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