UFAWU appeals for delay in energy board hearings
TiTherman
Oil tanker-free zone sought for B.C. coast
Vol. 42, No. 16
Vancouver, B.C.
25 cents August 12,1977
The United Fishermen and Allied Workers' Union appealed this week to three federal cabinet ministers to delay National Energy Board hearings into proposed oil pipelines from Kitimat and Cherry Point, Wash, until the West Coast Oil Ports Inquiry has concluded.
The oil ports inquiry is in "imminent danger of emasculation" because the energy board hearings almost certainly would render their decision long before the inquiry could hear all the submissions regarding oil tanker traffic and oil port proposals, the union said in a letter to fisheries minister Romeo LeBlanc, transport minister Otto Lang and energy minister Alistair Gillespie.
"If the National Energy Board should approve the Trans-mountain Pipeline Co. proposal to pump oil from Cherry Point to the U.S. via Edmonton, the Kitimat Pipeline company will, by its own declaration, abandon its scheme to construct a pipeline from Kitimat to Edmonton for
the same purpose," UFAWU president Jack Nichol wrote.
Although this might render the Kitimat proposal a dead issue, it also would diminish Arco's incentive to continue voluntary participation in the oil ports inquiry, which started in Vancouver last month.
Moreover, as Northern Tier already has reneged on its commitment to present its Port Angeles, Wash. pipeline proposal, the inquiry would be reduced, at worst, to hearing reluctant proponents of the Kitimat proposal, the union fears.
"Clearly, a thorough inquiry requires the full participation of proponents and opponents alike," Nichol declared.
The UFAWU is convinced that unless the federal government reschedules the energy board hearings to follow the oil ports inquiry, the inquiry will be incapable of providing the government with data and recommend-
See APPEAL — page 11
Nass River pinks top 1968 record
Richard Morgan photo
* Extended sunshine in the lower mainland has been luring shoreworkers out of doors for roadside lunch breaks. UFAWU shoreworkers organizer Helen O'Shaughnessy (standing), held an impromptu meeting with this group of Norpac Fisheries employees last week, encouraging them to attend a meeting to elect shop stewards August 4.
UFA WU stresses organization
'It's time to get involved'
By JACK NICHOL
While UFAWU members may look with some satisfaction at the growing list of small boat clearances and the good showing of union decals displayed on boats at fish camps, there are still too many fishermen content to let others pay the shot to maintain the union and its activities which benefit all.
There are fishermen who argue that the free market system will take care of prices, that minimum prices are not important. But collective bargaining and minimum prices are essential, and the measure of this is the extent to which companies and government will go to destroy the right of fishermen to these freedoms, so commonplace for other workers.
Governments' adamant refusal to incorporate bargaining rights for fishermen into labor codes, and the use of the federal Combines Act against us are indicative of the strength of opposition to the organization of fishermen and effective unionism.
Does anyone seriously believe that fishing industry workers do not need a union? Does anyone seriously suggest that the fishing industry would be a better place to fish and work without a strong union? Of course not!
When approached, most nonunion fishermen concede these points but still resist joining the union. Their reasons are baffling.
Some complain about strikes — in particular about the most recent strike, in 1975. Yet strikes are called, or prolonged, by decisions of the membership, decisions in which the non-union fishermen cannot possibly participate.
Others complain about wage earners being members of the same organization as fishermen, and the effects on fishermen of a strike by shoreworkers. Would strikes by shoreworkers have any
less effect if they were members of another union? Certainly they would not! But as members of the same union, the different sections can sit down, discuss and agree on mutually acceptable strike deadlines, strike rules and the like, and together bring maximum economic pressure on the companies for a quick and fair settlement.
Other reasons for not joining the union range from beefs over personal injustices, to politics, to you name it . . .
Some even complain of the recent dues increase, ignoring the fact that with fewer freeloaders the increase might not have been necessary.
The membership has decided See UFAWU — page 3
Accumulated landings of pink salmon from the Nass River had reached 1.7 million by the end of this week, surpassing a previous record of 1.3 million fish set in 1968.
The bumper fishery reached its peak during the week ending July 25, when a combined fleet of 160 •seiners and approximately 400 gillnetters were concentrated in Area 3.
Catches tailed off during the first two weeks of the current month, as they did in the Skeena fishery, where pink landings for the week ending August 7 were 295,412, well below the pre-season expected catch of 404,250. Yet total pink catches in Area 4 of 964,858 still were 185,720 greater than the expected catch to that date of 779,130.
Nass sockeye landings also have established a record this
year, Fisheries Service district supervisor Gus Jaltema reported to The Fisherman from Prince Rupert.
Landings to this week were 688,000 compared to the previous record level of 559,000 set in 1973.
Sockeye escapement to the Nass to the end of test fishing, July 20, was listed at 260,000 fish and, according to Jaltema, probably would grow to a total of 300,000 fish.
On the basis of reports from the Indian food fishery, pink escapement also was described as good.
No sockeye records were set in Area 4, though a reasonably good seasonal total of 810,000 fish had been caught as of this week. Pink landings totalled 1.1 million.
No more than 500 gillnetters
See NASS — page 11
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