Union repeats call to halt exports of all logs and cants The union once again reaffirmed its complete and unalterable opposition to the export of raw logs and cants and its demand that the federal and provincial governments legislatively ban their shipment out of the country. IWA-CANADA will also continue its pub- licity campaigns to educate the public on the effects of those raw resource exports. Ron Norgaard of Local 1-71 said “there is no rea- son for us to export jobs out of this province, whether it be a round log or a square up log. A cant is not more than a squared up log.” Brother Norgaard said U.S. countervail tariffs against Canadian workers, aimed at provincial log export restriction laws are unfair. During a recent trip to Hoquiam, Washington Norgaard witnessed mill closures in the midst of massive U.S. log ex- ports to Japan, Korea and China. He said former logging towns like Aberdeen, Washington are start- ing to look like shan- ty towns. Same goes for logging and milling towns in Ore- gon. Log export ships are going up and down the Columbia River. “The United States n't need our lum- ber,” said Brother Norgaard. “If they were smart at all they'd be using their wood and their mills and not be concerned about clamping down on exporting logs to is the United States or anywhere else. z Gordie McRae, first vice-president of Vancouver _ Local 1-217 said that big companies have tradition- ___ ally exported prime timber for a fast buck. : -_*At one time we were exporting as high as 12 to 15 percent of the AAC in (British Columbia) and that was disastrous. I think we've driven that down because of the people in this ea put the heat on the .... (then Socred) government : : “ihiore should o a export of raw logs, period, cants. We've got people that are laid off that are good mill workers ay would like to have a e-added (industry).” : oa said oot are still logs leaving the ince which are number one fir, balsam and e Gordie McRae “Carol 1-417, told delegates that un- ¢ ee han government said raw log n. saa een the NAFTA pereael you it says you can export cants, paican one a point where you can take one and it’s not (considered) a raw log. d said no raw logs, ” IWA-CANADA continues to seek input into native lands claims’ effect on jobs As the federal and provincial governments move on to settle native land claims, the IWA is saying that the union must be consulted before any such agreements are signed which will affect the liveli- hood of IWA-CANADA members. In addition the union has been instructed to commence high-level meetings with all concerned parties in an attempt to ensure no job loss as a result of land claims negotia- tions and settlements. Dennis Bonville, president of Saskatchewan Lo- cal 1-184 told the convention that in the northeast- er comer of the province, over 1260 square miles of land were handed to two native bands. The local union gets about 40% of its wood for two major mills out ofthe area. Brother Bonville said that “if there is going to be any more of this, that at least the people that are working in the areas and the families and the com- ” munities and the union that represents these people should be consulted with.” “I think that we all need to take a real hard look at some of the problems that we are facing with Na- tive land claims right across the country,” said Bonville “and that’s not to take a slam at any of the native people . . .But I think that we really have to be concerned at what’s going on and we have to have a part, because this is our future and this is our livelihood. And I believe that we've got some traditional rights as workers and loggers and mill- workers in these communities.” Joe Gibson, a delegate from Local 1-71 said “we’re all going to have to deal with Native land claims. It’s going to happen and it’s going to happen soon.” Brother Dave Haggard, president of Local 1-85, told the convention that in B.C. the IWA is very in- tent on looking out for the union’s interests. IWA-CANADA national president Gerry Stoney sits as the union’s representative on the province's Treaty Negotiations Advisory Committee, while Brother Haggard sits as an alternate. Brother War- ren Ulley, National third vice-president, also sits on the Forestry Council of British Columbia. Haggard said “we are being very active. I think that we. are doing some things that we have to do and that we are having some substantial input on making sure IWA members are protected.” “What shakes down with governments through negotiations . . . can change with the fell swoop of a pen, but the reality is that our union is on the lead- ing edge of making sure that our membership is protected and looked after, because the resource based unions in this country are the ones that are uleimately going to be asked to pay one price or an- other.” Brother Haggard said he hopes that after the land claim process shakes down in B.C., those people making a living in B.C. will be IWA members, re- gardless of racial background. ¢ Local 1-405 president Wayne Nowlin (front left) and financial secretary Edith Skiber (front right) fill in resolution books. Both local unionists were at convention for last time as officers before re- tirement from the local. Safety Resolutions Continued from page nine WCB PENSIONS - the union is instructed to lobby all provincial governments to provide WCB Act legisla- tion providing workers with loss of earnings pen- sions that reflect their true loss of earnings. WCB DOCTORS - the IWA in B.C. will lobby the WCB do away with their own staff doctors and go to inde- pendent specialists that both parties agree to when asecond or other medical opinion is needed. HELICOPTER RESCUE PROCEDURES - the IWA will pres- sure the federal minister of transport to re-institute the “Billy Pugh” helicopter evacuation procedure. SAFETY TRAINING CENTRES - the union will pressure all provincial governments to establish government funded union administered safety centres to train union safety committee members. SPECIAL EQUIPMENT TRAINING - the IWA demands that provincial safety agencies regulate all workers oper- ating equipment to ensure that they are properly trained and authorized before doing so. ERGONOMICS - the union will lobby the WCB Board of Governors in B.C. and the provincial government to establish an ergonomics department and be ac- ~ tive in workplace design. REPETITIVE STRAIN INJURIES - the union demands that industry, unions, provincial WCB boards, and insurance carriers study the issue of repetitive in- juries and find solutions to decrease their rates of occurrence. MENIERE’S SYNDROME - IWA-CANADA will lobby the B.C. Workers’ Compensation Board to recognize Meniere’s (hearing) Syndrome as an industrial dis- ease. COBALT EXPOSURE - the IWA will lobby safety regula- tory agencies to reduce cobalt exposure limits to .005m/3. Also needed are regulations on machine fluids used for grinding and cutting and further studies on the health effects of cobalt. SASKATCHEWAN WCB ACT - the union will lobby the Saskatchewan government to immediately enact the current Workers’ Compensation Committee rec- ommendations into legislation. ONTARIO WORKERS’ COMPENSATION - IWA-CANADA will pressure the Ontario Minister of Labour to ex- tend WCB coverage to all workers. CLAIMS CONTROL CONSULTANTS - the IWA will take action to ensure that confidential records on an in- dividual WCB’s claim history are not released with- out written permission from the worker in question and that actions be taken against consultants that improperly obtain or release confidential informa- tion. WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENT - to ensure that workers achieve the goals of a safe and clean workplace en- vironment the union will continue to lobby all gov- ernments. AIRBORNE CONTAMINANTS - the union demands the WCB and appropriate agencies establish and devel- op better and more comprehensive tests for air- borne contaminants. DUST CONTROL - the union will call on appropriate agencies and the WCB to implement and enforce regulations which require the control of dust at its source, LUMBERWORKER/DECEMBER, 1993/11