3

eally, and economically, to
*barians known to mankind.

everything possible to assist
y work, that means we must do
nm our power to. guarantee that
) canneries, reduction plants, and
storages, produce to their
Hmum capacity.”
ith these words, Bill Gateman,
‘etary-treasurer of United Fish
mery and Reduction Plant
ekers, Local 89, opened the sec-
we annua! convention of the union,
z it in the Fishermen’s Hall here
2 week. =
7 n the platform, behind Gate-
#), sat Chairman Percy Norton,
>» has seen the organization grow
nm a small group in 1940 to a
y representing almost 100 per-
t organization of all shore work-

Ht rows of tables in the centre
the room sat fifty delegates,
mn Yancouver, Prince Rupert,
* lonan, Ucluelet, and other points
jsughout the province, listening
Wtheir secretary report that al-

ugh the organization was a com-
atively new one, during the 21
maths of its existence agreements

Mi plants, steady men in fish
neries, and some cold storage
fresh fish workers, and that
each case substantial economic
firovements were gained.

At present about 20 percent of
| men and women working ashore
® organized in our union. It goes
oout saying, then, that if we are
eontinue to advance, the major
blem confronting us is the or-
ization of the unorganized. A
itive workable program with this
mind must be hammered out at
convention.

Progressive trade unions doe not
ognize color, race or creed, and
should do everything in our
yer to help improve the lot of
workers in industry. The prob-
"is of the Chinese are exactly the
‘Bue as ours, now that the Chinese
itractor has been eliminated, and
: Chinese workers now work on
wage basis directly for the com-
qies.
# At the last convention of the
} tive Brotherhood of BC in De-
Hnber, 1942, resolutions were
Spted proposing closer coopera-
fin with the UFFU and Local 89.
2 welcome this spirit of coopera-
mh and the increased activity of
'} Brotherhood, and must leave
S convention resolved that every
jistance will be given them.”
The help given by the fishermen
f inaugurating Local 89 was
essed by Gateman in his appeal
; even closer cooperation between
2 two unions.
‘In our union agreements, plant
mamittees are given definite re-
pnsibility,” he concluded. “I pro-
se that an intensified education-
program be conducted and that
Biterial be supplied to plant
anches for the conduct of trade
fion educational classes. I further
opose that the incoming execu-
he board prepare a pamphlet on
#2 conduct and function of plant
fanches. We have within our or-
nization, I am convinced, a large
umber of potential trade union
aders, and if given a little as-
stance they will develop into quali-
ed leaders.
Gateman’s report ended with the
atement that over fifty members

been concluded covering reduc—

Members Pledge
‘oll Production

“We are meeting at a time when our country is engaged in
'out-and-out battle to preserve its national existence, against
enemy whose desire is to enslave the world, morally, po-

the will of the most_ ruthless

“If we intend to win this war, then we must from day to day

the war effort. In terms of our

WILLIAM GATEMAN

of the union were now in the armed
forces.

“They have accepted the respon-
sibility of fighting the fascist on
many battle fronts. Let us accept
our responsibility and win the bat-
tle of production. Let us accept it
and when our brothers in arms re-
turn let it never be said that we
fell down on the job.”

After the opening session on
Sunday, the convention continued
With evening sessions for three
more nights. A constitution was

and officers were elected and in-

stalled.
Late last Wednesday night after
the final session, Bill Gateman

(re-elected general secretary-treas-
urer) told The People how the union
had grown so quickly, in spite of
the barriers of distance which or-
ganizers had to break down.

“Originally, a group of cannery
workers in the spring of 1940 ap-
plied to the UFFU for inclusion in
the union, pointing out that their
wages and living conditions were
abnormally low,” he said. “However,
the Trades and Labor Congress felt
that a separate charter would be
to the best interests of all con-
cerned. Fourteen members from
Kildonal applied for a charter, and
on June 3, 1941, the union came
into existence.

“In July I made trips to the
canneries; enthusiasm was partic-
ularly high. Leaflets were distribut-
ed to every plant on the coast,
meetings were held in each plant,
and the union grew by leaps and
bounds.

“Since then negotiations have
been opened with every cannery,
and agreements signed. I feel sure
that as a result of the convention
which has laid down clearly our
policy for the coming year, our or-
ganization will be five times
stronger than ever before,” he con-
cluded.

Other officers elected were:
President, Jack Sedgwick; first
vice-president, Clinton Mackenzie;
second vice-president, Percy WNor-
ton; trustee, three years, L. Lowry;
trustee, two years, Miss E. Oli-
phant; trustee, one year, E, Brown.

Affiliation

Of Indians
Proposed

Resolutions pointing towards
closer cooperation between the
Cannery Workers, United Fish-
ermen and Native Brotherhood
(organization of native Indi-

drawn up, resolutions were adopted’

ans) were passed at the sec-
ond annual convention of Fish
Gannery and Reduction Plant

Workers Union here this week.

“Whereas the interests of all
wage earners are identical, and
unity of action is necessary to ad-
vance and maintain those interests,
and whereas it is the policy of this
union to organize and protect the
vinterests of all shore workers in
the fishing industry, regardless of
color, race or creed,” reads one res-
olution adopted by the convention,
“therefore be it resolved that this
union inform the Native Brother-
hood of BC that it is our desiré
to work in close cooperation both
with the natives on the job and
with the Native’ Brotherhood as a
whole, and that the incoming exec-
utive be instructed to interview
representatives of the Wative
Brotherhood with the view of es-
tablishing a sub-chartered local
of our organization.”

“This is a progressive step in the
right direction,’ Andy Paull, busi-
ness agent of the Indian organiza-
tion told The People after the
cannery workers has passed the
resolution unanimously. “Of course,
before we can accept the offer of
the cannery workers the motion
must go before our convention next
Decembe# i, because it is with our
membership that the authority to
make such a move lies. Personally,
however I think it would be a fine
thing for all concerned and I be-
lieve that, united, the Tabor bodies
in the industry would be consider-
ably strengthened.”’

The question was brought before
the council by a resolution proposed
by Plumbers and Steamfitters, Lo-
eal 170, in protest of the situation
existing regarding their helpers.

These men, it was pointed cut,
made application for wages on an
equal with others paid for similar
work as long ago as August 15,
1942. The Richards Commission in
Wovember approved the application,
and recommendations were placed
before the War Labor Board.

At the present time, protests
Local 170, these wages are still not
in effect in some of the yards, al-
though employers and employees
alike agree that they are only just.

“Similar cases have existed at
other times,’ Birt Showler, council
chairman, told the delegates.
“When we have protested to the
board, something has been done.
They have to be prodded every
once in a while to make them
work.”

It was also suggested by dele-
gates that the board should meet
oftener than the customary once
a week, when occasion demanded.

The Council offered its support
to the Association of Technical
Employees in the fight for rein-
statement of their national secre-
tary and chairman of their largest
local, Dr. David Shugar, who was
discharged from Research Enter-
prises, Litd., Toronto, for union ac-
tivity.

“Our organization Is a young one,

annery Union Reports Growth

More Action A\sked
sa: Boar

Demands for quicker action by the War Labor Board in
bringing about changes in wage rates after both employees
and employer have agreed that such changes are justified, were
made by Vancouver Trades Council at its meeting last Tuesday.

and has had to struggle against dis-
erimination since its inception,”
stated a letter from the Associa-
tion. “This is an issue we cannot
ignore.”

Dr, Shugar, after two years’ work
at Research Enterprises, was fired
without notice two months after
he became known as an ATE mem-
ber. Other cases of discrimination
for union work have been noted,
and many members haye been
threatened with dismissal, the let-
ter stated.

Free Bridges
Demands Labor

NEW YORK, NY (ALN) —
Trade unions from coast to coast
have started a flood of appeals to
President Roosevelt asking him to
cancel deportation proceedings
against Harry Bridges, president of
the International Longshoremen’s
and Warehousemen’s Union (CIO).
Following the refusal of Judge
Martin LL. Welsh of the Federal
District Court at Sacramento, Cal.,
to grant him a writ of habeas
corpus against the deportation order
of US Attorney-General Francis
Biddle, Bridges surrendered March
3 to the immigration authorities
in San Francisco. He was released
after posting a $300 bond, and his
case now will go before the US
Circuit Court of Appeals. From
there it is likely to go to the Su-
preme Court, unless President
Roosevelt intervenes directly.

From 300 to 3,000

Members

In that year the union was main-
ly an organization of halibut and
pilchard fishermen. In 1940 the
amalgamation with salmon purse
seiners doubled the membership.
From 1940 to 1942 tendermen, gill-
netters, and trollers were brought
into the union, and agreements
were made covering — practically
every phase of the fishing in-
dustry.

The growth of the union, say
members, has brought with it new
problems. New locals must be set
up, and more responsibility placed
upon them, so that the interests
of the growing membership can
be served quickly and efficiently.

“We shall continue in our efforts
to build one industrial organization
of the workers in the fishing in-
dustry,” W. T. Burgess, Fisher-
men’s Union secretary stated re-
cently, “and to proceed with such
a program the delegates to the
coming convention will face the
problem of expanding upon the
foundation already laid, both in an
organizational and constitutional

UFFU Shows Great

After four years of existence, during which membership has
grown from 300 in 1939 to 3000, United Fishermen’s Union
will meet for its fifth annual convention next week to consider
new steps towards the eventual unification of all existing trade
union organizations in the fishing industry into one organiza-
tion, the goal towards which it set out in 1939.

manner. The present constitution of |

W. T. BURGESS

Progress

the UFFU was not originally in-
tended to meet the requirements
of an organization such as we now
have. It will be proposed at the
convention that more rooms be
added to our house, to accommo-
date the growing family of united
fishermen,

“This is one of the most import-
ant problems delegates will discuss.
Wever for one moment, of course,
can we afford to forget that we will
be meeting in a time of war when
all our deliberations should be
guided by the supreme need for de-
cisively defeating the threat of fas-
cism.”

Music Service
Pleases Workers

MONTREAL, Que.—VWorkers and
Management of the lMDongueuil
plant of Fairchild Aircraft Ltd.
here united to introduce a music-
while-you-work service for the
night shift.

Introduction of music for work-
ers in Canadian aircraft plants
marks the development in Canada
of a system scientifically developed
in the United States. Figures
available from American industry
demonstrate that plant music cuts

|down absenteeism through reduc-
| tion of fatigue. steps up production. ~