OVER HARVESTING

Although the public and the envi-
ronmental movement haven't turned
‘up the scrutiny on forest and environ-
ment issues in Manitoba like they
seve in other parts of Canada, Brother
Anderson says that it is probably just
around the corner.

The local union is concerned about
the massive and runaway clear cuts
that Repap is planning to carry out.
Wii ‘ore feller bunchers the defor-

is taking place at a breakneck

a6 the roadside chippers are used,
there is a build up of limbs, bark and
seed cones at the roadside. Previous
to the chippers being used the limbs
and debris would be left out in the
bush where it belongs. Brother Ander-
son says Repap plans on using equip-
ment to spread the debris back out
into the strips.

Anderson says the local has been as
active as possible in promoting IWA-
CANADA’s forest policy and feels that
education is a major issue for all citi-
zens of Manitoba. He believes that the
environmental movement can play an
important role, but not when they
spread misinformation.

“#@men people came up here to

false statements, half-truths for
reasons of sensationalism, it doesn’t
do any good for the workers, the com-
munities, or the environment,” says
Anderson.

One persistent problem that exist is
that Repap leaves almost all its hard-
wood species in the bush as waste
woods. This underutilization of the
resource has the local union con-
cerned.

A large percentage of Repap’s for-
est tracts are hardwood like birch and
poplar. Since the company is now
only interested in the softwoods for
its pulp and mill operation, it just
leaves the hardwoods standing or
knocks the trees over. A small per-
centage is salvaged for firewood but
the vast majority is wastewood.

Brother Anderson says that the
company should be using all good
wood and that nothing should go to
waste. He says the government should
force Repap to recover more wood
and create more jobs by doing so.

LOCAL SUPPORTS NDP

To get better forest practices the
Local Union believes that govern-
ments must become more involved.
It's not enough to let giant companies

like Repap run things the way they
want.

Local 1-324 has been a long time
affiliate with the New Democratic
Party. In 1990 the local threw its sup-
Port behind Local MLA Oscar Lathlin
who represents The Pas. The local
MLA has been an NDPer for many

ye

Oe, the IWA has been a
stromg supporter of NDP Churchill-
North Member of Parliament Rod
Murphy who has been an outspoken
critic for workers rights. Mr. Murphy
Successfully championed the cam-
Paign to get April 28 designated as
Canada’s Day of Mourning for work-
ers injured and/or killed on the job.

“We've had a long relationship with
the NDP,” says Brother Anderson. “It’s
the only government that represents
Our interests at all.”

Anderson says that “we try to
express (an awareness) that the party

supports workers is the party that

Workers should support.”

Support for the NDP is going in the
Province, and a change is definitely

in the government.
‘onservative government of
Gary"Milmon has made changes to the

Workers’ Compensation Act and
uur Relations Act which are detri-
Mental to workers.

With regards to the Workers’ Com-
Pensation the government has length-
hed the time that workers have to
Wait for compensation and has
teduced payments to injured workers.
Now, for instance, if an injured logger
fan perform the duties of a service
‘industry worker, his compensation

its will be reduced to that of a

5 A 4 i

service industry worker.

- In the spring of 1992 the govern-
ment made it tougher for the IWA and
other Manitoba unions to organize the
unorganized. Now an employer has
“freedom of speech” laws, allowing to
interfere during an organizing cam-
paign.

OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH CENTRE

For over a decade the IWA has been
involved in supporting the Manitoba
Federation of Labour’s Occupational
Health Centre. The Centre, which is
located in Winnipeg offers valuable
services to workers, employers,
health care professional and the pub-
lic at large.

The Centre, which has operated
since 1983, is a worker controlled
health clinic that helps tackle health
and safety issues all over the
province. If a health and safety com-
mittee sees a problem with workplace
illness or injuries; it can contact the
Centre for help on specific informa-
tion.

Local 1-324 has used the Centre on
many occasions. Several IWA mem-
bers have been assessed by the Centre
occupational health nurse or hygienist
for workplace injuries or illnesses.

Gordon Landriault, a rank and file
logger, and local union trustee, has

Continued on page fifteen

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Swan River
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Neepawao,

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Wabowd

The Pas Se tke
“hy
ee

¢ At Prendiville Wood Preservers in
Neepawa, Joe Nemec removes bolts
from retort tank.

“AREA
ENLARGED

i

| IWA
CANADA
LOCAL-1-324
_ MANITOBA

The local has about 500 members spread throughout the province in 13 opera-

e Brother Anderson meets with desk clerk Debbie Allan at Wescana Inn in The Pas, an IWA certification since the mid-70s.

LUMBERWORKER/MARCH, 1993/9