LOG EXPORTS TO SEE NEW HIGH After reaching new heights in 1982, most observers believed that log exports would not get much worse during 1983. However, judging from information released by the Ministry of Forests, it has happened. Log export statistics for the first nine months of this year indicate that 1983 will be a record year. Between January and September of 1983 approximately 1.4 million cubic meters of logs were exported from British Colum- bia. During the full 12 months of 1982, 1.275 million cubic meters were exported. If the trend of the first nine months continues for the remaining three months, log exports from B.C. could reach 1.75 to 1.85 million cubic meters in 1983. As was the case in 1982, the quality oflogs being exported in 1983 continues to show some disturbing trends. For example, dur- ing all of 1982 and most of 1983, close to one third of the logs exported were douglas-fir, which is an important specie in many coast sawmills. What makes this fact so disturb- ing is that prior to 1982, douglas-fir logs accounted for only 5-8% of the logs exported. In short, the volumes exported have increased substantially in the last 2 years and most of the increase has been in the better quality species. Because 95% of the forest land in B.C. is owned by the provincial government, it is in a unique position to control the flow and utilization of logs as well as the level and quality of log exports. However, the current government’s track record in this area has been anything but impressive. When log export volumes started their dramatic rise in early 1982 the provincial government simply ignored the problem. Only after continued pressure from the IWA (which included the picketing of ships loading logs) did the government respond. In March of 1983 the Minister of Forests appointed a three-man committee to study log exports. This committee received a number of briefs and met with all interested parties, includ- ing the IWA. After several months of study the committee released its findings. While the IWA did not agree with all of the committee’s recommendations, there were several that we felt the government should move quickly to adopt. These included: 1. Tightening the export administration to prevent companies from contriving domestic log surpluses which, in turn, make it easier for these companies to obtain permission to export logs; and 2. Modifying the province’s log export fee to return to the Crown up to half of the premium received from log exports. Unfortunately, the work and recommen- dations of this committee have not been seriously addressed by the provincial government. To date, none of the problems associated with the exporting of logs have been corrected. As long as this government ignores these problems, the ill-effects of log exports will plague our industry for many years to come. SUBJECT: LOG EXPORTS R-48 og exports are continuing at an excessively high rate; and WHEREAS: A number of our members are beginning to feel the effects of such exports; now THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED: That this 46th Annual Convention of IWA Regional Council No. 1 reaffirm its policy on ANY log exports; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That the IWA continue to pressure the government to put an all-out ban on all log exports out of the Province of British Columbia. men have been associated with West Coast Industrial Relations Association (WCIRA). This firm has been identified by the AFL- CIO as one of the most active labor relations consultants — called union-busters — in the United States. The workers at Nord, on strike since July 14, are convinced that these WCIRA consul- tants were brought in to stall 1983 negotia- tions, to bring about a strike, to orchestrate the hiring of strikebreakers, and then to decertify the union. Nord has denied these charges, saying they are merely seeking wage cuts from $2 to $4 per hour to stay in the black. Nord has refused, however, to release financial information to the union. The latest company ploy, after twelve weeks of strike, was a meaningless notice sent to the NLRB asserting the employees no longer want LPIW Local 1054 as their bargaining agent. Frank Dennee, Local 1054 business agent, said this is a typical trick to encourage union members to cross the picket line and return to work under unacceptable conditions. Everett Community Comes to Aid of Strikers So, this is the kind of union-busting consultant Nord has brought to Everett. Because of this brazen refusal to recognize the legitimacy of Local 1054, the entire labor movement in the area has come to the aid of the strikers. Gary Weikel, President of Snohomish County Labor Council and IWA Local 3-101, has been coordinating activi- ties to support the strikers. Nearly 2,500 union members and their families marched to the gates of E. A. Nord Company on August 5 chanting, “Union Busters go Home.” The strike moves into a critical phase now as Nord begins counting up their losses after 14 weeks of strike. Production output has been down due to the new replacement workforce and the expensive fees to Fred Long and the WCIRA continue. EVERETT FOREST WORKERS FIGHTING UNION-BUSTERS By R. Denny Scott A well-paid consulting firm from Califor- nia has been imported to break a union in the Northwest forest products industry. This is happening in Everett, Washing- ton, one of the strong union towns in the pen and a town many consider the cradle of Northwest unionism. In 1916, the Everett Massacre occurred when five Wobblies were killed and 27 wounded when an attempt was made to land the boat, Verona, so strike supporters could exercise their right of free speech. Now, sixty-seven years after that tragic a new chapter is being written in {shor istry and it is happening on the vigilante and tn ee vs ups s to beat bac! Loma the 1983 version uses skilfull, rienced consultants who often skirt the their calculated campaign to rid the y of the union. ‘y is important to all forest ‘in the Northwest because, if s in the region look at the potential for the of union- for the union busters in Everett would establish a very bad precedent. Forty Years of Labor Peace Turned Sour The company attempting to write the modern chapter in Everett’s labor history is E. A. Nord — a privately owned company — that has, until 1983, had a peaceful relation- ship with Lumber Production and Indus- trial Workers (LPIW) Local 1054. Joe Rogers, a 25-year employee and one of the 550 people on strike, recalls that the founder of the company, Eric Nord, used to tell the employees that Nord Door belonged to them because they were responsible for its success, Now run by Scott Nord, the grandson of the founder, the relationship of trust between workers and company has been discarded. Enter WCIRA — Union-Buster Professional Two new actors, who are specialists in campaigns to give companies a “union-free” environment, were brought into the com- pany. Fred Long was made the director of Nord’s labor relations and John Hermann was placed on the Board of Directors. Both BC ECONOMIC REVIEW: KEY INDICATORS Latest % Change % Change Month inMonth In Year B.C. Labour 1,354 —3.1% +0.7% Force Sept/83 Employed 1,182 —3.0% +0.3% in B.C. Sept/83 B.C. Urban Housing 1,055 —31.5% +21.4% Starts Sept/83 . B.C. Retail Sales 1,027.9 +0.9% +4.9% B.C. Ave. Weekly 427.72 +0.8% n/a Wages June US. Honsmig tarts 1,985 +8.4% +93.1% (000’s) August Sept Aug July Sept 83 83 83. 8 % % % . % Bank of Canada Rate 9.51 9.60 9.50 13.18 Vancouver CPI n/a 5.2 5.8 9.6 CanadaCPI n/a 55 5.5 10.4 Unemploy- : ment Rate B.C. 12.7 134 181 128 Canada 10,4, 10:98 11.2) aes Source: Statistics Canada