Fishermen on the march
in Port Aiberni
There was more protest than fishing in Barkley Sound June 23 to 26 as fishermen packed meeting halls, held work stoppages and took over the streets of Port Aiberni to demand their right to survive.
It started Saturday, June 23, when a UFAWU-organized meeting on the fisheries restructuring act attracted more than 500 fishermen, some of them gill-netters who stopped fishing and rented a bus from Bamfield to attend. After hearing reports from UFAWU president Jack Nichol, New Democrat fisheries critic Ted Miller and Progressive Conservative hopeful Mike Hicks, the meeting unanim-
• Seine crewmen sailed Into Port Aiberni on vessels like Bllgh Island to participate In protest rally.
Vol. 49, No. 7
Vancouver, B.C.
July 20, 1984
ously condemned the proposed legislation.
Instead, the fishermen called for a "comprehensive program for fisheries development that places the welfare and interests of commercial fishermen, the protection of fisheries habitat and a sound program for salmon enhancement as its highest priorities."
Former UFAWU president Homer Stevens received a loud ovation when he said, "We must stop this even if it means using forms of civil disobedience that this coast has never seen before.
"We must break the conspiracy to deprive us of our futures."
The message was clear to Ottawa — the new fisheries legislation was finished.
See BARKLEY — page 2
Allocation injunction — page 3
Four-day UFAWU strike produces two-year pact
Shore deal I to curb tech change
By JACK NICHOL
Shoreworkers have rebounded from a no-increase contract in 1983 to a contract in 1984 that, while a sign of economic times, reflects a renewed willingness to fight to maintain and improve wage and contract condtions.
The turn-around from a two-thirds strike vote last year to an 80 percent majority to strike in 1984, followed by 80 percent rejection of the companies 'final' offer, were decisive factors that produced additional wages of 29 cents an hour above the companies' pre-strike vote offer.
The general increase is 40 cents an hour from April 16, 1984, and a further 45 cents an hour in the second year of the contract. Tradesmen will receive 52 cents an hour in the first year and 58 cents in the second year.
By April 16,1985,theindustry base rate (after 400 hours)will increase to$12.15 an hour and the trades rate will increase to $15.72.
The bitter negotiations were frustrated by the companies' proposal fora two-year agreement that would have left important issues such as the status of shop stewards, check-off of union dues and technological change unresolved with possible disastrous effects.
The log jam was broken when the companies rescinded a letter of reprimand given to the chief shop steward at the B.C. Packers' Prince Rupert plant which held him personally responsible for the actions of others.
As well, a major rewrite of the technological change articles of both agreements was condeluded that involves headquarters of the union in discussions at an earlier stage on the impact of new technology The article recognizes that shore-workers havea right to share in increased productivity and savings in labor costs that result from mechanization and new technology. ,
The companies will cooperate in the development of a base year inventory of all machinery, personnel requirements
See SHORE — page 7
SETTING UP THE LINES • Pickets donned their signs and set up the lines outside J. S. McMillan plant July 11, then returned to clean up fair-caught fish. Technological change was a major concern in shore plants.
Fish, packer fleets win increases
UFAWU fishermen and tendermen joined union shoreworkers July 15 in voting to end a four-day strike of the salmon industry which generated important gains in a two-year pact.
But the meagre 67 percent margin by which union fishermen accepted the pact reflected lingering anger at the companies' failure to make the major price adjustments fishermen felt were in order.
Only a hard-nosed assessment of the prospects of winning further gains in a tough struggle this year turned the 79 percent fishermen's rejection of an earlier offer into acceptance of the final settlement.
Buoyed by the unity and militancy of their experience in the Fisherme«r»Survi-val Coalition and the massive Port Aiberni demonstration against arbitrary fisheries regulations earlier this month, the net fleet served notice that the era of concessions is over. **"^-s>w,L_
The new price agreement includes modest increases in several species and a guarantee that no royalties will be deducted from minimum prices for the life of the agreement.
For their part, tendermen returned to the grounds with a 3.5 percent increase in 1984 and a further four percent in 1985, combined with some improvements in grub allowance, severance pay, vacation pay and certification pay.
Fishermen saw their four-day job action force improvements in sockeye prices of two cents in 1984 and one cent in 1985. Pink prices were increased one cent each year and some improvements were wonn in chum prices.
Prices in the new agreement are sock-eye,$1.05in 1984and$1.06in 1985;pinks, 28 cents and 31 cents; coho, 66 cents each year; large red springs $1.15 each year; small red springs, 66 cents each year; white springs, 65 cents and 67 cents; and jack springs 75 cents each.
See STRIKE — page 9
