Union digs in on the
exports of logs & cants

© Gordie McRae

For many decades the IWA has been a lone voice
in the wilderness as it has called out for the halt of
raw log exports. Alone we have fought and had
some great successes at putting an end to the
shipment of raw materials to other countries.

But the export of raw logs and cants is still a
problem today and at this year’s convention the
Union reaffirmed “our complete and unalterable
opposition to the export of raw logs and cants.”

Delegate Gordie McRae from Local 1-217 said
that while log exports have dropped off, mostly due
to pressure from the IWA, there has been an increase
in the Shipment of cants and flitches.

“A lot of these companies now, especially some of
the more modern ones, are shipping out cants by
the truckload ... You look around and see what’s
heading to the docks and they’re cants and flitches.
That could all be remanufactured right here in
BC.,” said Brother McRae.

“We shouldn't allow that.to happen. We should
push harder for our value-added dust We have
sawmills now in our local that are being shut down
because they have no logs.”

© Ted Delanowski

© Mike Kokura

Local 1-217’s Jim Parker, who works in a custom-
cut sawmill in Vancouver says his mill is running
full bore cutting large high grade logs.

The edger at his mill will cut up to 14 inches and
the trim table will take over 22 inches.

Brother Parker says there has to be more wood
processed in Canada, and not cut into large timbers
for Sx por outside the country.

Ted Delanowski, a delegate from Kelowna Local
1-423, says that cunngia marketing tour he went to
in Japan, he noticed that the Japanese were saying
their log manufacturing costs were too high.

“The Japanese don’t want our logs,” said
Delanowski. “They would appreciate it if we can
manufacture these logs on our side.” J

Mike Kokura of Local 1-85 said the only way that
we will be able to shutdown the exports of logs

cants is through legislation. He also said the: ;
material has to be made available to
manufacturers. He gave an example of MacM

Bloedel’s refusal to sell to a second:
tures in Port Alberni as evidence of a smaller
company’s inability to obtain wood supply.

Alternative needed to NAFTA says IWA

No more Mulroney trade deals says IWA
-CANADA. We must back out of the Canada-US
Free Trade Agreements as too many jobs are being
lost and our economy is being destroyed.

With overwhelming support delegates at the
Unions National Convention voted to immediately
call for the cancellation of the Free Trade Agree-
ment with the United States.

The Union also adopted a comprehensive resolu-
tion requesting that the Tory government with-
draw from negotiations with the US and Mexico to
extend the “Free” Trade Agreement into Mexico.

In the place of another Mulroney-Bush type
agreement the IWA is demanding that the federal
government pursue a progressive, alternative model
for development of North America which would
meet the following objectives: ‘
© to ensure that democratically elected govern-
ments are able to develop and implement policies
which meet the needs of their people.
© the guarantee that technological and scientific
advances are shared to benefit citizens of all coun-
tries.

e the improvement of the living standards of work-
ers.

e the establishment of strong environmental pro-
tection standards.

On the Convention floor Local 1-85 delegate Jack
McLeman warned that a new.trade agreement with
Mexico and the US. will spell disaster for IWA
members.

“Tt’s going to be our jobs, they’re going straight
down there now, they’re all moving south of the
border out of this province of Ontario, and they’re
starting to go down out of B.C..”

Jim Parker of the Vancouver Local said that the
Free Trade Agreements help out no one except
giant corporations.

Local 1-85’s Erwin Mani said that the trade deal
is inevitable and to nullify its effects, workers are
going to need more control over primary resources
to have some control of their manufacturing.

12/LUMBERWORKER/NOVEMBER, 1991

© Back stage at Convention, Canadian Autoworkers President Bob White (r.) chats with Jack Munro.
White gave an inspiring speech against free trade and other policies of the Mulroney government.