Union Women in the Fishing Industry, Podcast Ep. 28
Many women worked in BC’s once numerous canneries and fish processing plants; for some this was a stepping stone to working on the fish boats. We examine the gendered dimension of labour in this industry through interviews with activist Barbara Stevens (daughter of the legendary Homer Stevens) and union leader Joy Thorkelson. This episode of On the Line is the second in our two part-series on women in the fishing industry.
Publication date: October 15, 2024
Podcast length: 29:28
Hosted by: Rod Mickleburgh
Research and writing by: Patricia Wejr and Rod Mickleburgh
Production by: John Mabbott
Barbara Stevens, daughter of union leader Homer Stevens, recounts her early involvement with the Women’s Auxiliary of the United Fishermen and Allied Workers Union (UFAWU). The Auxiliary, while separate from the main union, engaged in community outreach, environmental campaigns, and policy advocacy—providing a formative political education for many participants. Stevens later worked on seiners, taking on roles such as cook-engineer and drum operator before joining the UFAWU’s staff, where she handled safety issues, WCB appeals, and union benefit programs.
Joy Thorkelson, based in Prince Rupert, describes her path from fish plant worker to Northern Organizer for the UFAWU. Initially unfamiliar with unions, she was quickly inducted into the culture and expectations of solidarity by her coworkers, many of whom were Indigenous women. Thorkelson reflects on the mentorship she received, the complexity of representing both shoreworkers and fishermen, and the dangers inherent in the fishing industry, including numerous fatalities among colleagues. Her work involved negotiating prices, improving safety standards, and supporting democratic structures within the union.
The episode also addresses the broader decline of the UFAWU as an independent union and its eventual integration into Unifor. Despite this institutional change, the stories of Stevens and Thorkelson illustrate the continuing importance of women’s leadership in labour history, particularly in sectors not traditionally associated with female participation. Their reflections offer a valuable account of working-class activism, intergenerational mentorship, and the resilience required to navigate and reshape a male-dominated industry.