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"ALL SIZES’

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EDITORIAL

Unity-key to survival

E ditorial opinion expressed in many labor publications

since the August 27 provincial election in B.C. and
the return of the Bennett Socred government with an increased
majority in the Legislature (by a minority vote), generally
sum up with the observation that “the elections are over — but
the problems remain’’. These papers could have added ‘‘and
will intensify.”

For organized labor in B.C. some of these remaining
problems are already greatly intensified since the election.
First by the alarming increase of ex-parte court injunctions to
hamstring unions engaged in strike actions to win new
collective agreements, embodying modest wage increases to
partially meet a steady and continuous rise in living costs.
Court injunctions, designed to decapitate and destroy all
labor’s rights, written or unwritten.

Secondly, with the arrogance of a reactionary labor-hating™
government, which a now obvious accident of history and
political trickery has been given a ‘‘mandate’’ to continue its:
sell-out of B.C. to home-grown and foreign monopoly, is now
getting set to throw the full weight of its infamous Bill 33 and
its provisions for compulsory arbitration at any or all sections
of B.C. labor which does not accept the economic dictates of
big monopoly capital.

In short, to destroy the hard-won principles of free collective
bargaining and institute the slave ‘‘principle’’ of decreeing
arbitrarily the wages, hours of work and conditions under

which a wage-earner must sell his or her ability to labor and

produce.
This problem, greatly intensified by the disasterous results

of the recent election, the economic and political divisions in
the ranks of labor itself. and greatly aggravated by the
unforseen losses of the NDP at the polls; all total up to the need
of a lot of “‘agonizing reappraisals’’ in the ranks of labor if
these problems are to be successfully faced-up to.

No doubt Bennett’s electoral ‘Red Bogey’’ worked on
numbers of the electorate, but the tragedy of the times was
that it also ‘‘worked’’ on the NDP election policy makers, who
strove to present themselves and their policies before the
electors as the ultra-respectables of right-wing social
democracy, equally ‘‘considerate’’‘of the needs of big business
monopoly, as the needs of labor — from whom it welcomed
financial aid and supporting votes — but little else. Too much
talk of Bill 33, court injunctions, etc. might cause
“‘embarassment”’ on the hustings.

True, there are many “‘embarassments”’ before, during.
and after elections: the B.C. Tel strike, the meatcutters, chain
stores, etc., and especially the Oil Workers strike, (now the
prime target of Bill 33) with injunctions galore. But
‘“embarrassments” to whom — surely not avowed labor
leaders?

It is now generally conceded that had the NDP taken up
some of these vital problems as a reform party based upon the
working class and the people should, instead of trying to
convince big business it was more “‘respectable’’ and trust-
worthy than Bennett and his Socreds. the NDP showing at the
ballot box might have been victory instead of defeat.

As the CUPE News Bulletin quoting from the Vancouver
Province records: “NDP leader Berger de-emphasized
workingclass issues and did not take a stand on the Oilworkers
strike (or others Ed.) during the campaign. Berger tried to
soften the NDP program by de-emphasizing class appeal.”

Now a compounding of such problems faces labor in B.C.,
emphasizing the need of united action above all else.

Presently before the Mediation Commission of Bill 33, in
violation of B.C. Federation of Labor policy and its affiliates to
boycott all mediation hearings the Oil Workers have not only
disregarded BCFL boycott policies, but by soliciting finances
from BCFL affiliates direct, instead of through that body's
Defense Fund: for institution of ‘hit-and-run’ picketlines
without any consultation with the BCFL or its affiliate unions
affected: for declaring the products of all oil distributors
‘thot’ instead of one (Imperial Essos), as previously agreed
upon by the BCFL and its affiliates, including the Oil Workers.

These are problems which require a maximum of unity and
mutual collective agreement if labor in B.C. is going to retain
its strength and fighting traditions in B.C.

PACIFIC TRIBUNE—SEPTEMBER 12, 1962—PAGE 2

a gi a i Read ims sae

Landlords launch attack —
on city’s Rental Board

By ALD. HARRY RANKIN

All members of City Council
have received a letter from Mr.
Wilson, president of Schenley
Holdings, a firm owning half a
dozen apartment blocks in Van-
couver’s West End. The letter is
enough to bring tears of self pity
to the eyes of any landlord.

Mr. Wilson, a ‘‘native son of
this City’? who ‘‘has always been
a good citizen’’ (to quote his own
words) is deeply disturbed at the
action of City Council in setting
up a Rental Grievance Board
and establishing rules and regu-
lations pertaining to landlords
and tenants.

To him this wasn’t a demo-
cratic decision of the majority of
Council; he asserts that a
‘minority of Council members
forced the majority into reluc-
tantly agreeing to this Board’.
Not only that, he alleges that this
so-called minority is intent on
‘‘socializing the housing
system”’ in Vancouver!

Mr. Wilson is especially angry
because Council set the
maximum rental security
deposit at $25. He claims it
should be as high as $200 because
it is ‘foolish’, ‘‘costly’’ and a
‘‘waste of time’’ to take tenants
to court for alleged damage.

Mr. Wilson’s angry outburst
reminds me very much of the
protests of those in an earlier era
who predicted ruin for the
country if we abolished child
labor, passed legislation
governing work conditions in
factories, established a
minimum wage and provided for
compensation in case of injury
to workmen.

These people objected also to
the setting up of Public Utility
Boards to protect the public
against excessive exploitation.
More recently they objected to
hospital insurance and
medicare. In all of these cases
the opponents of progressive
legislation raised the cry of
“socialism” and ‘ruin’. It
seems, however, that our free
enterprise system managed to
survive all of these ‘‘threats”’.

The facts are, of course, that
Council felt it necessary to estab-

lish a Rental Grievance Board
only because some landlords are
taking advantage of the housing
shortage to gouge their tenants
mercilessly. The high rental
security deposit demanded by
many landlords were often con-
fiscated for the most flimsy of

reasons and became simply
another form of revenue.
Those landlords who have

treated their tenants fairly have
nothing to fear from the Rental
Grievance Board. Those who
have been unfair will now be
restrained as they deserve to be.
Up until now Landlords have
been free to treat their tenants
as they pleased and tenants had
no protection or recourse. Now
tenants will at least have a
tribunal to which ‘they can come
with grievances. Landlords
have equal access to the Board if
tenants fail to live up to regu
lations.

Mr. Wilson says he cannot —

condone any action of Council
that leads to ‘‘control and social-
izing’ of ‘free enterprise’ and
he is confident that the pro-
vincial election of August 27
showed that the citizens of Van-
couver ‘‘do not want this type of
regulation’’.

Establishing © a Rental
Grievance Board is so far from
socialism that it’s silly to speak
of the two in the same breath.
It’s a lot less “‘socialist’’ than the
actions of the present provincial
government is taking over the
B.C. Electric or bringing in the
B.C. Medical Plan.

Apartment owners are today
doing alright by themselves, or
there wouldn’t be such a boom in
the apartment -business. They
can depreciate their buildings 10

percent a year for income ta%
purposes and all capital gains
are completely tax free.
Tenants would love to have equal
tax concessions!

Tenants comprise over
percent of Vancouver's voting
population today. They are also
‘good citizens’ and many are
“native sons’. In endeavoring
to keep them in the category of |
second class citizens devoid
even the most elementary civil
rights, Mr. Wilson is fighting 4
losing battle.

—

DEADLINE FOR CIVIC
VOTERS.LIST SEPT. 30

Under the B.C. Municipal Act elections will be held in all
municipalities (outside of Vancouver) the first week in December
and all voters are required to be registered on civic voters list by

September 30.

\

Readers are urged to take note that unless you register before |
the deadline of September 30 you will not be able to vote ins ay
local elections. Check with your local city hall.

You do not have to own property to vote provided you are
registered. You can vote if you are a Canadian or Britis
subject; if you are 21 years of age or over; and if you registeré

on or before September 30.

=

Pollution action urged —

Cont'd from pg. 1

Otto Lang, Williston said it was
extremely doubtful that B.C.
would endogse the plan. :

Following a strong public
reaction against B.C.’s stand,
and a visit to B.C. by the federal
minister last week, Williston
modified his stand but still threw
cold water on any federal action
to help fight pollution. In reply
to a question at a press
conference whether the federal
proposed plan would be helpful
in augmenting the fight against
pollution in B.C., Williston
replied: ‘‘Frankly, my answer is
no.

Expressing a stand-pat
position and a complacent atti-
tude to the problem, which is of
concern to most British Col-
umbians today, Williston said,
‘We now have a common level
of pollution control throughout
the province ... B.C. has the
highest standards any man can
reasonably expect.”

If that is the case, why 8?
much public concern about
pollution? Obviously the public 1S
not satisfied that we have eithe!
effective ‘‘control’’ or thé
“highest standards’? in com
trolling the pollution mess cover”
ing this province from one @f
to the other. ;

Most people will agree with
the statement issued by the com
munist Party rational executivé
last week which said thal
monopoly must be made to [00
the cost of anti-pollutio?
measures; and that the argue
ment of provincial jurisdictio®
is a ‘fake issue under cover ®
which monopoly interests af
trying to evade their full
responsibilities.”

The Socred government is 4!
ing for these monopoly interes!®
when it puts obstacles in the Wa!
of action, along with Ottawa,
end the poisoning of our enviro™ ~
ment in B.C.

ct