Laid Off Forestry Workers Seek Longer EI

Wednesday, July 30, 2008 04:12 AM

Prince George, B.C. - In a letter to local MPs, community committees from the North-Central Interior of BC are calling for the extension of Employment Insurance benefits, as well as other assistance for laid-off forestry workers and for communities impacted by the current forest industry downturn.

The Stand Up for the North Committee, Concerned Citizens of Mackenzie, and Concerned Citizens of Fort St. James sent the letter to MPs on June 13, and since then have had discussions with some elected representatives about what can be done.

According to spokesperson Alf Wilkins, who is a laid-off mill worker from Mackenzie, the letter lays out a number of things that need to be done right away for workers and communities affected by the downturn, including extending EI benefits, restoring the full Northern Living Allowance, providing tax relief for small businesses, increasing funding for training, and offering mortgage relief for residents of towns that are suffering catastrophic job loss.

However, Wilkins adds that, although the letter has been sent and discussions are ongoing, time is running out fast for many workers and communities.

“Forestry workers and forestry-based communities have contributed a lot over the years to the economy and to government and corporate revenues,” he says. “Now it’s our turn. We need some immediate help to get through this very tough period. Governments have had plenty of time to consider the problems. Now we need some action.”

Many of the layoffs took place last year. Since then, a growing number of workers have had their benefits cut off. If there are no EI extensions, many more workers in towns such as Mackenzie and Fort St. James will have their benefits terminated in the coming weeks and months. “This is having a ripple effect on the local economy,” Wilkins adds, “resulting in businesses having to close down, workers leaving, and the tax base eroded. Residents, quite understandably, are very upset.”

In addition to the letter, the committees are planning to organize a number of other activities for the Fall, including a petition on EI and other assistance needed for forestry-based communities, along with a series of town hall meetings in the region on the issue of “tying logs to communities.” According to Wilkins, ensuring that logs are processed in the communities where they are harvested is very important for people in the north and will be a key issue in the upcoming municipal and provincial elections.

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Posted on Wednesday, July 30, 2008 04:12 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: MrPG on July 30 2008 8:23 AM

If you do it for forestry workers, you have to do it for everybody. Otherwise, where do you draw the line?

Posted by: borneo60 on July 30 2008 8:37 AM

I agree, but the funny thing about any insurance is that they don't pay you when it's needed.
I am a forestry worker, paying into it for 25 years and only started collecting EI.
I see EI only lasts about 10 months now instead of 12 months.

The EI surplus is now over $50 Billion. You tell me who's the cash cow.

Posted by: RUEZ on July 30 2008 8:39 AM

Governments bent over backwards to help the cod fisherman on the east coast when they were in crisis. Now it's time for a little help over here.

Posted by: redneck on July 30 2008 9:21 AM

EI is like every other insurance.You are only supposed to pay into it not collect it.I wonder where the interest goes on that 50 billion?

Posted by: Outwest on July 30 2008 9:24 AM

Sorry,all your money is spend on the Afghans
all 50 Billions plus.

Posted by: justamom on July 30 2008 9:33 PM

Borneo60. The most dissapointing part ..take an adverage of what you have paid over the course of the last 25 years, then calculate what you are entitled to in a 10 month claim.

Posted by: NMG on July 30 2008 10:14 PM

"The most dissapointing part ..take an adverage of what you have paid over the course of the last 25 years, then calculate what you are entitled to in a 10 month claim"

For what it's worth, at current rates the most you would get now is $435 per week. On a 10 month claim, that would amount to $17,400 (less taxes of course).

Given that amount, I suspect many workers would actually get more out of a 10 month claim than what they have contributed. Of course, there will be others that will have contributed more than that. It would all depend on how many years they've been employed, what the historic rates were, etc. It's certainly not a given that people will get less than what they've put in.

Then again, it is an insurance program and everyone is entitled to similar treatment under the plan. That's one of the reasons that it is so difficult to make unique accomodations for certain applicants.