BOOK REVIEW — Efforts of union organizer King recalled

Red Bait!:

Struggles of a Mine Mill Local

By Al King, with Kate Braid

Kingbird Publishing

8096 Elliott Street

Vancouver, B.C. V5S 2P2

Red Bait!, written by Al King with the help of his editor and “vulgarity expunger” Kate Braid, is no literary masterpiece — but it is an intriguing memoir of one man’s struggle to improve working conditions at Consolidated Mining’s (now Cominco’s) smelter in Trail, B.C.

The book chronicles the achievements of the labor movement, particularly in the area of health and safety, and examines the deep divisions caused by the union raids of the 1950s and ’60s. It’s packed with colorful anecdotes, some of which poke fun at management, while others take aim at pompous politicians. Not much is sacred, and this irreverent tone makes for a generally lively read.

Al King became a communist as a young man and remained loyal to the ideals of the party, even during the “red scare” of the post-war years. He was thrilled when, in the 1950s, he was provided an opportunity to visit Russia’s collective farms and the tomb of labor hero “Big Bill” Haywood. However, he acknowledges in his book that he never considered himself a good communist. “I used to balk at certain things,” he writes. “I hate regimentation, and, for most of my life as a left-winger and socialist, I’ve detested most, if not all, of the strictures imposed by authoritarian figures. I eventually joined the NDP [New Democratic Party], but I’m no better as a left-leaning NDPer; some of the things the present so-called Socialist party does appall me.”

The irony of his trip to the Soviet Union is that the feisty King wouldn’t have lasted two seconds as a citizen of that country — the gulags were full of souls like him. But here in Canada he thrived and prospered, made the workplace safer, contributed to his community, and inspired those who believe in social justice.