i VOL 69 NO 2 JUNE Official Publication of the Industrial, Wood and Allied Workers of Canada 2004 Norman Garcia EDITOR Norm Rivard NATIONAL PRESIDENT Wilf Mcintyre FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT Joe da Costa SECOND VICE-PRESIDENT Wade Fisher THIRD VICE-PRESIDENT Mike Pisak FOURTH VICE-PRESIDENT David Tones SECRETARY-TREASURER EDITORIAL BOARD Joe da Costa SECOND VICE-PRESIDENT Bob Matters PRESIDENT LOCAL 1-405 DIRECTORY OF IWA OFFICES IWA CANADA NATIONAL OFFICE 300-3920 Norland Avenue Burnaby, B.C. V5G 4K7 TEL (604) 683-1117 FAX (604) 688-6416 or FAX (604) 683-1265 For E-mail links check www.iwa.ca TWA CANADA NATIONAL OFFICE EASTERN CANADA 2088 Weston Rd. Toronto, Ont. M9N 1X4 ‘TEL (416) 247-8628 FAX (416) 247-5893 WESTERN LOCALS LOCAL 1-80 351 Brae Rd. Duncan, B.C. V9L3T9 ‘TEL (250) 746-6131 FAX (250) 746-1012 LOCAL 1-85 4904 Montrose St. Port Alberni, B.C. V3Y 1M3 TEL (250) 724-0171 FAX (250) 724-2800 LOCAL 1-184 {lO Third Ave., West Prince Albert, Sask. S6V 5G3 TEL (306) 764-4202 FAX (306) 763-4922 LOCAL 1-207 4262 - SIA Street Edmonton, Alta. T6E 5V2 TEL (780) 463-9070 FAX (780) 461-5020 LOCAL 2171 301- 841 Cliffe Ave. Courtenay, B.C. VON 2J8 TEL (250) 334-3329 FAX (250) 334-2662 LOCAL 2171 SUB-LOCAL 2859 Commercial Dr. Vancouver, B.C. VSN 4C7 TEL (604) 874-0274 FAX (604) 874-8137 LOCAL 324 P.O. Box 1886 1416 Gordon Ave. The Pas, Man. R9A IL6 TEL (204) 623-3443 FAX (204) 623-5534 LOCAL 1-3567 202 - 9292 200th St. Langley, B.C. ViM 3A6 TEL (604) 513-1850 FAX (604) 513-1851 LOCAL 363 101, 391 - 4th St. Courtenay, B.C. VON IG8 TEL (250) 334-3834 FAX (250) 334-2333, LOCAL 1-405 201 - 105 South 9th Ave. Cranbrook, B.C. VIC 2MI TEL (250) 426-4871 FAX (250) 426-2528 LOCAL 1-417 {8l Vernon Avenue Kamloops, B.C. V2B 1L7 TEL (250) 554-3167 FAX (250) 554-3499 LOCAL 1-423 2040 Rutland Rd., North Kelowna, B.C. VIX 426 TEL (250) 491-1436 FAX (250) 491-1437 LOCAL 1-424 1777 - 3td Ave. Prince George, B.C. V2L 3G7 TEL (250) 563-771 FAX (250) 563-0274 LOCAL 1-425 124C North 2nd Ave. Williams Lake, B.C. V2G 126 TEL (250) 398-8248 FAX (250) 398-6218 LOCAL 830, 10 Bannerman Ave., Winnipeg, Man. R2W OW1 TEL (204) 586-1307 FAX (204) 586-8502 EASTERN LOCALS LOCAL 306 330 Pleasant St. Miramichi, N.B. E1V 1Y9. TEL (506) 624-9916 FAX (506) 622-1211 LOCAL 400 4795 Boulevard St. Charles Room A - 102 Pierrefonds, Que. HSH 3C7 TEL (514) 620-1756 FAX (514) 620-4939 LOCAL 500 405 - 10th Street Hanover, Ont. N4N 1P7 TEL (519) 364-2229 FAX (519) 364-7064 LOCAL 700 2088 Weston Rd. Toronto, Ont. M9N 1X4 TEL (416) 248-6271 FAX (416) 247-5893 LOCAL 1000 P.O. Box 879 Fort Coulongé, Que. JOX 1V0 TEL (819) 683-2143 FAX (819) 683-5653 LOCAL 1000 SUB -LOCAL 658 Boulevard Cecile Hawkesbury, Ont. P6C 529 TEL (613) 636-0014 FAX (613) 636-0014 LOCAL 2693 Lakehead Labour Centre 929 Ft. William Rd., Room 6 Thunder Bay, Ont. P7B 3A6 TEL (807) 345-9041 FAX (807-345-5169 LOCAL 2995 20 Riverside Dr. Kapuskasing, Ont. PSN 1A3 TEL (705) 335-2289 FAX (705) 335-5428 LETTE ae Weyerhaeuser’s extension of drug testing policy to summer students done arbitrarily In early May our local union was informed, by our com- mittee at the Weyerhaeuser OSB 2000 division in Hudson Bay, that the company has decided to test sum- mer students for substance abuse — (drugs) only. The company says that it will put in mandatory testing when regular employees or new employees go into a “safety sensitive position.” All students are to be tested, said the company, without even mentioning it to our local union. Then we found they are doing the same thing in Weyerhaeuser Drayton Valley. We have asked the com- pany if they let students know, when they offer employ- ment, that they will undergo testing. We are still waiting for an answer. We can’t believe the company is doing this to students at the same time our union is going through a national arbitration case on the whole issue of substance testing in the workplace. Why doesn’t Weyerhaeuser wait for outcome of the arbitration? Once again we see an example of arrogance, poor communica- tion and a lack of dignity and respect for the workforce by Weyerhaeuser. PAUL HALLEN President, IWA Canada Local 1-184 Prince Albert, SK With Steel we can make gains in health care I am a proud IWA Women and a proud member of Williams Lake Local 1-425 and admit I will be a little sad to our name and symbol go. But I'm also excited for the future and what a merger with the United Steelworkers of America can bring. At our work at the Interior Health, Home Support in Williams Lake, we have been IWA since 1990. We have grown together and have helped each other understand different issues we face. I was a little anxious at first thinking we would lose all the ground we have covered over the years but what I am learning about the Steelworkers is that they are a progressive trade union like the IWA and I see a lot of merger benefits. Steel has organized over 25,000 health care work- ers. So that means they will be aware of our issues and the distinct differences we have in our collective agreements. To me it is a comfort that we would not want to lose any of the hard-gained ground that we have acheived over the years. Currently the UFCW bargains on our behalf as we are covered under sectoral bargaining arrangements in the province. Maybe that will change with Steel and we will have a larger presence at table. Steel is dedicated to organizing and has the poten- tial of making further gains in health care. Much like the IWA, they also have a well-organized women’s committee. Steel educates our union Sisters and pro- vides support. It looks at the issues and assists women in becoming active by proving the necessary skills and tools for active participation. I urge everyone in the IWA to keep an open mind on this merger when they go and cast their ballot. Listen and ask questions when you need answers. I know this is a big move and we tend to not like change too much but try to look into the future and see the benefits of growing and expanding our horizons. Together with Steel we can achieve major gains for health care workers and other sectors in the IWA. JANICE LAURIE Conductor, IWA Canada Local 1-425 Williams Lake, BC “Once again we see another example of arrogance, poor communication and a lack of dignity and respect...” __.| WEYERHAEUSER Hyp SUMMER JOBS Wii JUNIOR'S DELIGHT AT THE OFFERING OF A COMPLIMENTARY BEVERAGE WAS SHORTLIVED Taking the fight onto a new level For 30 years, I served the IWA, fighting for work- ing people. Now I have decided to take my fight for workers and communities to a new level. It was a difficult choice. I know it was the right one. Let's be clear. I didn't abandon the NDP; under Jack Layton, the federal NDP has abandoned work ing people like us. On the day that IWA 2171 won its court case against Greenpeace for damages resulting from logging blockades, Layton boasted the Executive Director of Greenpeace is running for the NDP in Toronto. Layton's NDP doesn't understand that B.C. depends on a vibrant tesource sector. His platform is old-school "tax and spend." I support a balanced approach. I want to build a broad industrial and sectoral strategy to ensure Canadians can compete globally. Stephen Harper’s Alliance-Conservatives repre- sent another extreme agenda. He'll gut important programs in order to build-up our military and give huge tax cuts. Remember, it was the Conservatives under Harper’s advisor Brian Mulroney that left us with the biggest deficit in the history of Canada. I am not prepared to let that happen again. The federal Liberals have a balanced approach. Paul Martin's views on the economy and jobs assure me that we will have leadership to ensure our forest industry remains competitive interna- tionally. Paul Martin's views on social policy assure me that we will continue to have universal access to healthcare, education and new invest- ments in our cities and communities. I am proud to be part of the BC Team that is committed to taking BC's voice to Ottawa. Dave Haggard, Former President IWA Federal Liberal Candidate New Westminster-Coquitlam Steel will be a good union for us to join I was happy to hear that merger talks have taken place between the USWA and the IWA. I have found the Steelworkers to be a solid organization with a long and proud history. During my time as a Steelworker, I was a Shop Steward and Saféty Rep. with Local 480 in Trail B.C. At that time Ken Georgetti was the local union president Ken is now the president of the Canadian Labour Congress in Ottawa. I also spent several years in Yellowknife, N.T. and as a member of Local 802 was actively union involved. I feel the merger of these two unions will give usa louder voice in governmentand could very well provide more training opportunities and infor- mation sources for local union members and leaders. BUTCH EDEN, Training Coordinator Tolko OSB, IWA Local 1-207 Slave Lake, AB Send us an e-mail (ngarcia@iwa.ca) or snail mail. Try to keep your letters to 75-100 words or less so we can fit more in. Tell us about what's happening in your part of the country. We reserve the right to edit for brevity or omit submissions. 4 | -THE ALLIED WORKER MAY 2004