LOCAL 1-71 THE LOCAL ON THE MOVE This is the first in a series of feature articles looking at IWA-CANADA locals across the country. It is our hope that members will familiarize themselves with their fellow unionists in other jurisdictions, Encompassing more than 95,000 square miles, IWA-CANADA Local 1-71 (Loggers’ Local) covers the larg- est area of any BC. local. Boundaries stretch from southern B.C., just out- side of Vancouver, up to the Alaskan panhandle and northern provincial borders. It also covers most of the mainland coast, the northern portion of Vancouver Island, and the Queen Charlotte Islands. Representing between 4,000 and 5,000 members (on a seasonal basis) the Loggers’ Local headquarters is located in Courtenay, on the east coast of mid-Vancouver Island. HISTORICAL LOCAL @ As a jurisdiction within the IWA International Union, Local 1-71 was granted a charter in 1937. Organiza- tion of loggers and millworkers on the BC. coast has existed in various forms since the late nineteenth century. Early activists such as Ernie Dal- skog, Harold Pritchett, and John McCuish organized loggers in some of the remotest and most difficult areas of the province. Legal recognition for Local 1-71 did not arise until 1943. A strike in 1946 by woodworkers resulted in the first regular 40 hour work week in Canada. Local 1-71 was in the forefront of that movement more than 50 years ago. LOGGERS ACTIVE TODAY As in previous generations, today’s loggers hold themselves to a proud tradition of activism. Local. 1-71 con- tinues to overcome obstacles in pro- ducing gains for its members. Elected into office in July of 1987, a group of young officers is presently operating the Local. Headed by Presi- dent Warren Ulley, the local has pledged to move on election promises of increased communication, educa- tion and organization. Encouraged by its membership, the local has managed to make progress in all three areas. To deal with its huge area, the local employs nine business agents, some of whom are elected officers. Local sub-offices are located in Gibsons, on the Sunshine Coast, Port McNeill, on northern Vancouver Island, Terrace on the north coast, and Sandspit, in the Queen Charlotte Islands. Each sub-office is located to service the membership in their respective areas. The latest addition of a facility in Gibsons will provide loggers and millworkers in the Sunshine Coast- Howe Sound-Pemberton area im- proved representation. Communication is made possible by direct contact with Business Agents at sub-offices and regular vis- its by local staff. : Early last year the local’s main office added a toll-free 800 number to facilitate calls from members in areas. The phone line has met with popular approval from members in long dis- tance areas. : The local newspaper has been reju- venated, publishing six times per Orca: “Green Gold News” editor Bill Owens, also an organizer, has worked. to make the newspaper an important forum of communication. EDUCATION A PRIORITY Local 1-71 has joined with National eee to bring rite members edu cati ining. This co-operation has led enalawias of Job ard seminars. so aoeeg members from all areas have been attending seminars National Ei bee Tank The sessions have included various local regions. © WITH ITS HEAD OFFICE IN COURTENAY, B.C., Local 1-71 (shaded area) stretches from Vancouver to the northern provincial borders. Four sub-local offices are situated to help service membership in grievance procedure handling and coping with management in situa- tions of conflict. Additional education seminars are planned for the future on an on-going basis. ORGANIZING EFFORTS Since mid-1987 the local’s member- ship has increased by approximately 500. Many independent, non-union contractors have voluntarily joined 1-71 as the economic climate in BC. has improved and the local’s profile has risen. At present, there is an organiza- tional drive in the Terrace-Prince Rupert district on the north coast. There are now four IWA mills in the Terrace area. A potential addition of more than 1,500 members exists on the North Coast. Local 1-71 officers view this area as one which requires the benefits of collective bargaining. The efforts of Local and National organizers are also required in the Vancouver Island, and mainland coast areas. CURRENT ISSUES FACE LOCAL As in other jurisdictions the alarm- ing increase in log exports is causing special concern for 1-71 members. The local shares [WA-CANADA's concerns about raw log exports. The union is against exports of valuable timber while potentially lucrative markets for specialized wood products are being ignored by indus- try. “If the manufacturing sector be- comes more specialized there will be additional requirements for different grades of wood. The end result will be more jobs for loggers. We are as opposed to log exports as any other Local Union,” comments Local Presi- dent Ulley. Ulley also cites wood waste as a major concern. He says that wood left behind could easily provide B.C. pulp and sawmills with additional raw materials. Ulley believes IWA-CANADA should continue to create more public awareness of the union’s position on forest management. i “We care about our forests. And it is in everybody’s interest that we look after our forests for future genera- tion,” adds Ulley. Job losses are predicted if environ- mental groups continue their efforts to diminish the tree farming land and inaccessible terrain is on the increase. This Sikorsky 64 has a payload of more than 18,000 pounds. Local President Warren Ulley: op- posed to log exports. base. In 1986, Local 1-71 lost over 140 jobs in the Queen Charlottes with the creat of South Moresby National ark. The Local’s position is that the B.C. government must assure that logged areas are properly reforested. A broad based multiple land use policy should meet the requirements of recreational users and encourage a sustained yield approach to forest management. NEGOTIATIONS MEET SOME LOGGER DEMANDS The 1988 round of negotiations resulted in the gain of some major demands for Local 1-71. After tough bargaining sessions a three year con- tract expiring in June of 1991 was signed. Job retraining, rate adjustments, and severance pay are now extended to loggers affected by technological change. ‘Transportation fares on alternate schedule shift changes are now to be at least partially paid by the employer. Savings of hundreds of dollars will result for individual workers. Industry has agreed to implement a LORAN radar system, where need- ed, to aid in the evacuation of injured workers. The radar system will help helicopters locate accident victims in isolated coastal geography. SAFETY CHANGES NEEDED Members are becoming increas- ingly aware of the injury accident and fatality rates within local boundaries. Over the past 16 years more than 130 1-71 loggers have lost their lives on the job. Rougher terrain and pro- duction speed ups have made loggers even more susceptible to injury and death. Workers’ Compensation Board safe- ty audits are endorsed and have worked well at some operations. The audit allows both management and the workers to assess their accident prevention program and make changes that fit their needs. Local 1-71 will be hosting this year’s National Spring Safety Conference in Courtenay on April 21 and 22, 1989. The objective will be to update IWA-CANADA's National Safety Pro- gram. Local 1-71 represents some of the most skilled loggers in the world. Coast fallers, yarding crews, equip- ment operators, and truck drivers must work in some of the roughest terrain and weather imaginable. Grapple yarding, steel spar yard- ing (both slack line and hi-lead) are the most common on the coast. Heli- copter logging in steep and inaccessi- ble terrain is increasingly being used. Advances in fechacloricall change will affect sawmill workers in the years ahead. Efforts to alleviate the effects of those changes will be continually juired. Bleek 1-71 officers and staff are repared to represent an active mem- Barship in their present and future dealings with the ever changing B.C. forest industry. LUMBERWORKER/MARCH, 1989/7