She Never Was Afraid
The Biography of Annie Buller, by Louise Watson
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Journey to the USSR
In 1955 Annie and Harry experienced the great
pleasure of visiting the Soviet Union. What a thrill it was for Annie,
especially, to see the wonderful achievements which had taken place in
the first land of socialism. It was the realization of a dream for her
something she had read about, studied about, lectured about all over
Canada, and now here she was to see it.
Harry had been there previously with a delegation
of trade unionists, and at that time had started enquiries to find his
sister not heard of for several years. On this his second visit he was
overjoyed to find that she had been located, and he was able to get in
touch with her.
Although on a holiday, Annie was nevertheless
busy with her pen at every opportunity. She wrote letters and articles
for The Tribune and other publications, about places she went,
things she saw, and people she met.
In an article dealing with the part Canadian
women can play in the fight for peace, she wrote, "On my visit to the
Soviet Union I was privileged to meet a truly heroic woman one of many
whose work for peace will find an echo in the hearts of Canadian
women."
The young woman in question whose name, Michele
identifies her as French, was staying at the same summer resort as
Annie. She was there with her husband and two children, a boy of five
years and a girl of seven. Annie was delighted to meet her. In fact she
wrote of their meeting ". . . As our conversation unfolded I became
inspired by such a charming personality possessed of great courage and
vision. Michele's dark glasses and white cane did not detract from her
warm smile, her charm, her strength and courage; and courage she
certainly possesses."
She had taken part in a demonstration in Avaron,
France, demanding the release of a young building trades worker who had
been imprisoned for writing an article opposing the war in Indo-China.
The police attacked the demonstration, injuring 22 people including
Michele who was injured in the forehead and both her eyes were burned
out by tear gas. The demonstration was successful and the young man was
released the very same day.
Even after two operations in her home town and
seven in Paris, her sight was not restored. However she was not giving
up hope; one more operation in the Soviet Union might give her partial
sight in one eye. ". . Nor does she give up hope that come what may she
will continue to make her contribution to the struggles of the people of
France."
Michele was eager to know about Canada,
especially French Canada, and was delighted to hear of the work of
Canadian women for peace and the welfare of their families. Annie felt
she would always remember Michele, her indomitable spirit, full of life
and hope, and her great faith in the people.
The Stalin auto plant in Moscow was one of the
places Annie visited. There were so many questions in her mind. What
were the working conditions? What were the wages? Was there an assembly
line speed-up system? And what about layoffs? Are women qualified to do
the same operations as men, and do they get the same pay? How is the
unskilled worker trained to become a skilled worker? How is the workers'
health taken care of? All of these are pertinent problems for Canadian
auto workers, which sometimes call for militant action to solve.
The assistant director of the plant was the guide
who showed them over the plant, and explained the processes. He spoke
English fluently and was able to answer Annie's questions. He was
completely experienced, having started to work in the plant at the age
of 14, and learned every operation.
At the time this auto plant had been in operation
for 30 years, growing to the point where it now employed 40,000 workers,
of whom 16,000 or 40 per cent, were women.
Regular technical courses are carried on in the
plant which are adapted to every shift, and make it possible for workers
to study and work at the same time and on the plant's time. The
technical advances made by these workers explains why the assembly line
is not a mad house, and why workers can work at a normal pace. Annie
observed,
The thing that strikes you most when you watch the assembly
line is that there is no mad rush, people work like human beings. True,
more cars are needed. The public has more money to spend and are anxious
to buy cars, but cars are not produced at the expense of the health of
the workers. Health comes first."
Trucks, buses, bicycles, and refrigerators are
produced in this plant one bicycle every minute, one car or truck
every five minutes, one bus every two hours. The regular work shift is
eight hours, although some work six or seven hour shifts. Women workers
enjoy the same privileges as men and receive the same pay for the same
work.
A number of essential benefits are given to these
workers in addition to their wages. They get from two to four weeks
vacation with pay; they have their own plant hospital, and get free
medical care. A worker with three years work in the plant gets three
extra days vacation.
They have a palace of culture, and this provides
them with sports, music, plays, the cinema entertainment for the whole
family.
Annie marvelled at the splendid opportunities
these workers have and how they utilize them to enrich their
understanding, not only of their own country, but of the world as a
whole. They read Dickens and Shakespeare, Dreiser and Fast, as well as
their own great writers. They live a rich cultural life.
There is no seniority problem, no fear of being
laid off. Technical advances are not the only ones made by the workers
of this plant. Political education is a way of life with them. All kinds
of fine shop papers are produced by them.
And what of their union? The shop committees play
a very important role, not only during negotiations and the signing of
the agreement with management, but all year round. Grievances are not
allowed to fester, they are taken up on time and rectified. The trade
union takes part in regulating wages. It functions for the improvement
of labour conditions and sees that the welfare and cultural needs of the
workers are satisfied. The union administers the state social insurance
scheme, the medical services, and provides cultural and vacation
facilities.
Annie wrote, "The visit to the Stalin auto plant
made me think of our Canadian auto workers, of their problems, their
struggles, and of the contribution they have made in building the auto
giants of Canada. They have much in common with the auto workers of the
Soviet Union, in their technical skill and creativeness, in their
strivings for peace and friendship."
This visit to the Soviet Union was one of the
highlights of Annie's life, and fulfilled the longing she had had for so
many years to see socialism in progress.
continued
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