The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

â€" Labor wars outdated 9 OO a.m. to 5:00 p.m Page 4 â€" Waterioo Chronicie, Wednesday, October 5, 1977 Viewing the news Is there anything more ridiculous than violence in the relationship between organized labor, and business and government services? _ o S _ The day of fighting for a living wage passed at least a generation ago, with the occasional exceptions. There are segments in the work force which organized labor seems to shun, while it concentrates on protecting interâ€" ests so selfish that they keep out real ‘"workers"‘. Generally, a violent dispute involving a union these days just shouldn‘t happen â€" shouldn‘t be permitted to happen. Violence and crime are outlawed in society. It‘s a puzzle why they are permitted to occur in the one area of labor relations. But on the Labor Front, (as the old war commentaries might say), fighting continues. _ _ _ e â€" » By Frank Kaplan The Second World War is history, Viet Nam isn‘t fightâ€" ing anymore, and Canadians are longâ€"since back from Korea. The problem is not uniquely Canadian. We have here the recent example of the violence outside a flour mill in the Montreal area. A mob rush on the plant and panicked defenders shooting happened over a nonâ€"issue â€" a decision by the Antiâ€"Inflation Board. Something similar is happening in the United Kingdom over a handfual of people and a small business that proâ€" cesses rolls of snapshots. That diSspute for recognition of a union has escalated into mass and mob violence involving not only the small processing plant but also the British Post Office. The head of the union seeking recognition has begged other unions to keep away because those ~volunâ€" teers"" are just looking for a nice, friendly ‘"bashâ€"up . The most shocking situation is in the United States where an auto parts manufacturing plant in Indiana has been under union military siege. This seems to be a fullâ€"scale campaign. Three people are reported to have been shot, with the buildings "riddled by bullets, and a helicopter has been fired on and such incidental happenings as smashed car windows are normal. waterioo chronicle + * C _Judging by the public reports, most of the "union‘" men attacking the plant weren‘t even employees of that mill. . That such crime continues in the area of labor reâ€" lations is a sad commentary on the application of rules of society which govern behavior between people. The freeâ€" dom to commit violent acts is possible only when elected government fails to apply normal antiâ€"criminal laws. _ Louis R. Desmarais, former chairman of Canada Steamship Lines, points out an additional cost in this ‘*war approach" to labor relations. _ â€" _ He told the recent Couchiching Conference that a "facâ€" tor that has contributed greatly to our lack of productivity has been the confrontation tactics employed by Canadian business and labor in negotiating new contracts ‘. In other words, both sides are at fault. He says: "On one hand, many Canadian labor unions seem to be obsessed by the notionâ€" probably imported over the years from Britain and Europe â€" that the laborâ€"manageâ€" ment relationship is basically a class struggle between oppressors and the oppressed . _‘"On the other hand. too many executives in this country still refuse to abandon the 19th century view of labor as a commodity to be bought and sold like so much machinery. Surely we‘re long overdue for peace to come and end the labor relations war. The Chronicle welcomes letters to the Editor f subscriptions : $10 a year in Canada oC $12 a year in United States and Foreign Countries Publisher: James M. Boland Editor: John Schultheiss Advertising Manager: Wolfgang Urschet established 1854 As a university professor he must know something about statistics. It is almost a religion in the realm of highâ€" er education these days to totally ignore them leaves his comments unscientific and without foundation. Why does Mr. Ledbetter neglect to mention another area where the blame might lie for this current problem of illiteracy in students? Not on the teachers and school boards but on the ones who rule them, namely the Ministry of Education. Who else was responsible for the lowering of standards in education in the late 1960‘s; when basic and fundaâ€" mental things like grammar and writing skills were not taught? Rather they were to be absorbed through readâ€" ing,, discussion and proper speech from their teachers. Grammar was a bad word that might frighten the stuâ€" dents. But how can anyone learn anything well, including writing skills and techniques if they don‘t work at it and practise it? * Dear Sir: I am writing this letter in reply to the articles Exam Results Show Literacy on the Rise, and B of E Tired of Universities Taking Pot Shots at Schools. After reading Mr. Ledbetter‘s comments blaming the school system in the province for the lack of literacy in university students I felt that it was time to comment also. There are also far more students being pushed through the system than previously. Many of these would never have made it through in the days of Ontario Departmental Exams when standards were high and excellence emphaâ€" sized, something that was lost with the approach of the 1970‘s. When Mr. Ledbetter says that teachers find it "imposâ€" sible to assign and mark enough to give students the opâ€" portunity to improve their writing skills" because each has an average of 180 students to teach each week he is quite correct. And whose fault is that? Certainly not the teacher© They have no choice. The province controls the purse stic~â€"= and until the province is willing to provide more t« s and reduce class sizes so there can be more |; ‘al attention to the needs of students there can be . ~rovement. As a 1 also resent Mr. Ledbetter‘s insinuations and gr ~â€" accusations. I work hard trying to teach There is a total lack of substantiating evidence in his comments. ANYBobpy ]\\\ SEEN THE J \W: PLASMA®]® W .efters fo the edifor 1J WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE... ER..PASS THE GRENADES PLEASE. . GEE... BARNEY DANSONS RIGHT...THIS S A . _ "**a4 English skills to my students and there are many other teachers who do the same. While there are bound to be some teachers who fit into Mr. Ledbetter‘s slot perhaps it is time the more basic and real causes of the literacy problem are looked at. To the editor : The Citizens of Waterloo are proud of their City; howâ€" ever, due to our background, we are not too happy with the necessary evil of debts. It is not pleasant to look forward and realize that we are bequeathing enormous debts to succeeding generations. . _ There are still :v:ovmany necessary things to accomplish (road repair for one) in the efficient running of ‘Our City‘. * . Now we are told that our city council has approved and passed the extremely expensive (unnecessary) bid for the 1982 games. We are not against sports‘ They are necessary and very desirable for all people, but to carry this tremendous burden without Kitchener‘s financial support does not seem economically feasible. We are told it will add about $80.00 to each Waterloo tax bill. We cannot accept this figure! It is a known fact that ‘"‘projected"" estimates have a way of being at least 3 times too low. Now, city council, we do not need nor want this expense‘ Why have the Waterloo average citizens not come forâ€" ward with a rush of objections? â€" â€" Perhaps because the expense is in the future (if we get the games) and Mr. Average Citizen is too preoccupied with figuring out (1) how to insulate his home economicalâ€" ly; (2) how to cut expense to buy gas for his heating & car; or how to save for his taxes and Christmas. Waterlo6, as a result of the intelligent frugality of our forefathers is a well founded city. Often they had difficult decisions to make, which would benefit the majorâ€" ity of the Citizenry. Please attach a ballot to our next tax bill and see the results. There is no préstige for a city council who puts a City into debt for no valid reason. t k# Sincerely, Robert Schmitt Sincerely H.O. Wey