Thetford Mines, a city of 23,000, is in the hands of the asbestos workers and workers of the public and para- public (hospitals and schools) sector. The municipal police tried to intervene yesterday morning during the occupation of the radio station. They had the support of about 30 provincial police officers. A trade union spokesperson remarked to the police, who were largely outnumbered by the strikers, that "the dynamiters are on our side, not yours." The police, we're told, understood. The police were also told it was best they not call for reinforcements.

Everything is under control in the city where the unions involved, CSN [Confédération des Syndicats Nationaux - Confederation of National Trade Unions], FTQ [Fédération des Travailleurs du Québec - Québec Federation of Labor] and CEQ [Corporation des Enseignants du Québec - Québec Teachers Corporation], are ensuring that there is no violence. The city is controlled by radio (eight sending and receiving stations) and at the least skirmish or incident the unions can rapidly intervene to put things in their place.

All alcohol outlets are closed. Only small grocery stores are open, the big ones having been warned not to open their doors. They were only allowed to do so yesterday afternoon when the small establishments began to run short of essential items.

In the downtown area, there was a street dance all afternoon and evening, yesterday, with various bands. The union announces moreover that the city council is collaborating completely with the workers: a telegram has been sent to Bourassa demanding the withdrawal of Bill 19 and amnesty for all those sentenced.

May 31, 1947
ST. PAUL, May 31 - Support for a national 24-hour protest strike and the building of a labor party to fight the antilabor offensive has been voted by the Executive Board of Local 209, a railroad local of the AFL Sheet Metal Workers International Association.

Denouncing the Taft-Hartley Bill as a measure to "put the whole labor movement in a worse straitjacket than the Railway Labor Act," the Local 209 Bulletin declares that a general protest strike is the only effective answer to the Wall Street-sponsored measure. Big Business is playing its hand for all it is worth. We must do the same.

"Since all the methods we have used so far have failed, we must now use our power - the strike weapon.

"Therefore, Local 209 urges all railroad unions to participate in the call for a 24-hour work stoppage. Local 209 further calls for the building of a Labor Party to stop this political conspiracy against us."  
 
 
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