• UFAWU LOCAL 1 helped collect Goods and Service Tax referendum vote in Vancouver April 7. The anti-GST action, sponsored by the Canadian Labour Congress, the B.C. Federation of Labour and the Pro-Canada Network, brought in hundreds of thousands of votes against the proposed federal tax. Unions and community groups across Canada participated in the referendum.
Chevron
OCEAN WEST LTD.
WD. BERNARD Pres.
Chevron Marine Shipchandlers Commercial & Sports Fishing Gear 7 days a week   8:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
BOX 141, BUS. 725-3251
TOFINO. BC VOR 2Z0 RES 725-3288
ComNav® MARINE
2001 AUTOPILOT
ComDev
Marine
ELECTRONICS LTD. 1420 Frances St. Vancouver, B.C. V5L1Y9 (604) 255-7366
Roe popping changes urged
Roe popping can cause serious harm to hands and wrists, but B.C. Packers is stalling on changes to help prevent injuries.
A recent study, conducted during last year's herring season, found that the repetitive twisting motions and unusual hand positions required to pop roe can cause painful and serious injuries. Improperly thawed fish, cold working temperatures and poor working surface heights make the problem worse.
The study, financed by B.C. Packers, J.S. McMillan Fisheries and Canadian Fish, was negotiated by the UFAWU in 1988. It recommends immediate changes to roe popping conditions including: minimizing the more stressful popping methods: minimizing bending by using sit-stand stools, posture bars and foot rests: eliminating drafts: and providing hot-water tubs or buckets to warm hands.
Shoreworker organizer Sandra Gertsch says that both J.S. McMillan Fisheries and Canfisco have made some useful changes, although more could be done. But, so far B.C. Packers has done nothing.
At J.S. McMillan, hot-water buckets are now available and the table surface has been raised. Foot rests are promised but will not be brought in for another two weeks. The thawing process has been changed to reduce the cold temperature and doors are closed to keep out drafts. Workers were started on shorter shifts, from four to five hours for the first week.
At Canadian Fish warm-water buckets are now provided, as are foot rests. Plastic sheeting is being used to reduce drafts.
UFAWU safety director Alan-na Lantela says that it is important to report any signs of pain or loss of feeling.
Burma Lockett. UFAWU shoreworker vice-president, gives the same advice. She recently won full wage loss benefits in a compensation appeal from injuries in 1988 due to improperly thawed fish. "So many workers work in pain because they're afraid of not working, but no one should have to work in pain.''
• ROE POPPING can cause painful injuries to the hands and wrists, made worse by poor working conditions.
Free trade allows herring exports south to the U.S.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
firmed that they are currently popping Canadian herring. He says the herring roe is destined for the Japanese market, adding that the Japanese cearly prefer high quality Canadian roe.
Under new export regulations negotiated between Canada and the U.S. after a recent free trade panel decision, unprocessed herring can only be exported to the U.S. if it will be processed "to the same degree" as it would be in Canada.
Jones said that he has toured the U.S. plant and various Canadian plants to ensure that the regulations are being followed.
Under the free trade deal. U.S. companies now have free access to 20 percent of the Canadian herring and salmon catch in 1990 and 25 percent for the next three years.
More critical to the West Coast fishing industry is the potential threat of salmon exports to the U.S. this summer. There will be no processing regulations for the export of unprocessed salmon, as was the case for herring, making it much more likely that larger quantities of unprocessed Canadian salmon will end up in the U.S.
The difficulty of policing exports under the free trade deal came to light at the end of March when a large shipment of unprocessed herring was almost loaded for export directly to Japan, in clear violation of Canadian export laws. The UFAWU set up a picket line March 24 to protest the shipment and with co-operation from the Longshoreman's Union, the 17 containers of herring never left the dock. No export permit was granted to Yamasaki and the herring stayed in Canada for processing.
MOSQUITO CREEK
MARINE BASIN
a full service marina
Marina
987-4113 987-2411
MOBILE MARINE 35 TON HOIST
• lifting power and sailboats
DRY LAND STORAGE
• do it yourself work areas
• winter rate in effect
Fuel Barge 985-1713
TEXACO MARINE FUEL
• regular gas
• diesel
• motor oils, stove fuels
• frozen herring and live herring
FOOT OF FORBES AVENUE NORTH VANCOUVER, B.C.
TEXACO
SPECIALIZING IN GILLNET
We have the highest quality for the lowest prices!
NA6AURA NET
• Nagaura nets, nylon double knot (100% Toray nylon) of Japanese origin.
• Leadline, corkline and floats.
• Nylon monofilament fishing lines.
• Longline and branchline assemblies.
PURETIC FISHING GEAR INC.
3900   MONCTON   STREET,   STEVESTON,   B.C. V7E3A6 Telephone (604) 277-9661   FAX 277-0211
THE FISHERMAN / APRIL 24,1990 • 3