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Local Updates

September 29, 2011

Local 1-425 1st Vice-President Steps Away, Cites Family Obligations

Williams Lake, BC - With regret, recently elected 1st Vice President Rick Bambury advised Local Officers and Staff that he will step away from the local union effective October 28th. In the letter posted below, he cites a development in competing personal and family obligations for his reason for stepping down.

Dear Brothers and Sisters;

Due to recent developments, it has become clear to me that I will not be able to meet personal and family obligations and that I also will not be able to complete my term as 1st Vice President of Local 1425.

I cannot ask my brothers and sisters in good faith to continue to afford me the cost of education and training required for this position.

So, with the health of the Local as my first concern, I announce that I am stepping down from my position of 1st Vice President of the Local as of October 28,2011.

I will continue to be involved in the union as best I can until I leave the forest industry.

Your Brother,
Rick Bambury

For more information, contact the USW Local 1-425 Office in Williams Lake.  ^top

Local Updates

July 15, 2011

Local 1-425 Membership Votes in New President and 1st Vice-President

Williams Lake, BC - Steelworker members in Williams Lake have voted in favour of a new leadership duo. In the recent vote, West Fraser Williams Lake Plywood plant members Paul French and Rick Bamberry received enough votes to the capture the Local President and Local 1st Vice-President positions. Bob Macnair remains as the Financial Secretary.

Paul French steps into the position of Local Union President after defeating long-time local union officer Norm Prevost. The President's position was up-for-grabs as a result of former Local Union President Bill Derbyshire announcing his retirement earlier in the year. Rick Bamberry, formerly the union's Recording Secretary, wins the Local Union 1st Vice President position from former 1st Vice Norm Prevost who decided to step down and take-a-run at the Local Union President position. Norm Prevost will return to his maintenance tradesman position at Tolko Lakeview in August.

For more information, contact the USW Local 1-425 Office in Williams Lake.  ^top

Local Updates

March 1, 2011

Interior Bargaining Committee and IFLRA to Meet in Kelowna

KELOWNA, BC - The United Steelworkers Interior Bargaining Committee will be meeting with the Interior Forest Employment Labour Relations Association (IFLRA) on Wednesday here as it looks to kick-start stalled contract negotiations. Talks broke off last November when the employer association tabled a revised set of proposals including concessions over a long-term contract. "This time around we hope the IFLRA will be serious about bargaining a collective agreement," says USW Wood Council chair Bob Matters, the union's bargaining committee spokesperson.

Sitting at the table with the IFLRA will also be Local 1-405 president Stan McMaster, Local 1-417 president Marty Gibbons and Local 1-423 president Bruce Gardner. "The IFLRA is well-versed on the pattern agreement with Canfor, CONIFER with West Fraser (at two sawmills) and that it can reach an agreement with our union without much difficulty," says Matters. Those pattern agreements include wage increases of 2 per cent in years three and four, additional seniority retention provisions, benefit improvements and wage rate adjustments for trades and power engineers.

Since contract talks began in May of 2009, there have been 14 overall days of talks with the IFLRA. Needless to say, while the union has inked collective agreements in the north and on the Coast of BC (with Western Forest Products, Forest Industrial Relations and "me-too employers"), southern Interior employers have put up barriers to a settlement. "The IFLRA has both Tolko and West Fraser and these employers have already settled with our union in the northern Interior," adds Matters. "There should be no hold on the talks with the IFLRA at all."

"In 2009 we told the IFLRA that it could get out front and be a leader in helping setting a pattern agreement for the Interior industry - instead they are following the pattern," says Matters. "Our members expect no less - although some IFLRA members companies have spent a good deal of time trying to convince our members they are not worth of the pattern agreement."

The IFLRA has insisted on a 6-year agreement with wage and overtime concessions and concessions on Sunday work pay, shift premiums and health and welfare benefits. "We have told the IFLRA that concessions are out and that they need to seriously address our members' concerns, including job security against supervisors doing union work," says Matters. "Our people have to be working and have their seniority respected."

USW members have already accepted new language in the north (on the use of supervisors) and Tolko, which has 6 IFLRA operations, has a hand in shaping. Matters says it's time for the IFLRA to move forward on other non-monetary issues like the participation of union OH&S committee members in WorkSafe BC workplace inspections visits and allowing a local union representative to come in during investigation of serious accident and fatalities.

"There's a lot of contract language we can get to right away as we also deal with job security, shift scheduling, wages and benefits and other issues," says Matters.  ^top

News Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Steelworkers Contributes $20,000 Toward Relief and Reconstruction in Japan

TORONTO, March 22 /CNW/ - "The Steelworkers Humanity Fund is contributing $20,000 toward emergency aid and reconstruction efforts following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami in Japan", said Ken Neumann, USW National Director for Canada.

The Steelworkers Humanity Fund contribution is in response to requests from Japanese trade unions. The Steelworkers' contribution will be channeled through the ICEM (International Chemical Energy and Mining Unions Federation) affiliates in Japan, and the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC). The CLC Japan Disaster Relief Fund will transfer funds to the Japanese Trade Union Confederation (JTUC-RENGO).

"The Maritime Union of New Zealand is one of the many community-based organizations that are working to assist families devastated by the loss of a family member, and the destruction of their homes," Neumann said. "Thanks to the contributions of Steelworkers members to the Humanity Fund we are able to be part of that effort."

"Japan is a relatively rich economy and we are confident that Japanese communities will have the ability and resources to mount a successful rebuilding effort. Nevertheless thousands individual union members and their families in Japan have been devastated and the sheer magnitude of the rebuilding effort is enormous," Neumann said.

"The contribution of the Steelworkers Humanity Fund, means that Japanese unions will have additional resources to be able to alleviate hardship and speed recovery for their members".

The disaster left over 18,000 dead, inflicted extensive damage and led to significant accidents at two major nuclear power stations.

Founded in 1985, the Steelworkers Humanity Fund is a registered charitable organization. Steelworkers members contribute to the Fund through clauses negotiated into collective agreements. In some cases matching contributions come from employers.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Steelworkers Closer To Prosecuting Weyerhaeuser for Worker's Death
By Gordon Hamilton
March 3, 2011

The private prosecution against Weyerhaeuser Inc. over the 2004 death of New Westminster sawmill worker Lyle Hewer moved one step further in the courts Wednesday when provincial court judge Terese Alexander ruled that a summons be issued to Weyerhaeuser.

Judge Alexander made the decision to issue process against Weyerhaeuser in a closed hearing, after hearing the evidence supplied by the United Steelworkers union. Weyerhaeuser has yet to present its side of the story. The summons to appear gives the forest company that opportunity.

Hewer was 55 on Nov. 17, 2004, when he died a horrible death; a death that the United Steelworkers believes was totally preventable. He volunteered to enter the bottom of a hopper - called a hog - filled with wood debris to clear a jam. The debris came loose and smothered him. Although against WorkSafe BC regulations, the practice of entering the hopper from below was a common practice at the mill.

Complete article in The Vancouver Sun

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Steelworkers Hopeful that Proposed Criminal Code Prosecution of Weyerhaeuser Over Sawmill Workers' Death will Proceed

March 1, 2011

BURNABY, BC - United Steelworkers (USW) Western Canada Region Director Stephen Hunt says the union is hopeful that a BC Provincial Court judge will direct that process be issued against Weyerhaeuser Company Ltd. for the death of sawmill worker Lyle Hewer in November 2004.

"We hope that Judge Terese Alexander will issue process against Weyerhaeuser tomorrow, in order that our union's private prosecution of the company will proceed under the 2004 Westray amendments to the Criminal Code," says Stephen Hunt.

The union will hold a press conference at the Vancouver law office of Glen Orris at 550-815 Hornby Street at 3:15 pm - Wednesday, March 2, 2011.

On March 22, 2010 the USW launched the private criminal prosecution in New Westminster Provincial Court, alleging that Weyerhaeuser was criminally negligent in Hewer's death at the company's New West Division sawmill. From that point, a process hearing took place, involving the testimony of witnesses before the judge in October and November of 2010.

"The wheels of justice have ground slowly since Lyle Hewer died a horrific death at Weyerhaeuser over 6 years ago. The Crown did not previously proceed with the recommendations of the New Westminster Police to prosecute."

Prominent criminal lawyer Glen Orris, who has handled the case on behalf of the USW, will appear before Judge Alexander as the decision is rendered. He will be available for media comments at the press conference.

"We will be eagerly awaiting the decision on Wednesday," says Hunt. "The judge's decision, could lead to a full-on criminal prosecution of Weyerhaeuser and set an important legal precedent related to justice for preventable workplace deaths throughout Canada."

- 30 -

Contact: Stephen Hunt 604-683-1117 or 604-816-2554
Glenn Orris: 604-669-6711

  ^top

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