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Werlin vote echoed demand for change

The Montreal convention of the Cana- dian Labour Congress that took place May 14-18 will long be talked about for its

significant contribution to the shaping of '

politics in the future of Canada.

Leading up to the convention there were two paths that Canada’s trade union movement could take. One was the path of surrender to the Tories, giving in to the pressures of free trade and the globaliza- tion of capital.

The other is the path of a united fight- back around labour’s program, in coali- tion with its allies, and based on a new internationalism. The leadership projected the latter and it was accepted by the vast majority.

On behalf of the newly elected leader- ship of the CLC there was clear recogni- tion that the delegates were not satisfied with the level of fightback against the Tories’ neo-conservative agenda.

That was expressed by the delegates who spoke time after time of action needed to fight the effects of free trade and big business plans to integrate Canada into the U.S. economy.

It was embodied in the election cam- paign of Dave Werlin, the former presi- dent of the Alberta Federation of Labour (AFL) who ran against incumbent CLC president Shirley Carr. Werlin made the implementation of a fightback program and a new style of union leadership a major part of his platform.

Most CLC leaders acknowledged that the 2,700 delegates wanted such leadership and militant action in the coming fight against the GST and the rest of the corpo- rate agenda. President Carr agreed “that CLC members clearly want her to take a

tougher stand against governments and

businesses.” Werlin’s campaign challenged the slate system which usually decides leadership

long before the convention takes place, although the slate still played a major role in the outcome of the election for presi- dent. :

Many have drawn the conclusion that the fate of the trade union movement is directly tied to the rank and file and the need to democratize the labour movement and to reflect the grass roots input.

By the time convention opened, the Congress leadership had included the “slate system” as part ofa task force set-up to review the structure of the CLC. Cana- dian workers have drawn some of the les- son from Eastern Europe and want more control of their own organizations.

It was clear delegates had a sense that

something significant would happen at,

this convention. This was seen in the turn- out at a meeting called by the Draft Dave Werlin Committee that had well over 200 delegates in attendance on the eve of the convention.

There was an air of apprehension, fueled by the fact that for the first time in ages, there would be a real test for leader- ship.

Apprehension also came from the pos- sibility of the CLC splitting several differ- ent ways. One potential split was the three-year dispute between the Canadian Autoworkers (CAW) and United Food and Commercial worker (UFCW) over the East coast fish workers, with both sides

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LABOUR IN ACTION

threatening to walk if their positions were not heeded.

Another equally tense situation arose over the Meech Lake Accord. The entire Quebec delegation threatened to leave the CLC if the resolution came to the floor. There was concern by the Quebec dele- gates that this important question would be taken up with out the proper under- standing and input from the Quebec members. They were also concerned over a possible chauvinist backlash on the floor of the convention. The problem of unity of the convention overshadowed the lead- ership contest and underscored the poten- tial for division if a unified fightback is not mounted and effective leadership is not forthcoming.

These specific problems were temporar-- ily forestalled with a back room agreement between the UFCW and CAW. Along with an agreement to not have the Meech Lake Accord debated on the floor of the convention. But the substance of the debates are still waiting to be tackled.

Another important part of the conven- tion was the CLC’s involvement with the community coalitions. All the leaders of the major coalitions were roundly cheered when they were introduced to the Con- gress convention. But simmering under- neath is a reservoir of friction built up between the CLC and the Pro-Canada Network from the treatment of coalitions.

The question of the PNC leader being allowed to address the convention was only resolved Tuesday of the convention. Here the Werlin candidacy is more than coincidence.

The task now for the left and progres- sives in the trade union movement is at

- least four-fold. First, there needs to be

pressure applied on the newly-elected lead- ership to help implement the action pro- gram; to find the concrete ways to bring the trade union movement into the centre of economical and political struggle for

Canada. Here the CLC leadership would be wise to draw on the considerable talent and

organizational skills displayed by the left.

Second, it should strengthen the coali- tions at-all levels, national, provincial and local. It should bring coalitions into being where they have not been established and find a way in English Canada to battle against a Anglo-Canadian chauvinism towards Quebec.

Third, it should find the ways to prepare the left and progressive forces across Can- ada to ensure that the CLC’s task force has the input required to democratize the structure that enables itself to take on the Tory-corporate neo-conservative agenda.

Fourth, there is a need to strengthen labour’s understanding of the economic

and political forces arrayed against it. This -

is seen in the looming trade wars, the tech- nological revolution, free trade with Mex- ico, the connection with the Third World,

globalization of capital, the environment

and the fight for peace.

That task of analysis of perspectives and inspiration has historically fallen to the left. It is the same today, and there is a growing left ready to pick up the chal- lenge. That is the other significant message of the CLC convention and the Dave Wer- lin candidacy.

Unions demand answers on superferry c

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Continued from page 1 Corporation general manager Rod Morri- son that there was no firm commitment to build the vessels in B.C. Although B.C. yards would be strongly considered, he said, the corporation also had to take into account cost and delivery dates.

In fact, one major contract for the vessel’s propulsion system has already been awarded to a West German company, Man B & W Diesel GmbH — which signed a purchase order with the ferry corporation five days before the bids were officially opened in B.C.

Vancouver-based Cullen Diesel, which bid on the propulsion system, took the ferry corporation to court over the contract but the judge ruled that because the engine- propulsion system was not new construc- tion, the provisions of the Ferry Act did not apply.

But documents filed in court by lawyers for Cullen revealed that a Danish naval architect had gone informally to various

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suppliers with rough specifications for the vessels — giving European yards a an opportunity to consider bids long before tenders were issued in B.C.

“It reaffirms our suspicion that the government and the ferry corporation are in cahoots to build these superferries off- shore,” Fitzpatrick said.

In a letter to Esquimalt NDP MLA Moe Sihota May 23, Metal Trades Council pres- ident Ron Ferguson charged: “... it would appear after all the big publicity of the Socreds going to save the shipyards, the net result is two small ferries and possibly a heightening job although no word has come down on that yet.

“With reducing the B.C. bidding time to eight weeks and European yards having the specs for months, allowing them time to shop around the for the best prices, and the delivery schedule making it very nearly impossible to build in B.C., it would appear that the super ferries will be built offshore,” he said.

Ferguson called on Sihota to raise the :

issue in the legislature “so that B.C. yards

; will be given a chance to start even with the Europeans.”

Scott and Ferguson said the Metal

Trades Council would be meeting this week —

to map out a campaign to pressure the government to keep the ferry contracts at home. -

_ The council includes the Marine Workers, the Shipbuilders Local 506 of the Carpen- ters, Plumbers, Sheet Metal Workers and

the International Brotherhood of Electrical . GOV'T ANNOUNCEMENT ... but the

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