The strike was provoked by the employers’ attempt to unilaterally impose a contract that cuts back-pay for night shift, weekends, travel time, vacations, and other concessions. The Industrial, Wood and Allied Workers of Canada (IWA) has been negotiating since April with Forest Industrial Relations, the bargaining agent for 45 coastal companies. The last contract expired June 30 and the union members have continued to work under its terms.

Mike, who has worked for 32 years at the Weyerhaeuser mill in New Westminster, outside Vancouver, said, “At first they didn’t think we were serious. They’re taking away our jobs and working conditions. Why wouldn’t we be serious?”

Hundreds of sawmill workers started to walk out on the morning of November 18. When they had arrived at work they were infuriated with being told they would be working under the newly imposed contract. Some 500 union members met in the town of Langley that morning. IWA policy director Scott Lunny said, “The guys left the meeting determined to shut down the mills that are still operating,” reported the Vancouver Sun.

On Vancouver Island, 35 loggers were ordered off the job when they refused to sign letters agreeing to the new contract.

Then on November 21 the British Columbia Labour Relations Board ruled that the bosses’ imposition of the contract was legal. The board claimed that a one-day walk out by union members on November 6 had violated a provision in the previous contract that there would be no strikes or lockouts during negotiations.

The IWA responded by calling out 6,000 union members who work in the sawmills. Thousands more joined them November 24.

Explaining why the union rejected the board’s action, IWA secretary-treasurer Dave Tones stated, “The ruling says an employer in British Columbia can cancel bargaining and implement any terms and conditions that he wants.”

The forest barons are seeking to dramatically cut labor costs, at a time when almost half of union members have been laid off. The contract they want to impose eliminates premium payments for night shift workers who previously received eight hours pay for a shift of six-and-a-half hours. New shifts will be implemented that eliminate overtime pay for weekend work. The employers have instituted continuous operations—24 hours a day, seven days a week. They also aim to reduce vacation time after 30 years of service from seven to five weeks. The company-imposed contract ends payment for travel time to and from the work site for the timber workers, who often travel long distances to reach remote logging camps.

Les Veale, IWA staff representative, said, “What do we have left to negotiate with? They’ve taken away our weekends, our benefits, overtime, and seniority rights. There is nothing to say about the labor board decision other than to say that they shafted us.”

At the McKenzie sawmill, a maintenance worker who asked that he not be identified by name said, “If they are allowed to get away with imposing the contract, with these flexible hours, it will affect everybody.”

Joe Young is a member of United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1518 in Vancouver.  
 
 
Front page (for this issue) | Home | Text-version home