© The Plant Negotiating Committee at MacMillan Bathurst Inc. in Pembroke, Ontario is (1. to r.) Lawrence Dupuis, chairman; Harold Edwards, vice-chairman, Michael McCarter, local rep.; Emmett courtesy Mike McCarter. Godin; Rene Brixhe, national organizer; and Earl Chaput. Photo Pension breakthrough By LAWRENCE DUPUIS Chairman, Sub-Local 1-1000 (plant unit) LLOYD GODIN Chairman, Sub-Local 1-1000 (office unit) (MacMillan Bathurst Inc.) PEMBROKE, ONTARIO — Although we were last to set- tle, among some 45 bargain- ing units in the corrugated paper box industry across Canada, our members were pleased with the outcome of negotiations this year. Coordinated bargaining sessions were held in tandem for the two units over a period of five months. The terms of settlement were ratified sepa- rately by the members in each of their respective units, on the same day, in May. Ratifi- cation carried by a clear Majority in each case. The highlight of these nego- tiations is that we finally suc- ceeded in getting a long- overdue improvement to our Pension plan: a fifty percent increase in pension credits for past service, along with bet- ter early retirement provi- sions. All other aspects of the wage package are on par with the industry pattern settle- ment. Our membership’s average age is about the highest in the industry. Nearly one-third of our members will be retired over the next three to five years. The existing pension plan would not have come near to providing them a decent retirement income. Disappointment was sharp and lasting when joint negoti- ations failed to come to grips with the pension issue three years ago. This had been our first experience at a joint table, so our membership decided that the next time around we would return to single-unit, coordinated bar- gaining, in order to make sure that the crucial pension issue would not again become lost in the shuffle. We are grateful to our National President, Jack Munro, for having allowed us the services of Rene Brixhe, National Organizer. His expe- rience and technique as a negotiator, were of great help to our bargaining teams and Local Representative, Mich- ael McCarter. This set of negotiations was one of the most difficult we have been involved with. It was also most rewarding. Itis remarkable that the whole business was conducted fully across the table, without any third party intervention and with the full committee at all times. We are very grateful for the patience and full backing our membership has demon- strated. cant wage and benefit improvem: ents at the hardwood veneer manu- facturing plant. Photo courtesy Bruce Weber. One week strike at Interforest DURHAM, ONTARIO — It only took one week for Local 1-500 strikers to get their employer back to the table and to sign an agree- ment. Seven days after 100 workers at Interforest Ltd.’s veneer plant here walked off the job, a two-year agreement was reached. Interforest manufactures hardwood veneer for North American markets. The Ger- man-owned company also processes hardwood logs from Ontario and Quebec for ex- rt. The plant was struck on July 21, after attempts to set- tle with a provincial mediator. Union workers were seek- ing benefits equal to those of the office staff. Dental, pen- sion and life insurance bene- fits were won by the strike. Eleven of thirteen union demands were met, including across-the-board wage in- creases of $1.00 per hour over the two-year agreement. Furniture plant closes doors ELORA, ONTARIO — Two weeks after IWA- CANADA Local 1-500 mem- bers struck Simmons Ltd.’s Selig Division here, the em- ployer closed its doors perma- nently. Eighty-seven union workers, many of them long- term employees, are now per- manently out of work at the furniture manufacturing plant. The workers struck the operation on August 17, refusing to bow under to unreasonable concessions. Local President and plant worker Bruce Weber, a Sim- mon’s employee for the past thirteen years, says that man- agement in the plant was inexperienced and didn’t oper- ate the plant efficiently. “The employees have worked hard,” says Brother Weber. “A lot of us have worked here for more than ten years and: this is how they reward us.” The Local President strongly believes that the con- cession demands and plant closure are related to the US.-Canada Free Trade Agreement. During negotiations, Sim- mons informed the union that they had to accept cutbacks to compete with U.S. produc- ers. Free trade experts believe that the furniture industry in ¢ Picketers at Simmons Ltd. in Elora, Ontario are joined by National Secretary-Treasurer Terry Smith. Two weeks after the strike began, the plant closed permanently. Photo courtesy Bonnie Ewen Pyke. Canada will be totally re- shaped in the next ten years as import tariffs are elimi- nated. Canadian workers will be forced to accept low wages and benefits or lose their livelihoods. “We've been hearing that we had to take cuts for the last six to eight years,” says Brother Weber. “But this year they hit us with demands that would cost us about $4,000 each in lost wages and bene- fits.” Cuts were demanded when business in the Elora plant was at a high and employees were working overtime. A gutting of seniority rights, cuts to pension plans, and a reduced wage rate/piece rate system were part of the employer’s agenda. Average wages in the plant were less than $9 per hour for the membership which con- sists of mostly women. Bruce Weber says that there may be a spillover effect, in other parts of the economy in southwestern Ontario. Such industries as appliance manufacturing and other sec- ondary industries are also on the free trade hit list. Mill goes union LAC LA BICHE, ALBERTA — National Orga- nizer, Lyle Pona reports a suc- cessful union certification here at Northem Forest In- dustries Ltd.’s sawmill and planer facilities. On July 24, forty-four of sixty ballots approved of IWA certifica- tion. The new union workers are now members of IWA Local 1-207. Lac La Biche is approx- imately 150 miles north east of union headquarters in Edmonton. During the certification drive, the employer threat- ened the crew with mass lay- offs and interrogated some employees on their involve- ment with the Union. A company-called meeting by Mill Manager, Gary Boos prior to the certification vote application on July 7 back- fired on the employer. While being threatened with mill closures and a long Zeidler- type strike, the workers were very disturbed. After the intimidating tactics failed, the employer put on a differ- ent mask, promising addi tional wages and benefits if the workers voted against the union. Mill Manager Boos also unsuccessfully approached the Lac La Biche area local of the Metis Association in attempts to help form an employee Association. More than 80% of the workers are of Metis background. _“The employer tactics didn’t wash with this crew” said Brother Pona. “We could have pursued an unfair lab- our practice with the Alberta Labour Relations Board but we felt that the support from the workers was so great that it was unnecessary prior to the vote.” “TI wish we had these type of crews all over the prov- ince,” said Local President Mike Pisak. “They stuck together after the employer tried to step allover them.” Three days before the certi- fication vote was authorized, Northem laid off a shift at the mill and went to the ALRB to unsuccessfully keep those laid-off employees off the vot- er’s list. Mill Manager Boos was on staff at Zeidler Forest Indus- tries Ltd.’s Slave Lake saw- mill when 23 IWA workers were fired in November of 1986. Boos’ testimony at a subsequent ALRB hearing against the striking union members helped persuade the Board not to rehire them. Boos has said, in the local media, that unionization of Northem employees doesn’t necessarily mean that the workers will get higher wages. “Throughout the cam- paign, the employees spoke of substandard wages, bene- fits, and poor working condi- tions such as unhygienic lunch and washroom facili- ties,” said Pona, in a press release. Brother Pona also said that “the solidarity exhibited by the workers throughout the campaign will be an impor- tant factor in achieving itlate first collective agreement.” Negotiations for a first con- tract begin on September 1. Improvements in wages and working conditions are on the Union’s agenda. Wages at the mills, which cut and plane aspen, poplar, and spruce, start at a dismal $8.50/hour with no benefits. Employees also suffer from lack of a proper accident pre- vention program. Average age in the mill is less than 25 years, as a high turnover rate is apparent. Commenting on the organ- izing drive, Local 1-207 Financial-Secretary Bob DeLeeuw said that “the work- ers realize they have to stick together. Lyle (Pona) did one helluva job in convincing them that we all may be in for a battle with this employer.” In December of 1988, pro- vincial Premier Don Getty announced government approval for a $16 million mill construction project. A spe- cialty plant that will produce hardwoods for pallets and high grade furniture timber should be in operation in late 1989 or early 1990. The proposed plant is to be built adjacent to the mill recently organized. Timber from a forest unit east of Lac La Biche and also from the Cold Lake Weapon’s Testing Range, will provide raw mate- rial for Northem’s Canadian and European hardwood markets. ATTEND YOUR LOCAL UNION MEETINGS LUMBERWORKER/SEPTEMBER, 1989/13