Page Two
THE FISHERMAN
December 16, 1941
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EDITORIALS
THE
FISHERMAN
FEATURES
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THE
FISHERMAN the march of labor
Published Every Tuesday by The Fisherman Publishing Society at 164 East Hastings Street, Vancouver, B.C. Telephone MArine 1829.
Editor - - JOHN MEIRTE
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Joint Production Board Needed In War Industry
With the spreading of the war into the Pacific, the coast of B.C. has become over-night a part of the new front in the conflict between democracy and fascism the world over. As has been frequently pointed out before, organized labor and the working masses, stand to lose more should the fascist forces be triumphant than any other class or group of people.
Quite naturally organized labor in all the democracies have pledged themselves to support the war effort to the utmost. The marvellous degree of national unity obtained in Great Britain has been due to the inspiration given by leaders of the workers. The British government has wisely accepted them into full partnership in the war effort and has placed labor's representatives in the highest councils of the country.
It seems, however, that the Canadian government does not agree that national unity can be obtained in this manner. President Tom Moore of the Trades and Labor Congress of Canada and President Mosher of the Canadian Congress of Labor, representing hundreds of thousands of organized workers in Canada, have openly condemned the Canadian government for its failure to accept Canadian labor into a full partnership, although officially represented on the National Labor Supplies Council and on the National War Labor Board (not yet named).
P.C. 8253, the Order placing a ceiling on all wages, was introduced by the government without full consultation and agreement with these labor leaders. Trade unionists across the country are now rallying to their support in demanding the repeal of legislation thrust upon the people without their consent and dissention is growing daily. Unless checked, to use Mr. Moore's own words: "The unwillingness of the Federal government to accept the proffered co-operation of organized workers makes it increasingly difficult for them to give effect to a policy of full support in all steps essential to successful prosecution of the war, to the end that freedom, right and justice shall prevail over the Nazi forces of aggres-
sion.
In our own B.C. fishing industry we find a similar situation as exists in other Canadian industries. The United Fishermen's Union has urged on the Pacific coast a Joint Production Board composed of the Federal Department of Fisheries, Operators and fishermen's representatives, to plan a policy of production which would ensure stability, harmony and the greatest efficiency in the distribution of the fishing effort, in order that the needs of the British people for food requirements be produced to our utmost capacity, without any danger to the conservation of our fisheries.
It may be claimed that the fishermen are consulted on matters pertaining to supply. It is true that before negotiating with the British government on the canned salmon prices, the Deputy Minister of Fisheries, Dr. D. B. Finn, did come to the coast and outline the government's proposals to the industry and asked fishermen to submit what they felt to be fair prices for their catch.
It is also true that the Oil Administration Board, through Mrs. Phyllis Turner, did meet representatives of the fishermen to discuss the matter of dogfish oil production, discussions, which from their viewpoint, were entirely unsatisfactory. In the matter of the herring pack, however, the fishermen were completely ignored before any contracts were made. On the whole it can safely be claimed that organized fishermen generally are completely dissatisfied with the present setup.
They too, would like to become partners in Canada's war effort and assist in determining the policy of the industry during wartime. With the probable elimination of the Japanese fishermen from the fishing grounds for the duration and with large numbers of fishermen joining the armed forces such a Joint Production Board as outlined would do much to plan the 1942 fisheries production.
Fishermen will be among the first to suffer should any actual warfare come to our coast. It is no more than right that the government should take them into its confidence in all future operations of our industry.
DERIVED FROM THE SABOT - THE WOODEN SHOE OF FRANCE. WHEN UNORGANIZED FRENCH WORKERS HAD A GRIEVANCE THEY SOMETIMES THREW A SABOT INTO THE MACHINERY. THIS METHOD OF STOPPING PRODUCTION BECAME KNOWN AS SABOTAGE.
THE KNIGHTS OF LABOR WERE FIRST KNOWN AS * THE EIVE STARS' BECAUSE OF THE FIVE ASTERISKS THAT REPRESENTED ITS NAME IN All. PUBLIC NOTICES.
*Clwi BIG SIX,* NEW YORK TYPOGRAPHICAL UNION, HAS A RETIREMENT FUND, A MEMBER MAY RETIRE AFTER 20 YEARS IN THE LOCAL AND RECEIVE A WEEKLY PENSION OF $14.
UNIONISTS! YOU SABOTAGE UNIONISM WHEN YOU BUY NONUNION PRODUCTS. BE SURE YOUR HAT IS UNION -MADE BY SEEING THAT THIS LABEL IS UNDER THE SWEAT BAND /
Pegging Liver Prices
(Continued from Pago 1)
be made with the British Government upon her return to the East, although it is expected any day.
She refused point blank a suggestion put forward that fishermen be allowed to process their own livers in Seattle plants co-operatively and sell the oil to the British Government at the price they were prepared to pay, stating that the* position of the government was that as long as plants existed for processing the livers in Canada, no permission would be given to process livers in the United States. With the outbreak of war in the Pacific and what its reaction among the Japanese dogfish fishermen will bring about in regard to the liver situation is not yet known, but in conclusion it may be stated with some assurance that the price of liver to the fishermen will be pegged on the basis of two price schedules which Mrs. Turner is submitting to the British Food Mission. One is on the basis of 11c per lb. and the other on 13Hc per lb., with Mrs. Turner possibly recommending the adoption of the latter. Contracts will be made up
until May, 1942 and subject to renewal after that date.
In the meantime it is claimed that the government will then have more information and data on the potency value of the livers from the various areas and the amount of production.
After the outbreak of war with Japan the Independent Vessel Owners wired Mrs. Phyllis Turner to find out what the stand of the government would be now, since the Japanese would be barred and a potential supply of dogfish livers cut off.
They also asked that the question of liver prices be again opened for reconsideration.
The following telegram was received in reply:
"Re Tel terms of contract approved yesterday by Wartime Prices and Trade Board and contract being submitted British Food Mission today stop will communicate with you as soon as approval received from British."
(Signed) Mrs. P. G. Turner.
Up to the time of writing no further word has been received here.
CP. Want To Assist In Recruiting Drives
In the mail last week The Fisherman received a copy of a letter sent, according to the covering brief statement, to Premier John Hart and Mayor J. W. Cornett of Vancouver and to all leading newspapers in the province. Signed by Hal Griffin, acting secretary, on behalf of the British Columbia provincial committee of the Communist Party, the letter assured Premier Hart and Mayor Cornett of "full support in all defense measures," and offered the Communist party's assistance "in recruiting both our armed forces and the ARP."
Neither Premier Hart nor Mayor Cornett has as yet made any public mention of this letter, nor have we seen any reference to it in the daily press. We believe, however, that the letter merits an answer because it raises questions which many workers are themselves asking.
"The Communist party, in this national emergency, offers its full assistance in recruiting both for our armed forces and the ARP," Griffin states in his letter. "I personally, and all members of our party are anxious to serve in whatever capacity is judged most useful. Unfortunately, leading members of our party are prevented from serving because the government continues to deny our party the legal status of which it was deprived in June, 1940. Fergus McKean, provincial secretary of the Communist party, is among those held in internment camps, while others of us are threatened with internment should we appear in public to voice our support of the war and work for complete, fully democratic war effort. This, I think you will agree is an anomalous situation and one that should be rectified without delay as detrimental to our war effort."
Elsewhere in his letter, Griffin asserts that "it was the Communist party which, four years ago, first warned that continued supplying of Canadian war materials to Japan must increase the danger of Japanese aggression against our own country, and it was the Communist party which played a leading part in rallying popular demand for an embargo. Similarly the Communist party was the first to expose the extent of Japanese fascist economic penetration in this province and to call for action to halt it. Now that our Pacific coast is in imminent danger of attack, the Communist party, realizing the need for men to serve both in the armed forces and in civilian defense organizations, is calling upon all its members and supporters to answer the call for volunteers."
As we remember, a series of articles written by Griffin and widely published at the time, did much to awaken the people of this province to the danger of Japanese fascism. As a result of the interest these articles aroused, the Pulp and Sulphite Workers Union at Powell River urged Grant MacNeil, then CCF member for North Vancouver, to demand an investigation, and the question was raised in the House of Commons. In his letter, Griffin continues on this question in the new situation brought about by the entry of Japan into the war.
"It is equally vital to our security that stringent action be taken against all Japanese in this province known to have pro-fascist sympathies, without regard for position," he says. "We utterly condemn any incitement to violence against Jap-' anese people here, but knowing the extent of Japanese fascist propaganda and influence among them in the past, we believe it would be folly to underestimate the danger of fifth column activities by a fascist minority, particularly in view of what has happened elsewhere. Precautionary measures such as immobilizing the B.C. Japanese fleet will undoubtedly work hardship upon the majority of Japanese here who support our war effort. They should, however, recognize that in an Allied victory lies their only guarantee of freedom from the intimidation which until now has silenced their opposition to Japanese fascism."
In our opinion these facts necessitate an answer to the letter. Others, we presume, will receive and read it and wonder why people who were among the first to recognize the threat of Japanese aggression and to fight against it are denied the opportunity of serving their country now that the threat has exploded into war. To say the least, it does not seem compatible with a full war effort in which every citizen plays a part.
One Union Vital, Says P.C.F.U. Secretary
To All PCFU Members:
Some of you joined the Fishermen and Cannery Workers' Industrial Union before I did, but I believe we all became members with the one purpose in view, and that was to see "all bona-fide workers within the fishing industry becoming organized into one union."
From that time up to the present day we have organized a great many fishermen but we have failed to hold them in the Union.
There seems to have been a number of reasons for this. Some were as to policy, and some as to dues, and also too many unions.
We kept on trying to organize on small dues and this resulted in much sacrifice on the part of organizers and secretaries. We were constantly in debt, but continued to build the Union until the end of 1939. In an effort to clear the Union of debt, and put a paid organizer in the field we recommended raising the dues. This was done .by referendum and the vote was 3 to 1 in favor.
The season of 1940 was a poor one and many of our members did not make any money. Quite a large number dropped out and did not pay any money even though a considerable portion were in a position to do so.
This, of course, put the Union further in debt and when a proposed merger with the UFFU was adopted, the large amount of obligations we had, proved to be an obstacle to such a move.
In an endeavor to clear the way for the merger, Brothers Dan Martin and A. V. Hill wiped out any monies owing them. A special effort was also made to collect enough money to pay off our external debts. This we were unable to do and it became necessary to carry on as the PCFU for another year.
Due to the fact that I undertook the job as Secretary this year, without pay, we have been able to carry on up to the present time and clear all obligations. What funds we have on hand at the present time will not go far if we pay back to the Locals their 20% of the dues, to which they are entitled.
Almost every year, without exception, a large portion of this money has been retained by headquarters and this has resulted in a weakening of the Locals through dissatisfaction. This year less members paid at $6.00 than last year at $9.00. This doe snot look good from an organziational point of view, nor from a financial one. It leads one to believe that the demand of the men for one organization should be met as quickly as possible.
We will soon have another year of negotiations ahead of us, and it might well turn out to be a tough one.
In order that we may become organized as soon as possible into one union, I have suggested that we wind up the affairs of the PCFU at the end of the year, and that we apply for membership "in block" into the UFFU.
All members who are considered by the PCFU as being in good standing, but who have not paid their dues for the current year will be permitted to do so, but no new members can be accepted once this notice goes into effect. This step will be taken to prevent fishermen joining the PCFU simply to escape the initiation fee of the UFFU.
I would advise all progressive-minded members to carefully consider this step, and to act on it as quickly as possible.
The Executive Board at our meeting on December 13 adopted the following resolution.
WHEREAS The PCFU has gone on record as being in favor of a merger with the UFFU; The UFFU having accepted our proposal, in principle, and proposed that we merge under their Constitution and dues;
The UFFU not being willing to assume any debts or obligations of the PCFU;
It was found necessary to carry on as the PCFU until our debts were liquidated in order to clear the way for a merger.
Our external debts having been paid and our internal obligations wiped out.
The number of members paying dues this year show definitely that it is not practical to continue on a $6.00 dues basis;
There exist no further hindrances to the merger; The majority of our present membership favor one Union. THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that in order to enable the fishermen represented by the PCFU to become progressively organized, we wind up the affairs of the PCFU, both financially and otherwise, at the end of the year, and apply for membership into the UFFU. AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Executive Committee of the PCFU are of the opinion, that in the best interests of the workers in the fishing industry, all should be members of one organization. By adopting such a course we will be carrying out our original aim, and at the same time consolidate our efforts.
J. DONALDSON, Secretary PCFU.
14 Ways To Kill A Union
1. Don't go to any of the meetings.
2. But in case you do, go late.
3. If the weather doesn't suit you, don't even think of going.
4. If you should happen to attend, find fault with the work of the officers and members.
5. Never accept an office. It is much easier to criticize than to do things.
6. Get sore if you are not elected on a committee. Should you be elected,' don't attend any of the meetings.
7. If asked to give you opinion on some matter, tell the chairman you have nothing to say. After the meeting tell everyone how it should be done.
8. Do nothing more than is absolutely necessary. When others roll up their sleeves and pitch in to help matters along, howl that the organization is run by a clique.
9. Hold back your dues as long as possible or don't pay them at all.
10. Make no e/ort to get new members.
11. Don't be sociable either within or outside the meeting hall.
12. If you should get a good idsa, keep it to yourself.
13. Should some wise outsider come along, who probably couldn't organize a dog fight, and tell you just what is wrong with your organization, agree with him and carry on a whispering campaign against your officers.
14. Never report grievances to your shop stewards or officers. Then criticize them before the members for not doing their jobs.
If you want to tear down your Union carry out the above instructions to the letter.
If you don't want it torn down, plug and push and work.