RAFE MAIR IN JUNE 20 MEETING WITH UFAWU . the union’s message. provincial environment minister Rafe Mair’s proposals to restrict proliferating foreign investment in the fishing industry were ‘‘a step in the right direction’’ but warned that a key proposal — financial disclos- ure of these companies now operat- ing — was missing from Mair’s measures. And still lacking is decisive fed- eral government action to control _ exports of fee pink and sockeye salmon. Mair Seer new regulations Friday, stating that no new licenses will be issued to fish buyers or pro- ~ eessors pending further study. The moratorium on new opera- tions will apply until further notice although applications will still be accepted. Disclosure of financial backing will have to be filed with each application, Mair said. *“But it appears that the new reg- ulations don’t apply to those com- panies which are now operating,’’ said UFAWU secretary George Hewison, noting that such disclos- ure is critically important to deter- mine the extent to which the in- dustry — and the resource — is con- trolled by foreign capital. Mair stated in his announcement that companies now licensed would not be affected. Similarly missing is the morator- ium on new plant construction. sought by the UFAWU. Existing companies will be able to expand their present facilities or, if they had just been licensed when the reg- ulations went into effect, to begin construction. However, Mair’s regulations were seen as a direct response to the campaign mounted by the UFAWU, to stop runaway over-capitalization of the industry and the export of shore jobs. More than 150 fishermen, tender- men and shoreworkers lobbied the provincial legislature June 20 de- manding government action. The lobby followed earlier meetings with federal. fisheries minister James McGrath where the union pressed its demands for controls on the export of frozen salmon. The problem of foreign invest- ment has reached crisis proportions in the last two years with Japanese corporations pumping massive amounts of capital into existing Ca- nadian companies, either in *‘joint venture’’ schemes or through the purchase of debentures. Both methods effectively hide the degree - of foreign control. And in a pattern similar to that set in the herring roe fishery, the Japanese companies — including the two giants Marubeni and Mitsu- bishi — got the right to purchase all the company’s production in return for the investment. According to figures issued by the provincial marine resources branch, foreign (other than U.S.) control of the salmon market was already more than 29 per cent in 1977 — and the figure has increased since. According to Hewison, the Japanese now control some 28 per cent of the sockeye market alone. Linked to foreign control is the issue of exports of frozen salmon. and the federal restrictions which have had little effect in controlling them. The federal government imposed quality control restrictions in 1978, arguing that they would have the ef- fect of curbing exports. But the level nevertheless reached three times that of 1977. Earlier this year, the government indicated that it would relax quality . the environment minister heard at least part of —Joe Yoshida photo New rules on fishing industry investment ‘only afirst step’ The United Fishermen and Allied Workers Union said this week that control — a measure which would have allowed virtually uncontrolled exports — but later returned to 1978 restrictions. Although the reimposition of quality control was seen as a re- sponse to fishermen’s demands for curbs, there was still widespread concern that exports of frozen pinks and sockeye would continue to rise well above the 30 per cent level of 1978. The companies themselves have equivocated on the question of gov- _ ernment action in the fishing in- dustry, a reflection of the fact that many companies have shifted over to frozen production and most are benefiting from the soaring: prices and the opportunities for quick, short-term profits. Fisheries Association president Jerry Spitz last week balked at gov- ernment intervention, arguing that the government shouldn’t \ start “stumbling around’’ since the Jap- anese might retaliate. UE campaign to block closures wins backing TORONTO — The United Elec- trical Workers, faced with plant closures by four multinational cor- porations in Ontario, has won the backing of the Ontario Federation of Labor and Toronto’s York borough council in its campaign to save the jobs of some 1,200 workers. UE has been hit particularly hard in the last. four months with Westinghouse Canada Ltd., Cana- dian General Electric, Square D Company and ESB Canada Ltd. announcing either full or partial plant closures at operations in Toronto and Ontario. In many cases, the multinationals are moving Toronto-based opera- tions to outlying low-wage parts of the province. The OFL voted June 15 to senda strong protest to Ontario premier William Davis over the projected closure of Westinghouse’s Hamilton operation and calling on the premier to threaten cancellation of Ontario Hydro meter orders if the closure goes through. Ontario Hydro takes about 90 percent of Westinghouse’s meter production. The OFL will also be calling on the CLC to pressure the federal government for action to stop the closures. PACIFIC TRIBUNE—JULY 6, 1979—Page 8 The Federation’s campaign was in response to the appeal for sup- port from UE secretary Val Bajar- nason who noted that unless labor “mounts a campaign . . . not only will unemployment escalate but our future as a modern, advanced in- dustrial country will be doomed.’’ Last week, UE won the backing of Toronto’s York borough council which voted unanimously to sup- port the union in its campaign to stop the closure of the Square D plant and agreed to meet with the plant management to press for a reversal of the closure decision. Some 250 workers would be af- feeted if Square D goes ahead with its current plans to shut down its manufacturing plant in Toronto and relocate in three separate facilities elsewhere in the province. UE director of organization Art Jenkyn called on the council to “Suse every means at your disposal to convince this corporation to reverse its decision and maintain the plant as a viable contributor to the life and health of the community.”’ The motion, proposed by coun- cillor Oscar Kogan, also called on the council to meet with local MPs and MPPs to discuss ways and means government pressure can be applied to force the company to re- tain its operation. LRB to rule on anti-union firm A ruling was expected this week from the Labor Relations Board upholding a Carpenters Union col- lective agreement against the op- position of a construction company whose resistance to union organiza- tion has been marked wah violence in recent weeks. Vancouver alderman a lawyer Harry Rankin laid assault charges against Roy Costa on behalf of Carpenters Local 452 member Walter Kazikoff who was attacked and beaten while he was picketing a non-union construction site in .North Vancouver. The union had been picketing the project, the site for two new apart- ment buildings, in a bid to compel the contractor, Compac Construc- tion Ltd. to live up to the union agreement signed with the com- pany’s owner while he was operating another construction ‘company. Costa, an employee of Compac Construction, attacked Kazikoff while he was picketing on North Vancouver city property. Accor- ding to Local 452 business agent Colin Snell he ‘‘came out and put his fists and»boots to Kazikoff.”’ Kazikoff, who suffers from a heart condition, was hospitalized following the incident. Since that time, Snell said, several other picketers have been threatened while the company’s principal owner, developer Douglas Shore, has refused to comply with the union agreement despite an LRB order May 25 ruling that he was bound by the Carpenters’ agreement. Following a pattern repeated numerous times by many com- panies in the construction industry, Shore -has set up new construction companies to dodge union agreements. In 1975, his construction firm Maverick Construction began work on a B.C. Housing project in Vanderhoof on a non-union basis but was later compelled by existing NDP government legislation stipulating that all government con- tracts go to union companies, to sign a union agreement. The Carpenters later contacted Shore to reaffirm the agreement but Shore stated that his holding com- pany, Marbar Holdings Ltd., no longer had any employees and said that the union contract should be terminated. The Carpenters applied subse- quently for an LRB order following the disclosure that Marbar Holdings had acquired property in North Vancouver and had begun work on the project through a new company Compac Construction — again on a non-union basis. But despite the May 25 order — reaffirmed in a written ruling June 19 — ordering Compac Construc- tion to abide by the Carpenters’ ' Mississippi. agreement, Shore has refused } comply, insisting that he is awai the outcome of the appeal, expecté this week. “If a union were to try that would be in Supreme Court wi hours on a contempt charge,”’ said, responding to Shore’s cla “But this employer has been in ¢ tempt for six weeks.’’ The developer has had some dif ficulty completing the projet however, as city inspectors, B.© Hydro workers and Teleco munications Union members hav! refused to cross the picket line complete inspections and Hydi0| and telephone hook-ups. buildings were slated for July 10 cupancy but are still not finished. Delegates to the Vancouver ant District Labor Council called earlié this month for attorney-gene Garde Gardom to intervene to i | struct North Vancouver RCMP t0 lay charges against Costa for his at | tack on Kazikoff. The police h declined to act against the Comp Construction employee. Boycott of Husky urgec The International Woodwork of America is continuing to press boycott of Husky Oil Products back IWA members at a charco briquette manufacturer in Pachu Mississippi whose union contra was torn up when a Husky su sidiary,, Husky Industries, to over the plant several months ag The plant was run by Maso Corporation which had_ signed’ collective agreement providing trade union wages and conditio for the approximately 80 e& ployees. j “But now the operation is beimé scabbed by former jun employees of Masonite with as: ance from state legislation,”’ Regional Council of the IWA in a letter publicizing the boycott It urged consumers to boycO¥™ Husky House Restaurants, Husky Service Centres and several brat! name charcoal briquettes includi Grill Time, Cliffchar and Star G' as well as Sparky lighter fluid a” Hickory Chips. IWA Local 1-217 financial sec tary Doug Evans also called © trade unionists to send their Hus)” credit cards back tothe company © | protest the anti-union action An Alberta-based compan) Husky Oil Ltd. has holdings in se¥ eral provinces in Canada as well in the U.S. and other countries. There are a number of Husky sé vice : stations in most cent! throughout the province and 0} product — Grill Time charcoal bri | quettes — are widely distributed ie stores in B.C. Jack Phillips on vacation Address City or town Postal Code SONS OO NS CRS PACIFIC RiBUNE Read the paper that fights for labor | am enclosing: lyear$10[) 2 years $18 1) -6 months $6 (J _Old (5 New (Foreign 1 year $12 1 Donation $. roa was tia oe ee Ti PARA RER RAE EERE!