THE FISHERMAN, AUGUST 19, 1996
Cecelia Grant (r), Ellen Goodstriker and Melissa Meyer keep B.C. pinks moving on the fish washing line at Great Northern Packing's plant Aug. 9. The North Vancouver plant is currently working two ten-hour shifts, with some 60 UFAWU shoreworkers running two half-pound canning lines and one quarter-pound line. The company has also been bringing in Alaskan fish to keep its lines running, filling custom canning orders for various customers.
Record boosts
The big sockeye run on the Skeena in the North together with surplus fish brought in from Alaskan fisheries has put some work in most plants coastwide, although only Seafood Products Port Hardy cannery and B.C. Packers huge Rupert plant have been working anywhere near capacity.
In the North, the Skeena sock-eye returns that have been twice the pre-season forecast have helped keep some 1,200 people going on B.C. Packer's 11 canning lines over the past several weeks, said BCP northern operations director Al Ronneseth. He estimated about 40 per cent of the fish going through the plant has been from local fisheries, with the remainder coming from fish brought in from Alaska.
Two shifts are currently working 24 hours a day and that's expected to continue over at least the next couple of weeks, said Ronneseth, adding that some 260,000 cases have been put up so far.
Some of the fish going into cans at BCP is coming from Canadian Fish's Seal Cove plant which has about 70 shoreworkers on one shift. Plant manager Eric Hand said he expects another two or
catch in work in
three full weeks followed by half weeks until fall chums.
At its Royal plant in Prince Rupert, Ocean's currently has about 70 people on two shifts— down from earlier this month— butchering fish for its Richmond cannery, said plant manger Ron Basso.
For the first time this year, Seafood Products has been landing fish at its own operation in Rupert and trucking totes down to its Port Hardy cannery which currently has about 150 shoreworkers working the canning \ nd butchering lines over two shifts. Forewoman Alice Chishollm said the plant has been putting up pinks and sockeye from Rupert as well as sockeye from the Area 12 gill-net fishery last week, j
Seafoods in Vancouver has about 100 people on one shift, handling northern sockeye and pinks.
Elsewhere in the south, Canadian Fish was running four butchering and canning lines as well as one fresh line, with about 300 people on the floor last week but it is likely to be only one busy week during an otherwise slack season. Manager Rick Pughe said the company's home plant was handling Central Area pinks and
North plants
chums as well as Fraser sockeye and more work would depend on further openings.
"There's definitely been work in the North but in the south, only those in the top 100 or so on the seniority list are getting many weeks," said UFAWU shoreworkers organizer Irvin Figg.
Despite the unexpected Fraser opening, B.C. Packer's Imperial plant hasn't set up for processing although some 50 to 100 people are working in labelling as well as the reduction plant, said plant manager Reg Pallard. BCP has also sparked a dispute at the plant with its decision to contract-out much of its salmon processing work to Pacific Salmon Industries. Figg said the union would be taking the issue up with BCP.
Clar]
Services Insulations Ltd.
heat shield
cs insulations
#107-42 Fawcett Road Coquitlam, B .C. Canada V3K 6X9 Fax: 540-2098
(604) 540-2099
com
A LIMITED COMPANY
marine
electronics
3
COMPETITIVE PRICING AND PROMPT SERVICE ON THIS AND OTHER QUALITY PRODUCTS
FURUNO
1700 SERIES
SMALL
BOAT
RADARS
jjjttj 0i
eb <§
E=3 SI S3 S3 GO S3 IS)
v
phone 604-286-3717 fax 604-286-0434
1437-a Island Highway, Campbell River, B.C. v9w 2e4
UFAWU members had to cast ballots twice after changes were made to contract proposals, but the 100 workers at the Fjord Pacific's speciality salmon and herring product plant in Richmond voted overwhelmingly to endorse a new three-year agreement Aug. 13.
We're all in rough waters.
Let's face it, the fishing industry isn't what it used to be. Plenty has changed over the years, but for B.C. Packers at least one thing has stayed the same. Accountability.
Since 1928 we've been buying quality fish from quality fishermen and we've always paid on time. Through good times and bad, we've been a partner you can trust.
Whether yoj|have a relationship with B.C. Packers or not, you already know we're one of the most estab|shed and respected buyers on the west coast. We know the fishing trade,
we know fishermen and most importantly we can recognize the value of your hard work.
It's a difficult business out there. To continue being profitable, it's important we stick together.
Because when times get tough, you find out who your real friends are.
We're Hooked on Quality.
British Columbia Packers Ltd. Box 5000, Vancouver B.C Canada V6B 4A8 Tel: (604) 277-2212 Fax: (604) 275-8153 Email: bcpvic@bcp.weston.ca