The Daily Alaska empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1926-1964, 1950-10-28
.ILWU AIMS AT
COORDINATION,
ALASKA UNIONS

!
representative of the ILWU Qn-
ternational Longshoremen's and
Warehousemen's Union) held in
Alaska took place in Juneau yes
terday and today. Only represen-
tatives from Southeast Alaska at
tended The announced aims of the
meetings were to create more
tighly-knit union organization and
! to discuss the problems of the vari-
Gus divisions which included work.
ers in warehouses, cold storage,
shellfish, salmon, fishing and long
snoring. Organizers hoped to even
tually cover the entire Territory,
| they said.
Harry Bridges, president of the in
ternational union, was unable to be
present. However, First Vice Presi-
dent j. R. Robertson and Second
Vice President German Bulcke of
San Francisco are present.
John Olofson, Local 16 of Juneau
was elected permanent chairman
and Hans j. Hansen, Local 81, Ket-
chikan. permanent secretary.
Robertson Talks
Robertson, main speaker for the
first session, outlined the import
ance of all members of the union
working for what is good for the
worker and the industry" and for
shooting at the goal of "respecta-
bility for the ILWU." He said that
it had been the object of insidious
propaganda through the newspapers
and radio, that the union had held
it's own against the use of economic
weapons and was now having polit-
ical weapons used against 1T. He
predicted that the increased use
of political weapons could be ex-
pected. He pointed out that under
the Wagner Act from 1885 to. 1947,
there were no antitrust suits
against labor but under. the present
Taft Hartley law that there was an
increased number of legal actions.
He urged coordinated action by all
locals to assist in solving problems,
and to build Territory-wide or
ganization.
Delegates Confer
Following Robertson, various con-
ference delegates reported progress
and problems in the different di-
visions of the union. Walter Mccall,
of the purse seiners union at Ket-
chikan. told of the merging of his
union with ILWU, took a crack at
the Fish and Wildlife Service in
regard to salmon escapement in GER
tain areas which was reported good
because fish traps were taken out
by storms. He expressed hope that
next season the price Of fish to the
fisherman would be on the basis OF
poundage and not per fish.
Freeze Possibility
Oscar Erickson, business agent Tor
the Alaska Fisherman's Union IN
Southeast Alaska, Ketchikan, re-
marked that it was possible there
might be a freeze of wages and fish
prices which should be considered.
Andy Barlow, executive secretary
of the United Trollers of Alaska
(CIO), Juneau, as an invited guest
to the session, expressed his appre-
citation at being invited to attend
There was a rather substantial
representation of the cannery work
ers affiliated, with ILWU VINO
brought up local problems OF hours
wages, living conditions and being
assigned to labor not properly pc
longing to their union.
Today's meeting went into execu-
tive session at mid-morning TO as
cuss policy statements, membership
service and methods Of coordina-
ton. A session last night was con-
cerned with the problems OF local
marine warehousemen and colo
storage workers.
The convention is expected to be
| concluded today.
Margaret Williams of ILWU Local
222, Cannery Division OF Peters
burg, whose group is out on striKe
| in the crab and shrimp, refused W
discuss the strike with the press
Il promised our conciliator' Ioiii
Moore, not to give out anything 10
the press through the union or TINS
| conference" she said.