Once again, a couple of articles particularly caught my attention in the recent copy of the Graphic Communicator. One on the question of with whom to merge and the comments made by CWA Pres. Morton Bahr. The other on Bush's legislation to lengthen hours of work.

[Bush] must have been in touch with Ontario's Conservative Premier Eves, who earlier had the same idea in order to please big business friends and sponsors. I just couldn't let things go by without some comments myself. Especially as Mr. Eves may very well be contemplating an Ontario election some time at the end of June, subject to the polls improving for the Conservatives. One of his promises is to ban strikes by teachers during the school year. That should get the attention of union members of who would be next. See "Wake Up Time."

On the very brief synopsis of the Ontario Federation of Printing Trades Unions, I had the honor of being president of the federation for nearly 20 years during its various transitional periods, even for two years after my retirement. Unfortunately, the federation ceased in 1992. Mergers had taken their toll.

However, it had created a great deal of effort toward merger. In Canada, Paperworkers, Typos and Newspaper Guild had become part of the Communication, Energy and Paperworkers while the remaining printing unions enrolled in the GCIU. For the council, I held the position of secretary-treasurer for 25 years until my retirement in 1987. My union life was quite full, with my own local's commitments as well. Now, it's a case of trying to keep the local's retirees in touch with the realities of still being wanted and actively involved.

I'm aware that my outspoken attitude has not always been appreciated by some. Nevertheless, making a change is a little late in my life now. But you [GCIU Pres. George Tedeschi] did say there would be more attention given to retirees of the International when elected. More than a year ago, I did draft some suggestions and how our Retiree Club got started to encourage those locals that have nothing for their retirees.

I'm hoping that we can urge retirees to keep involved as we grow larger as the years pass.

Wake up time

There's more of "us" (workers) than there are of "them" (bosses) yet we are always behind the eight ball when it comes to electing the government. In the United States, there are the Republicans under George Bush, who are certainly not a favorite of "us," according to the labor restraints being placed in legislation, but all in favor of "them."

The same happens in Canada. Ontario Conservatives have been doing the same damage to "us" since they swept to power 10 years ago. They gutted the labor legislation placed by the previous and only time New Democratic Party for the province, which had a much fairer balance for "us." It seems that the Bush administration adopted the Conservatives in making "us" work longer hours per week, so practically eliminating any overtime work, in concert with and to help "them."

Why is this allowed to happen? After all, "us" have the greatest numbers. Is there an apathy among "us" about voting when the time comes? Don't "us" bother to make our votes count? Because if "us" did exercise our right to cast a ballot, surely "us" could change the government for a more equitable share of labor legislation that "us" deserves. Do "us" really care about how "us" are treated by` governments? Does the mighty dollar of "them" mean more than the welfare of the majority of the United States or Canadian population?

Especially when there are other alternative options or parties available to "us" with a more humane outlook for citizens of both countries, who would welcome the opportunity to serve its population. Yet somehow "us" do not take advantage of these when election time arrives. The platitudes of "them" and the promises they make and promptly forget once they are in office are certainly not in the best interests of the people.

It's time to remember how "us" have been treated by "them" during their term of office not the so-called goodies and handouts made just before an election.

"Us" have the power for change and should take full advantage of that power and make our ballot boxes overflow with "us" votes. Think on this because there are more of "us" than there are of "them." It's wake up time for "us." Let's get on the ball.

If we aren't thinking of ourselves, think what could happen to our kids' future with ever-increasing detrimental labor legislation. They'll not thank us for our neglect.

On the question of merger

Perhaps a little Canadian history may be of help to you in the merger situation.

At the February 1946 meeting of the Toronto Allied Printing Trades Council (TAPTC) on the topic of organizing, delegate R. Harvey (Photo Engravers Union) made a suggestion for the creation of a movement for a federation of all the locals in the printing industry of Ontario.

In those days, there were some 12 various international unions in the TAPTC: Bookbinders, Electrotypers, Litho, Mailers, Miscellaneous, Newspaper Guild, Paperhandlers, Photo Engravers, Pressmen, Stereotypers, Typographical, and Web Press.

The idea seemed to have merit, and, at the March 1946 meeting, after much discussion, it was decided to call a meeting for all printing unions across Ontario for May 24-26, 1946, subject to arrangements and which did take place.

The TAPTC agreed in June 1946 to fund the newly formed Ontario Federation of Printing Trade Unions (OFPTU) until such time as it could finance itself. A further meeting was then arranged for Nov. 23-24, 1946, in which the OFPTU dealt with devising its constitution and bylaws, including the financing and, of course, per capita tax structure.

[The OFPTU had an] executive board of president, vice president, secretary-treasurer, and one delegate from each affiliated union, chosen by those delegates present at the conference. It also included a commitment to work for a single union in the printing industry.

As the OFPTU became known, its yearly May conferences grew as the years passed. Among its discussions were topics affecting the industry. As the locals all dealt with the same employers, efforts were made to synchronize the agreements, both in language and termination dates, to avoid crossing any picket lines or lockout of its members. Some progress was made as the employers also had to be dealt with on the subject and reluctantly.

As interest was shown by the Bookbinders in Quebec (who already were part of the Bookbinders Council of Eastern Canada), the federation took the action to invite Quebec unions to their conference, and in 1975 the name changed to the Eastern Canadian Federation of Printing Trades Unions. Then locals from New Brunswick and Nova Scotia became members.

By this time, mergers had been taking place between international unions, and the thoughts of those early pioneers of the OFPTU appeared to be coming true one union in the printing industry. But it also had its downside as delegates were now only coming from merged locals. It meant looking for new members. So, there was an application to the Canadian Labour Congress for approval to expand the jurisdiction to cover all Canadian printing unions. This was granted [and] again a name change went into effect: Canadian Federation of Printing Trades Unions (CFPTU).

Soon after it was noted that the Communications Workers of Canada had some agreements with the same employers, and they were invited to attend one of the conferences, following which they then decided to join the federation. So, once again, there was a name change, and this was the last one. It was now the Canadian Federation of Printing and Communications Unions (CFPCU).

While all this was going on, the internationals had been trying to work out mergers within the printing unions and were succeeding up to a point. Somehow they got bogged down, and the Newspaper Guild and Typographical unions for whatever reason decided to join with the CWA. Now our international is facing a merger with three worthy opponents. But to fulfill the ambitions of those original OFPTU delegates of Ontario, Canada, and their striving to have all printing unions in one union way back in 1946, there really is only one choice.

The remaining unions outside are already part of the Communications Workers of America. Our recommendation has to be that one and those 1946 members will rest in peace. Their foresight and ambitions will have been accomplished, not in their time but eventually the printing unions will have become one union.