From front A2 - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, March 5, 2003 Gitxsan deal could be close ships don’t mean block- ades, Partnerships don’t mean constant process talks on accommodation. We both have to gel on with life.” Veniez alsa said Gitx- san opposition is blocking the completion of the sale of New Skeena’s Smithers sawmill to West Fraser — a deal struck in September. A deal would mean peace on multiple fronts, and prosperity, he said. “T get an ability to focus on rebuilding the company instead of: fight- | ing and struggling. with a group of people who should be friends and partners,” he said. “I don’t want blockades any more, ] don’! want people limit- ing my ability to make transactions,” A deal between the Vacation pay goes out to mill workers NEW SKEENA Forest Products has paid out $319,000 it owed sawmill workers here. The cheques covering unpaid vacation pay went out last week after the IWA began court action to force payment in accor- dance with an agreement that the money be paid by Jan. 15. New Skeena had mis- sed the deadline, saying financing delays meant it didn’t yet have the money in place. IWA local 2171 presi- dent Darrel Wong said the union rejected a company proposal to pay out the money in $50, 000 monthly instalments. “We said we wanted it all and the. following. day - they responded,” Wong said. The payouts vary from zero to $7,000 depending on how much each worker is owed, Wong said if the com- pany had continued to re- fuse payment i! would have had to prove in court that it didn’t have the money. Payment avoided dis- closure and being cross- examined by union law- yers, he said. “| believe the reason is they didn’t wanl to have to tell us the true financial picture of the company,” Wong said. New Skeena president Dan Veniez said his com- pany didn’t have to pay the vacalion pay obliga- (ions rung up under the company’s ownership by the provincial government. “T wanted to put this behind us,” he said. “We are disbursing this to em- ployces as we speak.” Veniez said he conti- nues to be frustrated with the IWA’s refusal here to accept a new labour deal in line with the one struck with pulp mill workers in Prince Rupert. “The [WA is sacrificing Terrace because they’re going into provincial nego- tiations now,” Veniez said. “That's what's happening.” Veniez refused to dis- cuss progress in arranging financing, although he in- dicaled two chunks of fi- nancing have been put in place, “We're in a critical | phase now so | can’t di- vulge the details,” he said. He was asked to re- spond to reports that his fi- nancial officers have said a May pulp mill startup - may not happen because the company still needs to raise $50 million. EPILEPSY CANADA 1-514-845-7855 1-877-SEIZURE www.epilepsy.ca Gitxsan and New Skeena could be part of a court-or- dered accommodation pro- cess, Skeena MLA Roger Harris said it could Ve- niez’s decision not ta con- test the provincial take- back of the company’s un- dercut means that timber could be made available to native groups. Also at the mecting today is provincial nego- lator Bob Friesen, who has been charged by the forests ministry with trying to reach a deal, The Gitxsan also say export! of logs from the Ha- zeltons area and NWBC’s deal to sell its Smithers mill to West Fraser will also be on the table today. “ a pad SRRACE: TOTEM: FORD Cannlis a Sold Camer j canadienne Seckely x “1 du cancer i For Lite Relais pour [a vie “COLA”: SPEEDEE PRINTERS: Al ieee OCA rere ORTHERN SAVINGS: cRebIT UNION CANADIAN Canadian Cancer Society's 12 Hour Relay For Life Sunday, May 11th, 2003 George Little Park, Terrace (tbrary Park) Join your friends and neighbours as they walk, Jog run or bike, while having fun ralsing funds for the battle against cancer. Make sure you pledge! For More information call: Lynda or Cecilia 638-8583 LOGGING trucks were held up for five days after Gitxsan chiets blocked a logging road. medications they're of ail, the costs. 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