Organized Forestry Workers Defend Their Rights
One-day strike at the Canfor Mill in Prince George, October 25, 2018 to
back contract demands
of mill workers. (T. Tate)
The USW forestry unions in BC accuse the big forest
companies of using the downturn in the sector to intimidate their
members. Many are in negotiations for new contracts, as most expire
this year with only a few resolved.
USW Local 1-1937 (coast forest industry) has meetings
and strike votes scheduled throughout June and into July for its locals
of Western Forest Products. The bargaining committee is asking members
for a strong strike mandate to be used if necessary. (For strike vote
meetings, click
here.)
The Local's Update #5 reads, "Since our last update
Western Forest Products has dug in and maintained all of its massive
concessions from workers while at the same time not agreeing to any of
the Unions proposals."
Brian Butler, President of USW Local 1-1937 writes in
the update, "The company is betting the farm that workers will accept
massive concessions including the elimination of their pension plan,
erosion of seniority rights, reducing rights in contracting out
language, cutting benefits, reducing vacation entitlement and many more
.... All the
while outright rejecting any of the Unions proposals, including
appropriate wage and benefit improvements and addressing onerous
alternate shifts which members have overwhelmingly labeled as unsafe
and negatively impacting their health and family life as well as their
ill-conceived and ill-managed drug & alcohol policy that drives
safety
underground and targets and demeans workers." (See Update
5 and Update
6.)
USW Locals 1-405, 1-417 and 1-423 representing forest
workers in the BC southern interior are in negotiations with the
Interior Forest Labour Relations Association (IFLRA). The USW
Bargaining Update #31 writes:
"IFLRA Chooses to Final Offer USW Committee Instead
of Negotiate
"USW Locals 1-417, 1-423 and 1-405 spent May 15th and
May 16th at the bargaining table attempting to negotiate in good faith
with the IFLRA to conclude a collective agreement for the Southern
Interior forest industry. Regrettably the IFLRA refused to negotiate,
choosing instead to table a 'Final Offer' that the USW Negotiating
Committee
cannot support. The IFLRA's final offer is similar to the deal that was
agreed to in the North, however, contains language not in the North
agreement. Due to the IFLRA's refusal to compromise or move on those
differences, the USW Southern Interior Locals will be giving the
affected members an opportunity to vote on the final offer. Your
USW bargaining committee consisting of the presidents of Locals 1-417,
1-423 and 1-405 will be taking the IFLRA final offer to the membership
for a vote of the affected operations."
This article was published in
Number 22 - June 13, 2019
Article Link:
Organized Forestry Workers Defend Their Rights
Website: www.cpcml.ca
Email: editor@cpcml.ca
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