The Wrangell sentinel., 1944-05-12
TrOIlerS
 Form Union
 In WrangelI

filled the Fire Hall to capacity Tuesday night. a union of local trollers was formed, and after dis cussion it was decided to await not ice from the Office of Price Admin istration before starting fishing Following is a transcript of the minutes of the meeting, detailing the various business transacted:
 The meeting was called to order by Mayor P. G. Hanford at 7:30 D. m The Mayor stated the meeting was called to hear a report from Hhe committee that was sent to Ket- chikan for informatin regarding the tie-up of the trollers.
 The Mayor stated that owing 10 the fact that the trollers were not organized in Wrangell. a collection was taken up among the independ- ent trollers to defray expenses of a committee. This committee was Icomposed of s. Thomas, Ed Welles- Hey, and NJ. Goodrich. local trollers l The meeting was then turned over l to MT Thomas, who acted as chair man. MT Thomas then made a detailed report of his findings.
 He stated that prior to the or ganization of the trollers union in Ketchikan, the independent fishermen had taken up a collection and sent A. P. Walker to Seattle to confer with the o. p. A. regard ing prices and allocation. The O. P. A. refused to hear MT. Walker due to the fact that he was not repre- senting an organization. After the Ketchikan union was organized in March, they submitted price for sal mon agreed upon by the union and the fish buyers. This price was 25t, 17t, 16c and 15c, hauling price to be 8, 2, and ? with a 12 pound break for mild cure salmon. No de- cision had been reached by the O. P A. other than the price had been set the same as the price in1g4S Ii was stated by MT. Thomas that no strike had been called. that it was only a voluntary tie-up by the un- ion and independent trollers and that any fish bought by fish buyers could not be called 'hot cargo" as there was no strike. Furthermore, that no strike could be called with out 30 days notice. Mr. Thomas then stated there were $50 to 500 trollers in Ketchikan but the union membership IT.
 Some questions. were then asked the chairman by members of the meeting, and a copy of the follow ing telegram sent from the Juneau union to Harold Gilmore, secretary of the Ketchikan Union, was read. Quote: Meeting tonight this dis .trict tied up solid any salmon re ceived Southeast Alaska will be de- clared hot cargo expect early set clement. Signed, UTA of Juneau. Unquote ..:
 The Ketehikan union declared this out of order as there was no strike ordered Mr. Thomas read the following written report: sC1) The buyers of Alaska are on a tie-up more for their own pro- tection than they are in sympathy with the fishermen.
 CD Without the buyers help the fishermen could not call a tie-up because the local union in Ketch- ikan representsf only lii trollers and less than 100 in Juneau.
 (3) There are about $50 inde- pendent boats in Ketchikan, 60 in Wrangell and only about half of the boats in the other districts are ready to fish if any buyers would buy their fish.
 (4) Buyers are not afraid of the union because there is no way the union can tie up the fish In order to declare strike any local union must give 30 days notice to their international and a strike, picket ing, or 'hot cargo" order must be o. K.'d by the international. Any local union breaking this rule is subject to prosecution by law
 (5) It is reported by Ketchikan and Juneau locals that the Gov ernor of Alaska has stated in meetings that the fishermen must organize for their own protection and for the protection of all AL askan interests.
 co The trollers have asked the 10. P. A. for prices set at 26e, 17e, f16e, and a 12 pound break for mild cure, prices to be paid on the grounds regardless of the area the packers are located in.
 CD These prices are subjected to the o. P. A. for bargaining and the union trollers will return to the fishing grounds when the o. P. A, gives final decision, either for or against their grounds.
 (8) Serious thought should be given to the allocation problem, not only by the fishermen of the l halibut fleet but also by the troll
 (Continued on Page Four)