i : a= 1.W.A. WOMEN HOLD FIRST CONSTITUTIONAL CONFERENCE In Richmond, B.C., 44 women from 1.W.A. locals across Canada got together at a historic conference for the national union, to enhance and encourage leadership skills. PAGES 20-24 ° OUTSIDE THE U.S. CONSULATE in downtown Vancouver, I.W.A. Canada national president Dave Haggard spoke to a rally organized by the union and the B.C. Federation of Labour on August 80 (see pages two and three). For additional coverage of the softwood lumber dispute see pages four to eight and page 40. Canadian forest industry targeted by trade actions The impact of the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) August 10 preliminary decision to launch a 19.31 per cent countervailing duty (CVD) against annual shipments of $10 billion of Canadian softwood lumber has already done major damage to lumber companies, workers and communities across Canada. At press time there were more than 5,000 workers in the I.W.A. across Canada that had been affected by layoffs some temporary and some indefinite (see articles on pages six, even and 40). The effect of the preliminary CVD announcement has shaken the very foundation of the Canadian forest industry and is being felt the most in British Columbia, specifically on the coast region. As of late August over 5,000 union members were on the unemployment rolls with no clear solution in site. B.C. accounts for about half of Canada’s softwood rt south of the line. .W.A, Canada national president Dave Haggard is urging government and industry leaders to keep their eyes on the prize, free and fair trade jn lumber, and said that recent finger-pointing at the Chretien overnment does nothing other fran en Canada’s position and is counterproductive. : “Each and every one of us knew that the Americans were going to hit us with a duty,” said Brother “Ithink some of the p! in da were too optimistic about jhow far the U.S. would go. Maybe this is a 20 per cent wake-up call for some people.” The national president said that, as B.C. has been hit with about half the duty, it is imperative that the province continue to play a leading role in putting forward and sustaining a national position. He said the union supports continuing a legal battle through international tribunals but that it is also in favour of opening up dialogue with the United States to get into an era of free trade in lumber products. “In this dispute our goal is free trade in lumber and we should keep our eye on that goal in the legal arena, in talks with the U.S. and in puaning: for any exemptions to the uty,” added Haggard. iterally hundreds of communities and hundreds of thousands of workers will be affected by this duty, not to mention the impact on government revenues,” he said. Haggard is also advocating that industry on both sides of the border begin to promote and market North American wood products at home and overseas. “We spend too much time fighting each other when we should be working together as Canadians and Americans to get out there and sell our praducte all over the world,” said egard. “Markets are getting more and more competitive and we have to work hard to maintain our current ones and look for new opportunities to sell our products.” ‘The forest industry is still the foundation of many communities and ‘new economy’ or not, provinces like British Columbia are highly dependent on revenues from the industry,” said Haggard, who was appointed to the province’s softwood lumber advisory committee in late July. Following the expiry of the Canada - U.S. Softwood Lumber Quota Agreement (SLA) at the end of March, 2001, an agreement which limited duty-free lumber exports from B.C., Alberta, Ontario and Quebec, the protectionist lobby group, the Coalition from Fair Lumber Imports (which represents 75 per cent of U.S. lumber producers) filed documents with the DOC to hit the Canadian softwood lumber industry with tariffs and anti- dumping duties of up to 86 per cent in some areas. Only the Maritime provinces are exempt from the CVD action. The Americans allege that provincial stumpage rates are too low and, in their view, constitute a subsidy to Canadian producers. The DOC’s preliminary decision is a protectionist move to guard a less competitive U.S. lumber industry and has no basis in fact or in law, said International Trade Minister Pierre Pettigrew. “In previous cases over the last 20 years, the U.S. industry has not been able to sustain subsidy and injury allegations against Canada,” he said from Ottawa, noting that all provinces in question have raised their stumpage since the SLA was continued on page eight Referendum on strike fund passes Results in from the nation-wide referendum ballot on boosting contributions to the I.W.A. national strike fund via a strike fund assessment were ratified at the June meeting of the national executive board in Vancouver. Just under 57 per cent, or 11,825 of 20,800 ballots cast, voted in approval of the assessment of one- half hour’s pay per month at the operational base rate. The assessment will come off when the fund reaches $40 million and will kick in again when the fund falls below $10 million. “We are pleased to see that I.W.A. members have once again risen to the occasion to support a ballot to strengthen our union,” said I.W.A. president Dave Haggard. “Although not as many people voted as we would have liked, we did see a higher level of support in areas where information on the ballot was debated by well-informed members.” Last year the strike fund paid out over $7 million in benefits, up from over $3.5 million in disbursements in 1999. As right-wing corporations decide to go after the I.W.A. across Canada, a stronger strike fund is fundamental to the fight-back. Union members at last year’s national convention endorsed the resolution to fix the fund, sending it off to the members for a vote. Brother Haggard said corp- orations are getting their lead from right-wing governments in Ontario and Alberta, and believes that British Columbia workers may be in for a rough ride with the Gordon Campbell Liberals now in power - and employers on the offensive. “We need a strong insurance policy and that’s what a healthy strike fund will give us,” said Haggard. “Our members are facing more strikes, more scabs, more lock-outs and are coming up against more companies that want to bust unions.” In 1995 the national strike fund paid out less than $300,000. Since 1997 there has been a steady climb in payouts to striking I.W.A. members and their dependents. “We've got to have the resources to take on the fight for dignity and fairness and get a better deal for our members and their families,” added Haggard. “A strong strike fund lets us continue the struggle and build upon the achievements that we have made for working people over the past 64 years.” “Strikes happen when all other routes to a negotiated settlement fail — really, they are last thing that we want to do,” said Haggard. “But we must never forget, and our history bears out, that strike action is sometimes necessary, and is one of our fundamental rights.” =