8 tJ iS 5 3 é @ At IFBWW Conference in Geneva was the IWA’s Clay Perry (1.) and Union President Jack Munro where they delivered a presen- tation and heard about international health and safety conditions for contract workers. Munro appointed as a board member of international trade union federation National President Jack Munro has been appointed North American Board Member of the IFBWW, the International Trade Secretariat for Union in Wood and Construction. The appointment follows his elec- tion as Worker Chairman of an impor- tant tripartite ILO Conference, held in Geneva in May, on Worker Safety and Technological Change in the For- est Industry. Munro’s robust chairing style was applauded by worker dele- gates from around the world, and even won some grudging respect from Employer and Worker delegates. In his closing remarks to the Conference, he departed from the very formal style that is customary at such con- ferences, to chastise several govern- ment delegates for “coming out of the woods at the last minute to louse up deals that had been made. You don't negotiate that way!” The findings of the Tripartite group on the effects of “Contracting-out” included the following: “Contract labour, in some cases, has resulted in poor safety and health conditions, long working hours and lack of social security protection. It is essential to ensure that the same safety standards apply for contract work as for directly employed work- ers. Safety regulations for directly employed workers should be extended to equally cover contract labour. Model contracts should be established for contract work and these should include the same terms and working conditions as those applied to regu- larly employed workers. Governments and employers should have the ability and stability to enable their workers to enjoy the same terms and condi- tions as regular employees, and that contractors fulfill their obligations. The ILO should further examine safety, health and working conditions of contract labour with a view to promoting practical improvements. The ILO Code of Practice on Safety and Health in Forest Work should be updated and re-issued. The ILO should also study the possibility of preparing a Convention on safety and health in the forest industry. Within its regular program of work, the ILO should give special priority to fores- try.” Such “findings” and recommended action do not change the world over night, but they provide important support for unions in weak bargaining positions, especially in the third world, and assist generally by “raising the floor” from which we all have to negotiate. Poor conditions in Canadian silvi- cultural operations were cited in the report, and used in the debate, that led to these conclusions. Since May, IWA-CANADA has acted as host for a tour of Canada’s forest industry by Czechoslovakian Labour Leaders. — CLAY PERRY Labour legislation to change — Sihota Slightly more than three weeks after his swearing in as B.C.’s new Minister of Labour and Consumer Services and Minister responsible for constitutional affairs, NDP MLA Moe Sihota addressed the B.C. Federation of Labour Convention. In his address, Sihota vowed to scrap the Industrial Relations Act, change Employment Standards Act, improve Occupational Health and Safety Laws, help farm- workers and represent the of workers during the constitution debate. “Tt is our objective as government to bury Bill 19 in the course of the first legislation which will commence in spring 1992,” said the new Cabinet Minister to a round of applause. Sihota said the new government will begin an process to amend or replace the Industrial Relations Act. It will include a of representatives from the B.C. Federation of Labour and the business community. Sihota said the panel will be in place and on the road by mid-January of next year. Sihota said a new labour law change must be fair and balanced and that the stature of legislation will be reflected by its sense of equity. As over 60% of workers in B.C. are not union members and are protected under the Employment Standards Act, Sihota said his government will rewrite the Act because government has the responsibility to ensure the economy fairly for working people as well. He said a government standing committee will tour the province to gather input for changes to the Act. During the week of the Fed Sihota announced a 50¢ hour increase in the B.C. minimum wage and took flak from the business community. How- ever, he said he makes “no apologies for defending the working poor.” He said the NDP will be steadfast in its to eradicate poverty in B.C. “No government can lay claim to achiev- ing social justice if it is not prepared to defend the interests of the poor and underprivileged in society.” In specific reference to the protec- tion of farmworkers, who are unpro- tected by weak labour standard pro- tection, Sihota pledged his support. “Too many delegates have cried out for protection for farmworkers and for too long the government has been deaf.” I want to make it abundantly clear that you (farmworkers) now have a government that is on your side,” said Sihota. The speaker said the government is committed to having occupational health and safety standards which will be a model for other jurisdictions in North America. “If there is a need for further legis- lation to have these standards met in the province - so be it, those changes will be forthcoming.” Sihota, as Minister Responsible for Constitutional Affairs told the dele- gates the B.C. New Democratic gov- ernment will join with NDP govern- ment in Ontario and Saskatchewan to ensure that collective rights are in the federal constitutional debates. He said the protection of social programs will not be traded off in any debate. Of special interest was as Labour Minister to be an advocate for work- ers during the upcoming process to solve environment and land claim issues, of B.C. Fed At this year’s B.C. Fed Convention IWA delegates and others heard George Watts, Chairman of the Nuu- Chah-Nulth Tribal Council call for unity between working people and natives prior to and during the settle- ment of native land claims. “We have a tremendous job ahead and its not going to be easy,” Watts _told the convention. He said that both sides must let their emotions be set aside and get the facts on the table. Watts also said we'd be fools if we don’t think there will be adjustments as natives are brought into Canadian society. However, he said “negotia- tions don’t mean ordinary working people have to be pushed out of their jobs or that communities have to come to an end.” “The job that has to be done is to bring Indian people into the main- stream of Canadian society without doing damage to ordinary working people.” The speaker said that labour and the natives should sit down to get adjustment issues straightened around and not count on government. to come up with all the answers.“ That means the establishment of real working groups to study the effects of settling native land claims. @ Nuu-Chah-Nulth chairman George Watts. But Watts cautioned: “If our goal as Indian people is just to do you away with whatever we can or if your goal is to hang on to the status quo... we're not going to get anywhere.” He suggested that both the labour movement and the native community must educate their respective mem- ers. Watts also said there’s no way that the province will have prosperity if its going to become nothing but a park. “If we manage the province properly, then there's room for all of us,” said Watts. The native leader also expres- sed optimism at working with the new NDP government. Delegates to the convention unani- mously endorsed a resolution affirm- ing the solidarity of the Fed with Aboriginal people. The Fed will also lobby the provincial government to speed up settlement of land claims. In addition the Fed, where appro- priate will lend its offices to facilitate dispute resolutions and will establish a regular Aboriginal issues update bulletin to the affiliates. [oer aaa 2/LUMBERWORKER/DECEMBER, 1997