Challenges
Working conditions in Alaska canneries are unfair
By Dennis Burke
It seems that the fishing industry is not interested in responding to our challenge about their employment contracts. Several canneries were contacted but none replied. Even an offer to allow for a written reply met with no response.
Well then we will let facts speak for themselves. The average wage for a cannery worker is 7.50 to 8.00 an hour. This is little more than Alaska’s minimum wage. Hours are long (twelve to fourteen hour days are common), and the work is dangerous, wet and cold. Jobs are seasonal, and there is no guarantee of return the next season. A certain level of fear and intimidation, created by these factors, drives the tired workers into a hectic, competitive pace that only adds to the dangers. Moving forklifts, massive machinery and sharp implements in a wet, cold, slippery environment creates situations that lead to high incidents of injury and even death.
The workers are transported to remote, wilderness sites along Alaska’s coast, to smelly fishing villages, that has little activity outside the fishing industry that dominates the town. These villages are remote and would not exist without the canneries. The companies usually provide tickets, on a contract basis, for the remote sites. At less remote areas, like Seward, transportation is sometimes not provided. Also at remote sites housing and food is provided. The food ranges from excellent to seafood leftovers from processing. It is to be noted that usually the union companies offer the best deals.
If a person making an employment contract breaks it before the term is up (usually from beginning to end of season-about three months on average) they must pay their own way back. Tickets are expensive and usually eat up all money made. Some of the nearer canneries offer tent space, and the cost of food, as much as $7.00 a meal, is deducted from paychecks.
Here’s what NIOSH (The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) has to say about the Alaskan commercial fishing industry:
The Alaskan commercial fishing industry has an occupational fatality rate of 140 per 100,000 yearly, which is twenty times the national average.
The objective of Alaska Humanity News is to address current problems in the light of our objective at problem solving. We had hoped for responses from those corporations contacted at random. Without input we were forced to “call them as we see them.” We were offered no opposing view or explanation. It is not our policy to caste aspersion. We would be happy to publish a response from any interested party!
—Dennis Burke