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THE FISHERMAN
October 12 ,1938
EDITORIALS
The Fisherman
FEATURES
The FISHERMAN
official organ SALMON PURSE SEINERS' FEDERAL UNION, LOCAL 141 and
PACIFIC COAST FISHERMEN'S UNION (B.C. Section) •
Published Every Other Tuesday at 164 EAST HASTINGS STREET VANCOUVER, B.C. Trinity 2965 •
Editor - - - JOHN GAVIN Assistant Editor - AL PARKIN •
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A New Era In the Industry
WHEN seiners gave final ratification last week to a signed agreement with the Salmon Can-ners' Operating Committee, they not only signalized a splendid strike victory but set a precedent in the fishing industry which may well mark the beginning of a new era in relations between operators and working fishermen.
It's been too many years now since operators have consented to sit down with fishermen's representatives and hammer out price schedules in a cooperative manner. As a result the industry has witnessed yearly tie-ups and disputes which have lately become serious.
The recent strike of seiners, gill-netters and trollers is a case in point. There is no doubt that the strike of the seine fleet could have been avoided altogether had operators accepted the request of the Salmon Purse Seiners' Union last August for a meeting on Fall prices. Even at the time the strike broke out on September 16, pro-pepr handling of the situation by cannery managers and a recognition that the working fishermen had every legal and moral right to demand fair prices on chums could have brought a settlement in the early stages.
As it was, operators persisted in carrying out their past policy of refusing to recognize legal demands of the union for collective bargaining rights. Their long period of supremacy in the industry, coupled with the growing monopoly of the fisheries by a few powerful companies, seemed apparently to give them an impression of their strength and influence out of all proportion to the actual situation, resulting in a costly tie-up during which both sides suffered.
It is .to be hoped, however, that the companies represented on the Salmon Canners' Operating Committee have now come to realize that negotiating with unions is no longer "out of style." Whether they realize it or not, this is 1938 and more and more employers— and much bigger employers than the cannerymen, at that—are beginning to recognize that labor has a right to demand agreements on wages and prices. Up to now the fishing companies have been back in the Dark Ages as far as relations with their employees are concerned,
a situation definitely not in the best interests of the industry.
For our part, we want to assure the operators and the industry that it is not our intention to build unions among seiners, gillnetters and trollers for the sole purpose of calling strikes. We are interested, and will work to ensure, that peace is maintained and amicable settlements arrived at in future.
On the other hand, like the majority of unions, both the S.P.S.U. and P.C.F.FU. were formed to protect the interests of the membership. If those interests cannot be protected except through action, then action will be taken, and successful action at that. The recently concluded strike proved that point quite well.
Conning the News
THE Munich Agreement, "under terms of which Chamberlain of Britain and Daladier of France handed Czechoslovakia over to Hitlen on a silver platter, went into effect ten days ago, but the indignation in democratic countries against the blackest treachery In history continues to rise to new heights.
Even as the daily press "of capitalist democracies instituted a tremendous whitewash campaign calculated to put Chamberlain in the light of a "savior of peace," new incidents were occurring daily proving the contention of real democrats that concessions to fascism led the world actually closer to a great war and brought the democratic countries face to face with possible defeat by fascism unless a stand is taken.
Chamberlain's own cabinet members last week proved the truth of .this when Duff-Cooper, First Lord of the Admiralty, resigned from the government after directing bitter criticism against the Munich betrayal and accusing Chamberlain of cowardice.
Hitler himself furnished further "proof that concessions can only mean weakening democracy at the expense of strengthening fascism by renewing threats against Czechoslovakia on Tuesday, in which he demanded the country swing behind Germany, outlaw-labor organizations, institute an anti-Semitic campaign and stop shipping irms to other countries.
This was followed immediately by a new blackmail proposal from Mussolini, who demanded that Britain advance new loans to Italy, urged Chamberlain to finance Franco's victory in Spain, and reserved the right to continue sending tanks, planes and munitions to Spain.
* • *
BUT WHILE Mussolini may have plans on Spain similar to Hitler's plans for Czechoslovakia, the Spanish Loyalist government, through Premier Juan Negrin, warned II Duce and his "best friend and sympathizer," Cham-
berlain, that "Spain was not Czechoslovakia."
To make his warning more specific, Negrin's cabinet gathered last week in several sessions to lay new plans for winning the war, plans which were almost immediately implemented by new Loyalist gains on the Ebro River front.
• » *
THE American Federation of Labor convention at Houston, Texas, got away to fine start with a rousing attack on John L. Lewis last week, but smack in the middle of President William Green's plans to spread the A.F.L.-C.I.O. war to Canada, one of his staunchest supporters in former years, Daniel Tobin of the Teamster's Union, took the floor of the convention and made a strong appeal for immediate unity between the two groups.
Forced to back down temporarily, Green changed his tune to a personal attack against John L. Lewis, demanding that Lewis resign from the C.I.O. as a condition to unity negotiations. The C.I.O: chairman immediately took Mr. Green's proposal in consideration, agreed that it might have some merits and offered to resign immediately if Green would also step down from the presidency of the A.F.L.
Mr Green had no reply to make to that one.
* * *
AND here in British Columbia, leading industrialists were crying happily into their whisky sodas following reports that the province's primary industries will maintain the same high level of output in 1938. Over 200 millions of dollars is the estimated wealth produced, with the fisheries yielding about the same as last year with $16,-000,000. I
DID YOU KNOW—
That the International Commission set up to administer the Sockeye Salmon Treaty between Canada and the U.S.A. will, have no regulatory power until 1946?
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And Again—
Build the Circulation!
ONE of the best mediums for building unionism is the press, and to date our paper has proved on more than one occasion its value to the fishing industry, both as an educational weapon and a silent organizer.
The recent strike was an example. Five hundred copies of the last issue were printed and most of them sold, and as proof of the demand for a real fishermen's paper, paid subscriptions increased by almost 100 over the past month.
But while circulation is increasing at a fair rate, it's not jumping ahead at the rate warranted by the increasing number of fishermen who have indicated their desire to take the paper regularly. Right now, then, is the time for all G.O.C. men, boat delegates and active union members to put some real pressure into the drive for steady readers.
Any fisherman, if properly approached, will put up a dollar to have The Fisherman sent him regularly for a year. And according to the success of the subscription drive will depend our plans to increase the size of the paper, carry more cuts, even issue it weekly. Let every brother put his shoulder to the wheel and the results are certain.
Thanksgiving For Whom?
BRITISH COLUMBIA people were called upon last week to give thanks for the new wealth that has been given up by Mother Nature. We would like to participate in the thanksgiving festivals, but somehow, something sticks in our gills when we think of it. We can't seem to bring ourselves up to the high pitch of rejoicing which the fashion calls for.
True it is, the granaries are filled to overflowing, cold storage plants are .stacked high with meat, fish, fowl, and produce from ranch, range and farm, and warehouses are bursting with fruits and vegetables from B.C.'s fertile valleys. In fact, it's doubtful if' there ever was such an abundance. But still we can't seem to get all het up over it.
We agree that our employers should give thanks. However, we see another picture. How about the thousands of farmers in B.C. who produce potatoes for 9 dollars a ton and the townfolk pay thirty for them over the counter? Others get 45 cents a box for apples and prairie farmers pay $1.90 for them. In Kelowna district half the tomato crop is left on the ground to rot because the market is glutted and canneries won't take any more.
Fishermen had to strike to get a half decent price for their labor, while boss packers will harvest a crop to gladden their hearts. Worst of all, masses of our people have no food at all and are praying that road camps may open to save them from starving.
Instead of offering thanks, producers on the land should unite their forces with fishermen and industrial workers and build a movement that will guarantee greater measure of the things we produce. Then we shall be truly thankful.