Even From
pp. 13-14 · Read in the full issue
Women's Lib
Trade Unions
f rom FLLISE VA'A in Pago Pago a historical development took place i n American Samoa earlier this year when the United States National Labour Relations Board (NLRB), the highest labour court in the US, ma de a landmark decision bringing American Samoa under its jurisdiction and making it possible for United States unions to expand into the territory.
The decision was the outcome of a battle that has been waged between the United Cannery and Industrial Workers of the Pacific and Van Camp Co, a major fish canning company in the United States with a branch in American Samoa, Heartened by a federal court’s de cision extending its jurisdiction to cover oil monopolies in American Samoa (in the case of Standard Oil), United Cannery was one of the earliest, if not the first union, to try to establish in the territory. But its attempt was contested all the way by Van Camp which, though unionised in other places, apparently did not want to see unionism in American Samoa, “But at every step of the fight, we won,” said Steve Edney, president of United Cannery, during a recent visit to the territory.
Unfortunately for the union, when the union elections were held at Van
Camp in May, the majority of the Van Camp workers, mostly women tuna packers, voted against joining United Cannery. The voting figures were 179 for, 391 against joining.
Here at the time to conduct public relations on behalf of the United Cannery union were Edney, president, Larry Parks, vice-president (and president of the Brotherhood of Beverage Workers), and Edward Lefeiloai, a special assistant to Edney.
The union men had expected an overwhelming victory. Before the election, they claimed they had 70 per cent of the workers’ signatures in favour of joining the union. But it was almost the other way round.
What could have gone wrong in the election? Whether by a coinci dence or by a well-prepared plan on the part of the union’s opponents, Senate President Salanoa Tumoeua logo had made a blistering attack on unionism over KVZK-TV the very evening before the union election.
Salanoa had been widely known as an anti-unionist, for the simple reason he feared unions would destroy the faaSamoa (Samoan way of living embodying Samoa’s customs and traditions and a moral, ethical and ritualistic code) as well as the matai system.
The United Cannery officials had no doubt that Salanoa, an influential matai and politician, dealt a mortal blow to their cause. They rated many of Salanoa’s charges as slanderous and plan to sue him for damages.
They also plan to lodge an official complaint with the Federal Communi cations Commission against KVZK’s so-called unethical election practices.
Under law, elections whether to join a union can be held yearly and it is almost a foregone conclusion that the United Cannery people will be back next year.
The reaction to the election results was mixed. Van Camp’s general manager, Vernon Wright, was re ported by a local newspaper to be extremely happy with the results.
The union fever is still spreading.
National Labour Relations Board examiner, Edward Parnell, is reported to be working on election dates for stevedoring and bottling company em ployees as well as for other small businesses.