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THE FISHERMAN
December 16, 1952
IfieTiTherman
Representing the Organized Fishermen and Shoreworkers of British Qplumbia
Published Every Tuesday Except the Last Tuesday of Each Month by The Fisherman Publishing Society, 301 Powell Street, Vancouver, B.C. G. NORTH—Editor Copies Printed This Issue: 9,200 Authorized as Second-Class Mall by Post Office Department, Ottawa
Arbitrate Or Negotiate, Let's Hear All The Facts
Arbitration! The herring fishermen and tendermen have requested it. The Fisheries Association opposes it. The Provincial Government ponders the question—should it be
# granted? ?
Arbitration! According to the dictionary "to arbitrate" means "to settle a dispute, as an umpire." Under the Fisheries Act there would be three men appointed to settle the current herring dispute. One would likely be nominated by the Union, one by the Fisheries Association, and the Chairman would be appointed by the government.
What is there to fear from arbitration as a means of settling a dispute? The fear of trade unionists generally is that the arbitration decision will not be based on the facts but will be determined by other considerations. Any man, in today's society, who decides an issue between employer and employee, will find it extremely difficult to be completely objective. More often than not his recommendation will be influenced by his connections, social and otherwise, with the
• employers' groups in society. Very rarely do present governments appoint arbitrators from the ranks of the workers.
Only possible fear of the Fisheries Association cannot be that an award would treat them unjustly. Nor can they believe that arbitration would force them to pay a price for labor that meant the companies would lose money by operating. They must fear the possible exposure of facts concerning past and present operations. In short, they fear the effect the strong light of day might have on their case for cuts, cuts, and more cuts.
It might be difficult to prove, for example, that the amount of herring oil available from a ton of green herring declines steadily from October 21 to November 16, or from November 17 to November 21, etc., etc." It would undoubtedly be many times as hard to prove that from November 1 to December 19 a price of $9.37 xk per ton would bring a small profit, but that after January 1 to the end of the season the same price would mean a loss. It would be next to impossible to prove that if the operators got the fish landed at the plant for nothing, they could still lose money, yet one of the operators blandly stated before the Minister of Fisheries that such had happened.
It might be hard to justify reductions of 27 to 38 percent in rates of pay to the men who do the hard, dangerous work of catching and transporting, the herring. After all, a ton of herring yields approximately 360 pounds of meal—which is now quoted at $158.50 per ton (plus bags). This brings a return of approximately $28.53 per ton of green fish and is more than was received last year. A ton of herring produces about 153 pounds of oil—presently selling for 6y4c (subject to production, that is), thus adding about $10.32 to the returns. Together, the oil and meal returns come to about $38.85 per ton.
Last year oil and meal returns came to approximately S45.78. The drop in market value is therefore approximately $6.93 per green ton or about 15 percent. Why does a 15 percent reduction in sales value require a 33% percent reduction in labor rates plus a further decrease in services? That question might be hard to ansioer.
Where do the solubles go in the herring operations? This is a good question. We hear very little about other returns from the herring operation. Yet we do have some new equipment in our reduction plants for extracting these solubles—or "stickwater" as it is called. These solubles find a firm market at five cents per pound. Formerly, these
See ARBITRATE OR NEGOTIATE—Page 6
By ZERO TIDE
^HRISTMAS is an awful time to talk about saving, but
^—' did you know that Canada's last issue of Canada Savings
Bonds were printed in the United States? I guess fishermen
weren't among 1952 bond buyers 'cause bread comes before
bonds or bombs. <—., , , ~-:-: r~
paid back the postage stamp he
borrowed last spring (it took him 10 minutes before he got his speech back) he told us he just hit town last Wednesday. He was campman at Queen's Cove on the West Coast with his good wife Edith who also came to Vancouver with the old man. Since they've sold the ranch at Owen Bay and are now without a home, they figure on making Vancouver their H.Q. for the next few months. During this brief conversation, Butch ran thru three nickel bags of peanuts (15 minutes) sc we said goodbye. Say. glasses are a great invention as an eye protection against peanut munchers.
CHRISTMAS MESSAGE
"An H-bomb 1,000 times more potent than an A-bomb . . . would destroy totally an area of almost 315 square miles and set major fires and inflict fatal burns over 432 square miles . . . wipe out Philadelphia and Camden in a single flash of terrifying blast." That comes from the Philadelphia Enquirer and we're sure it will gladden the hearts of all to know that Christmas, 1952, records such a progressive scientific discovery— The Prince of Peace must smile.
In Nanaimo last week, met a fisherman figuring on going into herring (he has a job on a Victoria boat). This fellow was a very pleasant sort, hot yet a member of the UFAWU, but very pleasant nonetheless. He had just come from Vancouver and while at Campbell Avenue had been told the price offered for herring was $8.80 a ton? or some such figure, and he couldn't figure out why fishing wasn't going on. It took Union president Reg Payne and Local secretary Charlie Schule some time before he understood the true situation.
What hurts in cases like this, where a man knows actually nothing about the situation, is that he heads for Campbell Avenue, or some such spot, to get his "facts." The Union hall is closer to the CPR and to the truth of what goes on. Rumors are spread by knaves and fools.
Jimmy Broadhurst, former salesman-driver for the Fishermen's Coop Association in Victoria, has moved to Nanaimo and is still carrying on as a salesman. He's on his own but handles Co-op pror ducts since the Victoria plant closed down last month.
Bill Harris from Namu, gillnetter "Gem" is a recent arrival in Vancouver. Bill says he will stay in the city till after the New Year.
Mike Makow of Victoria, an expert fishworker at B.C. Packers, reports that he has a new son but the report was given under conditions making it a real test of memory. I do know the baby weighed 5 pounds, 15 ounces but the date of birth I qan't remember. Anyway, if the lad lives up to half of what Mike says about him, he's gonna give that fellow Emil Zatopek a tough run at the next Olympics.
Pete Jensen, troller "Farris" is a recent arrival from the West Coast.
Mr. and Mrs. d. Stevenson, Vancouver, troller "Tyee," send greetings for a-Merry Xmas and Prosperous New Year to all their friends in Prince Rupert and District.
Spotted Harold Malyea slinking around a skidroad corner but he didn't quite get away so after he
Tommy Graham, troller "C-Ten" and Tom Rogers, troller, want to wish their friends at Deep Bay and Courtenay a Merry Christmas and the very best for the coming year. * * *
Bob Merkle, troller "Lero," sends his greetings to Walter Larsen of Bella Bella and Charlie Woods of
Namu. He wishes them a very
"First - will I have to pay any tax on gifts?''
COPYRIGHT 1932 CARTOONS• OF-THE-MONTH
TWO FROM KLEMTU These two members of the United Fishermen and' Allied Workers Union employed ,at Klemtu this past season, are Violet Neasloss on the left, and Mary Anne Mason.
Merry Xmas and a prosperous New Year.
L. Savolainen, troller "Tele-mark," from Pender Harbor, was a visitor to the city last week.
I|l :j: *
Ernie Wright of Prince Rupert, dropped in to the office the other night and asked Zero Tide if he'd send along greetings for a Merry Xmas and a Prosperous New Year to his friends .in Massett. Special greetings go to his sister Pauline Dudoward «f Port Simpson, also his aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. W. Weaver of Vancouver.
Bert Petras, old timer in the Shore section of the UFAWU, came :o town last week from Kemano, vhere he has been working for iome time now. We toasted Bert's return, thanks to Bert's generosity, jlad to see you back in town.
One man was burned, and a gill-letter split apart at the bows when explosion, followed by fire and a second explosion, took place aboard the 34-foot "Margaret Joan," at Kanata Marine Ways, foot of Broughton, last week.
Mechanic Ernie Carlson was treated at St. Paul's Hospital.
Ernie Intrieri, shipwright at the yard,; Bill Disney, shipwright; John Rowe, mechanic, were getting the boat on the ways after the first minor explosion."
Rowe had been blown out of the engine room by this explosion, but not injured. -
Carlson went aboard and into the engine room to inspect the engine when the whole place burst into flames and there was another explosion.
The second fire took hold and landside fire equipment had to use chemicals and hose. The fireboat arrived bu» was not used. The "Margaret Joan" canted over
to her starboard side during the fire and was partly submerged. Engine-room and deck housing were gutted.
Here's a joke taken from the Saskatchewan Commonwealth:
In one of the large Los Angeles department stores a portly dowager, panting Pekinese under her arm, paused at the drinking fountain flanking the elevators. The elevator starter stopped in amazement—the lady was giving her pet a drink.
"Madam," he said, "Please! The fountains are placed here for our patrons."
"Really?" she asked, putting down her dog. "I'm so sorry." And she sounded sincerely contrite as she explained: "I thought they were for the employees!" > * _ * This Christmas, do not think only of the present, give a thought to the future also.
Let's give more thought to wiping out poverty, insecurity, and all the other unnecessary human miseries, and less thought to wiping out our neighbors, whatever their creed or color may be.
May this and every future Christmas be commemorated in a world at peace.
Harry Rankin
BARRISTER and SOLICITOR •
Income Tax
Mcdonald & co.
Public Accountants—Auditors Offices—217-8 Ford Bldg.
193 E. PAc. 7750
Hastings St. Vancouver, B.C. j
We Wait 6j*l Memhesil and tf-iiendl
Hal Christenson —Manager
A Very Merry Christmas
arid the Best of Fishing in 1953
Fred Robinson
Trudi Stewart
Pacific Coast Fishermen's
MUTUAL MARINE INSURANCE COMPANY
Mezzanine Floor—193 E. Hastings St., Vancouver 4, B.C
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