AWU Parley Asks 'ecognition of GDR
Last month's UFAWU convention called on the federal government to establish "mutually beneficial trade and diplomatic relations" with the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) and to "press in the United Nations for the admission of both the GDR and the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany)."
The convention charged that Canada's refusal to recognize the GDR so far stems from U.S. and West German pressures. Abandonment of this unrealistic posture by Ottawa would be a real contribution to world peace, it declared.
The GDR is a 20 year old sovereign state trading with over 100 countries, the resolution pointed out, adding that 'in striking contrast to West Germany" the GDR accepts as permanent the international boundaries established by the Allied powers after the Second World War.
Mine Workers Union Given Nod by CLC
The executive council of the Canadian Labor Congress last week accepted the United Mine Workers Union of America as an affiliate. The UMWA has been independent since pulling out of the old Canadian Congress of Labor in 1955.
Affiliation covers District 26 of the Mine Workers Union in the Maritimes and District 18 in western Canada. The two districts claimed 8.600 members in 28 locals last year.
The CLC's decision to accept the mine workers' union is in sharp contrast to its blocking of the UFAWU bid for affiliation, made in 1967.
As recently as February 11, CLC officers told president Homer Stevens that the UFAWU's application   could   not   be ac-
Aberdeen To Be Modern Fish Port
Over the next six years Aberdeen Harbor Board will spend between $3.9 and $5.2 million on a redevelopment plan to make the Scottish fish port one of the most modern in Europe.
The plan involves rebuilding all market buildings and docks and introducing an advanced handling system to speed deliveries of fresh fish to all parts of Britain.
cepted because of a convention ruling that affiliation of an independent union must be preceded by its merging "with one of the established unions in its jurisdiction, unless there are valid reasons for not doing so."
The old packinghouse workers' union, now merged into the Amalgamated Meat Cutters under the title of Canadian Food and Allied Workers Union, has been nam^d by congress as the affiliate with which the UFAWU should merge.
At the request of CLC officers, a meeting will take place on April 6 in Vancouver between UFAWU rfficers and executive board members and officials of the Canadian Food and Allied Workers Union.
The UFAWU agreed to the meeting in line with its policy of engaging in talks with othor unions at any time. In doing so, however, it reiterated its intention to seek direct affiliation on the grounds it is a national union operating in an industry which no CLC affiliate has clearly established as a field of juridiction, other than on paper.
Several resolutions supporting the UFAWU bid for direct affiliation have been submitted to the CLC convention which opens in Edmonton on May 18. They include one from the B.C. Federation of Labor and another from Vancouver Labor Council.
Perspective of Merger Raised at GAFF Meet
The perspective of merger, presented by the board of directors in its report as "a question we will have to face sooner or later," aroused some concern among members attending the annual meeting of Gulf and Fraser Fishermen's Credit Union on March 20.
"Part of the process of adapting to environment on the part of credit unions has been the amalgamations that have taken place," the report stated. "Your directors studied the matter of amalgamation or merger.
"It has become evident to many credit unions that the only way they could continue to offer members proper service was to join with other credit unions.
"The most significant to date has been the Brilliant, Fruitvale and Trail merger. Several other large community credit unions are now seriously examining such moves.
"This trend toward fewer and larger credit unions will continue for some time and it reflects the necessity our movement has found to mobilize and conserve its resources of money and talent.
"In our opinion, it is a question we will have to face sooner or later as the necessity for the mobilization of resources grows in importance. In fact, our long range prospects may force us into the design of a completely centralized movement, operating either on a branch basis or within an overall 'system' which may be national in scope.
"The problem is how to do this while preserving or expanding our democratic control and the participation of people.
"We believe this matter should continue to receive our attention; however, at this time no decision has been reached."
SPECIAL MEETING
Questioning of directors by several members elicited from president R. F. i Bob) Long the assurance that a special meeting would be called to discuss any proposal for merger advanced by directors.
"But," Long pointed out," although we have discussed this question, as the report states, no decision has been made."
Concern was also expressed from the floor over the need for retaining direction of the credit
union's affairs in the hands of those actively associated with the fishing industry to ensure that the original purpose of enabling people working in the industry to provide mutual help was upheld.
Union organization of the credit union staff was raised in a question put to directors by H. Steve Stavenes, who noted that a majority of credit union members were also union members and said the staff should have union organization.
He was answered by Long, who said, "That's up to the staff. If they want organization, they won't encounter much opposition from the board, which contains a number of labor men."
Reg Payne won directors' agreement on the need for better information of members. He pointed out that the interest rate charged by B.C. Central Credit Union had been increased four times during the past year, as noted in the report, yet the membership generally knew nothing about it.
"Timely information on interest rates is important to members who are planning to obtain loans," he observed.
Strike Hits Goertz Plant
UFAWU members are being asked to note that technical staff employees of Frederick Goertz Ltd., a major supplier of marine electronic equipment to the B.C. fishing fleet, have been on strike against the company since March 31.
The technicians, members of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers 213, are seeking a first agreement from the company.
As reported in The Fisherman on February 6, the company announced several weeks ago that it was under contract with the IBEW.
However, the union points out that although it became certified to bargain for the employees last November, efforts to negotiate a satisfactory agreement with the firm since that time have failed.
The directors' report showed credit union assets at a record $6.87 million at the end of 1969, an increase of $515,600 over 1968.
Outstanding loans totalled $5.53 million, an increase of $548,000 over 1968, with 46 percent secured by mortgages on property, 40 percent by mortgages on registered boats and 14 percent by other types of security.
FOUR ELECTED
The report noted that although amendments to the Credit Unions Act now allowed interest rates not exceeding IVi percent of the unpaid balance monthly or 15 percent annually, the credit union did not intend to increase its rates at the present time.
In elections to four board seats those successful were Mike Canic, Jim Patterson, John Person and Al Salo, with Mrs. Audrey Keely as runner-up.
Speaking on a point of privilege, Wayne Patterson drew attention to the fact that he was not a candidate for office this year, but had been runner-up in the previous year's election.
"In accordance with commonly accepted democratic principles, when a vacancy occurred on the board during the year I should have been given first opportunity of accepting or declining the position," he declared. "This was not done.
"I know this meeting cannot instruct the board, but it can recommend that this procedure be followed in the event of a vacancy on the board occurring during the coming year."
A motion to adopt the recommendation carried by a large majority.
Longliner Spotted Fishing in Limits
Crew members on the Dolphin Queen reported to the federal fisheries department on their return to Vancouver from a black cod trip recently that they had seen a Japanese longliner fishing two to three miles off Cape Scott.
They estimated the longliner's length to be around 150 feet, but the Dolphin Queen did not approach close enough to get her name.
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