MEMBERSHIP MILITANCY

GOOD FOR TRADE UNIONS

’ Two leading Canadian spe-
cialists in industrial relations
have welcomed rank-and-file
militancy in the trade union
movement as a positive sign
that union members are still
determined to govern their
own. affairs.

They maintain that such
militancy and the resultant
conflict is the price Canadians
must pay for the contribution
which collective bargaining
makes to the maintenance of
democracy.

These points are contained
in a comprehensive study of
recent industrial unrest sub-
mitted to a joint meeting of
the Canadian Political Science
Association and the Canadian
Law Teachers Association by
Dr. John Crispo, director of
the University of 'Toronto’s
Centre for Industrial Rela-
tions, and Professor Harry W.
Arthurs of Osgoode Hall Law
School.

Professors Crispo and Ar-
thurs noted that if union lead-
ers are to do what is respon-
sible in the long run, they
may have to do what seems
irresponsible in the short run
— or the membership will de-
pose them.

“As never before, unions
and their leaders are func-
tioning as managers of discon-
tent,” the study declared.
“Their constraints are more
rigid . . . Their mandate is
more tenuous than is gener-
ally appreciated.”

They suggested union lead-
ers need a reasonable freedom
from external pressure if they
are not to become entirely the
“mere messengers of discon-
tent.”

Dealing with rank-and-file

militancy, Professors Crispo.

and ‘Arthurs suggested that
from time to time unionists
may have to reclaim the col-
lective bargaining system as
their own, if it is not to be-
come the property of a labor
bureaucracy.

The study cited a number
of management practices
which contribute to worker
discontent, but went on to
note: that management tactics
in many cases played into the
hands of the more militant

Cc.O.L. SHOWS
SLIGHT INCREASE

The consumers price index
for May was only slightly
above April 1967 but 3.7
points above May, 1966.

Food prices have been well
contained, showing a slight
drop in the month and hold-
ing steady over the year.

Housing costs were one fac-
_ tor boosting the index over
a year ago (up 6.3 points).
Clothing was up 6.9, trans-
portation 6.1, health and per-

sonal care 10.3, recreation and °

reading 7.4, and tobacco and
alcohol 2.8.

However housing accounts
for 32 per cent and food 27

per cent of the total index
and movements in these items
affect the composite index
more than the others.

elements in union ranks. In
such cases, Management
buckled under pressure in-
stead of-standing firm.

“Where rank-and-file mem-
bers are defying their leaders
(in wildcat strikes) and man-
agement capitulates in the
face of their pressure, the
union and its leadership can
be so undermined as to com-
pletely upset the labor-man-
agement relationship.”

Management behaviour of
this kind — regardless of its
motivation — invited a repe-
tition of membership defiance
in future, the professors warn-
ed.

The Crispo-Arthurs study
called for a long-run solution
of the problems created by the
use and abuse of injunctions
in labor disputes.

“The government is faced
with a dilemma from which it
can only escape by reform of
the law. Vigorous enforce-
ment of injunctions may pro-
duce a backlash at the polls;

non-enforcement may under-

mine the credibility of the
whole judicial process.”

The professors said there
must be an end to the “sorry
spectacle of judges sitting,
Canute-like, before a rising
tide of labor resentment.”

Professors Crispo and Ar-
thurs analyzed the basis for
recent industrial unrest in the
light of the restlessness which
pervades North American so-
ciety. Trade unionists, like so
many others in this society,
seem less disposed to accept
the status quo.

Dealing with more specific
causes, the study cited the
growing demand for more ma-
terial wellbeing in an affluent
society — a demand fostered
in the working class by mar-
keting and advertising ex-
perts.

The study described these
other factors.

© Inflationary pressures on
collective bargaining and the
special impact of the so-called
Pearson Formula providing a
30 per cent wage boost for
seaway workers.
© Job insecurity among older
and less educated workers.

e Failure of Canadian la-
bor legislation to provide for
mid-term revision of contracts
to cope with technological and
corporate changes which may
erode a union’s hard-won
wage structure. “When work-
ers fear change and find their
union is unable to take effec-
tive steps to protect their posi-
tion . . . they may be tempted
to take matters into their own
hands in defiance of both un-
ions and employers.”

The professors said that a
doctrine of this type which
“tends to induce workers to
revert to the law: of the jungle
is hardly in the interests of
either management or labor,
let alone the public.”

THE WESTERN CANADIAN LUMBER WORKER

THESE MORNIN’ SUMMER MISTS MAKES IT TOUGH TO LOCATE YER CAMP .. .
KEEP YOUR EYES PEALED FER TH’ ‘A’ FRAME STICKIN’ THRU!

PLAYERS’ ASSOCIATION |
IRES STAFFORD SMYTHE

When the National Hockey
League players’ association
gained acceptance from club
owners it was a terrific boost
for the principle of collective
bargaining.

It’s proof that even skilled

athletes cannot rely entirely
on individual effort and the
generosity of employers for a
better deal.

Being professionals, the
hockeyists may shy away from
the word “union” in prefer-
ence for “association.” No
matter, the definition is the
same — individuals acting col-
lectively for the good of one
and all.

President of the association
is Bob Pulford, of the Toron-
to Maple Leafs, with each of
the other teams having a rep-
resentative. “Business agent”
is Alan Eagleson, a Toronto

lawyer.

Because of a mutual agree-
ment between the owners and
himself, Eagleson is reticent
about disclosing details re-
garding gains players will
seek.

However, it is expected that
priority will be given to in-
creasing the minimum salary

from $7,500 to be $10,000 or
more.

Another area where the
players can be expected to
launch a strong offensive is
pensions. Not that the present
retirement money is not
enough. It’s contributions
where the disparity lies.

For instance, in the NHL,
players and clubs each pay
half of pension premiums.
But the hockeyists like the
major baseball setup better.
The employers pay nearly all
the pension premiums.

According to Eagleson, the
association has lined up 98

HANEY BUSINESS GUIDE

ESQUIRE MEN’S WEAR

(Graham Mowatt)

Complete Stock of Work and Dress Clothing
“THE STORE WITH THE POPULAR BRANDS”

HANEY

BRITISH COLUMBIA

per cent of the NHL players.
He said it would be “wait
and see” about the players
coming into the League in
the expansion from six to 12
teams.

What do the owners think?
Eagleson says they greeted
the association with open
arms. But that’s not how Leaf
president Stafford Smythe

~ put it at the NHL draft meet-

ing in Montreal:

“T would trade Pulford to-
morrow if it would do any
good but it wouldn’t,” said
Smythe. He recalled that
when the players tried form-
ing an association a few years
back, Leafs got rid of their
players involved. (Tod Sloan
and Jim Thompson were
traded.)

Smythe indicated he won't
try any union-busting tactics
this time since all the play-
ers seem to be in the new
association.

Club owners have been
dealing with individual play-
er’s representatives for 15
years, he noted. Dealing with
Eagleson would not make any
difference.

OFFICERS of the recently formed Ladies’ Auxiliary of
Local 1-424 IWA Prince George who were installed by
Local president Ross Inglis June 11, are, left, Georgette
Bessette, three-year trustee; lone Sabiston, vice-president;
Norma Fleming, second vice-president; Helen Gully, con-

ductor; Barbara Thesen,

recording

secretary; Jackie

Rodeck, president; Connie Heater, financial secretary.

Now youcango...

From EXPO to MOSCOW

A special 21 day tour of USSR. Leave Montreal July: 26

via Aeroflot — return to Montreal August 15 via Air
Canada. Only $875 pays everything!

JUNE 26 is final date for bookings!

GLOBE T OURS

2643 E. Hastings St., Vancouver 6, B.C.

253-1 221