Labour

Clinic
dispute

a lesson
for labour
movement

By FRANK COX

Nursing and clerical staff at the
Comox Medical Clinic in Comox are
well into their fifth month of strike in
what is proving to be one of the most
bitter disputes the region has seen for a
long time. ;

Although this dispute received very
little publicity outside the Comox Valley,
the issues arising from it loom far larger
than a bargaining unit of nine workers in
a small private clinic might suggest.

Organized by the United Food and
Commercial Workers in January, 1989,
these workers started their struggle.
immediately as the owner-doctors refused
to recognize the bargaining unit. Re-
peated attempts by the union to bargain
in good faith met with no results.

In June, 1989 the Industrial Relations
Council ordered the clinic to bargain in
good faith. Still there was no co-
operation and on Oct. 5 the women were
out on the picket line to back their
demand for a first contract.

Strike issues centred around the usual
demands for seniority rights, grievance
procedures and a closed shop. Wage
rates were not an issue.

The doctors who own the clinic are
refusing to consider any of their basic
demands, despite the fact that 1989 gross
earnings for the clinic were expected last
year to exceed the $950,000 figure in 1988
(one doctor is known to have earned
$320,000 in that same year).

But the doctors apparently were not
content simply to refuse to bargain. They
proceeded to convince other doctors in
the community to refuse to handle any
patients from that clinic during the dis-
pute. For example, Wayne Bradley,
secretary of the Deep Bay local of the
United Fishermen and Allied Workers
Union, and his family had to make the
choice whether to go without medical
services in the area oF cross a picket line.
They did without.

Demonstrations, a letter-writing cam-
paign, and a lot of bad press was finally
successful in compelling the doctors to
abandon. that particular tactic. But
renewed attempts to bargain have so far
only met with an offer of a cash payment
if the workers would just forget the
whole idea of a union agreement.

Meanwhile, wives and children of doc-
tors are reported to be supplying at least
some of the scab labour that keeps the
clinic open.

There are, I think, some appropriate
observations to make regarding this dis-
pute. First of all, here again isan example
of tremendous spirit and determination
on the part of those on the picket line
that provides an inspiration for the
whole labour movement.

Second, it provides a good example of
a labour council strike support commit-
tee that has provided essential support
for the strikers and has helped to mobil-
ize broad support in the community.

The lessons of this dispute, in my opin-
ion, go far beyond these workers and this
community.

The entire question of privatization of
health care facilities is put into proper
perspective as the quality and the availa-

CLINIC PICKETS.... onstrike for four
months.

bility of medical services become, in cases
such as this clinic, questions of business.

The doctors of B.C., one might think,
would have a stake in disassociating
themselves from their colleagues at the
Comox clinic. Reports have it that the
B.C. Medical Association public cam-
paign for “better services” is being
greeted in at least the Comox Valley with
some suspicion. The Comox experience
would confirm in many minds that
health care privatization where no public
accountability exists is neither in the
interests of the medical community or
the people of B.C.

Some mention of the union’s role in
this dispute is worth making.

To its credit, the UFCW has made
some effort to organize in sectors not
traditionally organized, such as in small
clinics, among home care workers and in
other areas where women predominate
in the work force.

But this dispute also demonstrates
that problems many unions face in pro-
viding the wherewithal to follow up
organizing efforts with adequate servic-
ing and necessary support.’ From my
experience, unions have to be prepared

Labour Forum

to commit resources far out of propor-
tion to the numbers involved when they
take on small units. Shortcomings in this
regard (including limited support from
the UFCW local in the area) are report-
edly being addressed by the union now.

The dispute also raises the issue that if
women in this province are going to earn,
on average, more than 65 cents on the
dollar compared to men, and their often
desperate working conditions improved,
more of the trade union movement will
have to take up the cause and put the
necessary resources to organize the
unorganized where women make up the
majority of the work force. Many such
places are small and difficult to organize
and service. and unions need new tactics
for dealing with such employers.

At this time, the workers at the
Comox Medical Clinic are still on strike
with no indication that change is in sight.

As I understand it, options are now
being explored to approach the IRC
again for some action. No doubt the
irony is again not lost that the body
whose very existence has helped employ-
ers get their way is still where we are
compelled to seek help.

One is again reminded that a stepped-
up campaign against this anti-labour leg-
islation and the promotion of new and
fair labour legislation should be high on
labour’s agenda.

In the meantime I’m sure a call by the
UFCW local or the Campbell River and
District Labour Council strike support
committee for specific forms of assist-
ance would be answered by the labour
movement.

12 e Pacific Tribune, February 26, 1990

fay ee. MEEK Te, ee te Rig he eee

Firms threaten jobs
to force price cuts

Union fishermen are incensed over com-
pany demands for a 60-per-cent price cut in
roe herring for the upcoming season, des-
pite anticipated price hikes for the delicacy
in the industry’s biggest customer, Japan.

And the compan-
ies, represented by
the Fish Processors
Bargaining Associa-
tion, have threatened
to use U.S. exports

and scab fishermen
if the United Fisher-
men and Allied.

Workers Union does
not accept the cuts,
the union warns.

“This is an ex-
ample of what is happening to workers
throughout the industry, not just those on
herring,” UFA WU secretary-treasurer John
Radosevic told the Vancouver and District
Labour Council on Tuesday.

And, he told fellow trade unionists, ‘“‘it’s
what all of you are looking down the barrel
at” because all face challenges through the
corporate re-structuring of Canada.

The companies are demanding the union
accept $290 per ton as a minimum price for
seine-caught roe herring — herring eggs
— considered a delicacy in Japan, where it
fetches high prices. Last year’s minimum
price for fishermen was $705.

For the higher-valued gillnet catch, the
minimum offered is $570 per ton, down
from last year’s $1,277.

The union is demanding price hikes of
$800 and $1,550 respectively.

Fishermen took a cut last year when the
“carry-over” from the previous year’s supp-
lies in Japan was high, the market was satu-
rated with roe from competing fisheries,
and national concern over the late Emperor
Hirohito’s failing health depressed market
demand.

But this year, there is every indication
that the market price in Japan will increase
over last year’s levels, according to a Cana-
dian Embassy report.

The report from the Tokyo embassy,
requested by the UFAWU, noted that last
Christmas, wholesalers’ prices fell about
five per cent.

But, “it would appear that the outlook
for salted herring roe from B.C. is very good
this year. The market has fully recovered
from the problems experienced last year
... the economy is booming, hence high
demand for luxury foods and gifts,” stated
the report from agriculture and fisheries
counsellor Gordon Parsons.

The report cited several causes, including
a low carryover of existing supplies, reduced
exports from the east coast last year, anda
depressed fishery in Alaska.

- The companies have said they’ll pay an
amount above the minimum if the union
accepts a the gillnet price and up to 16 prices
for seine-caught fish, varying according to
region. But they haven’t disclosed what the
amount will be, and that is unacceptable,
Radosevic told the labour council.

Meanwhile, he warned: ““Companies are

RADOSEVIC

fesse

telling us that if we fight back and strike,
they'll use scab fishermen and then make
our shoreworkers pay as well — they'll
ship fish across the line to the U.S. for pro-
cessing.”

The companies’ threat is based on Otta-

* wa’s agreement to allow at least 25 per cent

of the roe herring to be shipped south to the
United States, a result of the federal
government cave-in to U.S. challenges
launched under the General Agreement on
Trade and Tariffs, and to recommendations
by a panel under the Free Trade Agree-
ment.

At the UFA WU convention last month,
president Jack Nichol vowed members
would ‘“‘do whatever we have to do and fill
the jails” to fight the export of shore
workers’ jobs, :

“This is a serious, serious threat to out
fishermen,” Radosevic said.

He said the union has yet to draw up
plans to fight the cutbacks, but, “‘one thing’s
for sure — we won’t take it lying down —

we'll be fighting back.” =

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