LABOR

ILO action urged on Bennett wage controls

Representatives of 15 public sector
unions in .B.C called on the International
Labor Organization to send a mission to
British Columbia to investigate a complaint
filed by the unions that the Bennett
government’s Compensation Stabilization
Program (CSP) is “in clear and continuing
Violation” of international conventions
endorsed by Canada.

The complaint, signed by union leaders
Tepresenting 175,000 public sector workers,
was filed just as a three-member ILO mis-
Sion arrived in Ottawa to begin an unprece-
dented investigation of restrictive wage
Control legislation in four provinces —
B.C., Ontario, Alberta and Newfoundland.
It is the first time in the United Nations-
based organization’s 66-year history that a
Mission has been sent to Canada and
Teflects the extent to which provincial
governments have reacted to economic cri-
Sis by imposing wage control laws on public
sector workers.

The mission was not scheduled to come
to British Columbia but 15 unions have
asked that this province be added to the

Peery because of the new complaint just
iled.

“We are filing this complaint because the
government has recently announced that
the Compensation Stabilization Program
will be made permanent,” B.C. Federation
of Labor Secretary-Treasurer Cliff Andstein
told a press conference Sept. 12. “In addi-
tion, recent amendments to the program
have made it even worse.”

British Columbia was not included on
the mission’s itinerary because the ILO had
already ruled on an earlier complaint filed
by the B.C. Teachers’ Federation and had
issued a ruling based on the information in
the BCTF submission and a written

response from the Bennett government.

That ruling, issued in July, 1984, found
the Socred government’s Bill 11, the
amendments to the Compensation Stabili-
zation Program introduced with the infam-

Direct from Cuba

EI Grupo
Moncada
‘Sunday, October 20th

Doors open: 7:30 p.m.-
Concert: 8 p.m.

Queen Elizabeth Playhouse
649 Cambie Street

Tickets: $10 and $8 oap
Available at VTC-CBO outlets

Pee es

RANKIN
&
COMPANY

Barristers & Solicitors

4th Floor, 195 Alexander St.
Vancouver, B.C. V6A IN8

682-2781

Offers a broad range of
legal services including:

Personal Injury & Insurance claims
Real Estate & Conveyancing
Divorce & Family Law

Labour Law

Criminal Law

Estates & Wills

=

ous July, 1983 budget, to be “not in
conformity with the principles of voluntary
collective bargaining laid down in Conven-
tion No. 98” and “inconsistent with the
principles of freedom of association.”

“But the government did not respond to
that previous ruling and that is why 15
unions are filing this additional complaint,”
Andstein said. .

The complaint emphasized that the CSP
is in violation of Convention 87, on Free-
dom of Association and Protection of the
Right to Organize, a 1948 convention to
which Canada is signatory. Canada has not
signed Convention 98 which covers the
right to organize and bargain collectively,
primarily because B.C., by not allowing
teachers and university. professors to bar-
gain, is in non-compliance.

The document signed by the 15 unions
charged that the CSP and amending legisla-
tion “permanently eliminate the possibility
of free*collective bargaining for all public
sector employees. ..replace collective bar-
gaining with the arbitrary decisions of a
government appointed offical. ..(and) are
disciminatory-and unfair.”

People’s
Co-op
Bookstore

40th
Birthday Party

Sat. Sept. 28,
7:30 p.m. —

Ukrainian Hall
805 E. Pender St.

* Guest speaker:
Ben Swankey

* Entertainment
* Refreshments

* Tickets: $5 available at
Co-op Bookstore

* Phone 253-6442

: : S mk = ee » ame
B.C. Fed secretary-treasurer Cliff Andstein (I) at press conference with Bill Mac-
Donald (HEU), Marg Arthur (BCGEU) and Bernice Kirk (CUPE).

It was signed by the B.C. Teachers’ Fed-
eration, B.C. Government Employees
Union, Association of University and Col-
lege Employees (two locals), B.C. Ferry and
Marine Workers, B.C. Nurses Union, Can-
adian Union of Public Employees, Hospital
Employees Union, Health Sciences Associ-
ation, Office and Technical Workers,
College-Institute Educators Association,
Professional Employees Association, Union
of Psychiatric Nurses, Vancouver Munici-
pal and Regional Employees Union and the
Workers’ Compensation Board Employees
Union.

Andstein acknowledged that Premier
Bennett’s response to the last ILO ruling
was indicative of the government’s attitude
but said that a ruling finding B.C. and other
provinces in violation of international con-
ventions “would be an embarassment to
Canada and to B.C. which is trying to puta
good face to the world.

“Bennett might try to pooh-pooh it,” he
added, “‘but he’ll have difficulty in explain-
ing why he can condemn the government of
Poland when his government is in viola-
tion.”

A tuling is expected to take some time
since the ILO’s committee on freedom of
association, which hears the complaint, has
first to seek replies from the government
and then set up a hearing in its Geneva
headquarters before deciding to issue an
immediate ruling or establish an investiga-
tive mission.

Classified
Advertising

COMING EVENTS

SEPT. 19 — Regular meeting Canadian-
Cuban Friendship Association. 8 p.m. Room
L-S Britannia Community Centre. Slides from
Youth Festival.

SEPT. 28 — People’s Co-op Bookstore 40th
Birthday Party, 7:30 p.m. AUUC Hall, 805 E.
Pender St. Tickets: $5. Guest speaker: Ben
Swankey.

SEPT. 29 — Celebrate Esther Radosevic’s
80th birthday. Trout Lake Centre, 3350 Victoria
Dr. 2 to 4 p.m. Kingsway Club, CPC.

WANTED

PHOTOS of the People’s Co-op Bookstore to be
used in an historical display at the Bookstore’s
birthday party. Photos will be returned. Please
contact Linda 253-6442.

FOR SALE

1982 LADA, 56,000 km, red, AM FM cassette
radio, good running condition. $3,500. Call
596-1355.

NOTICES

MONIQUE BROWN would like to express her
gratitude and thanks to all those whose con-
cern and sympathy during Vernon's illness and
departure was such a lift and comfort.

Thank you to you all.

Affectionately,
Monique Brown

COMMERCIAL

GRAMMA PUBLICATIONS. Complete print-
ing services. Brochures, menus, leaflets, etc. A
union shop. 1595 W. 3rd Ave., Vancouver.
Hours: Mon-Fri. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 733-6822.

ELECTRICAL, PLUMBING, appliance repairs.
Don Berg 255-7287.

GENERAL INSURANCE, home, ‘business,
trade unions. Dave Morton, bus. 986-9351;
res. 433-4568.

VICTORIA
BILL HARTLEY your Auto Plan man. All types
of insurance. Mail in or phone in. 2420 Douglas
Street, Victoria, V8T 4L7. 388-5014.

LEGAL SERVICES

RANKIN, BOND, McMURRAY. Barristers
and Solicitors. 2nd Floor, 157 Alexander Street.
682-3621.

DIRECTORY

COMMUNIST PARTY OF CANADA offices
located at 102, 2747 E. Hastings St. Vancouver.
Phone 254-9836. Office hours 9:30-12 noon;
1-5 p.m. Mon to Fri. For information on political
issues or assistance in political activity.

HALLS FOR RENT

RUSSIAN PEOPLE’S HOME — Available for
rentals. For reservations phone 254-3430.

UKRAINIAN CANADIAN CULTURAL
CENTRE — 805 East Pender St. Vancouver.
Available for banquets, weddings, meetings.
Phone 254-3436.

Classified advertising rates $1 per line per
week. Deadline for insertions: Wednesday of
week prior to publication.

JOIN THE eon

— t aes ca = A \\

With
GLOBE TOURS

For any of your travel needs
big or small. Let Globe Tours
find the best way for you.

Specializing in tours
to the USSR

GLOBE TOURS 2679 E. Hastings St., Vancouver, B.C. V5K 1Z5
253-1221

PACIFIC TRIBUNE, SEPTEMBER 18, 1985 e 11

ol