Fighting for sustainability of our communities Port Alberni milling jobs TAL UB as log exports rise EVERY DAY between 90-100 high- way trucks leave the Alberni Valley and as workers and residents of Port Alberni witness an ever- ae exodus of logs for export d g in distant loca- tions. Stone are growing. A coalition of sawmill workers, loggers, pulp mill workers, politi- cians, business people, water con- servationists and townsfolk, includ- ing retirees, have united on the same basic issue: sustainability of jobs, local economy and environ- = Then Local 1-85 ae pide pec (r.) spoke at rallies on the hump. no ment. While Alberni Valley wood manufacturing operations go through curtailments and premoni- tions of more local mill closures abound, the community-based coali- tion, which includes the Save Our whose local represents forest work- ers in logging and the solid wood sector, said the coalition needs to remain active and involved. "What keeps us together and what is going to keep us together is the issue of sustainability," said Mearns. (see story below left on log export lobby to Victoria). Highway 4 Hump leading out of Port Alberni. NORMAN GARCIA BC government to study log exports A VISIT TO VICTORIA in mid-May by a coalition of community activists and trade unionists, including Steelworkers, has forced Minister of Forests Rich Steve Hunt review log exports the province. District 3 Director Steve Hunt, who went to Victoria with BC Fed president Jim Sinclair, Local 1-85 reps ice members, notes the BC Fed’s Forestry Group has worked on a version of terms of reference for the committee and has put forward a selection of names to head it. Under the Liberals, log exports jumped to 4.77 million cubic meters in 2005. Nearly 3 million were from pri- vate lands. In 1997, even during a col- lapse of Asian lumber markets, 6 bic met ported. USW adopts new environmental policy which covers forestry ber of last year, a USW International Executive Board Environmental Task Force held an inf, oy Fon in Richi dBc USW Local 2952 and IWA Council representatives to attend. The IWA USW Task Force crew. Sha! decades of the IWAs experiences in setting environmental policies - for inclusion in the Task Force's deliberations. A revised USW Environmental Policy Task force members James Pannel, USW Admin VP, oil sector (formerly lees Bill isi USW and former District 11 Director Dave Rest (see above photo I. to r.) were present. 22 | JUNE 2006 THE ALLIED WORKER