SOO aOR nn An historic chapi the battle The drama of the Canadian Seamen’s Union, its role in lifting seamen’s conditions and wages into the 20th century, and the hard day-to-day slogging to build and maintain such a union, has yet to be put down in the fullness it deserves. Yet the times demand that the record be set straight, and that a@ younger generation should be acquainted with this mighty chap- ter in the struggle of the Canadian working class. It is a story of of worker unity, of relentless boss effort to smash the union, and in the end, government assistance to the companies to do just that, and to scuttle the Canadian merchant fleet. : By MARGE FERGUSON The Canadian Seamen’s Union, in a short, but glorious, 15 years of struggle, liberated Canadian seamen from conditions reminis- cent of the Captain Bligh period in shipping (the 84-hour week as a minimum, and often 100 hours a week for most), and establish- ed the 8-hour day and 40-hour week. Wages as low as $30 to $65 a month were hoisted up to $165 to $250 a month in 1946. During this period the CSU also formulated a shipping poli- | cy for Canada, which won sup- port from large sections of the labor movement, and from Cana- dians in all walks of life. This policy would have maintained and extendéd Canada’s post war merchant marine to bolster and aid Canada’s role in the expand- ing world market. It is ironic that it required 30 years before a government-ap- pointed consultant, H. J. Darl- ing, could reach the same con- clusion in 1975. His report was tabled in the Commons on Janu- ary 30, this year. Mr. Darling said in his report that Canada’s “hands-off-policy” toward inter- national shipping “‘is close to be- coming a unique case among the world’s main trading nations.” Canada’s 300 Ships _In 1939, Canadian deep sea ships sailing under the Canadian flag were ranging between eight and 13. Partially as a result of British losses in the merchant marine in the. spreading world war, and in part a response to Canada’s own shipping demands, Canada began to build merchant ships very rapidly. By the end of 1942 or early 1943, the Crown Corporation, Park Steamship Company, had from 283 to 300 ships in opera- tion. From early 1943 onward these ships were being turned over to individual shipping companies, which also received a govern- ment subsidy for their insurance and upkeep. Between 1943 and 1949 these ships were slowly being sold to foreign subsidiaries of these companies. This was being done for several reasons. The com- panies could obtain cheaper la- bor if the ships were flying other than Canadian flags.. The Cana- dian shipping regulations were very stringent in terms of safety, etc. This too could be avoided by changing nationalities. The companies could also avoid heavy Canadian taxes this way. What this meant for the Cana- dian Seamen’s Union. was the loss of jobs for Canadian sea- men, and the eventual destruc- tion of the Canadian merchant marine. Communist Participation During the war years the Ca- nadian Seamen’s Union organiz- ed many groups of merchant seamen to sail on the most dan- gerous runs of the times. It should be said that the seamen were, in general, fearless, good natured, happy and_ unselfish people, which may have account- ed in part for the success in the kind of union they were able _ to build. Of course other factors enter- ed into their successful organiz- ing, not least the heroic leader- ship of their elected spokesmen; some of whom were known members of the Communist Party of Canada. This latter point was a big asset for the union, as it afforded a collective, and rounded out discussion of problems on.the basis of the rich experience of Canadas communists. i Bona-Fide Union The union started in the fol- lowing manner: On an April morning in 1936 a small group of seamen, zealous in the interests of their fellow workers, opened an office in Montreal and began to organize the Canadian Seamen’s Union. April 1936 became an eventful month for all Canadian seamen as it saw the initial step taken in the fight to improve their con- ditions and secure for them the full benefits of honest trade unionism and.-collective bargain- ing. The difficult upstream haul of this handful of union-minded seamen, working without funds, was enough to discourage any but the most stout-hearted. A wall of confusion and dis- trust had been built up by ear- lier misleaders, a wall that had to be broken down before any appreciable growth of a bona- fide union could be hoped for. But the seamen needed pro- ied tt tee 2. 2 2? eee tection, better wages, better con- ditions and industrial security. They began to understand the message of the new organization and. to differentiate between it ‘and others which had earlier be- trayed them. The Canadian Seamen’s Union began to grow, and in July of 1936 a second office was opened in the City of Toronto. At the end of the year the Union had secured a foothold on the Great Lakes, and more than 1,200 sea- men were enrolled under its ban- ner. : ; Verbal Agreement Early in the next year, 1937, the Canadian Seamen’s Union held its first annual convention in the Labour Temple, Toronto. Seventeen delegates were in at- tendance; and two days were spend in continuous session, lay- ing out a program for the ship- ping season of that year. : Two months later, the Cana- dian Seamen’s Union spanned the lakes and opened its thir office in Fort William. : At the height of that season, a verbal agreement was reached with the Canada Steamship Lines, Tree Line and the Q and O Transportation. This agree- ment increased wages as much as 40% fcr the men working on these lines. Following this gain the union proceeded to deal with other companies in an effort to make the advance a general one in the industry. The operators were also orga- nized for self-protection. Their organization, which later grew and developed into the Lake Carriers’ Association, was to all intents and purposes a union of the -bosses. Its: purpose was to keep rates up by eliminating competition. They also hoped that by being so organized they would be in a stronger position to deal with their employees. Accordingly they sat tight and refused to meet with the officers. Owners Came to Terms The union met on September 28, 1937 at the deadline for a The Canadian Seamen’s Union in a short, but glorious, 15 years of struggle, liberated Canadian “OR YESTERDAY. BE IMQOSTRIAL WE DONT WANT ANY general strike against these com- panies. Strike orders were re- leased and all preparations: com- pleted for a struggle. Eight hours before the strike call was to go into effect, the ship owners came to terms and the wages of every seaman on the Great Lakes went up by from 20% to 25% that day. The end of 1937 saw more than 60% of the sea- men in the Canadian Seamen’s Union. At the second annual conven- tion, held in. Montreal in 1938, a roll of 72 delegates testified to the growth of the union. Almost every Great Lakes port was rep- resented. Organizations of the marine engineers, captains, mates and pilots. sent fraternal delegates. This convention de- monstrated how completely a real trade union had established itself in the minds. and confi- dence of the men. Here, for the first time in our country, rank and file seamen tcok the floor to discuss their problems and desires in the most democratic fashion. Point by point they formulated the consti- tution under which the union was to operate. By secret ballot they elected, without fear or favor, the leadership that was to carry out its policies. It can tru- ly be said that this convention marked the decisive turning point in the industry, and added to the trade union movement of Canada a progressive, democra- tic organization of seamen. Forced to Sign Statement But the fact that the seamen were enthusiastically flocking to the Canadian Seamen’s Union did not discourage the operators of a dozen shipping lines from s seamen: from conditions reminiscent of the Captain Bligh period in shipping (the 84-hour week as G minimum, and often 100 hours a week for most), and established the 8-hour day and 40-hour week. The union later had to defend itself from raids by. U.S. based, gangster-led unions. PACIFIC TRIBUNE—FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1975—Page 6 : my {KE ” te COST : e wie Lv WEI) OUP | DMO, 152 AR = F incre making another attempt to force the men back under the control of the McMaster company union. These operators knew that the new union was properly and honestly led. .They obviously hated and feared it: : In April, these companies be- gan to intimidate their CSU em- ployees in an attempt to swing them away from the union and back’ to the McMaster company union. Action in defence of the right to belong to the CSU be- came necessary and the union | prepared for strike action. In 4 few hours 54 out of 57 lake ships affected were tied up. In three days the well-laid plans of the | companies had been spiked by the united action of the seamen. _ The ship owners were forced to sign a statement that no dis- crimination would be practised against the CSU members, and the union won the right to speak for the seamen. As part of its consclidation- drive following this event, the union opened an- other cffice in Thorold. But peace was not yet assured. The Camp- bell interests, operators of the Ncrth American Transport, Mo- hawk Navigation and Inland lines, ‘began to violate the agree- ment almost immediately. Once more the CSU was forc- ed to take strike action because of the deep hatred of some of the operators. On June 4 the Da- mia, a vessel belonging to the Campbell interests, was tied up at_Cornwall by its crew on or- ders from CSU_ headquarters. ‘Shipping in the St. Lawrence Canal system was paralyzed and government officials from Otta- | wa appeared on the scene. The determined attitude of the CSU won the day and once more the Company officials promised not to discriminate against union seamen. Exclusive Representative August 1938 is a milestone if . the history of the Canadian Sea- men’s Union. That month saw thé organizaiton win its first signe’ agreement. This pact with Can- ada Steamship Lines recogniz the union as the “exclusive rep” resentative of all its employees,” and provided for a general $5 in- crease in wages. This agreement was not secured without the csu being compelled to make prepa” rations for a strike, and it sup” plied further proof of the fact that increases and better condi tions are not granted by thes? employers out of sheer good wil or an understanding of their re sponsibility. Collective, organiZ- ed strength in each case was re quired in order to assure regults- A week later the Lake CarriefS Association, whose membershiP operated 65% of Great Lakes shipping, signed up with the CSU. This brought 85% of all ship ping under written contract with the union. : Next week: The great 1948 strike; and government treach ery.’