October 12 ,1938
THE FISHERMAN
Page Three
P.C.F.U. Wins Inlet Agreements
U.S. FISHERMEN SHOW SOLIDARITY IN SEINE STRIKE
"Norpack 1" Prevented From Unloading Scab Fish at Seattle
DURING the recent strike of seine boat fishermen, a splendid display of international solidarity was shown by the United Fishermen's Union of the Pacific (Pugent Sound District) with headquarters in Seattle, when they prevented the Norpac No. 1 from unloading a boat-load of scab fish consigned to the Washington Fish and Oyster Co., until the skipper, Eddie Moir, obtained clearance from the Salmon Purse Seiners' Union of B.C.
Eddie Moir visited union headquarters and explained that it was not his desire to assist in any way in breaking the strike.. We reached an agreement wltn him on the question, and the following statement was issued over the signature of our union business agent:
To Delegates and Boat Skippers; To all members of our Union. Dear Brothers:
The bearer of this letter, Eddie Moir, has visited our office and cleared himself in connection with the last trip of the Norpack No. 1 to Seattle, and has given his word that he will buy no more fish from boats, which fished during the strike, white or Indian.
On this declaration we are taking Eddie Moir off the Unfair List.
He will be buying independent until further notice and you are free to sell your fish to him.
He will clear through this office on each trip he makes to Seattle.
Signed, Geo. Miller, Business Agent. » * • • The Salmon Purse Seiners' Union of B.C., through George Miller, has expressed its heartiest thanks to the officers and members of the United Fishermen's Union of the Pacific for their quick response on this occasion. Miller expressed the opinion that while the question may have seemed a minor one during the strike, it proved to be an indication of the potential strength of the fishermen when they were united in struggle.
"This fact wasn't lost sight of by the operators," Miller commented. *--------.--..—,—,-----,—.-----„
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SPSU Favors Free Transfers
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In a report from a member of the Salmon Purse Seiners' Union now employed on a packer serving a pilchard seiner on the West Coast, the writer raises the question of transfers from one federal union to another in the same industry.
In answering the question, there is no doubt that members of federal unions chartered by the Trades and Labor Congress of Canada in the fishing industry are entitled to free transfer from one section of the industry to another.
In other words, members of the United Fishermen's Union, Local 44, are entitled to free transfer into the Salmon Purse Seiners' Union, Local 141, and vice versa. The same applies to the Deep Sea Fishermen's Union of Prince Rupert and the B.C. Fishermen's Protective Association.
Any of these federal unions refusing to recognize the union card of fellow members in the industry are committing a breach of the constitution.
In addition, no initiation fee should be paid by a fisherman who holds membership in another federal local when trans ferring. The Salmon Purse Seiners' Union, Local 141, grants free transfers under such circumstances without question. —George Miller.
Requests have come to hand for fishermen to give the Union Steamship Company and other Shipping a chance to land at Squamish and Woodfibre and not to make their sets too close to docks,
HALIBUT AREAS TO CLOSE OCTOBER 29
HALIBUT areas 3 and 4 will be closed for all halibut fishing after midnight, October 29, the International Fisheries Commission has announced.
After that date, states the commission announcement, no permit will be valid for the retention, landing, sale or possession of halibut caught while fishing for other species in the area.
Final date for granting of permits has been set for October 17.
Several boats have left Vancouver for the grounds for one last trip, it is understood. Those from Vancouver cleared on September 29, the last date of departure for any vessel intending to fish halibut in the areas under question.
GREETINGS SENT TO ALASKA FISHERMEN
Organized fishermen and seamen in British Columbia expressed their solidarity with brother unionists now meeting at Ketchikan in the following wire of greetings to the Alaska Unity Conference over the signatures of representatives of the Salmon Purse Seiners' Union, Inland Boatmen's Union and the Pacific Coast Fishermen's Union.
"J. F. Jurich, Ketchikan:
"Please convey to the conference greetings on our behalf. May your deliberations bring progress and harmony to the labor movement of Alaska. You have our sincere wishes that a solution may be found for the many problems confronting you today."
Text of Agreement
HERE is the text of the first union agreement signed between salmon purse seiners and the Salmon Canners' Operating Committee and given final ratification by a mass membership meeting on Monday, October 3. The agreement, in the form of a letter, is addressed to George Miller, S.P.S.U. business agent, and reads as follows: "This will confirm the following agree- *f
ment entered into with the Salmon Purse Seiners' Union on behalf of the cannery operators, concluded at our meeting on October 1, in regard to seine-caught fall salmon prices:
Chums—(Taken in Johnstone Straits from Seymour Narrows to Cape Caution) as under:
1. Boats -to be operated under agreement with individual companies.-,
2. The canning company to whom the boats are attached shall have first call on the fish at the prevailing price; although fish may be cold at the best price obtainable for freezing and salting purposes.
3. Aminimum guaranteed price of 10
cents per fish will be paid for canning purposes. . j WEST COAST—Nitinat (outside and inside) and Barkley Sound: Chums—Flat price of 8 cents per fish. Cohoes—5 cents per pound round witn freedom to sell cohoes at higher price if procurable.
AREA NO. 14—Chums—Flat price oi 9 cents per fish.
"The above being in conformity with our agreement, kindly sign and return the attached duplicate copy of this letter.
"Yours very truly, "SALMON CANNERS' "OPERATING COMMITTEE "G. R. Clarke, Secretary."
The agreement was confirmed and accepted by a mass membership meeting of the S.P.S.U. on Monday and was signed by M. Ruljanovich, union president, and Elgin Neish, union secretary.
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PRICE ESTABLISHED WITH MILLERD ON CHUKCOHOE
Clarke, B.C. Packers Refuse To Meet With Gillnetters
COMPLETING an agreement with Francis Millard and Son on the same day that seiners gave final approval to their union contract, members of the Pacific Coast Fishermen's Union emerged from the recent coastwide strike with a guaranteed minimum on prices for chums and cohoes calling for payment of 8 cents and 5 cents a pound respectively.
While not considered as satisfactory by the membership, settlement was accepted as being the best obtainable under the circumstances. CANNERS REFUSED MEETING
Main obstacle to higher prices was the attitude of the cannery operators, who refused to meet with the negotiating committee of the P.C.F.U. Several attempts to hold meetings with the operators were made by Secretary John Gavin at the time seiners were negotiating but in all cases those operators contacted, including B.C. Packers and Nelson Bros., as well as G. R. Clarke of the Canners Operating Committee, either refused pointblank or maintained they were not interested in the areas affected by the tie-up.
SUPPORT FROM SEINERS
Attempts were also made by the negotiating committee of the Salmon Purse Seiners' Union to bring operators and gillnetters into meetings but these moves were blocked when canners professed lack of interest in Bute, Toba and Loughborough Inlets.
BUYERS BRING CONFUSION
Considerable confusion was caused among gillnetters at these points by buyers for Todd and Sons and B.C. Packers who continued to buy the small amount of scab fish obtainable as well as spreading rumors among strikers concerning alleged weakness of ranks at other points.
Both gillnetters and trollers at these points believe, however, that the main point at issue was settled, since both groups had expressed their determination to stick until seiners won demands which would be acceptable to all.
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