Steelworkers Slam Liberals On Wood First Policy
Thursday, May 9, 2013 @ 11:32 AM
Steelworkers Local 1-424 President Frank Everitt and International President Leo Gerard outside BC Hydro construction site. – photo-250NEWS
Prince George, B.C. – The United Steelworkers have brought in the big guns to help their effort to get two NDP candidates elected in the Prince George ridings.
Against the backdrop of the B.C. Hydro construction site on 22nd Avenue, and wearing a pro-NDP t-shirt and campaign button, the International President of the Steelworkers Union, Leo Gerard, slammed the Liberal government for it’s failure to practice what it preaches about a “wood first” policy.
The steel studs are clearly visible on the new B.C. Hydro regional office building that is under construction.
Gerard, who is visiting from his home outside Sudbury Ontario, criticized the Wood First Act saying it is ““full of what union negotiators call ‘aspirational language’”. Gerard says that in the heart of British Columbia’s forest industry, “ a government owned company should be building with wood.”
He says the Act says government ‘may’ encourage wood use “But there is no actual requirement. And even with such weak language, it apparently doesn’t apply to Crown corporations. That’s how you get BC Hydro building with steel studs in the middle of forest country.”
It may seem odd that the head of the Steelworkers would be criticizing any construction that utilizes the very product which carries the union name, “Steelworkers is our historical name” says Gerard “our major industries in Canada are mining and forestry.” He says the union has fewer members employed in the steel industry in Hamilton, Ontario (where the primary industry is steel production) than they do in British Columbia’s forest industry.
Steelworkers Local 1-424 President, Frank Everitt says this issue is not new, that it was raised during the construction of the new Duchess Park Secondary School in Prince George.
Comments
Of course they do. the NDP has long contributed to union doings. the annual 2 week retreat at Harrison Hot Springs for example. Union members get to go on 2 week vacay, get full pay, run around with peeps they aren’t married to, and drinks and hot tubs are name of the day. that is why unions support the NDP and votes are the reason the NDP supports unions. not to mention the union then have politicla clout. nastiness with no honor.
Sounds like your speaking from your own experance there Purple3, how does this connect with the story lol to funny
How does the NDPs affiliation with the unions NOT connect to the story steph? Heck the president has his NDP button on…
Or do you mean that they just today noticed this construction and the timing has nothing to do with posturing before the election next week?
*eyeroll*
Steelworkers pay the NDP president’s (moe sihota) salary to the tune of $72,000 per year so should we expect anything less from them.
The BC Hydro Building is just one being built without wood. It was the same thing for the Police station, and the new high school.
There are many other buildings built with steel studs. In fact the CN Station of first Avenue, built in 1971 used steel studs.
Sooooo. Whats new.
Where do I sign up Purple? I’ve never heard of such a thing. 2 weeks off with full pay at the hotsprings….about as believable as Richard Nixon or Bill Clinton.
Actually Purple the “unions” are people just like you and me that are organized to stand together as one. They employ people known as presidents, vice presidents and business agents to look after their business, just like any other business does.
So in reality the NDP are for the people and the people are for the NDP.
“Steelworkers pay the NDP president’s (moe sihota) salary”
Where can I find that in writing zigzag?
The STEELworkers, eh? Went from WOODworkers to STEELworkers. Talk about poetic justice.
Could not keep WOOD in the name of their organization …. how the heck do they think the government could do any more than CONSIDER wood first other than under a left wing or right wing dictatorship.
So, are they suggesting they want a dictatorship?
Read that last statement ….. CONSIDER wood first. NOT USE WOOD instead of concrete or steel.
Woood is not appropriate as studs in a major building like BC Hydro’s.
End of story.
omg how funny is that, steelworker mad cuz they are using steel studs. Look at that scowel in the pictures. Im voteing for Cristy Clarke.
Maybe before they spout off about no wood in that building they should do some homework. Most of the structural roof deck was wood- about 25,000 cubic feet of wood.
May not be much- but better than what they think (or admit). Not to worry, won’t be much construction in BC using steel or wood if the NDP form the next government. There will be lots of construction in Alberta though. (All in my opinion)
HO HUM, blah blah blah…when will these guys come out with anything constructive or beneficial to anyone.
Gus, thanks for that post :-). You made my day!
I buy all my 2X4s from Sudbury. NDP is a joke.
Support local beaver dams..
Desperate times call for desperate measures.
I remember seeing truckloads of wood deck panels and beams being lifted into place over there.
Next time Frank should check the facts out before making such claims.
I believe the steel that is in the pictures is actually steel supports for the exterior facade.
Whats the big DEAL with STEEL? USW President of Local 1-424 Frank Everett should really do his homework before publically laying claim that BC Hydro has no plans to include wood in its interior or exterior design. Did he even read the BC ‘Wood First’ policy? He is coming across as a political opportunist, an ill-informed Union leader and turning out to be a huge disappointment as a City Councillor. I for one regret that I voted for him. Not impressed!
“got wood” sounds a lot better than “got steel”. lol.
I voted for Frank Everitt once. That’s all he gets.
They all look like they need to go on a diet.
Clothes shrink. I have a closet full of them.
fat cats feeding fat cats
yes, Steph99 i did attend ONCE.
Most of the Government or private buildings in Prince George (and BC) have been built with steel studs, steel, and concrete.
The Liberals have been paying lip service when they talk about wood first. Most of them wouldn’t know the difference between wood and steel anyway. The only wood they ever see, is the wooden trough where they feed.
Same BS about sale’s of lumber to China. 90% or more of this lumber is used for concrete forming, however the Libs would have you believe that its used for building houses. Most of the lumber exported to China is low grade and is used approx. 8 times for concrete forming.
Canfor states that residential highrises are the most needed kind of buildings in China, and those will always be built of concrete and steel. But all the materials within the building could **conceivably be wood**.
The first casualty of war is truth, and I would suggest that also applies to elections.
Some of the BS being spewed by the Liberals and NDP, is unbelievable . They must think we are pretty stupid, to expect us to believe the crap their spewing.
Have a nice day.
Maybe some of you n’dipper supporters should have a close examination of the building code before you rant against the steel studs.
You may just find out that the code may specify steel stud for certain types of buildings….BC Hydro and RCMP bldg. included,
Is having a city council member openly support a certain political party in the best interest of the people of the city that he is supposed to represent? Could it affect provincial decisions regarding that city down the road?
4 councillors supporting the dippers,
4 councillors supporting the Lieberals,
and one mayor, (hypothetically) supporting an independant.
Win ,win.
Ha ha, I got a good laugh out of this one:
tdiguy: “When will these guys come out with anything constructive or beneficial to anyone.”
Probably when their union members build the next building. But hey, I suppose it’s possible that the construction industry isn’t that constructive.
If my memory serves me correctly I seem to remember a bit of controversy when the Steelworkers renovated their union offices on 3rd Ave. they used steel studs. Anyone else remember this?
They could use Sarcopteryx stipata, known as the Steelwood of the rainforests of eastern Australia. That would solve the conflict with the Steelworkers demanding wood!
During the whole decade of the nineties lots of raw logs were being exported too! I don’t recall any similar public demonstrations by these guys then!
Ipso ergo: Mostly political haymaking!
“The first casualty of war is truth..”
Thank you Palopu..
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