NEWS FROM

QUEBEC

organizer Mario Fortunato. oistaicts

Organizer takes a shot at
hardwood mill in Atlantic
Former Local 1-306 president
Mario Fortunato reports that
the union lost a certification
vote to eae over 60
hardwood veneer workers at

from Stillwater. Although he
had close to a 70 per cent
card sign-up, Fortunato says
the employer, which has a
400 worker hardwood mill in
Kegwick, Nova Scotia
“worked on the crew”
between the vote application

Regional Housing Authority
in New Glasglow. The
employees fix up and rent

the
employer has challenged the
ee unit. A hearing is
scheduled

[> Quebec delegates at annual
Local 1-1000 delegates from operations
in Quebec were in attendance at this
year’s annual local meeting in North
Bay, Ontario. From the Simmons mat-
tress plant in Ville St. Laurent were
chairperson Gilman Plourde, vice chair
Mario Malenfant and financial secretary
Darlene Jalbert. Representing the
Mercedes Textiles operation in Kirkland
was chairperson Joel Seward. The
Quebec delegates are from the old IWA
Local 400, which is serviced by Local 1-
1000.|[> Orders climb at Mercedes
Local 1-1000 financial secretary Yvon
Rochon reports that orders have

[> A new staff rep Local 1-306 is
now being partially serviced by USW
staff representative Gary White, who
works out of the union’s office in
Bathurst, New Brunswick. Brother
White, who originates from Brunswick
Mining and Smelting, which has a mine
in Bathurst, services the
Northumberland Coop dairy and Atcon
Plywood in Miramichi. White also serv-
ices the Noranda smelter in Belledune.
Meanwhile staff rep Ken Dawson serv-
ice the membership at Baxter Dairy
(Saputo) and Bercon Atlantic in St.
John. [> An arbitration case at
Northumberland Coop Local 1-306
president Dave Andrews, who works at
the Baxter Foods dairy in St. John,
teports the union won an important
arbitration of Northumberland Coop in
Miramichi, where some 200
Steelworkers are employed. The compa-
7 d ry fancy ats: ro

mand TNE

NEW BRUNSWICK

climbed at Mercedes Textiles. In late
May the company, which produces fire
hoses, moved to seven day production.
Brother Rochon said the
company has been suc-
7 cessful in marketing to

| new customers and has

been running its loom
on an overtime and
weekend basis, to keep

Yvon Rochon
up with the orders. It’s been a pleasant
change, he says. “A couple of years ago
the crew was on short work week with
working sharing in place,” adds Rochon.
“Now it’s good to see the place is real

busy.”

driving jobs and properly post them.
Since losing the case the company has
refused to comply, causing further prob-
lems in the operation.

Negotiations at Delta Hotel Local 1-
306 is still in negotiations with the
Delta Hotel in St. John. Ken Dawson
has headed negotiations and Ron Wyatt
from Ontario, has recently been helping
out. [> Layoff at Atcon plywood

In late May, Atcon plywood laid off ten
workers as it ran short of logs. The oper-
ation runs between 70-80 when going
full tilt. [> Local sends delegate to
D6 conference Local 1-306 sent
Northumberland Coop’s Marcel Lavoie
that attend District 6’s conference in St.
John’s, Newfoundland in late June. [>
USW dues and strike fund Local 1-
306 has approved the USW dues struc-
ture in its operations and supports
District 6’s efforts to build a supple-
mental strike fund.

THE ALLIED WORKER JUNE 2006 | 13