A10 - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, November 28, 200] INDEPENDENT falling con- Iractors have scored a massive win in their 16-month-old bat- tle over Workers Compensation Board rates. WCB has igreed to overturn a planned 250 per cent in- crease in premiums that faHers say would have cost them up to $8,000 more euch year. The official announcement came Jast week. . Independent fallers’ ums will he reduced premi- 250 per cent increase in premiums to be rolled back over next three years But by 2004 company and in- dependent fallers will be paying the same premiums, according: to =: WCB documents. “We got what we were after,” said Terrace faller Mike McKib- bin. “One industry, one rate,” Hazelton faller Randall Shoop, ° who led the campaign, said. the fallers were originally told the rate increase was their own fault, “We were told you're petting - hurt,.il’s costing a lot of money, you’ve been subsidized by the big companies for toa long, now you're going lo pay in steps euch year until 2004. The reversal amounts to near-com- plete victory for the fallers, who were up against the bureau- we rate,” “We got what were after d One industry, one the campaign. your own way,” said Hazelton faller Ran- dal] Shoop, who Jed He says COFI en- gineered the rate cracy of the WCB and the corporate might of the Council of Forest Industries (COFI). Independent fallers were infur- iated becattse they were to be placed in i separate new WCB insurance category at COFI’s re- quest. Placing them in theiy own ca- tegory would have driven up fall- ers” premiums, because of their high accident rates, and would have decreased premiums for major forest companies, whose staff fallers would be in a different catepory. change and then fought the fallers at every turn in subsequent talks with the WCB. “The majors are the anes that totally benefitted from this,” he said. Shoop and McKibbin say the campaign took on a life of its own. . “Two fallers weren’t supposed to be able to do this,” McKibbin said. “It was a hard fight,” Shoap added. “> basically bankrupted myself by not working, from the phone bills and putting the miles on.” TERRACE STANDARD. Business REVIEW Fallers win WCB rate fight MIKE McKIBBIN was one of the faiiers who spent 16 months fighting a WCB move to massively increase their premiums. Many loggers were also angry because falling is among the most dangerous jobs in the woods. “Every time we go into the bush we know we can be killed that day,” Shoop said. Shoop said the fallers also got unprecedented support from most ather industry players, including the WA, “Everybady stayed solid and we got our win,” he said. He said fallers intend ta chan- nel their unity towards pressing for further improvements to work- place safety. “Now that we're on a roll, we've pot them by the nuts, we're going to go on to other things and try to make this jab a bit safer.” HOUSE OF COMMONS Andy Burton Member of parliament for Skeena Constivenry Office 4654 Lazelle Ave, Terrace, B.C, V8G 156 Phone: {250} 635-1601 Fax: (250) 635-4109 Toll Frea: 1-800-661-2208 E-mail: andy@ondyburten.ca Website: werw.andyburton.ca NGEILICAS /AIR. SALON | Gifts & Stocking‘ A Stuffers For Him } AMERICAN CREW Mini Golf Travel Bag “For Your Man On The Go” AMERICAN CREW “Classic Fragrance For Him’ 50 ml - 100 ml “Back To basics Tri-Pack” Gift Certificates Available 4621-B Lakelse Ave. 615-0092 Terrace Skeena Mall - GLASSES and CONTACTS YOUR Deficit soars as B.C. economy slows THE FORECAST for economic growth in B.C. has been slashed. Finance minister Gary Collins said the pro- vincial economy is now expected ta prow just 0.9 per cent for 2001 and 0.6 per cent in 2002. That’s dowa dramatically from the 3.8 per cent growth rate the Liberals Projected shortly’ after taking office. eng Collins said the decline is the result of a ra- pidly slowing global economy worsened by the fallout from the Sept. 11 tertorist attacks. iorating outlook for Crown corporations. Unexpected costs for ICBC and B.C. Rail and lower export prices for electricity sold by B.C. Hydro will cost the province $341 million. As a result the provincial debt will rise $3.4 bitlion this year to $37.2 billion. "That? 5 “$428 maillion worse than forecast July. said the government does not plan to alter plans for corporate and personal income tax “Despite the financlai ‘Heniorthaging, Collins The next phase of cuts take effect Jan. 1. Collins says they’re necessary to increase B.C.’s competitiveness and stimulate invest- ment. Next year’s budget will come down Feb. 19 and is expected to contain details of major . ; spending. cuts, ‘to balang salle pees! thtee years. ao Fi Government speading: is coming in about $56 million under budget for this year, Collins “ONE STOP SHOP” | © Flexon _ * Nordic King ® Polo * Silhouette 2, Easy Clip BUY ONE PAIR GET A SPARE for a friend or family member 5 Mowlor Gerd Adding to the government’s woes is a deter- cuts. said. DPre-Christmas Blowout AT TERRACE FURNITURE MART e RadioShack. You've git questions. We've got anawers: