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Incorporating The z.Z. Lumberwarker Official Publication of the Jeferaational Woodworkers og remertea Regional Council No. 1

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VOL. XXVII, No. 22

VANCOUVER, B.C.

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2nd Issue

2 Nov., 1960

Peterborough Victory |Membership Discussion

Draws Wide Respect Forms New Party Plans.

Observers across Canada now regard the New Party with new respect

after its show of political strength in its first electoral test. Here are some of the editorial comments:

OTTAWA CITIZEN :—“There are frequently local circumstances that account for the outcome of by-elections, as distinct from a general election, but no amount of explaining by either of the major parties is going to alter the fact that in Peterborough the upstart New Party has won a decisive victory...

“Liberal satisfaction with the results elsewhere will be tem-

pered by the party’s complete failure in Peterborough where its candidate ran a poor third.”

TORONTO GLOBE AND MAIL:—“The old parties, so-called, must realize how they are failing themselves and the public .. . The trouble, we suggest is that each of the two major parties lacks a philosophy with which the voter can identify himself, to which he can remain loyal. Neither party stands—or even gives the ap-

pearance of standing—for basic principles, for fundamental prin- ciples...

“This is where the New Party, when and as organized, may steal a march on the two traditional parties. Perhaps it will offer a philosophy and a purpose; perhaps it will stand for something people can clearly recognize. If so the New Party will deserve

whatever votes it may take away from the old parties—and the old parties will deserve to lose them.”

HALIFAX CHRONICLE-HERALD:—“The New Party’s suc- cess this week, long before its official launching by the CCF and the Canadian Labour Congress, creates new interest in it as a political force.”

OTTAWA JOURNAL:—“The strategists will have to devise a new pattern to fit the Peterborough constituency which crashed out of the Conservative column, not into the waiting arms of the Liberals, but into the bassinet made ready for a party not yet born.

“How could this happen? The Conservative candidate shook as many hands, with as much sincerity as did the New Party man. The Conservative Party was left a fine legacy of goodwill by the late Mr. Gordon Fraser, that most estimable member of parlia- ment. Unemployment in the factories was a large factor, no doubt, but does it not appear that some farmers too switched their vote from Tory to the New Party? The Liberals campaigned as if they expected to win, and they, no more than the Tories, appeared to be worried by the energetic assistance union organizers were giv- ing the New Party campaign.

“Whether they can explain it or not, the Liberals and Conser- vatives both have a gloomy future if Peterborough is any measure ... The CCF vote was multiplied seven times by the New Party.”

And if anyone thinks it was a fluke, the Journal pointed out,

in Niagara Falls the New Party candidate doubled the CCF vote in 1958, :

Government Subsidy Rail Strike Answer?

A one-shot subsidy may be used by the Federal Govern- ment to bail itself out of the railway strike threatened as a result of the railway’s refusal to accept concilation recommen- dations for wage increases in non-operating unions

This information from cabinet sources followed speculation that the legislative club of compulsory arbitration was being pondered — at the expense of taking a step unpalatable to unionists of all groups.

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The subsidy, it was indicated, would tide the government over until it gets the recommendations from the royal commission on transportation which hopes to wind up hearings shortly and have a report ready by next spring.

The government faces criticism either way.

Compulsory arbitration has been used before — as a fact under another mame and by threat — drawing strong union protests. An interim subsidy however may be criticized by some as a bad precedent.

There are reports that the cabinet was split on the compul- sory arbitration matter which was seen as a bad political step to take at a time when the Diefen- baker government's stock — as shown in by-elections and public criticism on unemployment — is low enough anyway.

Decisions of the recent convention of the B.C. Federation of Labour have revived membership discussions throughout the B.C. trade union movement on various features of the

proposed new political party.

Suggestions regarding a pro-

posed constitution and programme are being received by the National Committee for the New Party.

Local Unions are invited to ar- range for discussions with the object of submitting recommenda- tions before the end of the year.

The effort is being made to have copies of proposed draft constitution and programme in the hands of the membership in time to permit wide discussion prior to the founding convention.

At the same time, the National Committee is proceeding with plans for the founding convention to be held in Ottawa July 31- August 4, 1961. More than 2000 delegates are expected to attend. A great deal of consideration is being given to the organization of the convention to enable the trans- portation of an enormous volume of business and the maximum of debate.

Big Job Ahead

The delegates to this conven- tion will be asked to prepare a constitution, as well as a pro- gramme for the New Party, choose a name, and generally lay the ground-work for a new and dynamic political movement.

A well-balanced system of rep: resentation is being arranged, al- though the format of the Con- vention has not yet been deter- mined.

Policy Seminars

Two Regicnal Policy Seminars will be held in advance of the founding convention under the auspices of the joint National Committee. One for trade union and CCF delegates in Eastern Canada will be held in Montreal, December 3-4.

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UBC-Labour Explore Automation Impact

Seminar dealing with “Automation and Related Prob- lems” conducted by the University-Labour Education Com- mittee, November 9-10-11, probed all aspects of the problem for a representative group of trade union staff members attending at the invitation of the B.C. Federation of Labour and the Canadian Labour Congress.

The three-day seminar was the first venture of the joint com- mittee, and was acclaimed by its members as a distinct success. Discussions organized by the University’s Extension Depart- ment, and led by members of the Faculty furnished invaluable source material. Seminar work- shops in which trade unionists participated, blended theory with the practical experience of the unionists.

Trade union representatives on the Committee are: Regional President Joe Morris, IWA; A. R. Kemp, BCGEA; Tom Gooder- ham, CLC; E. P. O’Neal, B.C. Federation; and Dan Radford, CLC. Representing the University are: Prof. A. W. R. Carrothers; Dr. John K. Friesen; Prof. Noel A. Hall; Prof. Stuart Jamieson; and Mr. John L. Haar. Mr. Knute Buttedahl, supervisor of Labour Education was seminar co-ordina- tor.

Discussion Topics

Lectures and lecturers at the seminar were: “A Century of Industrial Revolution,” Prof. W. G. Dixon; “Twentieth Cen- tury Automation,” Prof. A. Thomas, W. G. Goddard, Prof. F. Noakes; “Problems of Auto- mation,” Dr, Eugen Forsey, CLC, Prof. W. G. Dixon, Prof. A. Thomas, and Prof. H. Wilkinson; “Possible Impact of Automation on Labour Unions,’ Dr. J. K. Friesen, Prof. P. Remnant, Dr. E. Forsey, Prof. H. Wilkinson, Prof. A. Thomas.

IWA Research and Education

Director, Joe Miyazawa sum- marized and evaluated the discus- sions. ’ Although the seminar group was unable to record any conclu- sions on the subject, by virtue of its composition, the effort will be made to edit the material used in discussions for the information of trade union members, and Local Union instructors.

Congratulations

The following cable was received Nov. 2 at the headquarters of the National Committee for the New Party in Ottawa: é “The British Labor Party sends its warmest congratulations on the occasion of the first great electoral victory for your new

party in Peterborough, Ontario.

—A. L. Williams, Deputy General Secretary.”

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The policy seminar for dele- gates from the Western Provinces will be held in Calgary, December 10-11. It is expected to include 200 to 300 persons, representatives of trade union federations and CCF constituency associations.

Full Discussion Planned

The seminars are planned to provide the opportunity for dis- cussion not only of the pro-

gramme, but of the eventual structure of the New Party. Recommendations originating

with these seminars will serve as a useful guide in the final deci- sions of the founding convention, it is claimed.

Plans are afoot in British Co- lumbia to establish a provincial committee whose work will paral- lel that of the National Committee for the New Party. It is expected that this committee will be asked to prepare recommendations re- specting the organization of a founding convention for the New Party in the province.

Vote Gives

Kennedy Win

AFL-CIO trade unions claim an important part in the results of the recent Presiden- tial election in the United States. President-elect Kennedy rolled up his largest majorities in those states which have the @reatest concentrations of unionized workers.

Union officials claim that the labour vote was largely respon- sible for his break-through in States traditionally Republican.

The result confirmed predictions frequently made in election cam- paigns in both Canada and the United States. Labour’s get-out- the-vyote drives invariably in- fluence the results.

It is stated that some States would have gone for Nixon, but

for intensive drives to register votes staged by COPE.

In Canada, it is claimed, a heavy working-class vote usually means a-heavy CCF vote.

Reports indicate that the voters’ lists in the United States were combed by hundreds of trained union officials and checked against membership lists to un- cover unregistered union members. Extensive use was made of the

the necessary ground-work.

Ist and Last Thursday

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