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Local union concerned over
future of Doman’s operations

Southern Vancouver Island Local 1-80
has expressed concern over the restruct-
ing of Doman Industries and related
companies. An arm of Brascan Corp. is
to make a decision on final restructuring,
to erase $r billion in debts and possiby
leave the Doman family with no stake in
a new company. “It’s fair to says we’ve
had our disagreements with Doman over
the years but we feel more confortable
with a Cowichan Valley-based company
running the show than some big multi-
national coming in to do as they please.”
Meanwhile in late February, Interfor
offered to purchase five Doman opera-
tions and three quarters of it tenure. The
proposal would see Interfor get 2.7 mil-
lion cubic meters of annual cut from
Doman and leave a smaller company it
would call “New Doman.”

1-85 | PORT ALBERNI BC

Local uncertain over clawback
Local 1-85 president Monty Mearns says
there is a lot of uncertainty over the gov-
emment’s planned 20 per cent clawback
from major licensees. The local maintains
its historic position that if a clawback has
to take place, it should be spread out
among company and contractors crew.
Hayes Franklin River and Mars contract-
ing have gone back to work while the
Weyerhaeuser Sproat Lake crew is fighting
contracting out. “Weyco is a big American
firm, relentless in taking on workers on
issues like drug and alcohol testing and is
by-passing urgent issues that affect
Canadian workers,” says Mearns. The local
is awaiting changes in the stumpage sys-
tem to see if workers in the north end of its
jurisdiction will be recalled.

ALBERTA

Local supports Tolko OSB buyout
Local 1-207 president Mike Pisak says the
local is pleased that Tolko Industries is
purchasing the Weyerhaeuser Slave Lake
oriented strandboard plant where 110
union members work. Brother Pisak says
the IWA is optimistic Tolko will put new
capital investment into the mill and make it
a world-class operation. The mill is
attached to one of the best aspen-stocked
Forest Management Licences in the
province. Pisak says the crew has been
operating for several years under a high
performance work system but is limited by
a small process line.

184 SASKATCHEWAN

Weyerhaeuser puts two mills up
for sales as contract talks begin
On February 26, Weyco announced that it
is selling both the plywood operation in
Hudson Bay and Carrot River sawmill. The
company says it wants to improve its
“strategic focus.” Local president Paul
Hallen says the local will be prepared to
working with new owners, should the sales
take place, to make the operations success-
ful. On March 31, agreements expire at
those and other Weyco plants: OSB 2000
plant in Hudson Bay, and the Big River
sawmill. The local has had meetings with
Wapaweeka lumber in Prince Albert to
encourage a start-up and members at the
Norsask mill in Meadow Lake to discuss
the situation and approach to bargaining.

o= eee SPOTLIGHT LOCAL 830 WINNIPEG MB

PHOTO COURTESY IWA LOCAL 830

= IWA Local 830 president Jack Alexander (I.) swore in new members,
I. to r., Bruce Kruk, Tim Komadowski, David Wallace and Jason Sturie.

Local maintains age-olde tradition

IT HAS BEEN A TRADITION that has been upheld by the union since 1953,
when workers were part of the International Pulp and Sulphite Union.
Whenever a new rank and file member joins [WA Local 830 in Winnipeg, he
or she swears allegiance to the union. The local, which holds meetings on the

third Saturday of each month, promotes its by-laws which include the
2 oath of allegiance to the local and national IWA. Local 830 president
Jack Alexander, who works at the Smurfit-MBI plant in town, says
“it’s something we've alway done with a great deal of pride.” Brother
Alexander says by swearing allegiance and attending at least one

union meeting, workers become familiar with their organization, how it fun-
tions and how workers can voice concern. The pledge, worded out of the
IWA’s national constitution, calls on members to acquaint themselves with
the local by-laws and constitution. Under 830’s by-laws, if the new member
doesn’t show up for the meeting, they get dinged double initiation fees. In
early January, three new employees from the Norampac corrugated plant were
sworn in along with an employee from Unisource, a distribution centre (see
photo above.) Since and before Brother Alexander became local union presi-
dent in 1983, when workers were part of the Canadian Paperworkers Union,
workers have had monthly meetings. “We've always been able to get a quorom
together. I’ve never seen a meeting cancelled no matter what, despite sleet,
snow and even the big Winnipeg flood of ‘97.” During the meeting the pres-
ident and financial secretary give reports and job stewards from each work-
place give a rundown on what’s happening in the operations. Reports from
the national union are also read out and discussed. Before those Saturday
meetings, which start at 11:00 a.m., the executive board gets together. “We try
to keep the general union meetings short and sweet and on track - in the 1 to
1/2 hour range if we can,” he says. “If you don’t, the members can lose focus.”

2171 | VANCOUVER/LOGGERS

Loggers and millworkers up and

down as union faces clawbacks

Local 2171 president Darrel Wong reports
that uncertainty over the future of various
operations are spreading in the face of
upcoming 20 per cent clawbacks. In addi-
tion, return to work following winter shut-
downs has been delayed until the govern-
ment’s new stumpage system kicks in.
While Canfor logging has been down on
the Island, Doman-Western crews have
returned at Jeune Landing, Port McNeill
and Hoeburg. In Vancouver, the Doman
sawmill went back to two shifts on
February 16 and Westcoast Cellufibre and
Mainland sawmills are operating. In
Howe Sound the Interfor Squamish mill
remains closed since March of ‘03 while
logging is still down. Very few operations
are going on the Mainland Coast while
Interfor crew have returned in Cypress
River and Rivers Inlet. Brother Wong says
the Liberal government has “been a com-
plete disaster for our local.” Under the
NDP. Local 2171 averaged 5,500 members.

last year. it averaged 3,500. “When the
Liberals got in, it was a signal to the compa-
nies to do what the hell they want, shut any
operation they want. It has happened and
there is more damage to be done.”

THE PAS MB

Manitoba local in negotiations with

The Pas Airport and transit firm
Local 324 is currently in negotiations,
which began on January 28, with the
Town of The Pas Airport, where mem-
bers are attempting to improve job securi-
ty and stability, wages, benefits and other
issues. The IWA represents six workers
involved in airport maintenance. The local
is also in contract talks with Ian Munro
Transport Ltd. of The Pas. The company,
which employs 6-8 union members, has
worked in log loading/hauling and con-
struction work, including gravel hauling.
In other news, local business agent Chris
T. Parlow, put on a job steward seminar in
The Pas in early February and hopes to put
on more seminars in other parts of
Manitoba this year.

Local 1-424 president Frank te
agreements have been reached at vz

where reached and ratifitied at the
Canadian Woodworks in Prince
where sixty members are ry
deal was also reached at Kyahwood in —
Moricetown where about 90 IWA’ers
work. Brother Everitt also reports that the
local has successfully reached a first col.
lective agreement for more than 50
employees of the Billy Barker Casino in —
Quesnel. A three-year deal pays a one dol-
lar per hour across-the-board increase in
the first year and two per cent in each of
the last two. The local fought long and
hard to get the agreement in a place that
was certified in January of 2003.

CRANBROOK BC

Three sets of contract talks soon
Local 1-405 will soon be involved in three
sets of contract talks with the Tembec Inc.
finger-jointing plant in Cranbrook; the
Nelson and District Credit Union’s main
and East Shore branches and Rossland;
and Tembec truck haulers. Local union
president Bob Matters says that meetings
to formulate demands will take place
during with the haulers during the spring
thaw. After they joined the union, the WA
got a 7 per cent cut in rates reversed in
November of last year. The local has held
meetings with the finger-jointing crew over
the past couple of months to formalize
demands while credit union workers’
demands will soon be formulated.

© 4-417 KAMLOOPS BC

Local in contract talks with —
Louisiana Pacific priorto closure
Local 1-417 president Joe Davies says the
local is in contract talks with L-P as the
company plans to shut down its Malakwa
sawmill at the end of March. Brother
Davies says workers, who have been
without a contract since July of 2003,
would like to see another buyer step in. The
negotiating team is trying to get severance
pay improvements by achieving master
agreement rates in the Interior. The local is
working with Local 1-405 to get workers into
the L-P LVL plant in Golden if there is a
closure in Malakwa, by requesting to create
jobs through early retirement options.

423 KELOWNA BC

Local hopes merger will help out
IWA Local 1-423 hopes the February 2
announcement of a merger of Williams
Lake-based Lignum Ltd with Riverside
Forest Products will help market —
lumber in the United States and —
overseas. The local represents workers
at the Riverside Forest Product's
Kelowna plywood plant and stud mill:
Armstrong plywood plant and stud mill —
and forestry crew, Lumby veneer,
sawmill and road crew; Winfield reman
facility and Eagle Rock nursery in —
Armstrong. Local president Ben Landis —
believes Lignum's marketing expertise
could benefit Riverside employees. —
Lignum has 17 Lumber traders and —
assistants working SPF markets —
through a series of rail and truck
reloads that Riverside wood could be ~
distributed through.

1

6 | THE ALLIED WORKER MARCH 2004