BC. unionists support health and safety contract language for 91 negotiations KAMLOOPS, B.C. - IWA-CANADA Delegates attending a B.C. Area Safety Conference here on November 17, 1990 unanimously resolved to make occupational health and safety issues a priority within the union prior to 1991 contract talks. Forty-five union representatives in attendance vowed to take the mes- sage back to their local unions to seek support for contract language cover- ing OH&S in the 1991 contracts talks for the B.C. Forest Industry. Neil Menard, national second vice- president, and officer in charge of occupational health and safety said contract language, although it may be difficult to achieve, is a guarantee for workers in the face of changing governments and changing legisla- tion. ’ Brother Menard said to the dele- gates that the best occupational health and safety language protect- ing workers by a government have always been introduced by New Dem- ocratic governments. During the 1970's in Saskatchewan, the NDP leg- islated the most progressive regula- tions governing workers’ safety in the province's history, according to Menard. Menard also said that unionists should not rely on governments to pass legislation covering workplace safety and that subsequent govern- ments can easily undo good legisla- tion. “It's up to us to make sure that the workplace is safe — the government today isn’t interested and the compa- nies won't do it by themselves,” said Menard. During the second day of the con- ference the delegates split up into workshop groups to discuss the possi- bilities of demanding contract lan- guage and what kind of demands would likely be made. In a discussion after the workshop it was unanimously agreed that the right to refuse work should be enshrined in the collective agree- ments. During the discussion it was agreed that existing legislation in British Columbia (Section 8.24 of the Workers’ Compensation Act) does not have enough teeth and is difficult to apply. It was also generally agreed that @rin representatives (on safety com- o lit. © Delegates to the B.C. Area Conference engaged in workshop groups to formulate suggestions on health and safety issues for col- lective bargaining. Clockwise from left are Erik Eriksson, Local 1-363; Terry Galvin, Local 1-424; Jack Harmston, Local 1-71; Ray Dease, Local 1-184; Ross Davies, Local 1-80; Mohinder Gidda, Local 1-367; Ernie Smith, Local 1-417; Ken Meglic, Local 1-217; and Doug Singer, Local 1-405. mittees) should be granted more authority in shutting down an opera- tion for an investigation if they deem it is unsafe. Delegates also agreed that the col- lective agreement could be used to seek more protective equipment for workers which is specifically used in the performance of on the job tasks. Another area of agreement was that joint safety committee members should be properly trained in accident investigation procedures. All too often employers do not insure that either a company staffer or worker representative has the knowledge and skills to do proper investigations. The certification of loggers was dis- cussed by the delegates. For some years the IWA has been pursuing the principle of mandatory training and certification for timber fallers. How- ever, the union has been hampered in its attempts to receive enforceable regulations. It was agreed by delegates that firm contract language concerning the certification of fallers and others in the logging sector would provide workers with the necessary safe- guards in B.C.’s most dangerous industry. One workshop group called for employers to be mandatorily con- nected to Employee Assistance Pro- grams. The union and employers have long recognized the values of elimi- nating personal problems that em- ployees may have which affect their safety related performance on the job. To achieve these goals we have to be politically active within our union,“ said Mick Hughes of Prince George, Local 1-424. “Health and Safety issues demand as much attentions as those issues with a dollar figure attached to them.” John Little of Duncan Local 1-80 said it is important for the delegates to make health and safety issues a priority in their own locals first. He said the locals and the national union have a role to play in educating the members on the importance of safety related issues. Other areas discussed concerning possible contract language included setting requirements for the selection and ratio of first aid attendants in the workplace. Provincial regulations have been lax and poorly enforced in this area. Delegates agreed that by having no-nonsense contract language, that workers will become more aware of their rights and will have a readily available means of enforcing their needs. Brother Menard cautioned that industry will put up a fight against contract language concerning health and safety and that it will take a sustained effort on the union’s part to achieve such breakthroughs. GRANDE PRAIRIE — IWA-CAN- ADA, Local 1-207 plywood mill work- ers at the Canfor operations here lost their jobs in a permanent closure. On February 2, after the plant shutdown, over 130 workers were out on the street. The closure announcement made by the company in early November, sparked a union campaign to preserve employment in the northern Alberta community of 10,000. The reasons given for the mill's closure which has operated for 37 years, are economic. The spruce ply- wood market has been flat for a num- ber of years with increased competi- tion from other board products and US. producers. At the plant, over 70 million square board feet of plywood sheathing (3/8”) and specially products was produced annually. During last year and late 1989 sev- eral ppioepeciive buyers toured the mill but no party expressed interest in taking over the operation. Canfor shuts down Alberta plywood plant In late November IWA members and Canfor employees joined in a let- ter writing campaign to provincial minister of Forestry, Lands and Wild- life, LeRoy Fjordbotten. The letters stated that “our major concern is that the forest industry related jobs which were supposed to be created in our area and to which timber supplies were assigned have not been forth- coming. As a result there are no other forest related, good paying jobs to go to in our area.” In correspondence with the Canfor employees in September of 1990, Fjordbotten said that the provincial government was aware of the poten- tial job losses at Canfor and was paying close attention to the situa- tion. Fjordbotten also said continued development of the province's resour- ces would provide for regional employ- ment. Local 1-207 president Mike Pisak says the union has considered “every- thing and anything” to keep the mill going in some capacity. LUMBERWORKER/FEBRUARY, 1991/13