Anti-scab laws
are essential for

BC labour peace

When the provincial election
was in full swing, BC Liberal
leader Gordon Campbell
gloated that the levels of
strikes and lockouts in the
province was the lowest in
30 years. Elect the NDP, said
Campbell, and that would
end. “Chaos” would ensue!

OPINION
BY DAVID TONES

And three days before the

election, the BC Business
Council held a major news
conference, warning against
a change in government.
Seventeen corporate leaders,
including forest industry
representatives, participated.
Elect an NDP government
and there would be hell to
pay, they said. Council presi-
dent Jerry Lampert said: “We
want labour peace for four
more years.”

Well, surprise, surprise!
In early August the council
called for legislation to lift
the ban on scabs in B.C.
They think a “business-
friendly” government must
oblige.

I say the BC Business
Council and many BC

e

EDITORIALS

CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE

There’s much to
celebrate for our first

year as Steelworkers

IWA Council-affiliated locals have
worked hard to make the transition
BY NORM RIVARD

IN SEPTEMBER WE CELEBRATED our
first year as United Steelworkers!

I'd like to thank former IWA Canada
locals for working with Steelworkers - IWA
Council officers to make our transition
flow smoothly. Sure, there have been some
bumps in the road along the way. But, all in
all, the transition has been a positive one.

In various parts of the country, former
IWA members are becoming more active
in the programs and policies of the
Steelworkers. In some locals like Williams
Lake 1-425 and north central Ontario Local
1-1000, individual Steel plant locals have
joined our geographical locals. Other pre-
merger Steel local unions have referred
successful organizing leads to Council
locals. And we have organized over 2,000
new members.

Hundreds upon hundreds of our local
unions’ members have gone through
Steelworkers’ education programs — at a
rate of participation that we haven't seen
before. Some have joined area councils
and our women activists have joined
Women in Steel activities. And our mem-
bers are playing a key role in increased
political action -— witnessed by our
Steelworkers Vote campaign in B.C.

We have been part of the historic merg-
er between the United Steelworkers and
PACE to form North America’s largest
industrial union and most powerful union
in the forest industry.

There is much more to do and your offi-
cers can assure you that we will further
facilitate a full integration within our great
union.

EDITORIAL

Stump-to-dumpers smelling the coffee

IN RECENT MONTHS our union has been blazing new territory

in the interior logging sector of British Columbia. Locals 1-424, 1-
425 and 1-405 have been working with owner/operator trucker
associations to bargain some substantial bread and butter gains on
issues like off and on-highway hauling rates, turnaround times,

Liberals want a return to
conflict levels of yesteryear
and that their pronounce-

cat re ‘ion Sa layoff/recall and seniority rights, posted cycle times, payment for
ee Pa eee aa increased fuel costs and administration fees.

As we make breakthroughs for these owner/operators, the

be, picket line and, waning Steelworkers are gaining an increasing level of respect among

i i THE UNION IS

ona eiaips a aa GAINING AN truckers and some stump-to-dump contractors that work for the

days, all the have to do is INCREASING LeveL Canfor’s, the West Fraser's, and the Pope and Talbot's of the world.

change a law. OF RESPECT Many of these stump-to-dumpers, subject to the same cutthroat
AMONG INTERIOR competition as are haulers, are smelling the coffee. Many are work-

David Tomastis Aadetant TRUCKERS AND —_—ing more for less and are calling the Steelworkers to find out how

Dhaciordor Sfeakuantart STUMP-TO-DUMP —_ our union can help. We welcome these bushworkers, machine oper-

Western Canada District 3 CONTRACTORS ators, and others to find out how they can be organized.

THE ALLIED WORKER DECEMBER 2005 | 5