5 SAFER 2003 ¢ SEE PAGES 19-21 NEWS FROM THE INDUSTRIAL, THE ALLIED VOL.68 NO.1 APRIL 2003 WOOD AND ALLIED WORKERS OF CANADA Union hopes for spirit of cooperation in 2003 talks says TWA president THE B.C. FOREST INDUSTRY and. the IWA began collective bargaining talks with the Interior Forest Labour Relations Association (IFLRA) on March 18 in hopes that a pattern set- tlement can be reached for B.C. National union president Dave Haggard said that he hopes that all sides can approach talks in a spirit of cooperation “so we can get back on track to deal with the tremendous trade and competitive pressures fac- ing the lumber industry.” Brother Haggard, who chaired the provincial wage and contract confer- ence on February 21 (see article on pages 22-23), says the more than 26,000 IWA members in the B.C. forest industry should be prepared for a scrap with employers if necessary, in order to achieve fair and just col- lective agreements. “No organization has worked harder to cooperate with industry and government, than the IWA has, during these tough eco- nomic times and against the back- drop of the softwood lumber dispute with the Americans,” adds Brother Haggard. “I guess we'll see if our good will translates into more co- operation or conflict with certain play- ers in this industry.” Collective agreements expire with Coastal employers on June 15, 2003 while Interior agreements expire on June 30. In the Interior, the union is also scheduling meetings with the Council on Northern Interior Forest Employee Relations (CONIFER), Canadian Forest Products, and Weldwood of Canada. On the Coast, the union will be negotiating with the industry bargaining association Forest Industrial Relations. IWA Canada collective agreements cover workers in sawmills, logging, plywood and veneer plants, shingle mills and other forest and wood industry operations. The Coast indus- try, which has been hardest hit by the U.S. tariffs and other market issues, is faced with significant change as is the rest of the industry. The B.C. Liberals introduced dramatic reforms to provincial forest policy on March 26 (see articles below and on page three). Paar BY NORMAN GARCIA = IWA Canada national president Dave Haggard (standing) is seen here with (|. to r.) first vice president Harvey Arcand and third vice president Wilf Mcintyre, at the B.C. provincial wage and contract conference. Demanding a fair deal B.C. wage and contract conference delegates approved set of demands calling for just collective agreements with additional improvements T a E got together in Vancouver to for- mulate a just and realistic set of collective bargaining demands to take to the B.C. forest industry, during a time when the industry is deep into a trade war with the United States, and lumber prices and markets are suffering. On February 21, some 110 delegates representing ten local unions from the B.C. Coast and Interior regions approved sets of resolutions to deliver to employers across this year's bargaining tables. “Our union has come up with a reasonable and responsible set of demands for the times,” says national IWA president Dave Haggard. “We want a deal that is fair to our members and will give the industry stability and certainty in difficult times.” The IWA’s universal demands (see pages twenty-two and twenty-three for more details) include a call for a three-year collective agreement with across-the-board wage increases for all employees, improved benefits, including a revised pension plan, improved seniority protec- tion, new language to prevent contracting out, increases to the education fund, and the inclu- sion of protective language from the Employ- ment Standards Act into the contract. The Coast and Southern Interior regions, have additional demands which are region specific. The union will also present demands to Canfor’s northern operations and Weldwood of Canada, which has mills in the province's Interior region. B.C. LIBERALS ANNOUNCE SWEEPING CHANGES TO PROVINCE'S FOREST ACT Union and B.C. communities undermined SWEEPING CHANGES to forest policy introduced on March 26 will cost jobs and undermine B.C. communities, warns IWA president Dave Haggard. The Liberal government vows to scrap the 50 year “social contract” that has protected workers and communities and the tenure system allowing com- panies long-term harvest rights. They are to be replaced by timber auctions, with no stability of employment or security of tenure. “This is all about trying to appease the Americans and please the industry,” Haggard suggests. “It is not about providing decent jobs, economic opportu- nities or long-term futures for our communities.” Although early reports are unclear, between 20 and 45 per cent of B.C. timber will be up for auction. Current rules ensuring maximum and minimum cut levels, tying timber to specific mills, restricting mill closures and discouraging licence speculation will be erased (see article by Scott Lunny page fif- teen). “Gordon Campbell’s government still believes that if it just sacrifices enough, the Americans will remove the tariffs,” Haggard notes. “They are send ing the wrong message — that to please the U.S. they'll give up any number of jobs and communities.” Haggard’s concern appears confirmed by American industry leaders’ responses: they say the B.C. concessions are insufficient. “Based on infor- mation presently available, the announced changes will be inadequate to create an open and functioning market,” wrote Rusty Wood of the U.S. Coalition for Fair Lumber Imports, indicating no intention to seek withdrawal of the 27.2 percent average tariff. In talks with the province, the WA suggested an “accountability clause” giving workers, communi- ties, government and First Nations a chance to negotiate mill closures, reports Haggard, but the government rejected it. “We're urging communities and citizens to oppose this. We don’t want a fight but if the gov- ernment wants one, they'll get it,” vows Haggard. - Kim Pollock