NVENTION © Forestry Environment Committee members, responsible for writing the new forest policy are (1. to r.) Bob Freer, Local 1-71; Claire Dansereau, IWA-CANADA's Forestry Environment Planner; Dave Haggard, Local 1-85; Roger Stanyer, Committee Chair- man and National Fifth Vice-President; Fred Miron, Local 1-2693 and Clay Perry, IWA-CANADA's Environment and Land Use Department Director.. New union forest policy unveiled A major part of IWA-CANADA’s Third Constitutional Convention was devoted to the presentation and dis- cussion of a new forest policy. The forest policy was presented to the delegation by Roger Stanyer, Chair- man of a special Forestry Environ- ment Committee which includes Bob Freer of Local 1-71; Dave Haggard, Local 1-85; Klaus Offermann, Local 1-405; and Fred Miron, Local 1-2693; and Clay Perry and Claire Dansereau of the National Office. The Committee, appointed by the National Executive Board after the 1988 Convention, met on half a dozen occasions during the year to discuss the structure and content of the forest policy. The Committee presented a seven- teen-page document to the Annual Convention which gave it unanimous approval in principle. ¢ Research and development is a vital component of the new forest policy. The new forest policy is to be given final approval at the December, 1989 National Executive Board Meeting. Editorial changes were made to the original document of October 4, 1989. Sister Dansereau spent part of the year travelling to various Locals across Canada and consulting on areas of mutual concern. Her time'was also spent reviewing resolutions on forestry and environmental issues pre- sented at IWA Conventions since 1979, Early reaction to IWA-CANADA’s new forest policy is positive and encouraging. Local unions, some envi- ronmental groups and industry in British Columbia have responded favourably to date. According to the policy: “IWA-CANADA commits itself to the establishment and maintenance of fully sustainable forestry. Forestry that leaves to future generations of Canadians a rich endowment of fish and wildlife, soils capable of sup- ported varied ecosystems and com- mercial forests managed so as to pro- vide many more jobs and the wide range of forest recreations that Cana- dians value.” IWA-CANADA’s new Forest Policy commits itself to programs and poli- cies which are totally consistent with the Brundtland (United Nations) Commission on the Environment and Development. Most importantly, IWA-CANADA’s principle of sustainable development is not based upon the maximization of profits but rather on the principle of maintaining the integrity of the natu- ral environment, preservation of eco- logical diversity and the provision of decent livelihoods for a growing popu- lation of Canadians. The new forest policy deals with four areas of concern: a sustainable forest strategy; land use and tenure; forestry practices; and research and development. A SUSTAINABLE FOREST STRATEGY The IWA believes that Canada hasn't come to grips with a sustaina- ble forest strategy and that the con- tinued deterioration of the environ- ment and increasing land-use conflicts require a sustainable forest strategy. IWA-CANADA'’s approach in achiev- ing this involves four steps: e creation of a land-use planning pro- cess with a conflict resolution pro- cess in each province ¢ public and worker output into plan- ning and monitoring of forest activities e research and development into alternate harvesting, silviculture and job creation e environmentally-sound logging practices within work plans that pay attention to forest regeneration The above steps are included throughout IWA-CANADA’s forest policy. (continued on page 13) H&S Conference Air quality Sept. 29-30 concerns raised Delegates to the Health and Safety Conference passed four resolutions calling for the control and elimination of dust particles in manufacturing plants. The delegates also called for full compensation for victims of cedar dust allergies and asthma. Speaking on a resolution from his local union, New Westminster Local 1-357 delegate Blaine Calhoun, spoke of negative experiences with WCB officials who ignored dust problems after testing levels with equipment. Brother Calhoun, an employee of MacMillan Bloedel, New Westminster Division, said that dust levels also inhibit visibility and impair breathing. The resolution called upon the National Officers to demand that the WCB compensate victims of cedar dust asthma for time loss and provide rehabilitation or financial aid. At the present time WCB will only compensate a worker for the initial time loss following an asthma attack. Once the worker is removed from the contaminated atmosphere they begin to recover so they are cut off benefits. There is little attempt to retrain workers so they may find employment elsewhere and no pension for a perma- nent disability, although research by Dr. Moira Young of UBC has shown only a small percentage of cedar dust allergy victims ever completely recover. Sister Verna Ledger told the dele- gates that the present allowable lim- its of 2.5 mg cedar dust per cubic metre are excessive. The IWA reso- it “4 e Blaine Calhoun, New Westminster Local 1-357. lution calls for reduction in allowable limits to 1.0 mg/m’. Sister Ledger also said more research is necessary to determine what component of the dust causes asthma and other allergies. Cranbrook Local 1-405 submitted a resolution calling for the WCB to strengthen and enforce its present regulations on dust control while Prince George Local 1-424’s resolu- tion demands installation of ventila- tion equipment. Delegate Larry Rewakowsky from the Port Alberni Local expressed con- cern that the WCB should also moni- tor smoke levels in mills. Smoke from plywood veneer dryers is a continuing problem in many mills and the WCB Occupational Health and Safety requirements do not regulate smoke. Health and safety fund voted into training A resolution from New Westmin- ster Local 1-357 to channel some of the money from the Health and Safety Research Fund, negotiated in B.C. in 1988 collective agreements, into the establishment of a comprehensive ‘train the trainer’ program was adopted at both the Fall Health and Safety Conference and the National Convention. The resolution which recognizes “there is a critical need for education and training of Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committees”, will call on trustees on both sides of the fund to co-operate in developing a training program. National Health and Safety Direc- tor Verna Ledger said that it is impor- tant for employers to sit down on a committee to train workers. “This kind of resolution won’t give the employer the excuse that it’s too costly to bring in trainers,” said Sis- ter Ledger. Sister Ledger also said that pure scientific research is the responsibil- ity of the government and industry and that the money generated from the fund (about $350,000 in the first year) is insignificant for funding such projects as chemical research. ¢ Henry Nedergaard, Port Alberni Local 1-85. Erik Eriksson, Financial Secretary from Courtenay Local 1-363 pointed out that research in itself is important in reviewing literature and existing research data in forming an adequate “train the trainer” program. Port Alberni Safety Director Henry Nedergaard said a real training pro- gram is long overdue and also said that expensive research into the effects of chemical use should be left to gov- ernments and employers. The money coming into this fund would take years to get meanintful research,” said Brother Nedergaard. “Particular studies can run into the millions.” eae EEE] 12/LUMBERWORKER/DECEMBER, 1989