Which Path for Labour in the Fight for Jobs and an Independent Canadian Economy
...Collaboration or a Militant Class-Struggle Fightback?

Publisher:  United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE), Don Mills, Canada
Year Published:  1979
Pages:  21pp   Resource Type:  Article
Cx Number:  CX977

This research and position paper is the United Electrical Workers' (U.E.) response to the report of the Second Tier Committee published in mid-July 1978 after meetings between business, corporations heading the industrial sectors and labour representatives from these sectors.

Abstract: 
This research and position paper is the United Electrical Workers' (U.E.) response to the report of the Second Tier Committee published in mid-July 1978 after meetings between business, corporations heading the industrial sectors and labour representatives from these sectors. U.E. sees Canadian Labour Congress (C.L.C.) participation in these meetings, and the consequent report, as a continuation of C.L.C. Executive determination to push for Tripartism in spite of its rejection by the rank and file and despite workers' insistence on the development of an industrial strategy to meet their needs. This paper reviews the history of C.L.C. efforts to get tripartite meetings of business, labour and government going.

Drawing support from the Science Council of Canada report, "The Weakest Link," in which the lack of an independent industrial base in Canada is underlined, U.E. continues to argue against U.S. domination of Canada's industries. Increasing reliance on imported manufactured goods has been particularly disastrous in the field of electronics, computer equipment and agricultural and general machinery. The report examines in detail the Second Tier Committee whitewash of the electrical industry in recent years. U.E. points out that the agenda for discussion of labour-management issues includes almost every major achievement of the labour movement in this century. U.E. wonders what business C.L.C. officials have opening up negotiations with business on such basic questions. The report offers several proposals: legislation obliging foreign firms to buy Canadian-manufactured goods; full disclosure of pricing policies between Canadian branch plants and their parent companies; restrictions on withdrawal of earnings of foreign corporations; development of managerial skills among Canadians. U.E. considers it essential that the Canadian government scrap policies which have led to the de-industrialization of Canada and assure Canadians that their resources will be used to meet the needs of our own people.

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