in

AREA ENLARGED

© Under the hood of a GM truck is mechanic Rick Freeman at Marc Hyland's shop in

Campbell River.

POLITICAL ACTION A
TRADITION

Brother Pederson expresses opti-
mism for organizing members if there
will be changes to provincial labour
laws and he says a new NDP govern-
ment should go a long way towards
making these changes.

Local 1-363 members played an
important role in the October re-elec-
tion of Colin Gabelmann in the riding
of North Island and election of Marga-
ret Lord in the riding of Comox Valley.

Union members are assured that
they will have an open ear from
governments.

“In terms of obtaining a level
Dlaving field, the NDP government

ill be very helpful,” says Pederson.

The local is active in the Campbell
River-Comox Valley and District Lab-
our Council which threw its support
behind the two candidates. ‘

Brother Pederson, as first vice-
President of the council and a past
Ca says that the threatening

forth American Free Trade Deal has
been placed at the top of the labour
council's agenda.

“We've said we have to focus on and

get as much community support and
awareness around the NAFTA issue
as possible,” says Pederson.

“The employers keep talking about
competition. I think as workers we
shouldn’t shy away from being pro-
ductive,” adds Pederson. “But now
employers are talking about compet-
ing with low wage ghettos in Mexico.”

He adds that “we're not going to
make concessions to employers to pre-
vent them from leaving the province.”

The labour council is planning sem-
inars around the free trade issue just
as it did in the 1988 federal election
around free trade with the U.S.

LOCAL HAS INFLUENCED IWA
POLICY

At this year’s IWA National Con-
vention 1-363’s resolution on the
NAFTA was adopted unanimously by
delegates. The resolution calls for the
complete withdrawal of Canada from
the talks and the establishment of a
progressive, alternative model for
trade in the North American conti-
nent which will ensure democratic
rights, guarantee the improvement of
living standards and establish strong
environmental protection standards.

© At Primex’s Field Sawmill Division in Courtenay, Dan Wennerberg is running

debarker at bucking station.

On the issue of environmental pro-
tection at home the local union has
been involved in environmental com-
mittees since the early 70’s, primarily
at MB’s Menzies Bay Division.

With respect to the protection of
the environment the local has been
involved in the planning process of
the Tsitika-Schoen Watershed area
with its northern boundaries. Since
the early 70’s 1-363 has worked to
strengthen the concept of Integrated
Resource Management, which sees
input from all stakeholders during
the planning process.

The “Peace in the Woods” agree-
ment, participated in by unions, and

environmental groups has the poten-
tial of breaking new ground with
regards to land use disputes.

Pederson considers such an agree-
ment, which will search for common
ground amongst unionists and envi-
ronmentalists, to be a “welcomed
development.”

“Its essential that we talk about
jobs and the environment at the same
time.”

The local union president says that
industry’s ‘bottom line’ approach to
environmental issues is inconsistent
with IWA forest policy which is not
centered upon maximizing profits.

© Stopping off for a load of wood chips at Raven Lumber in Campbell River are truck
drivers Richard LaTrace (1.) and Doug Edwards of C.R. Trucking.

LUMBERWORKER/DECEMBER, 1991/7