April 5, 1955
THE FISHERMAN
Page 5
Member Cleared Of 'Scab' Charge
An . apology has been tendered on behalf of the UFAWU by general organiser Harold Wilcox to a fi herman charged with scabbing in the tendermen's strike when there apparently was insufficient evidence to have him so charged.
The case involved Eld Akselson on the "Sylvia Ar" who wrote a letter of explanation in the October 5 edition of The Fisherman and appeared March 18 before the New Westminster Local.
Following Is the statement by E. Akselson, 926 12th Street, New Westminster, owner of the "Sylvia A," made last year:
"My name has 'been issued on the scab list. I want to protest strongly against this because there is no justification for the listing.
"During the whole period of the strike, my boat was tied up at the Eighth Street Wharf next to~lhe "Willie No. 2" belonging to A. M. Johannsen. The only occasion when the boat was away from the Wharf was for a period of about half an hour toward the end of the strike
"I had not washed the net when the strike, started, thinking that it would not last long and I realised that to preserve the net should wa;h it. Dick Poirier, young lad who is working with A. M. Johannsen, agreed to go out with me and help me. I put the net on the hatch before I left harbor and the lad fed the net as I was travelling to wash it;' which took us approximately half an hour. •
"1 understood there were pickets at the Wharf when I left and when I returned. I did not see them myself but I was told this later. However, in view of my action there was nothing that I was worried about since I was not doing anything contrary to se strikers.
"I would like my name to be taken off the list immediately and an explanation to be given in the paper to the effect that there was no justification for my name having been on the list."
Signed: E. AKSELSON We wish to confirm the truthfulness of this statement.
Signed: A. M. JOHANNSEN,
Box 428, N.W. Signed: DICK POIRIER,
1453 Fellon, N.W. September 20, 1954.
let's Keep United' Plea Of Native Brotherhood
"Let's keep up the good work, keep united and stand side by side" . . . Bob Clifton, president of the Native Brotherhood
o'.: B.C. told delegates attending the eleventh annual convention of the United Fishermen and Allied Workers Union last week.
In a brief address, president Clifton brought greetings to the Union convention and wished delegates success in their work.
Looking back to the time the fishermen were divided . into various groups and naming them, Mr. Clifton said thai- "When we used to go out to the fishing grounds, we never knew the price." Now, however, he said, "We have a round-table conference of the industry in price negotiations and we sit side by side with no ill feelings among ourselves."
ROBERT CLIFTON Native Brotherhood president
Concluding, president Clifton declared "Let's keep up the good work, keep united, and stand side by side."
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3
WOMEN'S AUXILIARY
ment backed its studies with | W.A.'s is the work they can do in action along these lines. I the community by supporting is-
Delegates were very interested : sues being taken up by other com-in having details regarding the' munity groups, and in Obtaining Union's Salmon Welfare Fund andwider community support for the the Tendermen and Herring Wei- campaigns of the Union, bringing fare plans explained to them, by wider recognition of fishermen's Ted Foort and Tom Parkin. They problems, agreed to help inform more fisher- um0N PRAISED The Convention men's families of the provisions j voted a hearty
of the Funds, which^haje^been'thanks ^ tne Union for its
practical assistance and cooperation during the past year particu-MORE WA's The delegates whovj. with regard to organisation
discussed building ' . . ... \\
and' improving our Auxiliaries work- The delegates dealt w. agree that it is our continued aim j 21 resolutions 0n a wide variety of to have a functioning Auxiliary t subjects, which are of vital con-alongside each Local of the Union, j cern t0 U3 ani to which we believe
won for them struggles.
bv hard Union
With seven established Auxiliaries, at Vancouver, Ladner, Fort Langley, Albion, New Westminster, Nanaimo and Prince Rupert, and three areas attempting to get one going now, Steveston, Campbell River and Sooke, there are still 19 Locals where there has as
our Union should give serious consideration and support.
One new measure taken was the idea of having a "newsletter,"" which would be sent our every three months, giving the highlights of activities of the various
Wicks Praises New Provincial Voluntary Compensation Plan
Provincial minister of labor Lyle Wicks devoted the main part of an address to UFAWU convention delegates last Thursday morning to expla ining the provisions under which "independent" fishermen will be covered by compensation under a plan described by him as a "milestone in the lives of the fishermen of British Columbia."
Mr. Wicks in his speech to the
convention, declared in part as follows:
WANT on behalf of the government and province of British Columbia from the people of this province to bring to you our best wishes for your continued success and may you have many years of success and prosperity, not only in Convention but in your deliberation in the future and in your activities in the future. I must say I appreciated the applause this morning that greeted my arrival on this platform. One never knows when going into a lahor convention just how one is going to be greeted. It can either be jeers, cheers, silence or applause. Generally, the applause is very, very mild. However, I should think you are quite sincere in what happened this morning. You are sincere in extending to the minister of the government who is with you this morning the proper amenities that go with that office, for which I want to express my appreciation.
MILESTONE I believe that as time goes by you are going to recognise the year 1955 as a milestone in the lives of the fishermen of British Columbia. Certain it is that if the fishermen in the province of British Columbia did not recognise as such, it is safe to say that the fishermen of other parts of Canada, North America and other parts of the world will regard it as such because we have had historic events in the province during this year. This year will indeed be a hallmark for fishermen because we have stepped out into a new field in which we are leaders in* all of the rest of the world.
That might seem like a little bit of boasting; I don't think it is such a boasting at ali. I think it is a compliment to the activity of your own organisation who have for at least the last 13 years actively and continuously worked toward the end that your members, and' that the families of your members could receive some kind of adequate protection in case of death or accident involved during the course of the work in which you are engaged. If there is any boasting, it is only as a
LYLE WICKS
when we start out on a project do we achieve that which we set out to do but as we progress, as time goes along, as the ordinary course of evolution moves us towards the conclusion, the conclusion seldom, if ever, takes place in the way which we had thought it would.
LONG CAMPAIGN You have long sought through your organisation protection for your families and yourselves in case of accident during the course of your work for those groups not presently covered under the Workmen's Compensation Act and you have been successful in that endeavor and if I understand correctly the viewpoint as expressed by your officials and by your delegates from time to time and from the various brief?, you were concerned primarily with protection, you were concerned primarily with coverage.
You were not too concerned, as I understand the matter, about the cost, providing it was reasonable because it is recognised and repeated to me many times that ultimately .the cost would come out of the sale of the fish. I think that point i; recognised on all sides. So there can be no argument, there can be no difference of opinion as to where the cost
, W.A.'s, news of Union develop-■yet been no action taken-to form I ments evervwhere. It is hoped this thing possible, an Auxiliary. We a1 gain ask those this win hel overcome the diffi- while there might be some bit-brothers attending this Union^Con- culties of distance and lack of terness and just a trifle of misun
contact between the groups, be-
tribute to those officials 6f your, will come fmm. It will come u.lti. own organisation who have made mately from the saie 0f fish.
vention to take back to your Local
the request of the Auxiliary that, t^.een Council meetings and Conventions, helping to coordinate
On the basis of this, he was giv- assistance be given the women to en a partial clearance at the time, have an Auxiliary set up in your ac(.ivities and ojve .uacestions for
But the Local meeting last area, month heard Ed Akselson's case, I We have been grateful in the decided there was no evidence to pa-st to a number of Locals which uphold the charge, and voted to have given very practical assist-make a public apology clearing ance to the Auxiliarv, in the form him from any wrong-doing and, „f donations of funds to get them regretting any inconvenience started.. Often this is not enough which may have occurred. I to get it going, however. If Union
It was pointed out, however, ] members would take the trouble that Akselson was not placed on to discuss Union issues with their the "scab list" by the New West- wives, taking it from the angle minster Local but by members of of what the women could do to another Local. help, we are sure' there would
"We trust this will clear the j not be much difficulty in getting
matter up and ask all members of the Union to note the change and judge themselves accordingly," declares Harold Wilcox, who is also president of the New Westminster Local.
Bill Lasko Cleared, Admits Strike Error
Steveston Local of the United Fishermen and Allied Workers Union has announced removal of William Lasko from the Union "scab list" issued during the salmon tendermen's strike.
In a statement to The Fisherman, secretary Alex Eyton states that "Bill has admitted his mistake and requested reinstatement into the Union. He accepted the penalty imposed by our Local last fall on fishermen in the area similarly charged."
The cleared fisherman is, owner of the gillnetter "Sea Wolf."
it going.
WHAT WE DO Very often, it is just a question of convincing the women that there IS a way they can help, and encouraging them to get together and take action. We believe the Women's Auxiliaries have a very valuable role to play, and can further assist the Union in its work, in taking up questions which arise in the daily work of the Union, by supporting measures of concern to the many women shore-workers, for instance, and also as regards work with the Native Brotherhood and Sisterhood.
An Auxiliary helps to build the social life of the Local, thereby helping to maintain the interest of its members, bringing friendlier relations between people who are sometimes widely - scattered and thus helping to weld the people of the industry together.
Anotlter important role of the
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action.
The women will continue to send in news reports to The Fisherman and have been grateful to the paper and its editor, George North for cooperation and assistance in the past. We hope to make greater use of it in future.
We thank you for the opportunity to present this report to your Convention, and know you will give it your serious attention and consideration, not only here today, but also in your Locals everywhere, when the Convention reports are given to your members.
We look forward to the day when we can report 29 Union Locals, 29 Auxiliaries. You can help us attain that objective.
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derstanding, and perhaps a little bit of sadness and perhaps some complaint that ail was not achieved that should be achieved, I want to say this that very seldom
FREE ENTERPRISE On that basis, those of you who see fit to'become enterprises who see fit to become part of a venture and as such I believe you have that right and should have that right and being a government
that' su-^scribes to the principle of free enterprise that right will continue because we believe that is the basis upon which a democracy can continue ana can survive. . . .
.You should have the right to determine whether you are going to work on a salary or whether you are going to take a risk and make perhaps what we sometimes call a killing. i
We must not abrogate that principle and we do not intend, to . . . So there are many things involved in arriving at something which is workable and satisfactory to all concerned.
PLAN'S PRINCIPLES We believe we have
arrived at that point with the formula we have presented to you. I have no doubt that you are familiar with that plan now. . . . if you are genuinely concerned and your members are genuinely concerned with the welfare of your own familisc, then you will see fit to secure orotection under the Workmen's Compensation Act as an independent operator at the cost that you see fit to so charge, bearing in mind that the minimum cost that for all the benefits of the Act you can receive protection for three months for a minimum of $6 and I don't think there is any man or woman who might be engaged in this business, any man can decline with good grace in his heart and with sincerity to accept that sort of a proposition.
BENEFITS CITED To me it is an
incredible situation. I know of no insurance, I'd like to get it myself, where one can receive the kind of benefits which might cost an accident fund $60,000 with a return for as little as six dollars. An accident fund which just for a pension alone might cost $60,000 in addition, to the benefit which might be given to the widows, widow, and there might be widows too if it is a multiple disaster, and the children that are left behind — $75 a month to the widow, $25 to each child, in some cases $27.50 and in others S30 but the, bulk of dependents receive $25.
Your minimum compensation will be $25 a week unless the percentage which is 75 percent of your earnings happens to go below $25 in which case vou would receive 100 percent of your earnings. I don't think any of you are going to fall intq that category.
Already we have received applications, and I want to say this that they are at the maximum
B.C. Minister of Labor See WICKS—Page 8
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