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@ 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