Steelworkers Huddle to Strategize for Interior Group

Monday, November 30, 2009 12:48 PM

Prince George, B.C.- The United Steelworkers are trying to get the contract talks for the forest industry back on track. Their talks broke off mid October. Steelworkers local 1-424 President, Frank Everitt says the Union is pushing for some contract improvements, but the industry has called for major concessions “There are ways of reducing costs without reducing the hourly take home pay of the folks and we’re prepared to look at those.”

Talks have been off since the 19^th of October.

Steelworkers will meet with the reps tomorrow in Cranbrook to strategize for the interior group and see if Conifer wants to return to the bargaining table, and set out plans should Conifer not want to resume talks.

That doesn’t mean there is any strike talk underway “There’s no need for that kind of ramping up of rhetoric” says Everitt “as long as we’re talking back and forth, people are continuing to work, employers are continuing to make a product and we want to continue that.”

Previous Story - Next Story

Email |

Print |

Facebook |

Twitter |

Digg |

Del.icio.us

Posted on Monday, November 30, 2009 12:48 PM in News by 250 News

Return to Home

Comments

Posted by: eiowe on November 30 2009 4:06 PM

well if frank comes back with a 5 dollar wage cut like canfor cheywynd it will be the begining of the end for the steelworkers. lets stand up for ourselves when these companies made 400/thosand the workers did not recieve a bonus. i can understand people need to work and in chetwynd desperate people do desperate things

Posted by: He spoke on November 30 2009 4:21 PM

Frank, I am not a union man, but if the mills are telling you that there paying too much in wages and benefits, there wrong.

Do the math, A sawmill produces 1,000,000 bf with a work force of 80 men earning a average $350/day, this includes all the benefits, EI,cpp, union dues, benefits, wcb etc. The mills overburden is likely 50% of wages. Eitherway, that is only $28.00 per thousand bf. Seriously a five dollar roll back is going to make an impact of $3.20 per thousand bf.

if this is going to be the foundation for future negotiations, what is the unions giving up for their members. Beating up the working man, is not the solution. The average sawmill worker, thirty years ago knew that the wages were good, but they were there as longs as the mills could sell the lumber. The sawmills can shut down at a whim, so why should the workers give up so much so quickly.

Wait, the trees are not going to run away, eventually the lumber market will comeback. The mills will run again, and they will pay the top wages. Remember, its not like 30 years ago, when it took 200 men to produce 400,000 bf every day. The wages are not that big of a factor anymore.

I'm a business owner, but i believe that the working man also needs to make a decent wage.

Posted by: Eagleone on November 30 2009 4:30 PM

Agreed... Steelworkers isn't up for the job IMO. They are allowing a conquer and divide strategy by industry to weaken everyone. They would have been far better off negotiating a short term concession (if any) for all Steelworkers at all mills with a clear sunset clause in place to protect the uniformity of the industry compensation. Now they are playing one mill against the next and that is not something unions should be doing if they want to be strong in the long run. I guess when the company closes mills its hard to stick together, but bad precedents are being set by the union IMO.

Posted by: Cariboo worker on December 1 2009 9:16 AM

You can advise people and view the options with them in the end you let them make the decision.What ever agreed to reflects the their needs its a hard pill to swallow for sure but in the end they live to fight another day. Guess everyone can chastise the Union and Industry, may sound good but has little effect or benefit for those in Chetwynd. Whats important is that they survive.