Seamen Urge
“Bill Of Rights”’

Among the many progressive
decisions adopted by the recent
CSU convention was the demand
for the ouster of the nazi dictat-
ership of Franes in Spain, and
the decision té picket any of
#Eranco’s ships provisioning in
Canadian ports. Thé convention
voted unanimous support of the
Australian Longshoremen in the
latter’s refusal to load SHips with
War supplies for use against the
Indonesian people, in their
Struggle for independence. Not
the least important was the con-
vention’s protest against the
Government’s handling of the
espionage issue, a procedure
Which has permitted it to be-
come an incitement of war
against the USSR, and an open
attack upon labor at home.

The convention went on record
for an 8-hour day and a minimum
wage for seamen, together with
a “Bill of Rights” in place of the?
outmoded “Canada Steamships
Act,” under which Canadian sea-
men are deprived of every ele-
mentary right of free men, and
can be prosecuted at will under
this obsolete act.

Feb. 25th to March ist.
-Montreal, vice-president

Labor Congress of Canada.

\

for Quebec;
vice-president, who become acting-p
Cyril E. Lenten, treasurer:
Ceft to right), Conrad Sauras, Montreal; Gregory Saville, Halifax:
Lakes District: H. GC. Meade, Halifax, Atlantic Coast vice-president;
Canadian Fishermen’s Union, a CSU affiliate; Wm. Sehmaltz, Fort W.

and J. M. “Digger” Smith, Vancouver.

. National Executive of the Canadian Seamen’s Union is seen her

Seated are (left to right), James Thom
tT. G. MeManus, CSU general secretary;
resident while Pat Sullivan is on leave
Alderman Dewar Fergusson, Toronte, sec
Aage Antonsen, Thorold, Ontario, yice-president for Grea F
Capt. Benjamin Mackenzie, Lockport, WNS., representing thi 5
illiam, Edward Reid, St. John, N-B.; Fred Hackett, Torento

pson, Vancouver,

e following its election at the Union’s convention in Montreal }F
Pacific Goast vice-president: :
J. & (Pat) Sullivan, President: Harry Davis, firs’
of absence as secretar
ond yice-president,.

Theodore Roy

y-treasurer; of the Trades anc
Standing

ei

Fishermen’s Convention Sets
8-Hr. Day, Wage Increase Aim

The United Fishermen and Allied W or kers’
fishermen and shoreworkers of British Columbia,
join the nation-wide movement for Wage increases

Meeting in second annual con-

vention in Vancouver this week,

the 100 delegates from all parts
of the Coast and every section
of the industry are expected to
fully approve the officers’ recom-
Mendations calling for signed
agreements for the various cate-
gories of fish, and the eight-hour
day, wage increases and over-
time pay for cannery, reduction
plant and net workers.

An indication of the temper of
the workers is seen in the de-
cision of the net workers to go
on strike this Thursday and re-
main off the job until the oper-
ators agree on terms for wage
increases, the eight-hour day,
time and a half for overtime over
208 hours monthly. The strike,
will also remain in effect until
the agreement is recognized by
the regional labor board.

Union,

By AL PARKIN

representing 5600 organized
is the latest Canadian trade union to
and the shorter working week.

Wages and working conditions
in canneries and other shore in-
Stallations have always been a
principal problem in the indus-
try. Fhe officers’ report cites the
example of one union member
having worked 224 hours in 14
days for straight pay—an aver-
age of 16 hours a day without
overtime. In six weeks this same
worker put in 436 hours, or an
average of 72 hours per week.

On political issues, the UFAWU
convention is equally forth-
right in taking a progressive
stand. Among the key resolu-
tions already unanimously en-
dorsed is one protesting against
“the parody of justice being prac-

ticed in the case of the espion-
age probe.’

“We re-affirm our support for
a policy of continued friendship,
cooperation and trade between
cur country and the Soviet

Correcting the impression cre-
ated several weeks ago by a
series of newspaper advertise-
ments inserted by the Salmon
Canners’ Operating Committee,
the officers’ report, signed by
President George Miller, Secre-
tary William Rigby and Business
Agent Alex Gordon, states that
“the main issue in our agree-
ments this year will not be the
union shop, but wages, hours and
conditions of work, particularly
of the most underpaid sections
of our membership.”

Specifically, the union is out for
a basic rate in canneries of 65
cents an hour with a minimum
Suarantee of $65 a . month, to-
gether with the eight-hour day:
and time and 4 half for overtime,
these conditions to apply equally
for women workers. A 10-percent

inerease in piece rates will also

union,” the resolution declared,
“and oppose the conclusion of
military alliances that would di-
vide the United Nations into op-
Posing blocs, preparing the way
for World War III.”

An interesting feature of the
convention is the presence as a
delegate of Elgin “Scotty” WNeish,
well known fishermen, who is at
the same time a regular dele-
gate to this week’s convention of
the Bc. Command, Canadian
Legion. It was Neish who intro-
duced a resolution calling for a
broad program of fish conser-
vation. Legion delegates had
Previously endorsed the resolu-
tion, as an expression of Labor-
Veteran unity.

The UFAWU convention,
which opened Monday and will
probably end Saturday, was of
ficially opened by Ald. R. K.

be pressed.
PAOIFIC TRIBUNE — PAGE 2

feeaniole ah

Wtoeronhrih..w, | MeeLuns

Gervin, representing the WVan-

Tne wa rriryrnaca

couver City Council and the
AFL, Trades and Labor Council.
Among the fraternal] delegates
are Oscar Rodin of Seattle,
board member of the CIO -Inter-
national Fishermen and Allied
Workers of America, Breen Mel-
Vin of the UBC Extension De-
partment, George Anderson of
the Deepsea Fishermen’s Union
of Prince Rupert, Perey Glad-
stone of the Native Brotherhood,
and Harold Pritchett of the In-
ternational Woodworkers of
America.

Leo Sweeney
Booster For
Company Unions

Under the auspices of Minister
of Labor Pearson, a vote for cer-
tification to determine the bar-

gaining agency has been carried
through among the employees of
the Sweeney Cooperage Co., Vic-
toria. The vote favored Local i-
118 of the IWA by 47 to 39.

Company unionism has been
actively promoted in the plant,
and the situation reached a criti-
cal stage some time ago when six
men were discharged for union
activity. Leo Sweeney, B.C. tour-
ist “booster” is stated to have
been doing a lot of campaigning
for the company union, with lots
of free cigars, back-slappinge and
“George Babbit” stuff. His efforts
failed to win a Majority for the
company union.

Local 1-118 will open negotia-
tions immediately with a demand
that the discharged men be rein}
stated.

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