REPORTS B. C. Solidari New Reality or New Brutality? SARA DIAMOND VANCOUVER - WITH THE RE labour. Picketting continueddespite an in On May 9th the government announc treat of Solidarity, the Socred's 1983 junction, until the leadership of the edthe new LabourCode. Its key points in and 1984 budgets are hitting home. Building Tradeswere found to be in con clude: banning of political protest (i.e. Labour, feminist and human rights ac tempt of court. Despite rank and file solidarity-type strike action); an end to tivists are fighting difficult battles on militancy, the Council decided to discon secondary picketing; automatic decertifica isolated ground. While 100,000 march tinue picketting,told its membersto vacate tion of unions with a 45% decertification ed for peace in Vancouver's streets on the site and promisedthat the battle would vote. The Code now gives the cabinet the April 28, the Solidarity mobilization continue in the context of EXPO'86. right to designate any job site an against the new budget in March drew EXPO '86: The real issue behind the "economicdevelopment project", remov a mere 3,000 supporters. Meanwhile, Kerkhoff showdown was who would ing the right to strikeand 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 governmenthad won be an "open site", allowing the untram one in which election promises become the first round. (Legislation banning con melled use of non-union labour. lies and the New Right's economic and structionindustry strikes has beenlooming The new Code allows Cabinet (rather social policies are bearing their bitter for a long time.) In the aftermath of Pen than The Labour Relations Board) to ex fruit. During the past week, debate nyfarthing, the Socreds, aided 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 unless the trades agreed to the liberal members, etc. are legitimate or ap Solidarity II. Here, I will provide an use of non-union construction labour on propriate. In essence, it gives Cabinet an update to the feature, "B.C. Solidarity" the site. While many B.C.ers secretly openhand 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 be aresult of poor government while breaking existing unions, particularly ments in the province. planning and massive overspending ( the those with jurisdiction over Bennett's EXPO budget is some three times its mega-projects.It's an employer's hard-core original projection),the governmentblam fantasy come true. TheLabour Front edthe construction unions, suggesting that PULP INDUSTRY: The pulp industry CONSTRUCTION: The long foreseen they were ''Bad B.C.ers", holding the pro locked out its workers for months. The battle to protect construction industry vince to ransom and denying many the two pulp unions, the Canadian Pulp- unions erupted in March. The Labour right to a job. In mid-April the government workers' Union and the Pulp and Paper Relations Board reversed a longstanding decidedto go on with the show that would Workers'Union of Canada, had decidedto precedent which insured that contracts place Vancouver "on the world stage". reject the poor 3-year contract that the In could not be turned over to non-union Bennett promised legislation to make ternational Woodworkers of America had construction firms if begun by union EXPO "an open site", with an advisory settledfor. Instead they wantedan increase labour. Building union pickets shut down council to police workers and make all job in the first year of a two-year contract, Pennyfarthing Construction at itsHarbour action on the site illegal, a virtual war security and health and safety provisions. Cove site. This company is run by Bill measures act. In negotiations the building The government imposed a back-to-work Kerkhoff, a self-proclaimed folk hero and trades argued for union rates for non order and continues to threaten an impos- militant anti-unionist "armed with strong union EXPO construction labour, a step edsettlement. Pulp workeshave faced not family ties and a deep religious convic back from earlier intentionsto organize the only the concerted efforts of the Em tion". (Vancouver Sun) Many of the trades site. ployers' Council of B.C., the Pulp and picketters had been unemployed for as In response to these developments the Paper Industrial Relations Bureau and the long as two years, movingfrom well-paid �nters' Union held an "Expose EXPO' government,but also the vocalhostility of jobs with decent working conditions to public meeting. Calls for a revitalized the IW A in the personna of Jack Munro Unemployment Insurance and then wel Solidarity II ("the general can't retreat (remember Kelowna ?) who has publically fare. The B.C. and Yukon Building Trades when the movement is advancing") have denounced their efforts to better the IWA Council was able to mobilze four hundred been heard from the trades, Vancouver contract. on active picket duty with 2-3,CXX) more, aldermen and NOP representatives. In TRANSIT: Transit workers in Vancouver including feminists, public sector workers, other quarters plans are forming for have also fared poorly in reaching a con etc., present for mass pickets. They "AXPO '86" - a counter event to provide tract. After months of stalled negotiations demanded that the site be built by union city and visitors with a critical perspective. they began an "unstrike", a ground- 4 FUSE U MME R /984 breaking strategy geared to educating the because it claims to protect human ever until the new labour code was in public that it is government 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 drivers'attitudes to their work. Bus drivers sions during the "consultation ed on this question. While Art Kube, have worn civilian clothes to work and process", the new Bill 11 eliminated the the Federation's leader, supported the collected only 25¢ and a promisory note Human Rights Commission, excludes initiative, other key players are strong from riders. As of May 9 actions will 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 SocialServices 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 Education 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 TenantsRights its students were women from the begun to re-unite Operation Solidarity The government replaced its much West Kootenay area. Colleges and (the union component). Mike Kramer, protested Bill 5 with an equally dis universities elsewhere are engaged in Federation vice-president, and Kube, asterous new Bill 19. It will now cost the painful and often political process have threatened the government with a tenants thirty dollars to lay a com of cutting programmes and depart united and Jl}ilitant fightback by plaint against a landlord. Landlords ments to meet slender budgets. labour, one far beyond the scope of the can evict for "reasonable Cause" - a fall 1983. The extent to which these term which is at no point defined in the threats (promises?) will become reality legislation. Rents are decontrolled. Resistance is, as of this date, unclear. Although the Solidarity movement Women Against the Budget organiz Human Rights has been in crisis since the November ed a series of discussions through its The week of May 1 saw a vigil at the strike ended, the vehement assault on Budget University that drew many ac steps fo the B.C. Legislature by human construction unionism drew out thou tivists searching for a means to con rights groups. The new human rights sands of supporters. The spirit on the solidate the lessons of the Solidarity package is described by Harbans Dhil Pennyfarthing picket lines was that of Coalition. David Thompson Universi lon, rights activist, as "a massive fraud a fight to the death. There is growing ty Centre is presently occupied by a on the people of B.C. It is a fraud impetus for a SOLIDARITY II. How- group of senior citizens from the UMMER 1.984 F U E 5 ------REPORTS------
Kootenays. The city council of Nelson Parliamentary committee where it is through Cabinet which will be an is fighting the provincial government expected to be obstructed long enough nounced before the appearance of this to enable it to take over administration for it not to survive this session of report. of the centre. Parliament. However, it will in Tim Porteous, Director of The The NOP leadership race is under evitably be re-introduced by the new Canada Council, recently outlined way. Margaret Birrell, a strong governing Tories or the new governing what could be the expected changes feminist and fighter for trade union "left of centre" Liberals, because arising from C-24 or subsequent rights is running to revitalize the government self-control and accoun legislation. There are three main areas party's role in opposing the govern tability are believed to be among the of government control: ment. She has fought for the full pro most popular part costumes to be worn • Power of directives. mise of Solidarity (restoration of social before an angry electorate. • Submission of an annual cor services, trade union rights, etc.) as The Canada Council has formally porate plan. part of her campaign. The support of protested its inclusion in Bill C-24 • Government's right to change other candidates for Solidarity is more stating that "it would subject the The Canada Council's By-laws. qualified. In November Barrett and the Council to new forms of Government The directives would be tabled in NOP refused to support the strikers. control". Council believes its account Parliament and responsibility for The leadership debate has placed the ability is well-served by the existing them would clearly rest with the NOP back in the public eye as an op legislation - The Canada Council government. In the statement of ob position force. Act (1957). Furthermore, the jectives of C-24 there is a paragraph While B.C. residents watch the Council's objection is strongly sup that states: EXPO slogan "Man in Motion" whirl ported within the recent Federal "The government considers it inap at us through high tech t.v. ads, many Cultural Policy Committee's Report. propriate to issue directives that could of us feel unsure of our future: Will the And just to confuse those who would be construed as interference in upcoming months bring motion like to believe in the durability of the cultural activities that Parliament has sickness or a revitalized Solidarity? funding status quo, the Minister of entrusted to certain Crown Corpora Sara Diamond Communications currently respons tions. The Bill therefore provides that ible for The Canada Council, Francis no directive could be issued to The Fox, was seen on television support Canada Council, the CBC, the CFDC ing the Council's position despite the or the National Arts Center Corpora BillC-24 & the CC: fact that officials within his Depart tion dealing with the form or content ment have admitted that they agreed of a project, production or broadcast Who'll be inControl? with the inclusion of The Canada program. The same prohibition Living in the late nuclear age may be Council within the new controlling would apply to directives concerning irrelevant when it comes to the speed legislation. the provision of financial assistance of legislative action and reform, but Super civil servant and the by these corporations to any person when governments head into that con D.O.C.'s Assistant Deputy Minister, or group. Any other directive issued dition of pre-election panic, 1t seems David Silcox ( who would remain in to these corporations would be tabled that anything can happen - and hap his position of power even if the in Parliament, and the Bill provides pen very quickly. Which is to say that Rhinoceros Party were to get elected) that no action on the directive could by the time you read this there is a claims that the Council's fears be taken until 30 days after tabling." possibility that The Canada Council's of the increased threat of direct Frankly, these reassurances, echoed existence as an independent, arm's political interference amounts to by Mr. Silcox who said, "it would length cultural agency may be no "paranoia". Not surprisingly, it is the be an intrepid politician who would more. In its place could be The Canada likes of Mr. Silcox that keeps the of choose to interfere on a day-to Council, Crown Corporation, gov ficers, middle and upper management day basis", are not very comforting. erned under Schedule C, Part One, of of the Canada Council, awake at Despite the Council's arm's-length the newly amended Financial Ad night. The arts lobby that could even protection, the Seventies were littered ministration Act. The Council would tually keep the government out of the with reactionary members of Parlia then be governed in the illustrious Council's filing system does have a ment jumping out of their seats to ob company of VIA Rail Canada Inc., high media profile, but it is rather ject to Council's support for various Defence Construction (1951) Ltd., short on numbers. It also includes the Explorations projects, Pulp Press, bill Canada Post and about thirty-five likes of ourselves, whose political bissett, CEAC - the list is both long other non-cultural crown corpora engagement is often ambiguous, half and well remembered. The govern tions. hearted and even at times organiza ment's current promise of long-term Timed, as these matters are, for op tionally conservative. The ongoing ethical intentions has to be weighed timum political gain, Mr. Herb Gray struggle for control between the against their record of using job crea President of the Treasury Board D.O.C. and The Canada Council is tion programs, urban development recently tabled "New Legislative Pro further complicated by the 0.0.C.'s projects and so on as handy-to-use, posals for the Control and Account ability to finance larger and more at quick-to-apply political glues for any ability of Crown Corporations". Bill tractive programs (definitely govern amount of electoral fence mending. C-24 has already been read in Parlia ment controlled) including new plans The fact that the Minister of Com ment and is being submitted to a for Film and Video currently going munic::ttions has just given The n F U S E UMMER 1.984