Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - April 13, 1974, Winnipeg, Manitoba Winnipeg free press saturday april 13, 1974 . Unions face growing Challenge in Canada Europe by Selig s. Harrison Washington Specia tons United states to with Western Europe and Ca Ada already frayed in the diplomatic and economic Arena arc rapidly wearing thin in ii labor Field after three Decad of postwar co operation. East West detente a spurred the formation of a be european Trade Union confederation Etc stressing the common Bonds of All Europea unions rather than the id olog Cal struggle Between commit nist and non communist Labo groups. The european group on the verge of admitting the communist dominated italia Gil labor federation late this month despite the Bitte protests of Al Cio leaders. In Canada rising National ism has provoked mounting d mands for the secession of the Canadian affiliates of Amer can based unions. Canadia local Union presidents of the International paper workers hav just voted to set up a separate Canadian group and a referendum of the Canadia members of the Pape Vorker now under Way is expected t give formal approval for the break by april 30. By far the greatest Concari of the Al Cio is focussed of Western Europe where labor has channelled millions o dollars since the second work War to build up anti Corn Monist labor forces especially in France and Italy. Al Cio leaders have lobbies intensely and unsuccessfully to Block the soft line trend re fleeced in the formation of Thi new european Trade Union confederation As an alternative to the moribund anti Corn Monist International confederation of free Trade unions. At its inception the Etc voted to omit the. Word "free1 from , a decision acid by dismissed by Al Cio pres ident George Meany who observed that they took the word free out on the argument that putting it in there would in some Way interfere with what they Call detente. In january leaders of Etc member unions joined in a Geneva meeting with soviet labor chief Alexander Shulepin and representatives of the communist bloc s a Ftp. Early last month the Etc executive committee authorized a key round of negotiations on april 10 looking to the admission of the italian Gil at the May Copenhagen convention of the european federation. The Geneva meeting and the Etc decision represent a Complete reversal of the anti communist policy pursued by the european free labor move ment during the last Quarter o a declared the Al Cio free Trade Union news in its current special Issue euro Pean labor in crisis. There is no hiding the ugly truth that a major and Crueita change has occurred on the european labor scene a change benefiting in Al Cio eyes free unions and communist unions have nothing in common and contacts Between them Only give communist forces an Aura of respectability that could smooth their ultimate Rise to Power. If the communist dominated Gil in Italy is admitted to the Etc Al Cio leaders argue the powerful Cut Al Cio View is tha the soft line of the Etc s e r v e j Moscow s Long term strategy in Western Europe and basically reflects a dangerous ideological erosion re suiting from the climate of de Tente. European diplomatic a n labor sources believe this greatly oversimplifies the Etc approach. These sources stress the growing european desire to assert an identity separate from both the United states and the soviet Union. By bringing communist unions into a european labor Iran work free of ideological barriers these sources say Many Etc leaders Hope to Advance the Over All cause of european integration and to strengthen existing trends pushing the Gil and Cut toward moderate National communist policies dictated by Domestic political factors in heir Home countries. In this View the impending merger of the italian Gil and two rival labor federa ions the Christian democratic Sil and the smaller u1l, re lets growing moderation on he part of the Gil in Well As Domestic policies. One example of this Modera lion often cited is the fact tha Gil officials and other Ita Linn communist leaders have criticized soviet suppression of dissidents and were pro common Market Well before mos cow reluctantly gave the Green Light for local communist sup port of the common Market in West european countries. The Independent posture shown by Gil leaders toward Moscow is widely contrasted with the comparative orthodox y of Tho Cut. Unlike Gil s bid for admission to the Etc which has the backing of its non communist potential merger partners a Cut Effort to win entry would be strongly opposed not Only by the Force Ouvrier and the Christian unions in France but by some other key unions. Many observers feel that a Cut entry to the new confederation could Only come after a Long Battle and some question whether the Gil will actually be admitted in May suggesting that a one year postponement might be Neces Ary to avoid a rift. In most internal Etc Bat Les Over policy toward unions Al Cio Hostil Ity toward admission of the Gil has been echoed by the Force Ouvrier the West German dub and a Brian unions with the British trades Union Congress the belgians and the italians leading the pro Gil Camp. At the key executive Bogard meeting authorizing negotiations with the italian group however the influential dub abstained. This has been attributed partly to the labor group s close ties to Chancellor Willy Brandt s ruling spa party with its Ostop Olitsk policy and partly too to the reported ambitions of dub president Heinz Vetter to succeed the British Tuc s Victor Feather As Etc Secretary general. British Tuc sources promised to oppose the admission of the. Gil in private meetings with Al Cio leaders at their february executive Council sessions but ended up voting to authorize the negotiations with the italian group now in Progress Al Cio sources said. The Al Cio free Trade Union news blames the British role in Tuc on Tho fact great Britain the communists and their sympathizers have gained increasing control in some of the major Trade unions and Iive influenced the Tuc More and More in a direction which favors Moscow s International labor defenders of the new Etc approach in Britain and other european countries say that .-controlled multinational corporations pose a threat to communist and free Trade unionists alike irrespective of ideology. These sources see a Kindred spirit in the current european Effort to assert Independence from the superpowers and the new Canadian nationalist posture toward . Based unions. All told .-based unions claim More than 1.4 million Canadian members which is Why they Are known As International unions. The steel workers claim the biggest Canadian membership with followed by the United Auto workers with 10 per cent of the Union s total membership. The defecting Canadian members of the paper workers represent some 20 per cent nationalism growing in Canada informed sources say Canadian Pape Vorker leaders want autonomy from their . Parent to gain nationalist Luster in their Competition for recruits with the plus sulphate and paper Mill workers the Canadian Branch of the paper workers Union has Long had autonomy in most spheres with its own Canadian director its own research program and its own bilingual newspaper. However Tho Union has not had the right to collect dues or to operate its finances independently. Paper workers president Joseph p. Tonelli greeted the separation move with a pledge that we Are taking every precaution and insulating our future arrangements with so that to will hav a continuing relationship the will be helpful to both the United states and Canadian paper when something is in Evita he said "1 do not believe in prolonging or holding onto position just for the Sake of re Taining the status explaining the secession move Canadian director Henri Lorrain pointed to an intangible a mood which finds its expression in the popular pros where one sees with increasing frequency the word Canadian and the word Independence linked together. It has to do with an aware Ness with an understanding with a feet for what the people Are talking about in the Mil towns in this nation of federation in France will soon Lave to be admitted. This in urn is expected to undermine he position of anti communist Abor groups in France such As he . Backed Force Ouvrier strengthening the bargaining Power of the French communists in their Al dance with socialist Leader Francois Gulf credit card receipts customers who purchased Gas or Oil from the Gulf Gas bar at 928 Marlon on wed., april 3, Are asked to phone 233-5356 or 832-4316. To Laud off kid lost Hectl Fps 2-Price system rejected Ottawa up finance minister John Turner said thursday that the possibility of International retaliation rules out imposing any two Price system that would restrain Domestic prices. He was rejecting a commons suggestion by new Democrat Leader David Lewis who said such a system can Stop rising inflation. Or. Turner said 25 per cent of the Gross National product depends directly on Canadian status As an International trader imposing a two Price system might damage this rep. Station. It might Well be considers new style of protectionism at the expense of canada1 trading partners and he a not sure it would be a eco nomic advantage. Or. Lewis said he is not Sug 1 gusting interference with is port import Trade but we should canadians pay More of their or. Turner said the Price o Basic commodities is subject t International pressure and an move to impose protective tariffs would leave Canada subject to retaliation by other a doubted the Validity of this claim asking Why this had not happened with Grain and Oil two commodities already subject to a two Price system in which Domestic prices Are lower than the sex. Port Price. The finance minister said Oil prices Are set internationally and lie does not want to spoil Long Range economic prospects by imposing controls on othe commodities. Conservative Leader Hobert Stanfield asked prime minister Trudeau whether his minority government has any new anti inflation measures or was Content to just let things go air. Trudeau said his govern ment virtually has no control Over International pressure. There had been a reduction of prices for Grain hogs cattle Wool and Cotton and a levelling off of such things As Coffee and Lugar after Sharp International increases. Or. Stanfield retorted that it was obvious the government will wait and Hope that this will straighten the prime minister agreed that not til is perfect in the Economy but it was outpacing other countries ind it is not bid to to Best in the celebrate the return of Spring. With a new limited edition vow Sun Bug sporting a dazzling metallic Gold finish As Bright As its namesake. It has a Sun roof to let in what Sunshine and the scent of a greening world. There s a touch of the wild in its mocha Brown upholstery. And a touch of the wind in its Jaunty racing wheels. For the touch of your hands there s a covered steering wheel special Sunburst shift Knob and a Rosewood grained dash. The Sun Bug is As Carefree As a Spring morning. 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