TheflJherm&n
— Official Organ — Pacific Coast Fishermen's Union Salmon Purse Seiners' Union, Local 141
The Only Fishermen's Trade Union Paper in British Columbia
VOL. II. No. 23.
VANCOUVER, B.C., APRIL 25, 1939
(57)
®
PRICE: 5 Cents
Seiners Sign Union Pact
UNIONS REQUEST ABSENTEE BALLOT
'Big Four' Petition Dominion Government
Four of the largest labor unions in BC have submitted a brief to the Federal Government at Ottawa citing the case for workers in the basic industries of the Province, Lumbering, Mining, Fishing, and Marine Transport, on the question of the present form of the Elections Act whereby some thousands of workers are to be disenfranchised and requesting that the above named categories of workers be allowed to exercise their franchise through the means of the absentee ballot.
An estimation by the officers of the unions of the number of workers affected as stated in the brief declares that the following numbers of workers will be denied the franchise under the present Act:
Fishermen and Cannery Workers 8,000
Miners (hard rock only) .........5,000
Seamen (licensed and
unlicensed) .....................4,000
Loggers ..........................6,000
Total ..........................23,000
The brief further declares, "There Is no question as to the possibility of these men returning to the place of their ordinary residence for voting purposes. In many cases hundreds of miles separate them from their homes, and even if they had the money to provide transportation, employers would hesitate before allowing a mass exodus of their employees to exercise the vote."
Vancouver Fish Prices
Following wholesale fish prices obtained at Campbell Ave, Dock at Vancouver, on Monday, April 24:
Ling Cod .................. 5 & 6c lb.
White Spring Salmon ..........10c lb.
Bed Spring Salmon ............13c lb.
Kippers........................ 7c lb.
Soles ........................... 6c lb.
Grey Cod ......................%y,a lb.
Crabs ........................60c doz.
Fresh Herring ................ 5c lb.
US TROLLERS GET PRICE AGREEMENT
ASTORIA, Ore. — Agreement was reached between buyers and the PCFU. The New England Fish Company and Union Fishermen's Co-operative offered 12 cents a pound for red salmon above 26 inches, regardless of weight; 8 cents each for white salmon above 26 inches, and two other buyers offered 13 cents cents for red under 12 and 8 cents for white.
B.C. PACKERS SHOW PROFIT INCREASE
Earnings disclosed by BC Packers for the greater part of 1938 show that a better year was experienced than for some time.
Net profits for the ten months ending October, 1938, were $88,402 compared with profits of $66,778 for the whole of 1937, and with $100,047 for the whole of 1936.
Figures in each case are after depreciation, bond needs and taxes have been taken care of.
As a result of earnings over the past three years, a deficit of $32,249 in earned surplus account as of Dec. 31, 1935, was converted into earned surplus of $223,346 on October 31, 1938.
Working Agreement Is Ratified By Members
United Fishermen, Salmon Purse Seiners, Set Example For Gillnetters to Follow
Mass Meet Of Fraser River Fishermen Vote For Merqer
Committee From Each Union Vounteer To Force Action; BCFPA Meeting May 6
Organizational unity was achieved last Friday when a six-point agreement was signed by Secretary George Miller for the Salmon Purse Seiners' Union, and W. T. Burgess for United Fishermen's Union, both being federal unions chartered by Trades Congress of Canada.
The agreement has the approval of membership of both unions and will continue for the season of 1939, present indications pointing to closer cooperation as the season progresses with the possibility of amalgamation
of the two organizations at a later date.
<$> Secretary Geo. Miller expressed keen
satisfaction as a result of the agreement
Determination Shown To Remove Obstacles
NEW WESTMINSTER, April 22. —One hundred and fifty Fraser River fishermen met here today in the Legion Hall, and after a most lively discussion, took practical steps to try to bring about a merger of the Pacific Coast Fishermen's Union and the British Columbia Fishermen's Protective Association.
In their determination to fight against all obstacles to unity, seven members of the BCFPA left their seats in the body of the hall and marched up to the front when volunteers were asked for, to demand that the Executive Committee of the BCFPA call a special full membership meeting of their union, and consider the question of a merger. (According to the constitution, seven members can demand the Executive Committee call a special meeting to consider a question concerning the members.)
Seven members of the PCFU also volunteered to do the same in their union. Right after this occurred, a motion was put that "this meeting go on record for amalgamation of the BCFPA and the PCFU." This motion carried by a huge majority. No hands were raised against the motion, but a small number refrained from voting, Brothers Roily, Hbrnbrook, Iverson and a couple more.
Time after time during the discussion, various fishermen asked the leading members of the Executive Committee of the BCFPA what they had against merging the two unions? One fisherman
(Continued on page 7)
Halibut Prices
And Landings
— *
Following are prices obtained and catches landed of halibut at Vancouver.
Saturday, April 22 Newcastle—
5,582 lbs. Medium ................. 7.3c
1,327 lbs. Chicken ................ 6.2c
440 lbs. Large .................. 6 c
Haida Chief—
4,500 lbs. Chicken .'............... 6.1c
10,000 lbs. Medium ............... 7.3c
800 lbs. Large .................. 6 c
1,500 lbs. Ling Cod .............. 2 c
Monday, April 24
Zeballos—
3,600 lbs. Chicken ................ 6.1c
5,600 lbs. Medium ................. 7.3c
800 lbs. Large .................. 6 c
F. G. W —
1,000 lbs. Chicken
4,000 lbs. Medium.
2,000 lbs. Large. Grassholm—
5,000 lbs. Chicken.
6,000 lbs. Medium.
Same prices obtained for the latter two
boats as for the Zeballos.
LANDINGS AT PRINCE RUPERT,
SATURDAY, APRIL 22.
U.S. vessel Tacoma—15,000 lbs.
Medium .......................... 7.4c
Chicken .......................... 5.5c
Canadian Vessels—46,000 lbs.
Medium ..................... 6.4c-6.5c
Chicken ......................... 5.0c
Grand Total .................61.000 lbs.
Carloads shipped Friday—None.
declaring that this unity program is an example for Fraser River fishermen and all gillnetters and trollers to emulate.
Full text of the agreement reached and signed last Friday is as follows:
(1) That the minutes of all regular meetings shall be exchanged.
(2) That full recognition be given to each other's Union cards, provided such card Is paid up, or not more than four months In arrears in dues. Holders of such cards shall be entitled to attend meetings of either Union, where prices and working conditions are being discussed, covering the branch of the industry that the member is engaged or intends to engage in.
(3) That we classify all men working on nets or building same, as skilled
(Continued on Page 7)
OPERATORS SUBMIT BLUEBACK PRICES
Representatives of the PCFU met operators to discuss prices for blueback today, Monday, April 24, in Vancouver and the following prices and conditions were submitted by the operators:
Collecting and other conditions to be the same as last year, but fish prices will be one price throughout the season.
The prices offered are: 6'/ic for Round, and 7%c dressed.
Locals of the PCFU are to discuss and decide whether a clause shall be inserted in the agreement whereby no Japanese shall be employed on scows and packers. Operators are willing to insert such a clause.
Locals of PCFU will immediately discuss the proposed prices and will ratify the proposals or reject them.
Operators' representatives were B.C. Packers, Canadian Fish Co., Nelson Bros, and Francis Millerd Fishing Co.
This will be an exclusive PCFU agreement.