Te

Resolution of National Committee

LLP to Work for National
Unity. Progress in Canada

TORONTO, Ont.—The Anglo-American-Soviet accord sealed at the Teheran conference
has opened a new period in human history in which international cooperation and national
unity at home will make possible enduring peace and orderly progress for the Canadian

people.

This is the position outlined in a resolution adopted by the National Committee of the
ILabor-Progressive Party and based on the report of Tim Buck, LPP national leader.

Text of the resolution follows:

a—Our country stands before
the supreme task of backing
to the fullest extent the coming
invasion of Europe and the final
battles for the destruction of Hit-
lerism. While prosecuting to a
victorious conclusion the great
people’s coalition war against
Germany and Japan. we are like-
wise called upon to do our part
in laying the groundwork for en-
during peace and democratic ad-
vanee once victory has been won.
These tasks imperatively de-
mand a strengthened national
unity in Canada. Only the con-
certed will and determined ac-
tion of all classes, groups, na-
tionalities and creeds in the Do-
minion can make the people’s vic-
tory over fascism certain and se-
cure. :

9 ess the sealing at Teheran
of the great accord between
Britain, the United States and
the USSR for full coalition war-
fare against Hitler and for last-
ing collaboration in the peace,
the freedom-loving peoples, our
own included, have crossed the
threshold leading to a new era
in the history of mankind. Fra-
ternal cooperation between the
great Socialist state and the most
powerful capitalist democracies
makes possible an enduring era
of peace, in which free nations
can together carry out the task
of rebuilding the vast areas of
Europe and Asia devastated by
the fascist scourge, and in so do-
ing advance towards a higher
standard of life, continuous or-
derly progress, and an _ ever-
strengthened democracy. The tre-
mendous possibilities inherent in
the policies proclaimed at Teher-
an can be made real and lasting,
provided that the forces jointly
Waging war upon the Axis main-
tain their unity in the postwar
years, and defeat utterly the still
strong forces of pro-fascism who
would disrupt -the nation and
torpedo the program of endur-
ing United Nations unity and or-
derly social progress at home and
abroad.

The LPP rejects the idea that
the war must be followed by vio-
lent crisis and upheaval—it en-
visages an extended period of
orderly social advance and pro-
gressive reform in a world at
peace, made possible by the ac-
cord of Teheran.

—For the tasks that stand be-
fore us, Canadian unity must-

be strengthened and maintained.
The democratic camp in Canada
is the camp of the vast major-
ty; it includes masses of people
of all classes and parties—Liber-
al, Progressive - Conservatives,
CCF and nationalists, in French
and English Canada alike. But
the will of that majority can be
set at nought, frustrated and de-
feated, if there is not unity
against the pro-fascist reaction
that has its spokesmen in influ-
ential positions in Canadian life,
and if the labor movement is
misled onto the false paths of
pseudo-“Socialist’ demagogy, of
stubborn rejection of labor and
democratic unity and of cynical
denial of the tremendous possi-
bilities for human progress con-
tained in the Weheran policies,
there is grave danger that in
the absence of full democratic
partnership of labor in the lead-
ership of the war effort, and of
effective unity in the labor move-
ment, the most reactionary and
fascist-minded elements in Cana-
dian life may come to power and
endanger the whole prospect of

democratic progress in the years
ahead. National unity to win the
War and win a peace of demo-
cratic progress is the lifetime for
Canada’s future: the Canadian
people haye demonstrated in the
War, and will do so with honor
in the coming battle of Europe,
that they have it in them to win
unitedly a democratic future for
our land. .

- 4° greet the call contained

in the speech from the throne
for the subordinating of every
consideration to. the over-riding:
task of winning the War, and the
statement that our postwar opb-
jectives are “world security and
Seneral prosperity” abroad, and
at-home “social security and hu-
man welfare.” These aims are
those of the overwhelming maj-
ority of Canadians. It must be
emphasized that despite short-
comings in its policy, all the tre-
Mendous achievements which
have made Canadians so justly
proud of our war effort, have
been carried through under the
leadership of the King govern-
ment. It is this which has made
it a government of national unity
in fact, in spite of the sharp
cleavages of opinion expressed in
party controversy. i

But we consider it necessary

. to voice this urgent Warning now:

only a government that includes
labor, together with industry and
agriculture, in tull democratic
Partnership, can make.the aims
expressed in the throne speech
come true. The place of the King
government in the national unity,
and the future role of the Liberal
Party in that unity, will be very
largely determined by the degree
to which the present government
sets aside its policy of studied
exclusion of labor from its right-
ful place in the war leadership,
and moves towards the adoption
of a democratic labor code, the
direction indicated in the agree-
ment of the government to amend
the Wage Control Order, in re-
sponse to pressure from labor
and elements in all parties in
the country.

Adoption of democratic labor
and wage policies is essential to
national unity; it is essential to
securing of the widest popular
unity for the enactment of long
overdue measures of effective so-
cial security, and of successful
maintenance of maximum post-
War employment: it is essential
likewise to democratic unity of
French and English-speaking
Canada, whose popular majori-
ties find common ground in
pressing for social reform and
the removal of discriminatory in-
equalities. Today more than ever
before, we have the opportunity
of overcoming the. severe eco-
nomie and social inequalities that
beset French Canada, through re-
forms made possible by the Teh-
eran perspectives, whick can
raise the whole standard of liv-
ing of the Quebec people and
give a new impetus. to the whole
of Canadian development.
Around the objectives of victory
and postwar prosperity and so-
cial advance within the frame-
work of the existing capitalist re-
lationships there must be brought
into being g unity of democratic
forces within all parties, and
such a democratic coalition can
win wide support among the
masses of French-Canadian na-
tionalists as well as liberals and

' labor in Quebec.

We welcome the proposal of
the government that a general
election be deferred for the pres-
ent; in the period of the Invasion

4

battles overseas the strengthen-
ing of the national unity must
be advaneed at home—so that
the next Sovernment may be one,
not of pro-fascist reaction, but of
the democratie majority in Can-
ada.

We call upon Ganadians to base
their judgment in electoral con-
tests on policies and men, rath-
er than party label; and to sup-
port all those who give the best
Guarantees of fighting for na-
tional unity and democratic pro-
gress.

—The labor movement has the ~~

high responsibility of making.
its maximum contribution, to-
gether with all other classes, for
the strengthening of Canada’s
unity. In the people’s war labor’s
organized strength and political
stature have grown in greater
measure than at any time in the
past: its role can be decisive in
ensuring that the nation unitedly
solves the problems of the vic-
tory and the peace.

This role can be fulfilled effec-
tively only if there is unity of
labor on the policy of democratic
national unity. The MWLabor-Pro-
gressive Party will continue to
work with all its strength to fur-
ther the unity of the labor move-
ment, to establish working co=
operation with the CCF, to pro-
mote unity of the trade union
movements, and farmer-labor
unity in support of the policies
that will lead the nation forward
to social reforms and security,
and enable it to play its rightful
part in the maintenance of a
lasting peace.

One of the greatest contribu-
tions that labor can make to our
democracy is in its unifying in-
fluence, in bringing together the
working people’ of French and
English Canada in support of the
War against Hitlerism and for
postwar progress. The statesman-
ship of labor will make itself felt
in the measure that it acts unit-
edly in support of policies which
will unite the nation for the solv-
ing of the tasks of war and peace;
and in so doing labor will help
create the most favorable con-
ditions for economic security and
social advance in the whole of
Canadian life.

6 the struggle to extend
wartime unity into the peace,
the LPP sets aside any concep-
tion of party rivalry, and for its
part will at all times place the
national interest above any nar-
row party considerations.

The lLabor-Progressive Party
undertakes as its primary re-
sponsibility to unfold throughout
the Dominion. g most widespread
campaign to bring the policy of
Teheran and of national unity to
the labor movement and to the
whole people—explaining and ap-
plying this policy in the course
of a many-sided struggle for the
rapid solution of the problems
that still stand in the way of the
successful cementing of national
unity.

This requires systematic
strengthening of all phases of our
broad political work, in the com-
munities and in the labor move-
ment; it requires the extension
and deepening of Marxist educa-
tional work; it requires the build-
ing of a mass membership in the
Party; as a vital factor in the
strengthening of Canadian de-
mocracy.

In the interest of the working
class and the nation, the Nation-
al Committee calls upon the
whole party to devote its utmost
efforts to these great objectives.

These giant spheres contain 12,000 barrels of hydrocarbor
which go into the manufacture at Sarnia, Ontario, of sy1

thetic rubber by the government-owned Polymer Corpo:
ation, whihch now turns out 34,000 tons of Buna-S eac

year. Principal ingredients in Buna-S are oil, coal, sa
water and soap, plus an additional chemical processin

INCO Negotiates
Union Contract

By CHAS. McCLURE

SUDBURY, Ont.—On Monday, February 14, the nego
ing committee of Local 598 of the Int. Union of Mine, Mill”
Smelter Workers met with the officials of International Ni
Company at the general offices of the company in Cog

Cliff, to discuss the clauses of a
seven-point proposed agreement
which had been mailed to R. L.
Beattie, vice-president of the
company, on February 11, after
having been approved by Inco
employees at two meetings of
Local 598.

Beattie had sent a letter to
Local 598, enclosing the com-
pany’s ‘proposal for considera-
tion, to ‘greatly facilitate the
progress of collective bargaining
negotiations and save valuable
time.**

The history leading up to
this momentous occasion has
been a varied and exciting one.
From the days of the Western
Federation of Miners in the
Jast war, the Mine Workers
Union of Canada in 1929 which
became Local 239 of the pre-
sent International Union of Mine,
Mill and Smelter Workers, and
to the present day,.there has
been a eonstant ebb and flow of
the battle for industrial democ-
racy in the nickel empire.

Since the formation of the CIO,
and the surge of industrial union-
ism, many gains have been made
in the northern metal camps. On
September 1, 1936. Inco put into
effect a five per cent wage in-
crease. As the union grew in the
north country others followed
suit. Hudson Bay Mining and
Smelting at Flin Flon granted
five cents hourly raise, and on
November ist, 1936, miners in the
Porcupine Camp received a five
cents per hour raise.

The Northern *Miner termed
these a benevolent plan of “share
the wealth” by the mining com-
panies, pointing out that the
union had nothing to do with the

' raises!

lt was a small share, to say the
least. Wages in the mining
‘camps were at the same level as
in 1920, but in 1936 profits in the
metal mining industry were four
times the 1920 level.

Again in March, 1937, Inco
granted a 10 per cent wage in-
erease, in what the union paper,
the “Union News”, termed a “sec-
ond attempt to buy the workers”:
and this, the company’s forma-

tion of the “Welfare Assi
tions”, and mass firings of
pected union members did |
an effect on the union mer
ship.

But the union stayed in
North country. The struggle
the Kirkland Lake miners foi
ten points granted to them ~
government hoard but de
them by the operators, rex
the flame of unionism. Thou
also revived discrimination,
war made mass firings imp
ble. The campaign of com
“unionism” and slander in
press did not fool the wo:
as in the past.

The union grew by tens,
dreds and then by thousance
won the democratic rights of
speech, and public meetings
Sudbury workers. It publ?
its Own paper again, electe:
board member to the On
Parliament; won the use of ~
ters, elected an alderman
two school trustees and se
township councillors.

And then, in the vote on
cember 17 and 18, 1948, the v
won the right, as officially
fied in the Ontario Labor €
Gn February 4, as the colle
bargaining agency for all
paid Inco employers here.

Now, our negotiators are i
ing with the company’s r
sentatives to use that colle
bargaining right.

The IUMMSW is out for a
ed contract, such rights as 1
recosnition, maintenance of 3
hership, greivance procedur¢
niority rights, proper hour
employment, overtime pay,
Gays with pay, production
eration, proper medical and Hh!
program, transportation, <«
and housing, wage adjustr
and increased wages and p~
bonus. )

It is a tremendous step. {
ternational Nickel lives up t:
spirit of true collective bai
ing, industrial democracy
have been won in the Sui
district and, we believe, iz
whole mining industry of O71
and Quebec. 3