RESPECT

Continued from page 1

You could tell right from
the start that this set
of negotiations was
going to be different.

that this set of negotiations was
going to be different. There was a
new atmosphere of optimism at the
table.

That is not to say that there
weren’t moments during negotia-
tions when everything hung in the

IWA members
work hard for
the money
they earn.
In some cases
they put
their lives
on the line.

balance, moments where it could
have fallen apart. But, it didn’t and
that speaks well for the future.
Some of the tense moments came
on the issue of contracting out and
shift flexibility. The lengthy strike
in 1986 was over these very issues.
But, nobody walked away, not this

time. They kept talking and in doing
so reached an acceptable settlement.

This settlement represents a re-
turn to an era of mutual respect that
was prevalent in the 1970s. As the
80s dawned there was a general
deterioration of the relationship
between industry and union, cul-
minating in the bitter 1986 strike.
The harder the industry drewits
lines the worse it got. In the end
that kind of attitude ended up
costing the industry, the prov-
ince overall and IWA mem-
bers throughout B.C.

One of the reasons for suc-
cess in this set of negotia-
tions was the obvious re-
luctance of the industry to
turn to the Industrial Relations
Council (IRC). Given labour’s com-
plete opposition to Bill 19, the legis-
lation that established the IRC they
saw that this would be counter-
productive.

IWA Canada President and Chair-
man of the Provincial Bargaining
Committee, Jack Munro credits that
avoidance of the IRC as one of the
major reasons the industry stayed
at the table.

“They. knew that turning to the
IRC would only inflame the situa-
tion, make things worse. That kept
them at the table and kept the doors
open at all times. That and the

McKenzie Report of last year madea
real difference,” says Munro.

There was some concern expres-
sed by independent operators about
stumpage rates as set by the Provin-
cial Government. That and the ris-
ing dollar are cause for concern down
the road. But for the first time in a
long time the industry did not try to
blame or take that out on their
employees.

There was the realization by the
industry, that [WA members work
hard for the money they earn. In
some cases they put their lives on
the line. Time and time again the
IWA has given on issues such as
technological change in order to keep
the industry competitive. It is now
time for [WA members to get some-
thing back in return.

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NATIONAL

Continued from page 1
time we are an important voice in the
west. We must work to ensure that
becomes the case in the east also.
That will certainly be an issue that I
want to see debated at this conven-
tion,” says Munro.

Gerry Stoney, IWA Canada Secre-
tary Treasurer says, “local unions
have been incredible when it comes
to loaning the national office money.
We have never been turned down. In
fact the entire labour movement has
been great. We were loaned millions
during the 1986 strike. Every penny
has been repaid. But, we can’t go on

borrowing all the time. We must get
ourselves on a level footing finan-

The proposed increase is not
expected to be substantial, some-

cially and the only thing that will do

where between 1 and 2 percent. That

At the present time we are an
important voice in the west.

We must work
becomes

to ensure that

the case in the east also.

that is to cut back on services, which
is not realistic, or to increase the per

capita.”

will not put too much of a burden on.
the membership while increasing the
cash flow to the national union.

Delegates will also be dealing with
question of how to use the newly
negotiated 4 cent per hour industry
funded health and safety fund. This
new initiative will mean an additional
$300,000.00 per year to be spent
somewhere in the field of health and
safety. The union must deal with
how to best use this new resource.

There is expected to be a shift in
Vice Presidents this convention with
the retirement of long serving 1st
Vice President Bob Blanchard.

The convention lasts 5 days run-
ning September 26-30. There will be
delegates attending from across the
country.

UPDATE SnU DDE

i

USDA

0 UPDATE 6

URDAT

Ee URDATE

OTTAWA — There are 900com-
munities across Canada which rely
on the forest sector to some extent
for their livelihood. While they tend
to be quite small, with populations
around 1,500, they also tend to be
clustered in certain areas. This is one
of the findings of a report prepared
by the Canadian Forestry Service.

“The contribution these commu-
nities make to the economy of this
country is significant and worthy of
recognition. To a large extent, the
industries in these resource-based

communities sustain the economy of

2/LUMBERWORKER/OCTOBER, 1988

many larger urban centers”, said the
Minister of Forests.

The study found that, out of those
900 communities, there were 348
whose livelihood depends primarily
on the sector. They were found in
every province except Prince Ed-
ward Island. The majority are con-
centrated in Quebec, British Colum-
bia, Ontario and New Brunswick.

The report also examines the
demographic characteristics of these
communities. Information was col-
lected on the level of education,

employment, unemployment and

Unique Study on Canada’s Forest
Sector Dependent Communities

housing. The level of education in
forest sector dependent communi-
ties was slightly lower than for the
rest of Canada although the level of
entrepreneurship, measured by the
number of self-employed workers,
was equivalent to the national aver-
age. In spite of the lower cost of
housing, fewer people owned their
own homes in these communities
compared to other rural non-farming
communities in Canada. Forest sec-
tor workers earned more than other
workers in other industries.

unique and leads to a better under-
standing of the people that contrib-
ute to the forest sector, as well as the
dynamics of the rural communities
that depend on the forest indus-
tries.”

Fire is an
Ugly Enemy

This has been a mixed fire season
right across the country. The east, in
particular Ontario have faced a
tough season with record tempera-
tures and terrible fires. B.C. on the
other hand has had a mild season.

At least mild when compared with
the last two or three years.

The Minister added, “This work is

But still, fires cost us millions of