Check out Local News to find out what is new in Steelworker locals that participate in |WA Council activities TimberWest contracts out bush TimberWest is contracting out all of its remaining logging operations in the local union as reps are discussing details with Ted Leroy Trucking and Munn’s Logging Ltd. Local president Bill Routley says the union has issues with language handed down by mediator Don Munroe in May of 2004 — especially with the determination of “stump-to-dump’” operations. Elsewhere the local is in contract talks with Interfor over the Saltair Timber Products kiln and planer operations in Ladysmith. Negotiations are also underway for union members employed by the Cowichan Valley Regional District and School District 79 in Duncan. There are also ongoing negotiations for a new contract with the Greater Victoria Regional District’s water quality division. ©) 4-85 | PORT ALBERNI BC Sproat Lake crew remains waiting for Local 1-85 president Monty Mearns reports that 156 workers from Weyerhaeuser’s Sproat Lake logging division, the last of whom worked the first week of October are still waiting for compensation from the Forest Revitalization Trust Fund. Weyco’s entire 20 per cent clawback in the TFL is coming out of Sproat Lake. “The government is letting them, in effect, privatize the land and putit up for bid,” says local president Monty Mears. In other news Hayes Forest Services intends to gotoa7 day work week in January of 2005. That, with a reduction in cut, could result in layofis. “We see a wave of grievances on the horizon on things like overtime, hours of work, rest breaks, etc,” say Mearns. At Weyco’s APD mill, the company intends to impose alternative shift arrangements in ‘o5. ©) 1-306 | MIRAMICHI NB Local is organizing hotel workers Local 1-306 president Mario Fortunato reports that an organizing drive at the Delta Brunswick Hotel in St. John is seeing strong support. The campaign began on November 20. There are some 80 workers in the bargaining unit. At issue is application of seniority and growing workloads. In other news, on December 5, members at the Baxter Dairy in Fredericton, voted 80 per cent to accept a three-year deal with a 12 per cent increase in wages and benefits, and improved contract language including a clause to prevent contracting out. 6) 4-184 | SASKATCHEWAN Local prepares for Wapawekka Local president Paul Hallen says that the union is in the process of gathering demands for collective bargaining talks with Wapawekka Lumber, outside of Prince Albert. The union plans to present the demands ina timely manner. In other news, union members at Weyerhaeuser’s Hudson Bay plywood mill, sawmill and planer in Carrot River and clerical staff voted nearly 97 per cent in favour of a strike if the company refuses to reach an agreement. Weyerhaeuser has put both operations up for sale, saying they do not fit into its corporate strategy. The contract for both operations expired at the end of March, 2004. “Our members are very anxious about their future and want some answers,” says Brother Hallen. Oreo Touncan bc SPOTLIGHT [am PHOTO COURTESY USWA LOCAL 1-324 = Steelworkers Local 1-324 president Chris Parlow (third from left) shook hands with hotel owner Evans Premachuk. Others, I. to r. are negotiating committee members Vince Felix and Cindy Iles, and to the right, company official Marla King and Alan Cote. Stop by at a Steelworkers’ hotel! ALL YOU STEELWORKERS and fellow travelers out there are more than wel- come up in The Pas, ya hear?! When you're cruising through God’s country or are staying in the northern metropolis of The Pas, be sure to stay at a gen- uine Steelworkers’ hotel — the Wescana Inn! You'll get a great place to stay with = friendly staff on hand to help you out. And the staff are much happier © now that they've ratified a new five-year collective agreement. The con- J 3 tract was ratified on November 15 by over a 90 per cent majority. The Wescana Inn is the only unionized hotel in the northem commu- nity, which is about 350 miles north of Winnipeg. It employs about 50 Steelworkers’ members. Included in the agreement is breakthrough language providing transportation for those living outside of town. There are provisions to assist those that require a taxi to get to work between midnight and six a.m. The collective agreement also provides improved job security. In addition to getting across-the-board wage increases of nine per cent over the lifetime of the agreement, workers received a signing bonus. “Tt is a collective agreement that was reached in a spirit of good faith,” says Brother Parlow. “And it’s a contract we can build on in the years ahead.” The Wescana Inn has been in the former IWA Local 1-324 since the mid-1970s, with a workforce of, more or less the same size. Over the years it has been the site of many union functions, including negotiations. The local represents workers at the Tolko Industries sawmill and planing facility in town, which is one of the region’s major employers. There is also a major Tolko pulp mill next door to the mill. The hotel contains 76 units with room for 2-4 people. It has a full family restaurant that’s open all day and is centrally located downtown at 439 Fischer Avenue. It’s also just a block from the bus depot and two blocks from the railway station. The Pas is a good base to operate out of for fisherman all year around. Nearby lakes are full of trout and walleye. It is also a well-known area for snowmobiling. ©) 41-2171] VANCOUVER/LOGGERS Local union is battling with major employers on shifts and contracting Local 1-2171 president Darrel Wong reports that both Weyerhaeuser and Interfor have been extremely aggressive in contracting outjobs. To add insult to injury, Interfor has put its central coast roadbuilding crew on consecutive 14-7 shifts with a 14-14 shift before Christmas. “The company is taking its nastiness to a new level by imposing a 14 day down time, right before year-end shutdown,” says Brother Wong. “The crew is being forced to wait 28 days before their EI kicks in.” The local is appealing the case to EI. “Interfor is doing everything in its power to screw our members on overtime and vacation pay,” he adds. In the Queen Charlotte Islands Weyco is laying offits last engineering crew and is handing the work to contractors with no successor rights for union members. The local is going to the Labour Board for expedited arbitration, which the company has filed a preliminary objection against. “They are doing everything they can to delay justice for the workers,” says Wong. At Stillwater Division, near Powell River, the engineers are also being eliminated from the bargaining unit. “Weyerhaeuser is unwilling to negotiate with the union on any point,” he adds. (©) 1-207 ALBERTA Canfor talks dosure at Hines Creek Local 1-207 president Nick Stewart says the union is shocked by Canfor’s late November announcement that it will dose its Hines Creek sawmill, employing 100 Steelworkers’ in June, 2005. The company plans to by-pass the mill for its non-union sawmill in Grande Prairie. The nearby municipality of Fairview has requested more information on the dosure from the government and the company, as has the union. Elsewhere, the local is preparing for contract talks with Weyerhaeuser’s Drayton Valley OSB plant and sawmill, which expire at the end of March, 2005. The local is also gearing up for contract talks with the Tolko Industries OSB plant in Slave Lake, formerly owned by Weyco. Wages, benefits and job security issues are important one in all the negotiations. Local 1-424 president Frank Everitt reports. that in early November the union reached a three-year agreement with the PG Sort value-added mill in Prince George. The first-time agreement will see increases of between 25 cents to $3.0 hour in the first year, and across-the-board increases of two percent and two percent in the second and third years. The local was granted certification to the mill on July 12, 2004 during its second organizing campaign. In other news, Brother Everitt says that the Federal Competition Bureau is forcing Canfor to sell in Fort St. James sawmill as part of the merger with Slocan. Meanwhile West Fraser is being forced to sell Babine Forest Products and Decker Lake in the takeover of Weldwood. ) 1-405 | CRANBROOK BC Local is concerned over sal mill following Canfor me Local 1-405 president Bob Matters reports there is considerable concern over Canfor's sell-off of the former Slocan sawmill in Slocan. Since October there have been a few prospective buyers but nothing is yet firm. Brother Matters say that although Canfor says the mill doesn’t concentrate production. in the 2 x 4 spf product line, it is using the operation to absorb 20 per cent clawbacks for both the southern Interior and the north. “If Canfor succeeds it will escape impact elsewhere and capture proceeds ofa sale.” In other news contract talks with the Nelson and District Credit union have reached an impasse. A strike vote has been approved. oO 4-417 | KAMLOOPS BC Possible buyer for L-P sawmill Local 1-417 president Joe Davies says there could be a local buyer for the Louisiana Pacific Cedar mill in Malakwa. One hundred and twenty Steelworkers were laid off in late November. Joe Kozak, who owns anon-union hemlock mill in Revelstoke and wants to run his larger cedar through the mill is interested — but with a reduced crew. As L-P says it won't start the mill up again, the local union is prepared to meet with the company over the issue of severance pay for workers that won't be called Meanwhile the union is willing to meet Kozak or others interested in the mill. Prior to its bidding on Riverside, Interfor was looking at the mill but has since not retumed. oO 4-623 | KELOWNA BC Local reaches new agreements Local 1-423 has reached two more collective agreements. Local president Ben Landis reports that there is now a new wage structure at Canwood in Penticton, with job groups replacing wages based on years service. There are now wage spreads of between 10-25 cents between job groups along with future across-the-board wage inc Elsewhere the local reached a five-year agreement with the Princeton Cogeneration plant near the Weyco sawmill, reports business agent and officer Dave Briscoe. The union negotiated a profit-sharing plan based on production targets. Financial secretary Verne McGregor is heading up @ negotiating team with Synergy Pacific Wood Solutions in Winfield. Talks are ongoing. 6 | THE ALLIED WORKER DECEMBER 2004 %.