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