Members of the Bering Sea Fisherman's
Union went on strike April i against che
Alaska Salmon Industry*
Strike status will bd maintained until
the fishermen hare a negotiated Signed
agreement with the industry* according to
Jim Downey# business agent fdr the BSFU*
"To date the industry has shown no de
sire to bargain in good faith with us# so
fre are appealing to all unions involved in
Wishing operations hare#** Downey said# "to
feepeot our strike for a parity with other
fishing areas of Alaska.**
The BSFU has been fighting for reoog- .>
nition As bargaining agent with the in
dustry for the past year«v Agreements were
made with rival unions described by
Downey as "Outside agents*** he further
explained that "Fishing is Our whole eoo->
nomyand prices are of primary importance*11
The salmon industry orrerea jl»w con
tracts based on last season's asre^mont to
eight unions and did not include BSITJ.
Industry spokesmen reoognlsed the inde
pendent Alaska Fishermen's Union, withr >.
headquarters in Seattle* as the bargaining
representation for Bristol Bay Oorkors* .
Twelve Bristol Bay paokers filed a dan*
age suit this, spring of $208,872 against
the BSFtJ, the Seafarers International Uniea
and the Sailors Union of the PaoJfio an a
result of the six-day picketing, charging
the three groups with Conspiracy to com- .
pel the packers to recognise the BSFU as
bargaining agentw, “•
in 19ii0, inter-union fighting in the •
Bay held up fishing until June 23, result
ing in the lose of the entire king salmon
run. Last year the industry paid 40^* par
red oaimon/‘the Bey's ohief catch.
Packers normally ship supplies ana pre
•easoji workerd no-th about March 15.
So thi8 is the lashing situation to
date. The union member*, hare -show no in
dication of reiincmiifting their .strike ,,
statu8 until suoh a time as an agreement,
and rocognisat ion aro forthco ming •
It is probable that more significant
news will be available upon publication
of tho next is.jue*
. In a recent Bulletin published and 3
OOftpiled by Father Sebrge Emlal#1 the;
sanctiuvtMvlcu.a riaok is stripped from the
face of the Alaska Salmon Industry. This
expose of facts heretofore unchallenged
will a maso you and start you thinking
Instead of merely aocopting.*
A few highlights found in this Bulletin
aire following*
' Data received hy one ASI operator con*
oerning the cost of putting up his pack#
reveals his 1643 operations netting fc
160# profit andhls 1660 operations netting
7Z% profit. (This to be taken with the ,
salty thought that 10# profit is fTegently
considered GOOD.) If this was average#' the
Bristol Bay Operators took #22#000#000
profit cut of Western Alaska in ■45 throng
1? operating canneries, and $8,000,000 , .
profit- in 1950# (Not exactly sneeze-able*) -
Knowing facts like these is the reason .
. 1fe> Arnpid doos not impress Bristol Bay ?
residents when he plays up the economic .p- •...
outlook of the coming year* Furthermore#
it is known, that by the time the next..v
pack is put up the problem will again [> ■;
be inflation NOt deflationl v
Fr. Endul makes three reoommendatiens *..
to ASt?o Arnold to get him out of his . t.s-\
"Black Year1* doldrums* r
lg Get prices and profits into line sc, ,
the fiahormon get a fair prioe .for their i
fish an determined by free and honest ,-j
competition* "'i
2 c oovor its a lliance with communistic, < r:,
power* . fj •
3c Follow policies whioh lead to indixw ^
ect peace. (.Bight of these policies **00*- *».
liafcod but only four woro specifically k '
recommended to AST#} F^r example* / \m':» r j .•*
1*. DtfFJ foal a the Industry oppose* * theft. ,v
because they could not’be bought or eo-j
troled. v _ mbit
Feel industry is interfering in this
Union5 s internal affairs by trying’ia -;;W
wreit fche cannery w^r-cere Union’ from the «*. Vw
leadership of Jim Downey, (Pa,£se Four)'! vrv »
'■* ■ V>' -V <»r»
*.