We have to put a stop to the export of logs Increasing log exports, from both private lands and public lands, industry on the Coast of BC. This has seldom been ight hauling and longshoring jobs are created with log exports but they are OPINION BY TOM RUSSELL only short-sighted in nature. Our loggers and truckers know that. They want those logs to create jobs in our communities, not in the U.S. or Asian countries. In the Alberni Valley, Island Timberlands is open- ly liquidating, at an unsus- tainable rate, its old growth timber stands that the Liberals let them take out of TFL 44. It and other opera- tors claim there’s a boom market in Japan for log exports that will last 5-6 years. Our local and the USW is not in support of creating jobs in other countries. We also don’t support the har- ti d ac of] by aboriginal bands that don’t yet have the means to process that wood domesti- calk y. We support the USW’s logs and jobs on our Island Tom Russell is the president of USW Local 1-85 based in Port Alberni, BC. He is a for- mer Sproat Lake logger. CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE Our Council has many issues to deal with Harper-Bush softwood deal, econornic downturn complicate industry BY BOB MATTERS OUR WOODWORKER’S COUNCIL has lots on its plate these days. At our recent Council conference in Winnipeg we marked our tran- sition into a third year as Steelworkers. With the addition of new members in several IWA Council locals and the merger of the former PACE Local 1-1375 into District 3, the pres- ence of forest industry workers remains strong in the USW. I thank local unions for supporting me to chair the Council and I thank my predeces- sor Norm Rivard for ae us through two years of a transitionary pe On the Coast of BC we are 2 dealing with an industry that has a huge lack of invest- ment in new plants and equipment. It’s also an industry that is hell-bent on export- ing logs to the U.S. and overseas for a quick profit at the expense of community stabili- ty. In a submission to a review committee your union demanded a tax that will elimi- nate any economic incentive to export logs and our jobs. In the light of the Harper-Bush softwood deal, an agreement that will spur great log exports, we have demanded that government channel returned tariffs into mill upgrades, worker training and worker compensation. Across the country your union is busy with various issues, many of which you will read about in this newspaper: from pushing for revitalization of forest industries in Saskatchewan and Ontario, to upcoming BC coastal negotiations in 2007, to District 3’s ongoing campaign to Stop the Killing, to pro- moting our new Wood Council forest policy. I | Galeontege all members to be aware of union. EDITORIAL A ee deal for George W. Bush WHAT DO YOU GET when you put a Fraser Institute disciple cavorting as Canada’s PM and arguably the absolute worst president in U.S. history together? You rob Canada of a victory in U.S. trade courts and you hand over slush monies to George W. Bush in the midst of congressional elections. And you arm your American industry opposition with hundreds of millions to take you on again. All of this has taken place in the Harper-Bush softwood agree- ment, supported by forest companies desperate for the return of THE STEPHEN HARPER-GEORGE Monies and threatened by the Harper government if they didn’t play BUSH AGREEMENT _ ball. The result: Canadian producers move from near victory to now ISANEXAMPLEOF paying a 15 per cent windfall to the inlenap government. ee the THE WORST most efficient producers will get 5p POLITICAL DEAL- _al quotas are exceeded. MAKING IN This may be an example of the worst political deal-making in CANADIAN Candian history, supported by some provincial governments and big HISTORY industry that wants to see smaller players tossed over the bank THE ALLIED WORKER DECEMBER 2006 ] 5