Barbara Stevens Interview: Breaking Barriers in Fishing and Union Activism
Barbara Stevens grew up in a fishing community on the Fraser River in British Columbia. Her father, Homer Stevens, was a leader in the fishing industry and the United Fishermen and Allied Workers Union (UFAWU). Barbara shares stories from her childhood, like her father being jailed for union activities, and the support her family received from the community.
This interview was conducted by Patricia Wejr on June 26, 2024 via video-conference from Burnaby, BC. It is part of our Oral History Collection.
Barbara Stevens grew up in a fishing community on the Fraser River in British Columbia. Her father, Homer Stevens, was a leader in the fishing industry and the United Fishermen and Allied Workers Union (UFAWU). Barbara shares stories from her childhood, like her father being jailed for union activities, and the support her family received from the community.
Barbara loved working on fishing boats. She started as a cook/engineer on a seine boat with her brother, and later worked on other types of boats like gillnetters and trollers. There were not a lot of women in the industry, and she had to learn how to make herself heard. She talks about the physical demands of the work, the dangers they faced, and the lack of safety regulations at the time. She also did some shorework: processing herring roe, and working at BC Packers.
When she got married and started her family, Barbara shifted her career to dry land. She started working for the union as the Assistant Director for the benefit fund. She campaigned to add a Safety Director to the union, ran WCB appeals for members, worked at the Unemployment Action Center and advocated for better benefits and industry safety regulations.