moved closer to becoming law Tuesday, passing third reading in the legis- lature. Some sections must still be pro- claimed by cabinet while others are awaiting royal assent by the lieutenant-governor, however. Even as the bill was entering third read- ing, Education Minister Tony Brummet made it clear that the B.C Teachers Federa- tion is the intended target of the legislation. Significantly, teachers in independent schools will be allowed, once they have received certification from the college that would be set up under Bill 20, to opt out — thus exempting them from any disciplinary or other measures. At the labor council rally, BCTF presi- dent Elsie McMurphy was given a thunder- ous ovation as she told the crowd “we are here to pledge the continued resistance of teachers to Bills 19 and 20. “We are also looking forward to continu- ing the fight against Bill 19,” she said. “We are strong in our resolve to continue our instruction-only campaign in conjunction ‘with the B.C. Federation of Labor’s work to rule to see the withdrawal of both these reactionary pieces of legislation.” She also called on the government once again to back off from its confrontationist course. “It’s not too late,” she said. ““We urge you, Mr Vander Zalm, Mr. Brummet — take that positive step, make that posi- tive commitment and withdraw the bills.” at conjunction with B.C. Fed.’ ELSIE MCMURPHY...’teachers resolved to continued instruction- only campaign in FTRIBUN Vancouver, B.C. VSK 1Z5. Phone 251-1186 SO. 98 06 = 8 6 Oe 4 wr) 4: 69 @ 0 Bice. o 0 0 © 0.6 0/6 6» * 0s 0 0,0 ee © Postal Code lam enclosing 1 yr. $160) 2yrs.$280) 6mo. $100 Introductory offer, 3 mo. $3) Foreign 1 yr. $250 Bill me later 0 0 nie.8 B60 19 8 4 8 w, 'O ee 162 8 Os 8 kee 95959 Ree. i 4 Published weekly at 2681 East Hastings Street | i i i ere] Bremen 0: oe Wite 0S 6 0 0 0 Se SOS 5k SP WO oe 0d, 8? 0.0 0.8.0 210 0.8 0 © Ono 0 0, 050 08 READ THE PAPER THAT FIGHTS FOR LABOR