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Representing the Organized Fishermen of British Columbia
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VOL. IV. No. 14.
(152)
VANCOUVER, B.C., TUESDAY, MARCH 10, 1942
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PLAN!
Advocates Affirmative Vote In Coming Plebiscite
A. A. McLeod, editor of the Canadian Tribune, delivered one of the most constructive speeches heard for a long time in Vancouver, when he spoke to a crowded Burrard Hall on the question of the Plebiscite and National Unity
A vote against the plebiscite, de clared the speaker, would be playing'directly into the hands of the Axis. An affirmative vote will be the basis on which national unity can ,and must, be built if Canada is to play a complete role in the destruction of fascism. Any excuse brought forward to oppose the plebiscite is sabotaging the establishment of national unity so that an all-out war effort can be brought to its highest level. Whether the excuse be that conscription of wealth must come first, or arguments by people who are more red than the rose, the final effect is the same, that is, only a split in the Canadian people and disunity. The Soviet Union in becoming an ally made no reserves of any kind, and the Russian people and their leaders can certainly be taken as an example of national unity in their heroic and successful struggle against the German forces of destruction.
The speaker pointed out that we can all certainly point with pride to the Soviet Union for the splendid work they have done, but, he stated, we should also be ashamed because we here in Canada have done very little in comparison to the effort and sacrifices made by the Russian people. He compared our attitude with the bleachers in a ball game enthusiastically cheering the players while actually not participating in the game.
By the people becoming more and more directly involved in the war through a system of selective recruiting, and the Government and industry taking labor as a full partner in the production field, final victory can be assured. Prejudices and self-interest are secondary matters \in this terrific struggle of the United Nations against Hitler-Germany and sattelites. China, Mr. McLeod stated, is one of the finest examples of national unity, in spite of the many injustices committed by Chang-Kai-Shek, as for example, the shooting of thousands of soldiers of the 8th Route Army. Yet this army has consolidated its position and continues to help and work with General Chang-Kai-Shek.
Mr. McLeod blasted the daily press for their utterly foolish use of dramatic headlines. As the speaker said, Goebbels must sometimes feel quite satisfied with the results of his propaganda. In many instances the daily press seem to
Fish Prices
Vancouver:
Following wholesale fish priced obtained at Campbell Avenue Dock at Vancouver, on March 9:
White Spring Salmon............9c lb.
Red Spring Salmon.______.....17c lb.
Flounders .......____........_____2^c lb.
Soles .........______Xarge 6c, Small 3c
Grey Cod ............................._____3c lb.
Ling Cod  (live)___________£%-10c lb.
Dogfish Livers ________________13%c lb.
Grey Cod Livers .................4c lb.
Ling Cod Livers.............______1.00 lb.
Skate Livers ...........______________4c lb.
Sonpfln Livers .................$4.00 lb.
Seattle:
Seattle fish prices for Monday, March 9, are as follows: Crabs, large ................._...$2.25 doz.
Small .....________......________75c doz.
Dogfish Livers ____________.....28c lb.
Ling Cod Livers ....._ ...65c-$1.00 lb.
Soupfin Shark Livers_______$5.00 lb.
Salmon, Silver:
Large ..........________________-24c lb.
Small .......................-.............22c lb.
White ...............-......—.......18c lb.
glorify in defining the wonderful strategy of the enemy and suggesting before hand what new cities the murderous gangs of the Axis powers are most likely to plunder next. But there is no constructive proposals in the daily press as to how to rally the peoples of the United nations to stop and break the enemy. Such a negative attitude is dangerous and subversive in its effect upon the public morale. It is the duty of our daily press to take the initiative in bringing forward concrete con structive plans and give- leadership to the wide masses of the people
Tackling the question of "conscription of wealth" the speaker declared this term to be ambiguous and misleading, and totally incor rect at the present time. If not applied completely it would entail untold difficulties and delay the development of the war effort, and to apply it completely would mean establishment of socialism, which is premature and not in line with present conditions and circumstances. The immediate issue in the present struggle is the winning of the war and not the establishment of socialism in Canada.
Pre-Convention Discussions
The Battle of Production
The editor urges all Union members to consider the Union's brief and proposed production plan and to send in their comments for publication and raise questions that can be dealt with in later articles.
By W. Gateman
See "PLEBISCITE" (Continued on Page 2)
US Fishermen Ask to Protect Coastline
Prompt integration of the fishing fleet into coastal defense in order to combine maximum production of food fish with patrol duty is urged by the International Fishermen and Allied Workers of her | America, after a series of conferences with army and navy officials at Washington, D.C.
Shelling of the California coast by an enemy submarine demonstrates the practical advantage of the patrol plan advanced by the union for more vigilant patrol of waters close to their shores.
The California fishing fleet, for example, comprises over 1000 ves- /Japan wuld oot attack the U.S.A., sels, divided into two main groups: I but today she has done botn" With (1)  Purse seiners of the trawler | the fal1 of slngapore,  ^ Dutch
East  Indies   including Java, the
In last week's edition, The Fisherman introduced this column to facilitate discussion and ensure a full understanding of a proposed production plan, jointly submitted by the United Fishermen's Union and the United Fish Cannery and Reduction Plant Workers' Union.
I wish to express my views on this all-important question, but before discussing the proposals as set out in the joint production plan I wish to say a few words on the war, which is the primary reason the production plan was submitted. We all understand that to prosecute a total war requires the 100 per cent support of all the people, and if the people are to give 100 per cent support to the war they must understand what
issues are at stake.
It may still be today that some people do not as yet realize the character of the war and thus do not realize their responsibility toward winning the war. Fascist Germany and her sattelite partners have launched a series of wars of conquest. She has conquered Europe, she has attacked Britain, the U.S.S.R., and has declared war on the United States of America. Surely it must be clear to us all that the Axis powers are bent on the conquest of the entire world. In the conquered countries of Europe, Germany has enslaved the peoples to her own economic and military needs. In those countries she rules with an iron hand, she has destroyed every vestige of freedom and democratic rights of the people and has smashed every trade union and fraternal organization that ever existed. If the Axis powers are not defeated we in Canada can prepare ourselves for similar treatment. Is it not clear then, that we are involved in a just war, a war of national independence, and against enslavement? As trade unionists and as people interested in the advancement of civilization, we must do our utmost towards the defeat of the Axis powers.
In the past there may be some who have been imbued with a false sense of security because of Canada's distance from the actual battle-grounds. Yesterday it was that Japan would not declare war on Britain. Yesterday it was that
dustry to survey the present production methods with the view of eliminating all waste, overlapping and inefficiency. Such a board would guarantee the maximum degree of co-operation and understanding between management and labor, both partners would be equally acquainted with government requirements and government restrictions.
What do we mean by inefficiency and waste? Let us take this season's herring pack for a concrete example. No one can deny that many hundreds of tons of herring were run through reduction plants because the canneries could not handle the volume of fish caught, yet many canneries were only operating one shift per day. And it can not be denied that competition between the companies to obtain as large a part as possible of certain quotas resulted in overloading. It is also true that the competition among fishermen had a like effect.
Our production program asks that the operators and unions be asked to open negotiations on collective bargaining agreements covering the entire fishing, canning and reduction plant operations for the 1942 season. Again we can refer to the past salmon and herring season. Many key men, machine  men,   etc.,  left the
Sointula
Resolutions
Constructive
The Union office has received the first resolutions for the convention from the Sointula Branch.
The wide coverage of the resolutions show clearly that our members in Sointula are on their toes in the matter of improving the work of the Union and seeing that the major questions of these critical times come before the annual convention.
Their resolutions cover the proposed Production Board, for the industry, enforcement of all halibut' rules by union members, equality of salmon prices regardless of gear, a proposal to regulate fishing time in Johnstone Straits, to apply to gillnetters and seiners in that area, and a strong resolution for the building of the gillnet section of the Union.
The action of Sointula should be an incentive to all fishermen-members of the Union to put their ideas on paper and send it in to the secretary before the convention opens on March 23.
Ferry Men Reject Offer Bonus Alone
See "PRODUCTION"
(Continued on Page Two)
Deck hands and firemen of the North Vancouver Ferries, members of the Inlandboatmen's Union, have unanimously rejected an offer by Commissioner G. N. Vance of a cost-of-living bonus alone. The men point out that their wages are still considerably below earlier levels, and feel justified in asking that at least part of their previous wage cuts be restored.
The ferry employees are therefore demanding that the government immediately set up the Federal Board of Conciliation and Investigation which they applied for last December.
Mr. J. M. Smith, secretary of the Inlandboatmen's Union, advised the press that almost all of the fishing men concerned are married men with families. "In view of the j greatly increased number of passengers   and  vehicles transported
Compensation To Fishermen Lost Effects
Order-in-council of November 10, 139, PC. 3358, has been amended, effective from that date, to provide for revision of the Compensation to Seamen (War Damage to Effects) Regulations, 1939, by the substitution for the Schedule of Compensation for Loss of Personal Effects through War Perils at Sea, included therein, of the revised schedule of compensation set out herein.
Fishing Boats and Sailing Vessels.
(a) Fishing boats and vessels of 60 registered tons and over and foreign-going sailing vessels:
1. Master .................$200
2. Mate or Engineer ...... 100
3. All   other   members of crew .......'........... 70
(b) All other fishing boats and home trade, inland and minor waters sailing vessels:
1. Master .................$125
2. All   other   members of crew .................. 70
Pilot Boats and Lightships.
1. Master .....................$125
2. All other members of crew 70 The   provisions   of   the Canada
Shipping Act, and regulations made thereunder will determine the class of vessel, the nature of the trade in which the vessel is engaged and the status of the members of the crew. Masters, officers and ratings of Canadian Government steamships, other than pilot boats and lightships, will come under "All other Trades."
Unity for Victory
First "Unity for Victory" meeting for civilian defense was held February 24 in Seattle. Representatives of AFL, CIO and independent organizations with fishermen's delegates were present and laid plans for future work.
and the increase in ferry revenues during the past year, I feel that their present low wages should certainly be adjusted." Mr. Smith also stated that the Inlandboatmen's Union was retaining the assistance of Mr. Bert Marcuse, director of the Pacific Coast Labor Bureau for the pending arbitration.
type, averaging between 65 and 100 ! feet in length; (2) Small power boats averaging between 35 and 60 feet in length. Tuna clippers are not included in the patrol plan because they do not fish in California waters.
While main concentrations of the fleet operate out of San Pedro, Monterey and San Francisco, the fleet also operates out of the ports of San Diego, Newport, San Pedro, Santa Monica, Fort Bragg, Eureqa and Crescent City.
All Japanese and other enemy aliens have now been eliminated from the fleet under government direction. Approximately 3000 trained fishermen whose loyalty is unquestioned are now available. They are practical, all-around seamen. They are trained observers, particularly at night. They have an extensive and minute knowledge of coastal waters. They are rugged, resourceful and dependable.
Sointula Elect Delegates
At a meeting of the UFFU branch in Sointula on March 1, delegates were elected to the coming Annual Convention of the Union. Members elected were, Walter Nelson and Otto Luck.
road is now open for a direct attack upon Australia. It may well be that tomorrow Alaska and our own British Columbia coast will be the target of Japanese bombs and our waters infested with undersea craft. The danger is real and we must face realities.
Last week's article on pre-con-vention discussions rightfully declared that the military battle fronts against the Axis are indivisible, and that the battle fronts of production are indivisible within themselves and inseparable from the military battle fronts. Reviewing the war to date it is evident that the forces that will win the war will be those capable of pr3-ducing the greatest amount of materials and necessities of war. The Allied countries have the potentialities but they need to be fully marshalled.
It is with this intention that our production program was submitted. Just what does our program mean? It proposes the immediate establishment of a joint production board composed of representatives of workers, management and government. Why do we propose such a board? Because on such a board could be drawn the best brains in the fishing in-
Regular Management-Labor Meetings Will Increase Production, Says Wilkie
LOS ANGELES.—"It is unthinkable that thousands of workers, thrown together in modern industry, should be deprived of an orderly, organized means of collective representation."
This is what Wendell Willkie told CIO representatives at a conference held in the Biltmore Hotel during his recent trip to Los Angels. The CIO leaders were his invited guests, called in by the Republican party leader to discuss problems of war production fend other questions of national defense.
Union leaders specifically pointed
attitude  of  its  owner,   the great
General Motors Corp.
"In certain large corporations, as in other walks of life, there are those who fall to recognize modern industrial relations or social changes as they now exist," the Republican party leader said.
INCREASE POSSIBLE.
Willkie declared that production in Los Angeles county can be increased 40, 50 or 60 per cent if there is a meeting of management-labor minds.
"Fundamentally," said Willkie, "your position is correct both in
to refusal of North American war and in Peace." He praised the Aviation and several large rubber Congress  of Industrial Organiza-
companies to allow the unions to collect funds officially for the current Red Cross drive. PRODUCTION REDUCED.
Such attitudes of management, Willkie was told by CIO representatives, are resulting in reduced production which is now giving government representatives gray hairs.
Professing ignorance of the local concern, Willkie declared that any refusal of the part of North American to co-operate with organized labor merely reflected the i Wagner Act.
tions as a highly responsible body which has shown itself eager to avoid strikes and to assume a leading role in prosecution of the war.
"Groups which take such responsible leadership in wartime have the right to demand a leading role in determining conditions afterward," he said.
He pointed out that he had opposed the Smith bill, outlawing strikes, as a piece of oppressive legislation, designed to wreck the
DOESN'T FIND APATHY.
Willkie declared that he found the American people emotionally stirred by the Japanese attack and Fascism's advance.
"Any outward appearance of apathy," he declared, "comes from the American dislike of wearing our feelings on our sleeves.
"In times like these," he said, "labor is at a decided disadvantage because the general public, so earnestly desirous of doing everything to produce victory, does not stop to learn all the facts when a labor controversy takes place.
"Management, in the privacy of panelled offices, can take actions against labor which thwart production without incurring public blame. Even when the employer is to blame, all the public sees is the walkout of thousands of men, and it blames labor purely by its surface acts."
'PRESERVE YOUR GAINS'
He cautioned that unions must take every step possible to preserve the social gains made in the past 15 years, warning that "the enemies of labor would seize every opportunity to steal those gains away."    —Labor Herald.