The Cadre, Thursday, October 28,

(

1976, page four

r to the

Aq_9nen Lette

Fellow Islanders:— Fellow Nictims:—

When Trudeau introduced to the country his new— infamous Bill 0—73 (the so—called Ante — Inflation Bill) on october 14th, 1975 the workers of Canada were just beginning to catch up with inflated prices. The catch up with inflated prices. The capitalists were gravely concerned lest they lose great profits. They had nothing to fear be— cause their political re— presentative — Trudeau and his Liberals—were "Johnny on-the—spot to protect their profits. Hence, the purpose of Bill C-73.

The right to collective bargaining was won by the canadian working class after many many years of long and difficult-stuggle. By ‘ the stroke of a pen that. right faded into the blice — Trudeau said to the workers: "Go ahead, bargain for as much as you like, it will do you no good." True!

therefore it was necessary to act. And the C.L.C. pro— posed militant and decisive action-it proclaimed a National Day of Protest set

, for Oct. 14, 1976.

The capitalist press did everything it could to under— .mine labour support: it laughed at it, heckled it; cursed it. then came 0ct.l4. 1,054,744 workers witheld their labour that day. Auto workers were shut down across the land; breweries were 311,

closed; all of B.C. was closeéledge if they have an eye

tight as a drum. Every premise experienced dis- ruptions of one sort or another. Labour, united as

never before in our

history, had spoken. It told Trudeau and his pro— business government ot either withdraw Bill—C-73 or

leave the canadian political scene. His popularity is extremely low according to recent pollings. Only 29% of the people support him, and they are mostly business people and those who support

How many workers had their wag business.

wages slashed by Pepin and his cohorts — hundreds of thou— sands! Labour could not

possibly progress under this repressive legislation;

On the very day of the Protest the capitalist papers were reporting on the text of the speech from the Throne. It was anti-labour through and_through. Among the pro- posals was: U.I.C. funds may be used to retain work— ers whose jobs have be— come obsolete due to automation, etc...and,

U.I.C. funds may be used

to pay the wages of workers who would otherwise be laid off.

Some solution to automation: make workers pay for retraining of work— ers whose skill benefits the boss! Some solution to unemployment: make the workers pay for lay—off victims!, Why do we pay into U.I.C.? To insure us in case of unemployment. But if

'the capitalist can use

workers premiums to pay for his hired help he stands to pay for his hired help he stands to benefit twice: once from the surplus value created

Studs

n't Union Executive.

by the worker—who never receives it, and agian by using our premium payments rather than out of his- profits! ‘It would be one hell of a rip—off!

How,does this concern you, the student? First: with the limited funds you have you must still pay the inflated costs for goods.

You recieve no compen-

sation for inflation. This includes rents. Second: if you are lucky, you will enter the labor force upon gra— duation. It is in your

vital interest to be con— cerned with wages. This is interally related to the fist point. Third: cost of education, of health, municipal seré vices (hydro, telephone, loans, etc.) and the growing rate of unemploy— ment, all conspire against the unprotected student

to render him a welfare recipient. In other words, your future looks bleak. These are considerations all students must acknow-

the

to the future. That's

why it is so important for students to act NOW to preserve some future in a time when the prospects are poor.‘ It is far from

likely that conditions will the good without

change for

I

M

OWN

conscious, determined, action on the part of those who stand to lose the most—student, and youth generally.

The political atmo- sphere at UPEI is such as

MEHE‘MN T BE

to discourage concrete acts.

ion: "students cannot even change their conditons at the university, let alone

the rest of society" is what the Ronald Baker's and Dennis

Clough's will tell you. These two—and thelikes of them— cannot even see far

Venough to encourage majority

student representation on

Senate or Board of Governors‘

despite the fact students

consitute a majority at UPEI.

The Student Union must, if it is to protect the immediate and long—term in— trests of the UPEI students, ally itself with: the PEI Federation of Labour; National Farmers Union; Tenants groups; the New Democratic Party; and all progressive groups in the interest of changing PEI to refect the peoples needs as opposed to those of capital. Students are people,_and do not cease being people while they're students. They, too, suffer from cut— backs, and rollbacks in wages. in wages. If the Student Union cannot see beyond the perimeter of the univer- sity itself, it cannot possibly offer responsible leader— ship to these people who must soon enter the "outside" too, compete nationally!!!

Contray to what the Baker's say, the university is

the proper property of

the people as a whole,

who should have a say in

its administration, be— sides the voice of students. Workers, farmers, fisher— men, as'well as students, should have the decisive say on what education shall consist of, who should benefit, and what direction the economy should take— and, therefore, what direction education should

take. . As it is now, capital

interests determine who shall go to university,

Cwl what shall be’taught, who should pay, and who . #should benefit (regarding the latter, capital benefits while the people—including students-pay!) UPEI needs political representation! Urge your student Union ex— ecutive to establish formal ties with the N.D.P. your student union needs a labour voice and a voice in laboureurge your executive to establish formal contact with the PEI Federation of Lawn. fiesmmlmhs for farming -the N.F.U. Sincerely, ' Stan Dalton -’

u .