Continued from page 1 Federation’s stand for critical support of the government. A call for the repeal of the Act was among 18 recommendations made by the committee as well as demands for the inclusion of fishermen and those in domestic services and agriculture in the provincial labor code, the deletion of the religious conscience clause from the code and the removal of all compulsion from collective bargaining. The report also commented on the state of the NDP government in the province and emphasized “‘the government should stop listening to riders on the bandwagon and start paying heed to its proven friends within and outside of the labor movement. It is a matter of grave concern to see not only erosion of new supporters, but also departure of long-time supporters and members of the NDP. “The labor movement has a big job to do,” the report stressed. “We must effectively com- municate the achievements of the government to our members but, equally important, the B.C. Federation of Labor must continue to protect the interests of labor by exercising its right to criticize any government action which is not in the best interests of labor and the general public. : Speaking to the report, Plumbers delegate John McKnight em- phasized the principle of trade union independence and _ pointed out “only through criticism of government policy can we show where shortcomings exist and where reform is necessary.” Mike Darnell, UFAWU delegate, spoke of the repercussions of the injunction that was granted to the fishing companies against the UFAWU — in violation of stated government policy — during the last herring dispute..‘‘The erosion of NDP support had a lot to do with the failure of the government to guarantee labor’s rights,’’ he declared, ‘‘and I hope that it will take a long, hard look at this situation.” Both reports, however, came under considerable criticism from delegates for their failure to ad- vance clear, decisive policies to meet what delegates saw as severe economic deterioration — marked particularly by rampant inflation coupled with serious unem- ployment. Taking the floor in the opening session, CUPE delegate Dave Werlin told the convention that “‘we meet at a time of economic crisis. We cannot be satisfied with a key report that makes no men- tion of this crisis.” Werlin pointed to the recent proceedings of the ~ Ontario Federation of Labor which had included a special report on the economic situation and called on the executive council to do the same. “Otherwise we meet in isolation,” he stated. “Such a statement should say to those who create inflation and grow fat on it that they have a fight on their hands—and that the entire federation of labor is united behind that fight.” The seriousness of the economic situation was underscored by B.C. Tenants Organization president. Bruce Yorke who addressed the convention Monday and stressed the need fora massive campaign to bring about new policies on housing. He urged the trade union movement to continue pressing for government housing and noted that in the two years that the provincial government has been in office, it has not built one bit of housing. “The government can’t rely on private capital to build housing,”’ he said “they won’t do it — it’s more profitable to maintain housing shortages. He also called for the doubling of the al: unanimously, noted the steady housing budget. Yorke told delegates that ‘what the trade union movement does is decisive’? and urged the Federation to arrange a meeting of Federation officers, officers of the B.C. Teachers Federation and the B.C. Tenants Organization to initiate a campaign to press the Sam Vint, COPE candidate for parks board and a member of the Vancouver Local of the IWA, this week distributed a statement urging fellow trade unionists to back the COPE civic slate on Nov. 20. Beamed especially to wood- workers, Vint said “‘with 15,000 woodworkers laid off in B.C. and with the prospect of more layoffs,” we must ask what is wrong with the system when there is the worst housing shortage in the history of Canada while thousands of woodworkers have been laid off?” He called for support of COPE’s proposal for a large scale rental housing construction program with rents geared to income. £85 PROJECT Close to 500 trade unionists, many of them delegates to the B.C. Federa demonstrated outside the Sandman Inn construction site in Vancouver Wednes by Bob Gagliardi, son of the former Socred highways minister, is being put up government for the fulfilment of its election promises. : Several resolutions on housing calling for a massive housing ° program initiated by the provincial government in conjunction with federal and municipal authorities, lower mortgage rates, land assembly and removal of building material taxes had been submitted . by various union locals but had not yet come before the convention at Tribune press time. A number of other resolutions had been submitted by the resolutions committee and the debate _— surrounding them demonstrated the concern of unionists for policies to meet economic problems. ‘ One, submitted by the Marineworkers and Boilermakers Union and adopted with one lone dissenting voice, called on the federal government to cut the defence budget in half to provide more funds for social programs like housing and pensions. CUPE delegate Dave Werlin emphasized the importance of the resolution and told delegates, ‘Here we’re facing economic. crisis in this country and we’re pouring millions of dollars into the sinkhole of defence.” Another resolution, endorsed alienation of Canada’s resources and called on the federal govern- \ment to nationalize the resource companies. A further resolution reiterated the Federation’s stand for the provincial government takeover of B.C. Telephone. Canadian autonomy was also a major issue at the convention with delegates speaking to a composite resolution restating the previous convention’s position. on the question and urging the Canadian Labor Congress to take full steps to guarantee full- functional autonomy for Canadian alocals of international unions. The resolution came under criticism, however, for failing to _advance the CLC position that sanctions be placed on _ in- ‘ternational unions. which fail to meet minimum standards of, autonomy. The issue is of major importance following action by building trades internationals to withhold per capita assessments in an attempt to subvert the movement towards Canadian autonomy. The resolution was referred back to the committee after lengthy debate with instructions to include a clause on sanctions. It had not yet come back on the floor at Tribune press time. tion of Labor convention, day. The project, contracted with entirely non-union labor and has been seen as an attempt to establish a right-to-work association in this province. PACIFIC TRIBUNE—FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1974—Page 12 B.C. tenants leader Bruce Yorke shown addressing the B.C. F of Labor convention on tenants’ issues Monday atten Ke tremendous applause and support from delegates for demands. He Cont'd from pg. 1 etc., and rent levels adjusted into line with that classification. ‘“This would eliminate much of the chaos,”’ he said, ‘‘where there are wide disparities for identical units in single buildings.’’ Yorke estimated that at present 25% of all rents are illegal. The extra 12% available to landlords for “renovations” will simply add to the confusion Yorke predicted, as all sorts of landlords will flood the rent review com- mission’s office to grab the extra increase. More importantly Yorke stressed, “If there is allowance of upward pressure, then there should be allowance to get less than 10.6%.” Security deposits. are. a_par- ticularly sore question for the government that drew an im- mediate and sharp condemnation from the BCTO. Under the new legislation landlords can demand up to one half months’ rent as a deposit. “This constitutes a back- ward step, even from Social Credit,” Yorke said. The BCTO considers the meeting with the full NDP caucus of great importance primarily because ‘the government — contrary to the appeals of the tenants — excluded the backbenchers from discussion, or even knowledge, of the legislation. Harold Steeves, NDP MLA from Richmond, issued a will put to the governint changes in the legislali® adopted last. week in é, vention. They had cal provincial rent control c? but a commission whi¢ ats have sole authority 0? a would set allowable inca ne all rental units — old a? “ay after a comprehensive SU rental market had be BCTO policy calls for be missions’ decisions 1 ministered and enfot municipal rent boards: One point on BCTO poli¢ the tenants consider mor os than ever and will P™ government to granting of collective on rights to tenants’ assocl4 will On housing the BCTO the government to ma at ps i i declaration to the effect Hal social responsibility an@ ~ Ny INFLATION & UNEMPLOYMEM HEAR WILLIAM KASHTAN LEADER COMMUNIST PARTY OF CANADA —8 P.M.— \ VERNON MON. NOV. 18 Ooddtettows Hal 3105-26" | MAPLE RIDGE TUE. NOV. 19 SURREY WED. NOV. 20 cedar club Hall oes0-126th= |, CAMPBELL RIVER THU. NOV. 21 ALBERNI FRI. NOV. 22 Longshoremen’s Hall NANAIMO SAT. NOV. 23 VANCOUVER SUN. NOV. 24 | | | Sampo Hall #0 nk 25470 Dewdney 1 | Carpenters Hall 16 Avenue | Grandview Communit 3350 Victoria Dr.