Contract Continued from page one new solutions to those problems and make recommendations for the plan's long term sustainability. On the coast, the two sides have also agreed to sit on a joint committee to study the issue of logging costs. This was the result of an industry demand and the Union hopes some innovative ways can be sought to increase logging efficiency without giving concessions to industry. “Our members have always done a lot to keeping this industry going. It’s the engine that drives B.C.’s econ- omy,” says Brother Munro. “We have been flexible and cooperative during the tough times so we're not sitting down with cap in hand during these negotiations.” Munro predicts that the solid wood sector will recover from the recession faster than the pulp and paper sector although exactly when that will hap- pen remains uncertain. In mid-September the Canadian Paperworkers Union and the Pulp, Paper and Woodworkers of Canada, which represent 12,000 workers in the pulp and paper sector, ratified on an agreement which effectively put a 10 month freeze on their expired contrac- tor which expired at the end of June. The rollover agreements negotiated in pulp however, haven't effected the IWA’s negotiating posture. Munro says that an agreement in the softwood sector would send a signal of confidence to investors for the industry’s long term good. “We haven’t been heavy duty on the money part in the first year cause we know what the industry’s facing,” added Munro. “Our members know only too well the effects that this downturn has caused.” In the past 18 months the Union has seen over,7,000 members hit the unemployment lines in B.C. due to production curtailments and mill closures. Negotiations continue at press time. @ IWA president Jack Munro (r.) and first vice-president Gerry Stoney during recent contract talks with forest industry employers. Local Union hopeful as NDP takes Sask. — Four days after the New Democrats won in British Columbia, the party’s provincial affiliate in Saskatchewan did just the same. On October 21, the NDP, led by Roy Romanow, took 55 of 66 seats, ending the nine year reign of the Progressive Conservatives. The NDP picked up 25 of its seats in rural areas, traditionally a strong hold for the Conservatives. For IWA-CANADA Local 1-184 mem- bers the election win is hopefully a sign of better things to come. Local president Dennis Bonville says that the union is looking towards a new Board of Directors to be appointed for the government owned Saskatchewan Forest Products. In pre-election meetings with the New Democrats there have been consider- able discussion about this. In Saskfor’s two mills in Hudson Bay and Carrot River, labour rela- tions have been on a down slide since 1982. Under the rule of the Conserva- tives, Saskfor’s Board of Directors consisted largely of high profile Tory members, some of whom, according to Brother Bonville, had little knowl- edge of the forest industry. “We're excited and hopeful that some better things are going to hap- pen in the forest industry,” says Ted Becker, the local union’s financial sec- retary. “They (NDP government) want to get some more input from people in the industry which will include our members.” The Local Union worked hard to defeat the Conservative government. It was able to release workers with funding help from IWA-CANADA’s National Office, to aid the NDP campaign. In the riding of Meadow Lake the Local Union volunteers, aided by political organizer Gordon Landreau from Manitoba (The Pas) Local 1-324, was able to help defeat incumbent Tory bigshot George McLeod with the election of Maynard Sonntag. McLeod was the province’s deputy- premier ‘and a former member in charge of Saskatchewan Forest Products. Local 1-184 is looking for some straight answers on some serious problems in the forest industry The Union also played a role in the election of Andy Renaud which saw the ouster of Neil Hardy, one of the Conservatives longest serving MLA’s in the riding of Kelsey-Tisdale, which encompasses Hudson Bay. Also of interest were NDP wins in Nipawan and Prince Albert where the union has some of its membership. According to Bonville the NDP has pledged to continue any government negotiations with MacMillan Bloedel concerning the future of its opera- tions in Hudson Bay. Since the depar- ture of Simpson Timber in June of 1990, speculation has been that MB will be making a move to utilize the timber in Simpson’s former timber licence. “We know that a lot of work has to be done and we're very optimistic towards this new government,” says Brother Becker. Local 1-184 is also looking for improvements in the way the Work- ers’ Compensation Board operates. In addition the IWA, through the Sas- katchewan Federation of Labour, will be seeking provincial labour law reforms. 2/LUMBERWORKER/NOVEMBER, 1991 October 26 marked a National Day of Action when organized labour and coalition groups across Canada protested against the Mulroney government's programs of free trade, deregulation, and privatization. To the left, Vancouver and District Labour Council secretary- treasurer and trial “judge” John Fitzpatrick joins with “prosecutor” NDP member of parliament Svend Robinson during the mock hearing of Canada’s prime minister. Later Mulroney was found guilty of betraying the Canadian people and sentenced to a life of hard labour in Mexico's Maquiladora trade zone.