Longest Strikes Continued from page one said that the former strikers will be “playing it cool” at the plant. “Tt is our responsibility as union members to be role models in that plant,” said Gardiner. She pointed out to the fact that 60% of union members voted to keep the IWA after nearly 5 years on strike. “These are people who understand the union - what it’s function is, and how it can help them. Since the major- ity of the past union members are on our side - that is a real good begin- Zeidler could harass the members said Gardiner. ‘ “If they didn’t like the look of you today then you could be gone tomor- row,” said Gardiner. “They can easily find someone else to take your place. There are lots of problems accord- ing to reports coming out of the Edmonton plywood plant says Brother Pisak. Zeidler is seeing a high turnover of employees. Sister Gardiner says there are a lot of misconceptions about the IWA inside the plant. “If they (inside workers) ask me questions about the strike, I will be more than happy to answer them,” said Gardiner. “When the strike began in Edmonton, there was nobody in their right mind who thought we were going to be out for five years.” The fact that the company could herd scabs under police protection and aggression in both Edmonton and Slave Lake, made putting pressure on impossible. The employers in Alberta now have blanket coverage to break unions. “This whole episode just shows you how few rights workers have,” said Brother Pisak. “We’ve been treated like hell by the government and the IWA-CANADA workers in Edmonton and Slave Lake have done their best against Alberta’s anti-labour laws company just for not giving in to con- tract concessions.” In other words employers in Alberta have the power to break unions if the unions don’t do what they say. Joe Martha said workers at Slave Lake would not accept a $2.00/hour wage cut, a different pension plan, or a drop in benefits. They struck in 1986 against this and immediately the employer scabbed out the veneer plant. The plant has been a strike a long time. Keeping motivation up to contin- ue has been tough, especially when the police protect scabs, the employer refuses to meet with you, and the gov- ernment does nothing to see that the company is bargaining in good faith. “We’ve had to work together over these past 7 years,” said Brother Martha. “We say it all the time - that we are brothers and sisters. It is true and that’s how we have stayed togeth- er.” Brother Martha who sits on the Zeidler negotiating committee with Steve Heslip and Bernice Stertz, said that many workers in Alberta have become timid in front of employers. “Many working people are afraid of losing their jobs for whatever reason,” he said. “As soon as you hear talk of worker solidarity, people get afraid.” He thanks the IWA for its financial and moral support over the years although the strike is not over yet. That support was necessary as the RCMP “we're a bunch of wild charac- ters right from the street,” said Martha. 0. IWA members, and their affiliate supporters from the Alberta Federation of Labour publicized the Zeidler strikes many times. This photo was taken in June of 1989 outside the gates of the company’s Edmonton plywood plant. “They kicked us around, the grabbed us, choked us and threw us in the can and gave us the handcuff treatment,” said Martha. Partially due to pressure from the Alberta Federation of Labour and the IWA, the Alberta government investi- gated police tactics used in the Slave Lake and Edmonton strike and came out with 1992 recommendations that police should back off during labour disputes and wait for court orders before taking action. The strikers at Slave Lake were threatened, abused by police, and had their picket shack in Slave Lake shot at with a high powered rifle. “Tf there is anybody (union) out there supporting people on strike for over 7 1/2 years, this has got to be the best union not only in Alberta, not only in Canada, but in the world,” said Martha. For the duration of the Edmonton strike, Sister Gardiner says the IWA members “became a very close knit community.” “Tt (the strike) was like an eternal roller coaster. It was always going up and down. And at times it got to a point where we could see no light at the end of the tunnel. Sister Gardiner, on behalf of her negotiating committee and the strik- ers also thanks IWA-CANADA for its support. “People have to understand that they are not going to find a better union - one that will support them in the same way the IWA has supported us,” said Gardiner. “I really believe that when they (the IWA) makes a commitment they carry it through. They don’t cut and run.” “We did the best we could and we lost because the lousy labour laws were stacked against us,” added Gardiner. “We'll try to right that some- where down the road.” Both Gardiner and Martha say that the only way to prevent more Zeidlers type union busting schemes is to change the government. That means political action. “People like Brian Mulroney went. all around the world telling people we have a free and democratic society . . . and that you can do whatever you want...“ said Brother Martha. “Well, it’s not true. We went on strike and the police and government ran us down the road every day. And then the government ensured that the com- pany can get rid of unions.” “Money is power,” said Sister Gardiner. “It’s corporate people who have money, not workers. The govern- ments pass laws to please those who have power.” “We as workers have to get together to change the government,” says Sister Gardiner. “One of the problems is that workers don’t believe they have an effect on what is happening in this country by their political actions.” Zeidlers plant in Edmonton is still making a scab product. The veneer comes from the scab operation in Slave Lake. The CLC boycott is still on against the plywood as the strike con- tinues. RENDEZVOUS °93 — Over 5,000 forest workers and community supporters met in Ucluelet, B.C. on August 14, to show their support for Clayoquot decision. See pages one and seven. 2/LUMBERWORKER/SEPTEMBER, 1993