Southeastern BC woodworker
union member for three decades

and planer mill in Galloway, BC in 1977.
early October the 47 year-old

was elected to a three-year term as
the Wood Council’s chairperson.
Matters brings years of experience of
collective bargaining and advocacy
work to the position.

“He's a highly respected person

ivard. “Bob has got the ability

and ne know-how to do the job and

help take on the tough issues.”
Brother Matters, whose father

France. He lived all over Canada as
an “army brat” and made southeast-
is home.

IWA Canada National Executive
Board and member of the BC
Provincial Negotiating Committee. He
also serves as a member of the
Southern Interior Health and Welfare
Committee and the IWA-Forest
Industry Pension Plan.

Outstanding Service Awards in D3
District 3’s October conference saw

Local 9175; Scott Bie Local
2952; Tom Lindsey, Local 7

Richard Boyce, Local 7619; a Julie
Nery, Local 9074 (see photo right for
some awardees).

1 14
= Local4

[> Coastal presidents talk with
crews In late October and early
November the union’s five coast local
union presidents in the forest indus-
try held town hall meetings and met
with dl. a
in lunchrooms, to create dialogue and

awareness on issues leading up to
coastal bargaining in 2007. Local 1-
80’s Bill Routley, Local 1-85’s Tom
Russell, Local 1-2171’s Darrel Wong,
Local 1-363’s Rick Wangler and Local
1-3567’s Brian Harder (accompanied
at various times by IWA Council
chairperson Bob Matters, District 3
Director Steve Hunt and staff mem-
bers Mony Mearns and Bote Lunny)

visited vari g WFP's

SCOTT LUNNY

New Westminster Lumber, Interfor
Acorn in Surrey and CIPA New
Westminster; Mainland and Sawarne
in Vancouver; WFP in Cowichan
Bay, WFP’s APD and Somass mills in
Port Alberni. They also met with log-
gers in Gibsons, Port McNeill and
Campbell River and both loggers and
mill workers at town halls in Duncan
and Port Alberni. Some of the main
issues identified during the sessions
were shifting, contracting out, pen-
sions and the lack of dignity and
respect that workers are receiving in
today’s BC forest industry. The meet-
ings preceded the USW’s wage and
contract held hosted by Local 1-3567
on November 17 and 18 (see page 3).

THE ALLIED WORKER DECEMBER 2006 | 27