[> TimberWest tries to plant
foresters Local 1-363 reports that in
early June TimberWest vase 30

professional fc

engineers by sticking them on a two
mene “paid leave of absence” before
tt their jobs back
to ia To add easult to injury the
company hired a firm to help the bar-
gaining unit members become con-
sultants and contractors. A meeting

}

Smithers. A first
was rejected by the
crew. Issues including wages, job
postings and a training agreement are
on the table for the nearly 100 work-
ers. Meanwhile, at the NewPro
(Northern Engineered Wood Products
Inc.) plant here, Brother Croy is bar-
gaining for about 40 workers at a
medium density fibreboard plant. The
contract expired in May of this year.

saw

Ni jiati with the PG
Harvesters Local 1-424 reports that
contract talks are proceeding with the
PG Harvesters, a group of contract

would go to its Grand Forks mill.
The union took the case on and an
Interpreter ruled that such a move

wot tute a p
sure. Some $9. illi

would be payable. [> Tough set of
talks at Greenwood Brother Ben
Landis reports that Greenwood
Forest Peedi in Penticton is after

1.
value-added

Md)
ae where abou 75 ne work.
The local
sidering asking a USW sui to
pour over the company’s books. [>
Talks to start at SRI Homes

employers that haul logs and wood Local 1-423 president Ben Landis
fibre for Canton! in the vile a reports pe iepyroyed benefits and
i the waiting

area. The

establish a rate modell for ee that
work for these contractors. The
haulers are members of the PG
sa Association, an association

(Tohnst S aigh S| Oy River
Divisions) walk out in frustration.
Other members
affected are Local 1-
80 members working
out of Nanaimo.
Local president Rick
Wangler says the
z union will hold the
Rick Wangler :
ompaay responsible
for iolati provi-
sions of the collective agreement a
woodlands d a consent

rthern truckers that

pied ah the Steelworkers last year.
d

award on how the engineers will be
employed. The USW’s national legal
department is assisting in the case.
[> Smithers a busy spot for
negotiations Local 1-424 reports
three sets of contract
talks taking place in
Smithers. Vice pres-
ident Brian Croy is
heading up negotiat-
ing teams at Coast
Mountain Chev-
Olds where 20 pores including

i d detail-

Brian Croy

technicians,

ers, are employed. The contract

expired in March of this year. Brother _

Croy is also leading talks at the
Kyahwood Forest Products Ltd. value-

in place for
other Canfor haulers in the north.
Former IWA Council officer Wade
Fisher is assisting efforts. [> P&T
Midway still down Local 1-423
president Ben Landis reports that the
Pope and Talbot Midway mill, which
was to re-open in mid-June with
about 60 workers, remains down for
lack of ren The company says it will
buy private wood for
the mill and that wet
conditions have
stopped it from
building up invento-
ries. Last October

need for onset ei beneae are “eae

ing issue for T75
Regent Industries in Winfield. The
contract expires on June 30, 2006.

> Contract talks with Paragon
Wood Products Local 1-423 officer
Dave Welder is currently heading up
contract talks for about 52 workers
employed by Paragon Wood
Products’ Lumby Division and
Paragon’s Vernon Kiln and Millwork
Division in Coldstream. The latter
operation will be moving to Lumby,
which may result in job loss.
Meetings were held in Laue June to
discuss ways of minimizing the
impact. [> Electrician given pre-
contract boost in pay Local 1-425
officer Norm Prevost is heading up
contract talks with Muller Electric in
Williams Lake, which employs 15
electricians. Prior to bargaining the

BenLandis = p&T announced capes boosted pay to stem the
that Mid-Way would go d ployees to Alberta and
nently and that its timber quota northern BC.

8 | MAY 2006 THE ALLIED WORKER