NOVEMBER, 1975 THE WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER such magnitude there is a very real danger that the NDP gov- ernment could be defeated and replaced by Social Credit. The implications for working people in general and trade unionists in particular are staggering. Your committee does not have to remind dele- gates of the battles we exper- ienced during the repressive years of the Bennett regime against restrictive labour legislation and against the con- certed campaign by big em- ployers and the provincial gov- ernment to weaken the trade union movement. Of course, due to the unity and strength developed in our Federation, we were able to resist these efforts; however, for a great many trade unionists, the cost was high. Now we can be sure that, given the opportunity, the powerful corporations, aided and abetted by a complaisant Social Credit government, would redouble their efforts to restrict, hamper and obstruct the efforts of the trade union movement to obtain decent wages, working conditions and living conditions for organized and unorganized workers. While we recognize that the trade union movement would meet that challenge, we feel it is very evident that all-out efforts between now and an election represent a more con- structive use of our energy and resources to ensure that we do not have to once again face battle with a hostile Social ‘Credit government. The first point which your committee feels is essential is the recognition of the fact that the money invested in the. months ahead in a political action program is better spent in this way at this time than the greater amounts that would be required if we once again face continual legal costs in court battles against the kind of legislation we can expect from a thy A ‘. hae t fe -. Se ING PROJECT NAMED GRANT MACNEIL Grant MacNeil, the former Director of Public Relations for the IWA Regional Council, has been honoured by the NDP provincial government by having a $4.2 million family rental housing project named after him. The housing complex located in North Vancouver will have 112 units on a 2.06 acre site and - will be known as The Grant MacNeil Place. The project will adjoin a new park being created jointly by the City of North Vancouver and the pro- vincial government. Grant in the late ’30’s and early ’40’s, was the CCF-MP for North Vancouver and was the man responsible for breaking the famous Bren gun scandal in the early stages of the Second World War. During the tragic evacuation of the Japanese from the West Coast , Grant was appointed by the government to aid in seeing that these people’s interests were protected. He reported to parliament on the atrocities being committed against the Japanese but his demands for justice were ignored in the general war hysteria sweeping the country. Grant had a long record of fighting for the under dog. te the First World War, was a 4 aang Secretary of the Great War Veterans Asso- ciation in outcome, Grant would resign his post. This he did but his sacrifice was rewarded years later by the Royal Canadian Legion which made him a life member of the Association. rs A GRANT MacNEIL . - . honoured by government. Grant was defeated as Member of Parliament in 1944 but remained active in politics and also devoted his time to the cause of labour and the unem- ployed. He played a major role in the infamous Blubber Bay strike where IWA member Robert Gardinar, died from a beating from the then provincial police. His report to the gov- ernment on the brutality displayed to the strikers by the company and police, forced an immediate Royal Hearing. In the late 1940’s, Grant was elected a CCF-MLA in Van- _couver-Burrard, where he fought with the other CCF members for better conditions for labour and the unemployed. After the 1948 IWA revolu- tion, Grant was hired by the then IWA District Council to edit the Lumber Worker which he did for a number of years until his appointment as head of the Public Relations Depart- ment. He retired a few years ago and is now living in Kiwanis Senior Citizen Home in North Vancouver. the Social Credit Party. Your committee recommended a year ago that, if finances per- mitted, senior staff members should be available to work full time on political education. At this time we believe that it is ‘* more essential than ever,. While we hope that the Federa- tion’s finances will permit action in this area on a perm- anent basis, if that is not possible, then the development of a substantial Political Edu- cation Fund would certainly make possible the assignment of a full-time staff member to ‘work with affiliated unions in mobilizing their membership ~ for effective participation in an” election campaign and in the work of the New Democratic Party generally. It is also vitally important that we re-activate the political stewards program and that we make an all-out effort to get active trade unionists — shop stewards, local union officers, business agents, etc. — in- | volved in the activities of the | NDP at all levels including in- / volvement in the work of con- | stituency associations’ and | campaigns in the local areas. We will deal with these proposals in a,more specific way in our recommendations at the conclusion of this report. Nationally, the New Demo- cratic Party has a new leader. Ed Broadbent has worked closely with the trade union movement over the years and your committee is confident that he will strengthen the ties between the labour movement and the party at the national level. The B.C. trade union movement was well repre- sented at the Winnipeg leader- ship convention with trade union delegates from our prov- ince playing an active role in the debates and in the leader- _ ‘ship campaigns of each of the four serious candidates. Brother John Squire, 3rd Vice- President of the Federation, was elected to the Federation Executive of the party. __At the 1975 provincial con- vention of the party, Jack Hill (Steelworkers), Garth Brown (IWA No. 1-217), Wally Peain 4 b: EPS = ‘ DOLLAR. of Labour Convention. REGIONAL PRESIDENT Jack Munro changed the whole . tone of the B.C. Federation of Labour Convention when he bluntly told the delegates that he would not allow anybody, Federation officer or delegate, to criticize the IWA role in Coast forest industry negotiations when it was his Union only which displayed any leadership or responsibility to its members and the province. His speech drew a standing -ovation from the delegates and instant support from the more rational affiliates. Standing listening to Munro’s speech at the right is Len Guy, Federation Secretary-Treasurer. (Fire Fighters), and Lyle Kris- tiansen (IWA No. 1-405) were all elected to the Provincial Executive of the party. A caucus of labour delegates chose John McKnight (Plumb- ers), Bruce Elphinstone (IWA No. 1-357) and Ron Douglas (Steelworkers) as labour’s. representatives on the Provin- cial Council of the party. The recent provincial elec- tion in Ontario was certainly encouraging as the New Demo- cratic Party made a substan- tial increase in seats and, for the first time, became the of- ficial opposition in the Ontario Legislature. In Saskatchewan, while the government lost a few seats from its very sub- stantial majority, the result was still a healthy working majority and showed a clear rejection of the Liberal party in that province. Clearly, however, the results of the next election.in B.C. will have a profound effect on support for the New Demo- cratic Party in every part of the country. For that reason, as well as for the reasons out- lined previously, it is essential that we do everything possible to ensure the re-election of our provincial government. Your committee is confident that. this Federation and the labour movement in British Columbia will rise to this challenge just as we customarily rise to the afta % i ey een LOCAL 1-85 IWA, Port Alberni, delegates pose for their picture during the B.C. Federation challenges that face us.on the industrial front. = RECOMMENDATIONS 1. That this Federation con- vention call on all affiliated unions to contribute to the Federation’s Political Edu- cation Fund a minimum of $1.00 per member between . now and the next provincial election. 2. That local unions affiliate to the New Democratic Party. 8. That all affiliated local unions make every effort to encourage their members to join the New Democratic Party as individual mem- bers and to participate in the activities of the party at all levels. 4. That, as soon as it is finan- cially possible, the Federa- tion assign a senior staff member to work on political education whether out of general revenues or out of the Political Education Fund. ‘+5. That local unions establish or re-vitalize political stew- ards programs. 6. That all union education seminars give consideration to including political educa- tion on the agenda. 7. That this convention re- affirm its endorsation of the New Democratic Party and call for the re-election of the NDP government in the next provincial election. WORKING .