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© IWA-CANADA president Jack Munro and Pulp, Paper and Woodworkers of Canada president Stan Shewaga were two of the sig- natories to a “Peace in the woods” agreement. The agreement was also signed by seven environmental groups.

Unionists and environmental groups vow to end confrontation in woods

VANCOUVER, BC. — On October 10, IWA-CANADA President Jack Munro sat down with leaders of other unions and environmental groups here to sign an historic “Peace in the Woods” Agreement, which will hope- fully put an end to confrontation in the forests of B.C.

The agreement signed by IWA- CANADA, the CPU, PPWC, United Fisherman and Allied Workers Union, Sierra Club of Western Canada, West- ern Canada Wilderness Committee, Greenpeace Foundation of Canada, the Valhalla Society, Earthlife Can- ada, Canadian Parks and Wilderness Tourism Council, is seen by both unions and environmentalists as an important step in developing dialogue to protect both jobs and the environ- ment.

“Everyone recognizes that the for- est industry is the engine of the econ- omy and will continue to generate the bulk of the province’s wealth,” said Brother Munro.

Munro said that unions are trying to demonstrate to environmental groups that their concerns are under- stood and that the general public is tired of listening to extremists, on one side or the other.

All groups have agreed to support a “British Columbia Jobs and Environ- ment Forest Committee” in order to develop further dialogue. Both sides recognize that there are representa- tive ecosystems that have to be pro- tected while maintaining and enhanc- ing job creation through intensive forest management and a higher value-added production strategy.

Ina press release Munro noted that “Instead of properly managing our forests, for more than a decade this government [the Socred government] has pitted one group of people against another. Our forests have been badly mishandled. Even the Ministry of Forests and Forest Resources Com- mission state this.”

“There is a crisis in the forests,” added Munro. “Our industry has already experienced mill closures and job losses due to forest mismanage- ment and unless the people of the

province get together to change things now, our communities and our forests will be endangered.”

Joe Foy, representative of the West- ern Canadian Wilderness Committees said: “From now on it’s jobs and envi- ronment. We all want quality forests and future employment.”

The committee will be made up of representatives of the four unions and four environmental organizations.

Ric Careless, executive director of the B.C. Wilderness Tourism Council, an organization concerned with the protection of land and water sectors within the tourism industry, said that “we can replace confrontation with cooperation.”

Norm McClellan, regional vice- president of the Canadian Paper- workers’ Union, said that the agree- ment was “a long time coming.” He said that there are differences between unions on forestry issues and differ- ences amongst environmental groups. He also said that all parties will have to work hard to bring about success.

Vicki Husband, conservation chair of the Sierra Club of Western Canada said that the Accord signing was the first step in an ongoing process.

“Cooperation is the key and we don’t want the future to be like the past,” said Ms. Husband.

“The phoney split between jobs and the environment must end,” said George Smith, National Conservation Director for the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Tourism Council. Smith said that all sides need aggressive leadership in seeking cooperation and ending confrontation.

The signatories have agreed to meet as a committee at a future date in order to maintain peace in the woods and create a common front approach to jobs and environmental issues.

Brother Munro called the agree- ment a “major statement” by key players in the jobs and environment. debate. He said “we're very pleased to be part of it.”

The agreement came on the heels of the “South Island Forest Accord” which saw IWA Local 1-80 and a

caucus of environmental groups come toa mutual statement on the environ- ment and economy.

On September 6, Local 1-80 and the Sierra Club of Western Canada, the Carmanah Forestry Society, Friends of the Carmanah, the Western Can- ada Wilderness Committee, and the Environmental Youth Alliance signed the Accord following a marathon ses- sion which saw the development of the declaration.

“Our economy and our environment are in a state of crisis and loggers and environmental groups have to find common ground in order to provide creative solutions,” said Local 1-80 president Bill Routley.

“The main purpose of the 12 hours it took us to put this thing together was to find where that common ground lies,” said Routley. “We know that there are issues on which we can’t agree, but we want to isolate those issues that allow us to work together.”

The Accord stated that “Wilder- ness preservation is not the greatest threat to forest industry jobs. How- ever preservation could worsen an already bleak situation unless drastic changes are made now.”

In mid-September, IWA-CANADA's National Executive Board concurred with Local 1-80’s Forestry and Envi-

’ Unions are demon- strating that concerns of environmental

groups are understood

and that jobs are a priority at all times

ronment Department in the develop- ment of the South Island Accord.

On October 9, TWA Local 1-405 signed a similar agreement called the “West Kootenay Forest Accord” along with representative from the Cana- dian Labour Congress, the WCWC, the Lassa Action Group, the Valhalla Society, Red Mountain Residents — Association, Slocan Valley Watershed Alliance, West Arm Watershed Alli- ance, and the British Columbia Gov- ernment’s Employees Union.

Klaus Offermann, first vice-presi- dent of Local 1-405 said there's a willingness by labour and environ- mentalists to work together to develop a consensus on how forests should be used.

In the separate agreements signed by Local 1-80 and 1-405 all parties demand that complete social biophys- ical inventory of forest lands be made and that job creation strategies be developed to offset potential job losses from the protection of additional areas.

All parties a; that the reason for harvesting the forests is to create long term community stability.

The Accords call for better forest use and job creation through environ- mentally appropriate logging sys- tems, value-added saaanearie as intensive silviculture, commercial thinning, land and habitat restora- tion, old growth forest research, and ecotourism.

The Accords also include a call fora ban on the exports of logs and cants, greater community involvement in decision making, and the settlement, of Native Land Claims.

Koolatron

Continued from page fifteen

Koolatron’s markets, in order of importance, are the United States, Canada, Europe and Asia.

In addition to the regular cooler line, the company is looking at custom work such as products for the medical profession (ie. serum refrigeration

. units). Added custom work will pro-

vide stability for the 40 regular em- ployees. In peak seasons, to meet demand, Koolatron employs up to 100 workers in the assembly plant.

Part of the job at the plant includes working with chemical substances such as toxic isocynates, cellulose solvents, and methy] ethal keytones.

To ensure that workers are properly trained in the handling of the toxins, Koolatron now runs a proper isosyn- ate monitoring pro} which in- cludes the twice-yearly medical exam- ination of employees who work directly with isocynatic foam insula- tion. There is also annual monitoring of any of those who come in contact with the foam.

All new employees are instructed through WHMIS procedure, given basic information on all chemicals in the plant, and then given in-depth training on the specific chemicals in their work areas.

The company’s willingness to give thorough training to all emp! is further evidence that labour relations

are still on the upswing.

reece 16/LUMBERWORKER/NOVEMBER, 1991