Union concerned over government commitments On an open-line radio talk show held in Vancouver in mid-January, IWA-CANADA President Gerry Stoney spoke out in defence of the forest in- dustry and a sustainable economic en- gine of British Columbia. Joining other panel members on Radio CNKW’s Rafe Mair show, Brother Stoney clearly reminded everyone of the provincial government’s commit- ment to workers. The National Union president also put the industry’s im- portance into straight forward terms for listeners. He said that the IWA has concerns over commitments made to workers over job losses due to the CORE process, the Timber Supply Review, the Forest Practices Code and the Protected Areas Strategy. Brother Stoney said that there is a commitment to full-time employment for those who are currently full-time employees in the forest industry. And he said the union will be a watchdog over employment in the industry. “What we have to do (as a union) is keep on monitoring, keep on pressur- ing, keep on ensuring that government is keeping in place policies which en- sure that employment is going to be maintained.” He defended the industry as the backbone of the country’s economy. “Why would we (in Canada) want to diversify away from an industry that. produces (annually) $14 billion?” said the union president. He said that in Canada the forest in- dustry provides over 300,000 direct jobs and does it on a renewable basis. Stoney said the forest industry will continue to produce the greater source of wealth of the province that will allow the public to have the infra- structure it expects. He said that government must push the industry to practice truly sustain- able forestry. As a union Stoney said that: “We have to keep working at it. We have to keep lobbying with government to en- sure that they provide the political cli- mate for it to happen.” Also on the panel was Forest Minis- ter Andrew Petter who, in defence of the government, said that in the past the government hasn't played a lead- ership role. He said that the Forest Practices Code, Forest Renewal B.C., and the Protected Areas Strategies are not just about change, but are also about restoring confidence in the industry. He said that British Columbians need to have confidence in govern- ment, industry, and labour when it comes to managing the forest. Also on the panel were Native Leader Garry Merkl, Truck Logger As- sociation President Ralph Torney, en- vironmentalist Paul George, and UBC Dean of Forestry Clarke Binkley. MacBlo dispute Continued from page one have to pay premiums into the CEP’s pension fund for both new construc- tion and repair and maintenance work. MB will also have to pay the CEP a further 1% of total wages that are paid to non-union or company union workers. The new agreement also demands that construction contractors must comply with union standards when it comes to health and safety regula- tions and policies. The Joint Health and Safety Committee will: deal promptly with violations that occur on the site. In addition to wage and safety is- sues, MB may not hire contractors that do not honour legal picket lines at the mill site. According to the agreement signed: “A contractor will not be allowed on the mill site if it has a current, demonstrated practice of crossing legal picket lines.” The battle against MB heated up last November when MB hearded TNL Construction across picket lines ‘set up by the CEP and the Building Trades, at the company’s NexGen coated paper mill construction site which is a new addition to the Alberni Specialties pulp and paper mill com- plex. During picket line confrontations 100 unionists were arrested for not obeying court orders to not picket against TNL. All of them were eventu- ally convicted of criminal contempt of court and either sentenced one to 20 days in jail or served sentences at home with electronic monitoring de- vices. The pattern for the Port Alberni set- tlement, including the framework for the new Code of Ethics governing the use of contractors was set during ne- gotiations between the CEP, the PPWC and Fletcher Challenge. In ear- ly February a three year agreement was ratifed for 2,400 workers at the mills in Crofton, Elk Falls, and MacKenzie. 3 The contracts include wage increas- es of 9% over three years and a $1000 cash bonus, which is very similiar to the IWA-Forest Industry agreements signed last year. The IWA.is proud to have played a role in the Say No! To Mac Blo! cam- paign. During the dispute the union participated on a media planning com- mittee with representatives from the B.C. FED, the CEP, and the Buiding Trades. Former IWA Local 1-3567 First Vice President Joe Leclair was brought in to coordinate the union’s efforts on the campaing. ¢ During Say No! to Mac Blo campaign Port Alberni CEP representative Ken McRae (second from left), here seen at the company’s New Westminster Lumber division with Local 1-3567 president Dave Tones (left) warned IWA members about MB's open site policy which will eventually effect IWA operations. “We had a very effective commit- tee,” says Brother Leclair. “Most of the program was not implemented be- cause delicate negotiations were go- ing on at various points in time.” The committee had planned a bill- board, lawn sign, and information campaign. Some radio ads did appear and full page ads were taking out in provinicial and community newspa- pers. The boycott of MacMillan Bloedel products, supported by the B.C. Fed- eration of Labour and the Canadian Labour Congress, has now been called off. Seasonal workers Continued from page one Mr. Dottori noted that, “the oppor- tunities to offset the seasonal nature of forestry work are there, but it is go- ing to take a lot of creative leadership from employers, labour and govern- ment to achieve those potentials”, he added. “In my own company we have already taken a number of small steps to deal with and actually reduce the seasonal problems we face in our re- gion,” he said. “Simple things like bet- ter scheduling arrangements can go a long way to offsetting some of the seasonal issues we face,” he said. Mr. Dottori acknowledged that there is a need to restructure employ- er premiums to better reflect the per- formance and experience of individual operations. “Worker's benefits should not be- come the shock absorber if the U.I. system is to work effectively,” he added. “Individual employers have to take a much greater responsibility in creating jobs that are meaningful and productive”, he said. Dottori also noted that this new re- sponsibility was critically important because of the dominant role that the forest industry plays in all regions of the Canadian economy. “Our industry accounts for a tremendous amount of economic activity in hundreds of com- munities across this country,” he said, ‘and we as an industry have to be a lot more creative in the area of new ro Pes ae eco Ss ? it Research Director 2/LUMBERWORKER/MARCH, 1995