1 SCAB SMUGGLERS This summer IWA organizer Fran Borsellino blew the whistle on a U.S. firm using American scabs /2 @ LUMBER LIMBO There's no clear direction for what's next in the Canada-U.S. softwood lumber dispute /3 @ LETTERS PAGE The Allied Worker welcomes letters from \WAers across Canada /4 @ OPINIONS National president Dave Haggard and others share their views /5 i LINKING THE LOCALS Brief bits and bites of information from all IWA Canada locals /6-7 LIFE BLOOD OF THE UNION The Allied Worker reports on new certifications in the union, both large and small /8 NEXFOR'S TOP BRASS have been overseeing the company’s efforts to push the open shop in New Brunswick. The union awaits the results of a vote /9 PAINS IN HEALTH CARE More on the IWA’s struggle with an American firm in Niagara-on- the-Lake, Ontario /9 TOUGHING THE TARIFFS The union continues its efforts to get federal assistance for com- munities, workers and medium and small companies / 10-11 @ DOWN IN CONCEPCION Your union and the Chilean Forest Workers confederation have put 327 trade unionists through an education centre in Chile since early 2000 / 12 @ EDUCATION FOR THE NATION pee This summer 44 IWA activists gath- ered in Vancouver for the second con- stitutional women’s education confer- ence /13 @ WOMEN IN A LOCAL Freelance photographer Elaine Briére cap: tured some of the diversity within the Fraser Valley, B.C. local / 14-15 @ LABOUR LINKED News for IWA members from the Canadian Labour Congress and provin- cial federations of labour / 16 I SAFE IN SASKATOON This sum- mer delegates from locals across the IWA gathered for another successful health and safety conference in Sask. / 17 i TWO OF THE IWA'S BEST At this year's safety conference the union paid tribute to outgoing first VP Neil Menard and safety director Tom Lowe /17 @ PEOPLE AND PLACES The Allied Worker brings you news about outstanding individuals who have raised money for charity and the passing of a former Region 2 officer / 20 fy, FRONTN 2002, convention to be held in Richmond IT PROMISES TO BE another celebration of the IWA’s history in Canada at this year’s constitutional con- vention to be held in Richmond, B.C. More than 180 delegates from seven provinces are scheduled to assemble at the Richmond Inn between September 23-26 to discuss and debate the IWA’s future direction and reflect on 65 years of history. The IWA in Canada was founded in 1937 and has survived through thick and thin to become a ews _ diverse national trade union. “These are challenging times,” says national president Dave Haggard. “And when you look at our history, you'll see that we have been dealing with tough issues since 1937 — today is no differ- ent. We have always fought adversity and come on on top.” With a great deal of focus on the soft- wood lumber war with the United States, the convention will also address numerous issues, including legislative resolutions, health and safety issues, future political directions for the Iwa, and constitutional amendments, This year’s speakers list includes CLC president Ken Georgetti, former IWA national president Jack Munro, Tony Young of the Communication Workers of Great Britain, Rod Kelty and Randall Rice of the IAM, and Npp Mp Lorne Nystrom. The convention will also view a new 30 minute video on the union’s history. & IWA organizer Fran Borsellino and workers at the Anagram Premier ResCare facility in Niagara-on-the-Lake were some upset to find an American employer smuggling scabs. Fighting the American scab smugglers IWA organizer tips Immigration staff, leading to police bust by the border WHEN SHE ARRIVED at the IWA’s womens’ conference in early June, union organizer Fran Borsellino could hardly contain her anger. She just got a call from an Immigration Canada offi- cer informing her that the RCMP were going to investigate the Anagram Premier ResCare private health care firm for possible violation of immigra- tion laws. Sister Borsellino reported that the company was bringing in illegal American scabs to break an IWA strike in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Immigration did its own investigation, which backed up her allegations. “Anagram was smuggling scabs across the Niagara Falls border to steal our jobs and help them try to smash our strike,” says Borsellino. A week later the company was nailed again. Immigration put up notices at border crossings, warning its staff to keep an eye out for anybody dealing with the company. IWA Local 700 has been on the pick- et line since April 15, trying to put pres- sure on the employer to get a first col- lective agreement, in the facility that takes care of patients who have suf- fered serious head injuries. “The thing that burns me even more is that this American company is using our tax dollars from our health care sys- tem to do this,” she adds. “It’s disgust- ing. The Ontario government is closing 1 hospital beds and these corporations are being favoured by the Ministry of Health.” Nothing like this - the use of American strike breakers - has been seen by the union before. The matter is between the courts and the cops. “They don’t let us in on it,” says Borsellino, who said it took two weeks before Immigration Canada would act. In one instance Immigration caught the company smuggling 14 scabs back into the U.S. One American worker, who refused to scab further, was fired by the company. “This is real cloak and dagger stuff,” says IWA national second vice presi- dent Norm Rivard. “Employers, in this case an U.S. based company, are get- PHOTO BY KAREN HUMPHREY ting so bold and have such a lack of respect for Canadian laws and Canadian workers that they are willing to pull crazy stunts like this. Legislation introduced by the Harris government , to permit the use of scabs, makes things even worse.” On June 17, NDP MP Joe Comartin, from Windsor-St. Clair, told the House of Commons about Immigration Canada’s investigation of the illegal scab herding. “The workers of IWA Local 700 are on the front line in the battle against the Americanization of our health care system, fighting for quality health care for Canadians and equity for health care providers. I com- mend them on their struggle...” he said. For more see page 9. 2 | THE ALLIED WORKER SEPTEMBER 2002