HARRY RANKIN
Bridgewood Case Key Test for Labor
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1m the United States and whose eonsututton* and policies are determined by American trade unto* leaders and a predominantly American membership.
Tbe history of relations between Canadian and Amer-lean labor contains many fine examples of solidarity and fraternal assistance Unfortunately i t is also replete with examples of American an ton leaders imposing US policies upon their Canadian membership against the will of Canadians and often against the tery laws of Canada
Jbn Bridge wood is a respected and active member of the SJOO strong Local 707 of the United Auto Workers in Oak-rttlr. Ontario In fact, the membership elected him chairman of the locals civil rights committee
to the spring of 1968 Bridge-wood ran as a Communist Party candidate in the federal election. Two months later a meeting attended by 60 members of the local one percent of its total membership voted to remove him as chairman of the civil rights committee on the grounds that Article 10. Section 8 of the union's constitution bans Communist! from holding union of-Ace
This clause states that: "No member of any Local union shall be eligible to hold any elective or appointive position In this international union or any local union In this international union if he Is a member of or subservient to any political organization such as the Communist. Fascist or Nazi organization which owes Ita allegiance to any government other than the United States or Canada, directly or indirectly " * * *
BR1 DOE WOOD APPEALED Us removal to the union's International executive board, basing Us caae on the following arguments
• Article 10. Section 8 of the UAW constitution has no legal validity In Canada because It Is not In accord with Canadian custom, practice and law.
• Canadians are protected under the law to hold membership In the political party of their choice
• This legal right was recognized bv the Mav. 1968 convention of the Canadian Labor Congress when It removed all discriminatory language of a political character from Its constitution
Tbe international executive board denied the appeal, however, on the argument that Article 10. Section 8 does not conflict with the law of Canada
Bridgewood next appealed hi* case to the Public Review Board of the union, the highest app
body provided for in the union's itution. I represented lewood at this hearing to-r with Ernest Goodwin, a attorney from Detroit.
IN HIS WELL-RESEARCHED
presentation Goodwin presented strong and convincing arguments to show that Article 10, Section 8 is illegal even under the laws of the United States, and that it is invalid and unconstitutional because the UAW does not have the right to deprive its members generally, and Bridgewood in particular, of the political freedom to seek and democratically attain union office and to support candidates of their own choice.
In my own submission to the Public Review Board I made the following points:
• The Canadian Bill of Rights guarantees Canadians "freedom of assembly and association", a right which Article 10. Section 8 would take away from Canadian UAW members
• Both the Toronto and Vancouver labor councils have removed anti-Communist clauses from their bylaws.
• No evidence was presented that Bridgewood owes his allegiance to anv government other than that of Canada
• No evidence was presented that the Communist Party of Canada owes ita allegiance to any foreign government
• Not one witness could be produced to show that Bridge-wood had acted In anything but the best Interests of the trade union movement
• Although Article 10. Section 8 says that Fascists and Nazis are barred from holding union office, this clause has never been used against them.
• The advanced section of the working class of this country will not stand Idly by and see a foreign union Impose the most backward sections of Its constitution on a Canadian
I SHOULD ALSO POINT out that the Canadian regional board of the UAW Is on record asking that Article 10. Section 8 cease being applied against Canadian UAW members
The issues Involved are fundamental Shall undemocratic provisions contained In the constitutions of US international unions be Imposed on Canadian members when they conflict with Canadian law and practice and the views of Canadian trade unionists'' Can the undemocratic provisions of a U S union constitution be used to take away righta guaranteed to Canadians by our own lawi"*
It seems to me that there can be no genuine International solidarity unless partnership of Canadian and U S labor is bawd on equality, on the recognition bv US union leaders that Canada Is a nation with Its own laws customs and political views and that Canadian trade unionists must have the right to
f4E PROMISES YoO H/CrKU]AGq .(? TAXES, JoBS ANI> PEACE/
TME LAST AOY£Afe>S
STUDENT VIEWPOINT
Universities: Publicly Financed, Corporate Controlled
The following is from an article which appeared recently in a special edition oj 1 — it published by the Canadian Union of Students at Simon Fraser L/nit'ersity.
Who runs the university?
Businessmen do They run it as surely as they run your factory", office or government As a matter of fact, the president of the "bosses" club, the Employers' Council of British Columbia, is William McLean Hamilton, who also sits on the Simon Fraser University senate.
Hamilton is president of the BC International Trade Fair, past provincial chairman of Canadian Manufacturers' Association, a member of Vancouver board of trade and Canadian chamber of commerce, director of Pacific Controls and Spils-bury and Tlndall. vice-president of Mavo Holdings, chairman of Fidelity Life Assurance and Century Insurance and past president and consultant with Canadian Park and Tilford. a subsldlsry of Schenley of New York.
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HAMILTON BELIEVES THAT "businessmen must fight bark against attacks on private enterprise by leftist politicians, starry eyed students, ivory tower academics and assorted self-styled crusaders."
He is also on record as being opposed to medicare and calling for Its "indefinite suspension" and for advocating publicly the sale of Air Canada. CBC and the Polymer Corporation to "private enterprise."
As a Conservative Party member, Hamilton has shown no hesitation in supporting Socred premier W. A C Bennett
Some of Hamilton's friends on the SFU hoard and senate are businessmen like Cyrus McLean who holds 25 corporate positions, including chairmanship of B.C. Telephone.
Other luminaries on the SFU board are: Mark Collins, director of MacMiltan. Bloedel and Powell River Company, Canada Trust, and other companies;
George Wong, who holds nine corporate positions: Alan Eyre, president of Dueck Ltd. and director of Neon Products and Nelson Laundries; Jack Diamond, president of B.C. Turf Club. Joint operator of the B.C. Jockey Club and a director of International Paints, Canadian Breweries and Lafargc Cement.
And so on.
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THERE ARE NO WORKING m e n o r w o m e n on the SFU board of governors. There .are no representatives from labor, from the province's Indian community, from teachers* organizations, from tenants or welfare organizations.
In short, the people of British Columbia don't control- this "public" university.
Those who own and control the wealth of the province would like you to believe that the university exists to serve the "public interest" and the pursuit of truth But the reality is quite different from this rhetoric.
The reality Is that the university exists to serve the wealthy and powerful by:
—Training the managers and supervisors essential to profitable running of the large corporations;
—Inculcating t h e dominant competitive Ideology necessary for maintenance of the status quo:
—Producing, like a factory, the technical know how — research — essential for increasing business profits * * *
ONE OF THE CLEAREST examples is the Masters of Business Administration (MBA' program, established bv the university as part of the economics and commerce department
It was set up for persons who alreadv are managers In corporations and have been In those positions for several years.
One of the courses, which "establishes the philosophy and conceptual framework for the entire program." sets out, as Its first task, to consider the matter of how business can best make profits
Another course pavs particular attention to the problem of "effective supervision of the work force. Still another deals with "business research." In this course each "student manager." working closely with a faculty member, does a "major research project based on his own business experience."
Is there any program to serve the interests of workers where, for example, they can study how to improve their wages and working conditions? Needless to sav. there isn't
SFU acting president Kenneth Strand is right when he says: "The social and economic system is capitalist and the university serves the system."
More precisely, the university serves the people who control and benefit most from the capitalist economy, the same people who run the university — the owners of capital.
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ON THE OTHER HAND, who pays for running the university?
The answer is that you. the working people, pay. But your children don't have an equal chance to get to university, particularly with the high unemployment rate in B.C. which makes it difficult to get the summer Jobs necessary to pay for a university education.
This is the picture:
One quarter of Canadian university students come from families with an Income In excess of $10,000 But only six percent of Canadian parents have incomes in excess of that amount.
Some 54 percent of Canadian parents earn $5,000 or less but only 28 percent of Canadian university students come from such families.
Over half. 52 percent, of all male heads of families are industrial blue collar workers. But only 17 percent of Canadian students come from these families.
In other words: You pay — they run. You work — they profit.
LETTERS
Welfare Aid Appreciated
Editor. The Fisherman:
I wish to express my thanks to the trustees of the United Fishermen's Welfare Fund for the very welcome cheque recently received. I had not expected to receive an addltionul payment and it came as u most pleasant and welcome surprise.
M. WILLIAMS
Massct, B.C.
* * * Editor, The Fisherman:
I would tike to thank the salmon welfare fund trustees very much for the cheque that came with the morning mail. It was much appreciated and will help me to replace personal belongings lost In the sinking of my boat Oonnie Dale 2.
WILLIAM J. SHAW Stevcston, B.C.
Editor, The Fisherman:
Many thanks to the trustees of the United Fishermen's Welfare Fund for the cheque Just received. It was most welcome.
MRS. MIKIYE TANI Stevcston. B.C.
Thanks Voiced For Kindness
Editor, The Fisherman:
I would like to take this opportunity to convey my thanks and appreciation to the trustees of the Salmon Welfare Fund for the prompt manner in which the payment was received following the death of my husband, Winston John Tucker, and my son Claron.
My family and 1 oppreciated so much the many offers of assistance and kindness extended to us during our (line of sorrow.
MRS ANNE F. TUCKER Vancouver, B.C.
THE FISHERMAN — AUGUST 22, 1969