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. ~