—Jack Phillips photo
• Pictured here at last week's Canadian Labor Congress convention are William Stewart (left), Shipyard General Workers Federation of B.C., and Gordon Mercer, Canadian Merchant Service Guild. Stewart was unsuccessful in challenging the efficient administration machine in the contest for election of 10 vice-presidents at large but polled 556 votes in a total ballot of 1,277. Congress executive council was enlarged to 30 members comprising the president, two executive vice-presidents, secretary-treasurer, six general vice-presidents, 10 vice-presidents at large and the president of each provincial labor federation.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7
DEPARTMENTS
stronger when it sees a federation crushed by a reactionary provincial government anywhere in Canada."
The minority report asked that Congress recognize educational activities and the power to charter labor and trade councils "as prerogatives of the federations." It said the Congress should maintain regional officers where necessary "solely for the purpose of administering and servicing CLC chartered locals."
Beginning next year, it went on, the Congress should transfer to the federations "the staff of its regional office responsible for education and for supervision of labor councils (and) remit to them that portion of its budget covering cost of such services." PROVINCIAL MATTERS
Rancourt said the convention had heard a great deal about the need to fight repressive labor legislation but to wage an effective struggle it is necessary to strengthen provincial federations. "We are not asking that Congress be weakened but we can't fight repressive labor legislation with a strong central body in Ottawa alone — to do that we must have more powerful provincial organizations."
Liaison between union leadership and members needs a great deal of improvement, Rancourt
"GOOD FISH HANDLING PRACTICES GUARANTEE HIGHER PROFITS". That statement is equally true for the fisherman, the processor or wholesaler and for the retail trade. A highly perishable product, fish can continue to be profitable, only if the consumer is able to obtain top quality. Beginning immediately the fish is taken from sea or lake, a constant temperature of not more than 32°F is recommended for fresh fish. Speed of handling is an important factor for all concerned. Fish, as soon as they are caught, should be stored at not more than 32°F in a freshly-cleaned hold, and should be delivered to the processor or wholesaler as soon as possible.
DEPARTMENT OF FISHERIES
Hon. H. J. Robichaud, M.P., Minister
Dr. A. W. H. Needier, Deputy Minister
Ottawa, Canada
8
THE FISHERMAN — MAY 17, 1968
said, voicing concern at what he called the "increasing bureaucracy in the labor movement."
"Fear of the proposals contained in the minority report is, basically, fear of change itself," he charged. "But the changes are needed; let's open the window and let in some fresh air — even if it means that some people here may catch cold."
QFL president Louis Laberge reiterated that education and organization are Federation responsibilities. "We feel we can handle these matters many times more effectively than the CLC," he said, adding that Congress officials are "ignorant" of problems at the provincial level and of what the Quebec Federation is trying to achieve in its field.
United Steel Workers director William Mahoney took up the theme that meeting Quebec Federation demands would be tantamount to weakening the entire labor movement by "changing its structure from one national centre to possibly 10 separate centres."
"The executive council doesn't believe it will improve its work by tearing the Congress to pieces," he said. "I don't think that's what we want or what we've worked to build."
Immediately after Mahoney had spoken, Don McNabb, United Steel Workers, Sudbury, moved the previous question and effectively shut off debate. The move was supported on a hand vote and the committee's recommendations subsequently adopted. RANCOURT ELECTED
On the basis of speakers lined up at the microphones when the previous question was put, extensive support for the Quebec position likely would have been voiced by several delegates from union locals outside Quebec.
As it was, the administration was accused of "railroading" the issue and a walkout of Quebec unionists took place. They made it clear, however, that they were protesting the manner in which debate on a major issue had been stifled, not the fact that the vote had gone against them.
But when elections took place, Rancourt was swept to office as one of two CLC executive vice-presidents, defeating administration candidate Romeo Mathieu, United Packinghouse Workers, toy 884 to 527 votes.
Support for the Quebec position was widespread on the floor of the convention and the Federation's contention that repressive provincial labor legislation can be countered most effectively by strengthened provincial organizations was well received by delegates from other provinces, not least by those from B.C. now facing the threat of compulsory arbitration under Bill 33.
Halibut Tag Under Way
Under three month charter to the International Pacific Halibut Commission, the Harmony, under owner-skipper Dan Forseth, left Seattle this week to determine the relative abundance of the large population of young halibut in southeastern Bering Sea.
Commission biologists aboard are Paul A. Breen and William G. Willis, both from University of British Columbia.
Tagging of these small halibut has been an important part of the program since 1963. Recoveries have shown that the young fish in Bering Sea contribute substantially to halibut stocks in the Gulf of Alaska and waters farther south.
Evaluation of the effect trawling may have on these concentrations of young halibut is another mirjor objective of the cruise. This aspect assumes great importance to the Canadian and U.S. halibut industry in view of the large foreign trawl fleets now operating on the Bering Sea halibut nursery grounds, according to Ed Best, trawl expert and Commission biologist in charge of the project.
SOOKE
BROWNSEY'S STORE LTD.
6632 Sooke Road Open 7 diiys a week