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People’s Budget Coalition
formed in Saskatchewan

Spotlight on

LABOR HISTORY

By KIMBALL CARIOU to the public, Brown stressed. The alread |
: ; ; : y under- LY REGARDED AS
REGINA — Growing concern over the Devine staffed Corporations Branch has lost three more ie Ecce OF ENGLISH
government’s March budget and other anti-people _ out of its workforce of 25, causing delays of even SOCIALISM, ROBERT OWEN

measures is uniting community and labor organ-
izations in the widest fightback since the Tories
were elected in 1982. Representatives of over two
dozen groups met here April 28 to form a People’s

longer than the current six months to process
applications. Provincial court reporters are to be
“privatized”, adding to court costs and undermin-
ing the principle of government responsibility for

WAS A PIONEER. OF THE CO-OP
MOVEMENT, TRADE LUINION
ORGANIZING AND ©
SOCIAL REFORM.

Budget Coalition and to map out actions in the city
over the next two months.

Its first effort set for noon on May 10, at Victoria
Park in downtown Regina brought unemployed
workers out to fill in application forms for the jobs
promised by the Tories since they took office.
Other actions will follow weekly, leading up to
Support for the Saskatchewan Federation of
Labor’s June 24 Solidarity Day at the Legislature,
and protests on July 1, when much of the prov-
ince’s “‘welfare reform’’ comes into effect.

While the initiative for the campaign came from
women’s groups which issued their own ‘People’s
Budget’’ prior to the government’s, interest has
been strong among groups representing the hand-
icapped, social service agencies and welfare reci-
pients. Several unions have donated generously to
finance activities, and a special meeting is to be
held in early June to discuss labor’s role in coali-
tion-building.

The Saskatchewan Government Employees
Union (SGEU) has already endorsed the coalition,
and more unions are expected to follow suit. SFL
spokespersons have indicated their support for the
_ campaign, although the Federation is focussing its
effort on the June 24 event.

Larry Brown, chief executive officer of SGEU,
slammed the Tories at the April 28 meeting, for
destroying as many jobs as the BC Socred govern-
ment, only ‘‘more skillfully’’. Brown listed the to-
tals: over 500 public service jobs cut in the first two
years of the Devine administration, followed by
over 460 in the current budget. In addition, the
government wants to eliminate another 700 jobs
through an early retirement plan, for a total of
1,700.

The cuts also mean reduced service and benefits

the legal system.

Bonnie Jeffrey of the University of Regina Social
Work faculty, accused the Tories of trying to
create divisions by redistributing funding among
various groups of social assistance recipients.

“But there is no real increase for most’’, she
said, ‘‘benefits remain completely inadequate and
below the poverty line.’’ At the same time, a hidden

form of welfare is growing: the transfer of huge sums -

of money to corporations and the wealthy.

The formation of the Budget Coalition was an-
nounced at a press conference April 30, by rep-
resentatives of the UCR, SGEU, University of
Regina Students Union, Saskatchewan Working
Women, and the Saskatchewan Association of
Non-Governmental Social Service Agencies.

Meanwhile in Saskatoon, protests are planned
for the May 16 auction of Highways Department
equipment, an event which will mark the loss of
over 200 jobs, and a field day for private firms
hoping to find bargains at the taxpayers expense.
Groups in Saskatoon are also.working ona possible
court challenge to some of the budget provisions.

At the same time as the political battle over the

budget heated up, reports surfaced confirming
some fears of those opposed to the welfare
‘‘reform’’. The Welfare Rights Office in Regina had
already received twelve calls from recipients who
were cut back on their payments within two days
of the new regulations taking effect, and the office
says many more people may be affected. Social
Services minister Gordon Dirks blamed improper
coding of computers for the problem, but was un-
able to provide assurances that social assistance
recipients were not being pressured to be re-classi-
fied.

CY MoRRYS VAS S/B8Y ~

A SUCCESSFUL AND
PROSPEROUS MILLOWNER
WHEN HE BECAME HEAD OF
- NEW LANARK COTTON
fy) MILL, THE LARGEST INTHE

COUNTRY, OWEN WAS
LBA REVOLTED BY THE TERRIBLE

i) CONDITIONS IN THEMILL.

ae

hee HE INITIATED MANY
REFORMS: BETTER
Wl WAGES, CUTTING WORK
NING HOURS, MODIFYING
CHILD LABoure AND
PROVIDING EDUCATION
AND IMPROVED HOUSING:

HIS “MODEL” MILLS
DEMONSTRATED THAT
INDUSTRY COULD OPERATE
PROFITABLY UNDER
HUMANE CONDITIONS -

3

es
—

Socreds escalate war on labor’s rights

The Socred government in British Columbia has
introduced changes in the province’s labor laws which, if
passed, will seriously undermine the trade union move-
ment in B.C., as well as throw up legal barriers to any
united actions such as those undertaken last year by
Operation Solidarity.

The proposed amendments, according to news re-
ports, will have the following effects:

e Irrespective of previous mandates, a union would be
compelled to hold another strike vote before going o
strike. :
e Prohibit workers from participating in any walkout in
the form of a political demonstration unless the union is
in a legal strike position.

e Encourage workers to refuse to take part in any ‘“‘il-
legal’’ actions decided on by their unions, blocking any
urtion discipline over such refusal.

e Prohibition of secondary picketing without consent of
the Labor Relations Board, (the government).

e Provide for a secret ballot vote of employees on
whether or not they want a union prior to ordering a
certification vote.

e Give the Cabinet the power to declare any construc-
tion projects in the province both union and non-union.

Clear intent

The intent of the B.C. legislation is clear. The govern-
ment intends to make union organization more difficult.
It is moving to: prevent any mass political action such as
the Solidarity general strike begun against its last budget;
gut union solidarity by preventing any secondary picket-
ing; provide government backing for the ‘“‘right to work”’
movement being pushed by right-wing circles in B.C.

The legislation would shore up government weak-
nesses which showed up in its struggle with the broad
coalition of labor and democratic organizations over its
‘Frazer Institute’’ budget last year. It seeks at the same
time to reinforce the non-union construction industry in
B.C. and to deliver a major blow to the construction
unions. ; :

Bennett is crudely using the reins of government in
British Columbia to load the legal scales in favor of big

Labor in action

q William Stewart

business in its struggle to ram the “‘new reality’? down -

the throats of the working people of B.C.

The rules of the game have indeed changed. There is
no pretense whatsoever of the government and the state
being an impartial umpire between labor and business. It
has declared its side, that of big business, that of anti-
labor.

Just as there are two sets of policies contending for the
support of the people of B.C., there are two forces
clearly lined up behind these policies. The monopolies
and the government have set forth their program: lower
wages, slashed social services, fewer jobs, more un-
employment, either a docile or smashed labor move-
ment, higher profits, market rule over our lives,
privatization of everything.

Labor’s Priorities

The labor movement has set forward its priorities: jobs
for all, higher purchasing power for workers and those
on fixed income, public ownership of the banks, natural
resourcés, increased social services, easier access to
unionization for the unorganized, an end to wage con-
trols, and an industrial strategy to rebuild our sagging
industries.

The government in B.C. is using its power to ensure
the victory of its policies. It is more and more impinging
on the democratic rights of the people of B.C. to hamper
their fightback against the government and monopoly, as
well as to prevent them from winning support and vic-
tory for their alternative program.

The political and economic struggles of the working
class and democratic forces in B.C. are coming together
more and more closely. It is less and less possible to see a
major victory in one area which does not at the same time
encompass the other. The struggle for government and

for the immediate needs of working people are
inseparable. :

The trade union movement in B.C. has reacted angr-
ly, as well it should. If the Socred government is able to
get away with this crude and vicious attack on the demo-
cratic rights of working people, where will it stop in its
mad drive on behalf of monopoly? We can surely expect
a militant response from B.C. workers, and one would
assume, a wide base of support from people's
movements.

Now’s the Time to Fight

The question does not end in B.C. however. What
happens there will spin off one way or another across the
country. A united struggle and victory can serve as an
example to employers and governments elsewhere in
Canada, as well as be an inspiration for the movement. A
defeat will prompt other governments to follow suit and
demoralize workers in ther provinces.

The time to fight is now in B.C. and the responsibility
rests not on B.C. workers alone but on the entire trade
union and labor movement across Canada, beginning
with the Canadian Labor Congress. 3

Words alone will not defeat this serious onslaught
against the labor movement, actions at all levels are
needed to mobilize the entire labor movement in defence
of the hard-won gains of B.C. labor.

Perhaps a series of large public rallies featuring Art
Kube or other B.C. trade union figures, leading up to the
CLC convention at the end of May, would be one way of
developing a Canada-wide movement. Or alternatively,
such a series of rallies could be held following the CLC
convention, sponsored by provincial labor federations
and labor councils. 7

Such support will reinforce the confidence and fighting
élan of our brothers and sisters in B.C. who have been in
the forefront of the struggle against the monopoly--
government offensive for the past year. We owe it to
them just as much as we owe it to ourselves.

However it is to be done, the essence must be that the
struggles of the B.C. workers are our struggles and that
we are in it together. Together, we can and will win.

6 e PACIFIC TRIBUNE, MAY 16, 1984