* the motion,

TERRACE STANDARD

~ Business REvIEw |

New Skeena, union
resume formal talks

By JEFF NAGEL
FORMAL negotiations to
restart Terrace’s idled
sawmill began last Thurs-
day between union. leaders
and New Skeena Forest
Products.

IWA president Darrel
Wong and company presi-
dent Dan Veniez said their
exploratory discussions
had moved to the point of
detailed negotiations.

Terrace . union’ reps
— business agent Surinder
Malhotra and plant com-
mittee chair Allan
Chesterman — also joined
the talks at New Skeena’s
Vancouver offices.

“I'm a lot more opti-
mistic about the prospects
than I was in the. past.”
Wong said. “I think’ the
company more clearly un-
derstands our issues.”

Veniez said both he and
Wong understanding ‘each
other's position.

“We're not far. apart.”
Veniez said, “It's time for
us to get down to some
hard conversations and try
to hash this thing out.”

The jobs of about 150
Terrace sawmill . workers
are at stake,

If the deal mirrors ane
nearly.teached last De-
cember,. the. union here
will agree to-a 20 per cent
pay cut and other mea-
sures to aid the company
in exchange: for a profit
sharing. package.

Talks had broken down
over vacation. time.- The
IWA wanted seven weéks
while “Veniez ‘said —he
could give no more than
five weeks.

Wong said he's comfor-
ted by: Veniez'’s assurances

‘RD-wants:public-probe intow""" eet ae meena ce 3
gov't sale of Skeena Cellulose |

enterprise. minister. Rick —

LOCAL politicians are de-
manding a public inquiry
into the sale of Skeena
Cellulose:

. Kitimat-Stikine regional
district directors voted to
push Victoria to, name a
‘special commissioner with
powers to subpoena wilt-

“Messes to probe all aspects

of’ the sale of the forest
" company...
: Thornhill director .Les
Watmough said NWBC
Timber and Pulp has yet to
restart: the operations: il
bought for $6 million from
the provincial government
just over a year ago.
Watmough, who moved
noted the

‘Dan Veniez

that the seniority rights of
union members — which
technically elapsed a cou-
ple of months ago — will
be extended. -

His other prime concern
is a- firm start date for the
sawmill.

“]owas very. specific
that there had to be a date
carved in stone as to when
the operation was to open
prior tous ever being able
Io go to a vote of the

‘membership,” Wong said.

But he said it appears
New Skeena’s ‘owners are
serious about a rapid start-
up of the Prince Rupert
pulp mill. and he said that
encourages the union.

“It gives us a little

more comfort that the Ter-

race sawmill can open.”

he said, “There was really

“no point in the local union:

negotiating an agreement
without. having a fixed
guaranteed. date’
opening.’

Wong said: there will
need-to be more give and

take by both sides to con-
clude a deal, but added it
is possible, “I always was

company’s assets were as-.

sessed at $300 million.

“There’s obviously
something wrong with this
whole deal,” he said

He said the province
should not have sold the
company without a re-
quirement that new owners
operate it, he added.

Watmough said rival
bidder Mercer Internation-
al. was. turned down ‘be-
cause it wanted changes lo
forest regulations that Vic-
toria wouldn’t accept. But
he said the province has

embarked on radical for-.

estry reforms since then,
The regional district is
also questioning whether

current . contract

for

quite frankly surprised we
didn't get a deal back in
December,” he added.

Veniez said time is also
of the essence because
Terrace sawmil] workers —
out of a job for about 20
months — are beginning to
leave town.

Many are hanging on
until their children finish
off the school year, he
said, “I think a great deal
of them are saying it's
time to get on with it - or
move on.” he said.

“Unless we're able to
provide them a basis to
come. back to Work they
will. have. no choice but to

leave Terracee and say

goodbye,”

The mill would lose key
skilled workers if that hap-
pens, he added.

“From a timing stand-

-point that has to be a con-

cern for everyone.”
Veniez said the current
low lumber prices and. high

inventories have been ex-

acerbated by the recent
tise of the loonie against
the U.S, dollar. That means
Skeena’s lumber would
fetch fewer U.S. dollars
from buyers if the mill did
open, eating into profits,

“It's about $5 million
per year for every cent
increase," he said.

Prices are’ too: low to
make. money based on the
at the
sawmill. Veniez said, but
a Fresh: Start deal. would
put Terrace lumber back in
the black, © 0-7
’ “He said profits would be
even more substantial if

the Terrace sawmill runs

three shifts per -day,. as
planned.

Thorpe, who was a director
on SCI before the sale,
properly fulfilled his re-

‘sponsibility to B.C. tax-

payers in approving the
sale.

Backing both motions is
Terrace mayor Jack Tai-
stra... ‘

-“You cannot as a gov-
ernment just leave us
hanging here,” Talstra
said.."“You have some re-
sponsibilities.”

Skeena MLA Roger
Harris said an inquiry into
the SCI deal is unneces-
sary. Northwest towns were
involved in the sale pro-
cess, he said.

4643 Park Avenue, Terrace

Fora limited time al participating Dairy Queen Brazier restaurants, ©2009 A.M,
D.0. Corp. Mots. MN. Price valid on Specified size only. See store tor details. -

SOMETHING
DIFFERENT

ddiryqueen.com

-DO YOU WANT A JOB IN THE

| ’s Fu ice Ltd.
FOOD SERVICE INDUSTRY? MacKay’s Funeral Service

Serving Terrace, Kitimat, Smithers & Prince Rupert

FOOD SAFE LEVEL 1 | 9 vonuments Concerned personal
Date: Frida _M 23, 200 ‘ ; ronze Plaques service in the No w :
Time: 8:30 ye 5236 oan ‘f] Terrace Crematorium since 1946
Place: Bear Country Inn 4626 Davis Street -

Cost: $90.00 cncluves workbook and yes)

Please register by phoning:
Toll Free 1-866-772-7792 dere a message) OF

email: drj@bulkley.net

Terrace, B.C. V8G 1X7
ff Funerd Service = Phone 635-2444 » Fax 635-635-2160
Association

24 hour pager

For our children to be happy and healthy, they need many things. Some are free, but
-many are not. The National Child Benefit (NCB) gives financial support to
low-income families. This helps parents. work towards a brighter future for
their children. And it also helps to reduce child poverty in Canada.

Jo find out more about all our services for children and their families and to receive your guide:

“BR 1.300 0-Canada (1 800 622-6232)
oo, THY:.1, B00 465-7735

tahoe le

they settee

Saturday, May 24, 2003.
6:30-9:00 p.m.
NORTHERN DRUGS, SKEENA MALL

(SOME RESTRICTIONS APPLY)

invitation Only

Register at Northern Drugs

A Northern Drugs make-up
artist will be demonstrating .
make-up application.
Consultation and appointments
can be taken at that time.

SKEENA MALL « TERRACE, B.C.

Ph: 635-6555 ¢ Fax: 635-6389
ndt@northerndrugs.com