© Local 1-500 strikers outside the Koolatron plant in Brantford, Ontario turn back a van trying to cross their picket line during three month strike. (Photo: Brantford Expositor) Koolatron workers go back after lengthy strike BRANTFORD, Ont. — On December 9, IWA-CANADA Local 1-500 members voted in favour of a 2 year contract here at Koolatron Corporation's ther- moelectric refrigerator plant. Twenty workers had been on strike since Sep- tember 14. The new deal gives workers a 50 cent per hour wage increase retroac- tive to June 2, 1989 and an additional 50 cents per hour boost in June of 1990. The issues confronting the strikers included health and safety problems and meagerly low wages. Prior to the settlement, wages were a paltry $5.88 per hour. With regards to health and safety issues, employees have to handle toxic isocynates, cellulose solvents and methol ethal keytone. The employer had previously neglected to provide training in workplace hazardous materials. In 1987, the Ontario government found the company in violation of the province’s Occupational Health and Safety Act with regards to the safe use of isocynates and had to shut the plant down. Isocynates are toxic solvents which cause chronic lung and skin disorders and often trigger allergic reactions if large doses are inhaled. Two days after the government imposed shutdown, Koolatron moved its production to Batavia, New York where it hired American workers at lower wages. The company, owned an operated by Arun and Kuran Kilkarni, moved back to Brantford when the govern- ment threatened to withdraw its one million dollars in loans and revolving lines of credit. The IWA picketers were supported by the Brantford and District Labour Council who offered both morale and financial assistance during the dispute. Closure agreement at Simpson Timber HUDSON BAY, Sask. — Negotiators report the successful conclusion of a closure agreement reached here on November 9 at Simpson Timber Com- EN Included in an 18-month agree- ment, which expires on August 31, 1990 are across-the-board wage increases of 85 cents per hour and a severance package for all employees which is standard in the industry. Also negotiated was an increase in pension benefits and supplemental medical coverage which shall be extended to a maximum of six months after the closure. Most importantly, the company committed to provide up to $50,000 in the funding of a Manpower Commit- tee to assist displaced workers to find new employment. Simpson Timber will also provide Local 1-184 members with funding for an Employee and Family Assistance Program in Hudson Bay for twelve months following the closure. As of press time, the community here does not know which company will pick up Simpson’s logging operations. e Alan Gendron, planer stacker operator at Simpson Timber. Next Issue: Read about IWA- CANADA’s visit to the Soviet Union to learn about Glasnost firsthand. Both New Brunswick plants settle contracts NEWCASTLE, N.B. —_IWA-CAN- ADA’s only two certifications in this province report recent settlements at Burchill Plywood and Miramichi Pulp and Paper (Studmill Division). After lengthy negotiations which began in May of 1989, conciliators helped the parties reach their agreements. At Burchill Plywood, employees voted to ratify a four-year deal which will increase the base rate by $2.20 per hour by April 1992. In April of 1991 the company will be introduced to a pension plan with a contribution rate to be matched by employees. In addition to wage increases, all trades rates were adjusted upwards ranging from a minimum of $1.11 per hour to $2.21 per hour with all adjust- ments backdated to April 1, 1989. The Negotiating Committee con- sisted of Brothers Eric Barrieau, Art Young, Roger Girouard, Buddy O'Toole and Howard Butler assisted by National Fourth Vice-President Bill Pointon. Brother Pointon says the union negotiators were able to roll back the company’s agenda of reducing wages, lowering bonus earnings, eliminating some statutory holidays, and weaken- ing contract language. Burchill is now looking at replacing antiquated and outdated equipment with the intention of expanding plant capacity. The union committee was also suc- cessful in increasing benefits to the life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment plans from $12,000 per member to $20,000 per member. At Miramichi, Brother Pointon also assisted a union negotiating team of Brothers Robert Bradford, Peter Gray, Ray Saunders and Fernand Martin in the settlement of a two-year deal which will expire June 1, 1991. At the end of the deal, employees will enjoy life insurance and acciden- tal death and dismemberment benefit increases to $40,0000 per member. The two-year wage package will give across-the-board increases of one dollar per hour and previously red- circled job rates will be entered into the regular classification schedule. G. W. Martin empire collapses The mighty Martin empire, one of the largest producers of hardwood and pine in North America, have sold all but one of their operations. G.W. Martin, with its headquarters in Harcourt, Ontario, was founded in 1958 by the late Grenville W. Martin, who died in a plane crash in 1984. Only two years ago the Martin group was operating at full capacity with 1,800 employees at 18 different locations in Central Ontario. Eleven hundred of these employees are mem- bers of Local 1-1000. On September 13, 1988, G.W. Mar- tin shareholders decided to sell the company. Prior to this announcement the veneer plant in Tweed, Ont. was shut down and plants at Bracebridge, Parry Sound and Eganville were sold, and on April 21, 1989 the sawmill and veneer mill in Searchmont was also shut down. Thomco Pallet & Box, a newly formed company was the first to take advantage of the sale by purchasing the pallet division of G.W. Martin. This division consists of two plants, one in Belleville and one in Tweed, Ont. Tembec Inc. of Montreal, Que. was next to take advantage of the sale and by doing so, they purchased 5 plants: Mattawa yard one (sawmill) and Mattawa yard two (planing mill and dry kiln), Alban (sawmill), Huntsville (sawmill) and the Huntsville flooring plant. Tembec owns a pulp mill, a paper- board mill and a sawmill in Temis- kaming, Que., near the Ontario bor- der, and a pine sawmill some 80 kms. north of Temiskaming. At the present time Tembec is also holding onto the option of purchasing the Harcourt sawmill. Originally Tembec planned to buy all five mills and combine some of the operations, closing the Alban mill and expanding the Huntsville opera- tion. However due to pressure from the union and residents of the town, Tembec was forced to change their plan. The employees and the residents of the town objected to the loss of eco- nomic vitality, and the provincial gov- ernment agreed not to allow the real- location of the timber rights if Tembec closed the mill. Eventually, Tembec decided to operate the Alban mill ona one shift basis and cut back the Huntsville mill to one shift. This resulted in the provincial government transferring over 40 million cubic feet: per year of timber to Tembec as long as the mills stay open. tion by Ingrid Rice LaJambe Forest Products of Sault Ste. Marie purchased the Sault opera- tion. This operation consists of a saw- mill that produces 24 million board feet per year, and a veneer mill that cuts 6 million feet of veneer logs per year. LaJambe also owns five small operations in Ontario. The Sault oper- ation will be its largest with 20 million feet of Crowm timber per year and employing approximately 350 people when in full operation. — Joe da Costa, President Local 1-1000 Attend Your Local Union Meetings 14/LUMBERWORKER/DECEMBER, 1989