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BC Solidarity Update: New Reality Or New Brutality?

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BC Solidarity Update: New Reality Or New Brutality? View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by OCAD University Open Research Repository OCAD University Open Research Repository 1984 B.C. Solidarity Update: new Reality or New Brutality? Diamond, Sara Suggested citation: Diamond, Sara (1984) B.C. Solidarity Update: new Reality or New Brutality? Fuse Magazine, 8 (1&2). pp. 4-6. ISSN 0838-603X Available at http://openresearch.ocadu.ca/id/eprint/1875/ Open Research is a publicly accessible, curated repository for the preservation and dissemination of scholarly and creative output of the OCAD University community. Material in Open Research is open access and made available via the consent of the author and/or rights holder on a non-exclusive basis. REPORTS B. Soidari New Reliy or New Butliy? SARA DIAMOND VANCOUVER - WITH THE RE­ labour. Picketting continud dspite an in­ On May 9th the government announc­ treat of Solidarity, the Socred's 1983 junction, until the leadership of the d the new abour Cde. Its key points in­ and 1984 budgets are hitting home. Building Trads were found to e in con­ clude: banning of political protest (i.e. Labour, feminist and human rights ac­ tempt of court. spite rank and file solidarity-type strike action); an end to tivists are fighting difficult battles on miliancy, the Council dided to dicon­ condy picketing; automatic dcertifica­ isolated ground. While 100,000 march­ tinue picketing, told its memes to vacate tion of unions with a 45% decertification ed for peace in Vancouver's streets on the site and promid that the battle would vote. The Code now gives the cabinet the April 28, the Solidarity mobilization continue in the context of EXO '6. right to designate any job site an against the new budget in March drew EXPO '6: The real issue ehind the "conomic development project", remov­ a mere 3,000 supporters. Meanwhile, Kerkhoff showdown was who would ing the right to stke and allowing cabinet Milton Friedman has lauded British build EXPO. Unfortunately non-union to override any union contract. It would Columbia as the ideal democracy - contractors and the govement had won be an "open site", allowing the untram­ one in which election promises become the first round. (Leislation bg con­ melled use of non-union labour. lies and the New Right's economic and stucion indusry striks has en looming The new Code allows Cabinet (rather social policies are bearing their bitter for a long time.) In the aftemath of Pen­ than The Labour Relations Board) to ex­ fruit. During the past week, debate nyfarthing, the Ss, aidd by EXPO amine union constitutions and to decide within the labour and popular move­ king Jim Pattison, threatened to cancel the whether strike votes, discipline of ments has centred on the viability of a fair unlss the trades agred to the lieral members, etc. are legitimate or ap­ Solidarity II. Here, I will provide an e of non-ion constuction labour on propriate. In essence, it gives Cabinet an update to the feature, "B.C. Solidarity" the site. While many B.C.ers cretly oen hand in all union affairs. This legisla­ (FUSE, Spring 1984), outlining some of wondered whether the threatened cancella­ tion will make negotiations very difficult, the more recent events and develop­ tion would e a rsult of poor govement while breaking existing unions, particularly ments in the province. plg and masive ovesending ( the those with jurisdiction over Bennett's EXPO budget is some thre tims its mga-projcts. It's an employer's hardcore ol projction), the govment blam­ fantasy come true. Te aour Font d the construction unions, sgsting that ULP NDUSTRY: The pulp ndustry CONSTRUCTION: The long foreen they were ''Bad B.C.es", holding the pr­ lcked out its workes for months. The battle to protct construction industy vince to ransom and denying many the two pulp unions, the Canadian Pul­ unions eruptd in March. The abour right to a job. In mid-April the govenment workes' Union and the Pulp and Paer Relations Board revered a longsanding dcided to go on with the show that would Workes' Union of Canada, had dcided to prdent which insured that contracts place Vancouver "on the world stage". rejct the poor 3-year contract that the In­ could not e ned over to non-union Bennett promied legislation to make tational Wodworkes of America had constuction firms if begun by union EXPO "an oen site", with an advisory ettled for. Instead they wantd an increae labour. Building union pickets shut down council to police workes and make all job in the fist year of a tw-year conract, Pennyfarthing Consruction at is Harbour action on the site illgal, a virtual war ity and health and afety provisios. Cove site. This company is un by Bill measurs act. In ngoiaios the building The govement imped a back-t-work Kerkhoff, a elf-prclaimed folk hero and rads argud for union rats for non­ order and continus to threaten an imp­ militant anti-unionist "armed with strong union EXPO construction labour, a step d ettlement. Pulp works have faced not fily tis and a dep reliious convic­ back from earlier intenions to organize the oly the concerted eforts of the Em­ tion". (Vancouver Sun) Many of the trads site. ployes' Council of B.C., the Pulp and pickettes had en unemployd for as In rspone to the developments the Paer Industrial Relations Bureau and the long as two yeas, moving from well-paid �ntes' Union held an "Expe EXPO' govment, but also the vcal hstility of jobs with dcent working conditions to public meting. Calls for a revitalized the IW A in the esonna of Jack Munro Unemploment Insurance and then wel­ Solidarity II ("the general can't rereat (rememer Kelowna ?) who has publically fare. The B.C. and Yukon Building Trads when the movement is advancing") have denounced their efforts to etter the IWA Council was able to mobilze four hundrd en heard from the rads, Vancouver contract. on active picket duty with 2-3,) more, aldermen and NOP repentativs. In TRANSIT: Transit workes in Vancouver including eminists, public ctor workes, other quarters plans are foming for have also fard poorly in reaching a con­ etc., present for mass pickets. They "AXPO '6" - a counter event to provide tract. fter months of stld ngotiations demandd that the site e built by union city and visitos with a critical ersctive. they began an "unstrike", a ground- 4 FUSE U MME R /984 beaking sratgy ged to ducang the because it claims to protect human ever until the new labour code was in­ public that it is govment cutbacks that rights when it in fact legalized dis-. troduced, the B.C. Federation of erode public transportation, not the crimination". Ignorning all submis­ Labour Executive was publically divid­ drives' attituds to their work. Bus drives sions during the "consultation ed on this question. While Art Kube, have won civilian cloths to work and process", the new Bill 11 eliminated the the Federation's leader, supported the collcted only ¢ and a promisory note Human Rights Commission, excludes initiative, other key players are strong­ from riders. As of May 9 actions wl in­ many groups from protection and ly opposed. Jack Munro has stated that clude a full day strike. gives sweeping powers to the new ap­ the people of B.C. want to work, not pointed council to dismiss complaints protest. They would not support a cal vcs it considers "vexatious, frivilous or in general strike. Other unionists would As of April,· twenty-one family and bad faith". There is no appeal pro­ support a union-based coalition (Oper­ childcare facilities, formerly run by the cedure. ation Solidarity model) but without Ministry of Human Resources, became private services. Services include Van­ couver Transition House, now run by the YWCA and Gravely House, an emergency shelter for one to seven year olds, now owned by Ro-Di Manage­ ment, residential treatment centres and group homes. These are contracted out on a yearly basis. The Vancouver Status of Women, one of the bulwarks of the Vancouver women's movement has had its funding completely ter­ minated. WA VAW / Rape Crisis Centre received a five percent budget cut while demand on their facilities is on the rise. Other services, such as the Elizabeth Fry Society, Native Courtworkers and the People's Law School have been placed on an interim two month budget until the government decides their future. WELFARE: The new budget cut JEANNIE KAMINS' PAINTING OF THE B.C. CABINET. From top left, welfare by $25-$80 per month. People clockwise: 'King' Billy Bennett, Grace McCarthy (Human Resources), Jim Nielsen (Health), awaiting Unemployment Insurance are Jack 'Scab' Munro, Energy Minister Rogers, Jim Hewitt (Consumer/Corporate Affairs), no longer eligible f r welfare in B.C. Jack Heinrich (Education), Pat McGeer ('protector' of universities), Brian Smith (Attorney General), Bob McClelland, Jim Chabot (provincial secretary), Hugh Curtis (Finance) Those applying for social assistance must now "exhaust all available in­ the participation of community groups come or assets". This is interpreted to through the Solidarity Coalition. include all lines of credit, including Educaion Community and women's groups are credit cards. This has led to specula­ David Thompson University Cen­ somewhat skeptical about reuniting tions as to when B.C. will open tre, the only university outside of the with labour after the betrayals of '83. debtor's prisons. Lower Mainland and Victoria is now With the introduction of the new closed by government dictate. 65% of Labour Code, the B.C. Federation has Tenans Rghs its students were women from the begun to re-unite Operation Solidarity The government replaced its much­ West Kootenay area.
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