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Local History
Local 1-425 Officers & Staff
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Paul French, President
Paul
French has been an advocate for the local union and the community
for over 30 years. While starting his union advocacy in plywood
manufacturing as a shop steward, Paul routinely became a voice
for workers at the Williams Lake Plywood. Paul worked my way up
through a number of levels on the plant committee became a United
Steelworkers Local 1-425 Executive Board Member and later their
Recording Secretary. From 1994 through to 1996, Paul was the Past
Service Representative for the IWA Forest Industry Pension Plan
looking after Northern BC, and ran successfully as a Williams
Lake City Councilor - an elected position that Paul held for 15
years. |
pfrench@uswa425.ca |
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Dean Colville, 1st Vice President
Dean
started at Tolko Soda Creek Division in April 2004 and
became a committee member by the fall, and a Safety Rep soon
after in 2005. In 2007, Dean was elected the Plant Chair and then
appointed in 2008 to fill the position of Recording Secretary of
the Local Union. During the next year he progressed to 2nd
Vice-President. In 2010, Dean stepped away from the Plant Chair
position in order to become more active as 2nd Vice-President - a
position in which he held the support of the local union
membership in the 2011 round of union elections. Dean also served
as USW Local 1-425 Executive Board Member from 2008 to present.. |
dcolville@uswa425.ca
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Bob Macnair,
Financial Secretary
Bob's union service began 20 years ago when he started work at
Weldwood of Canada Williams Lake plywood division. During that
time in the plant, Bob sat as plant committee member, safety
committee member, vice-chairperson, chairman and executive board
member. Bob was appointed 4th Vice President in 2001 and moved to
3rd Vice President in 2004. In 2007 Bob ran successfully for
Financial Secretary of the Local Union. |
bmacnair@uswa425.ca |
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Phil Klassen, 2nd Vice-President
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Brad Mores,
3rd Vice-President
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George Matias, Recording Secretary
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Lance Brown, Warden
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Mark Bissat,
Conductor |
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Lynda Fisher, Office Support Staff |
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Zelda Prokosh, Office Support Staff |
^top
Local 1-425 Executive Board Members
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Plant |
Board Member |
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Capital Power |
Shane McMath |
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Interior
Health Williams Lake |
Lori
Derbyshire |
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Interior
Health 100 Mile House |
Liz
Christensen |
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Mount Polley
Mining |
Bob Thurow &
Rod Zuke |
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Parallel Wood
Products |
Heather Beaman |
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Well Being
Senior's Village |
Debbie Engen |
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Tolko
Industries - Creekside |
Glenn MIller |
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Tolko
industries - Lakeview |
Kerry
MacDonald & Mitch VanDale |
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Tolko
Industries - Soda Creek |
Eric Freeston
and Surinderpal Rathor |
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West Fraser -
Williams Lake Planer |
Kevin Power |
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West Fraser -
Williams Lake Plywood |
Doug LeDrew &
Lorne Marshall |
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West Fraser -
100 Mile House Lumber |
Mark Bissat
and Dave Wickingstad |
^top
Local 1-425 History
For years leading up
to 1977, the members of Local 1-425 formed an important part of Local
1-424 which was located in Prince George. The formation of this Local
started with just lunchroom discussions and moved to become a reality
in a newly formed Local union of the IWA in June 1977.
After establishing the Local, the real work started and continued with
a strong commitment to improving the benefits and working conditions of
its members. As a result of the Local Union being a new
kid-on-the-block, many of the Williams Lake area companies felt the new
Local Union and its officers needed an education on just who was going
to run the show. After about nine years and hundreds of thousands of
dollars spent in court, the companies came to realize that Local 1-425
was not going to roll over and play dead. The Companies also came to
the understanding that they needed the IWA and it's members for a voice
and power to counter the problems concerning the land base and the
strong possibility of companies losing their right to harvest timber.
Local 1-425 built a tremendous amount of respect from the forest
companies and other Local Unions. Over the years, Local 1-425 has
ventured into many uncharted waters. The Local has expressed both a
boldness in trying out new ideas and a willingness to challenge any
task that might assisted our members in the long term. Needless to say,
it was a rocky road in the early 1970's.
Between 100 Mile
House and Williams Lake, local union members held the record for
walk-outs and sit-downs in a given year; a record that stands to this
very day. While these were extremely tough times for everyone, the
large amount of pain gave way to a lot of gain for our members. Local
1-425 a still one of the most aggressive and pro-active local unions in
USW Wood Council and continue to work together with sisters and
brothers in other USW Local Unions. Through this action, the local will
ensure that the members remain strong and focused to meet the many
challenges ahead.
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