Contract talks between Western Forest Products (WFP) and the United Steelworkers (USW) Local 1-1937 have broken off.
Western Forest Products announced in a media release that the company and USW have received a letter from independent mediators Vince Ready and Amanda Rogers informing the parties they have withdrawn from the mediation process as they see no basis for a negotiated settlement at this time.
“We are disappointed that despite previous proposals offering superior wage and contract provisions to what the USW and the forest sector have agreed to throughout British Columbia, we have been unable to reach a negotiated settlement,” stated Don Demens, president and chief executive officer of WFP. “We will continue to explore all options available to bring an end to the prolonged USW strike and have reached out to the ministry of labour to seek clarification on next steps.
“We recognize the profound impact the strike is having on our employees, contractors, their families and communities. We remain committed to reaching a fair and equitable agreement that recognizes the important contributions of our employees, while maintaining the sustainability of our business so that we can continue to serve our customers, who, through their purchases, support thousands of jobs in the communities on the coast of British Columbia.”
The strike, which began on July 1, 2019, affects all the company’s USW certified manufacturing and timberlands operations in BC, including Powell River, impacting approximately 1,500 of the company’s hourly employees and approximately 1,500 employees working for the company’s timberlands operations and contactors, according to the media release.
According to a media release from the USW, the mediators stated in the letter that the parties are too far apart at this time. It is clear to the USW that WFP’s refusal to move off its concessions and change any of its positions led to the frustration of the mediators and their decision to withdraw, according to USW.
The release further stated that the USW bargaining committee was made aware that Demens joined WFP’s bargaining committee meeting on February 2 and learned that Demens repeated to the mediators WFP’s desire to gain concessions on contracting out of members’ jobs.
“This unwarranted concession is something that our members will never agree to,” stated Brian Butler, president of USW Local 1-1937. “It needs to be noted that without this provision, WFP made record earnings in the many years leading up to the current round of bargaining.”
Rick Nelson, first vice president of USW Local 1-1937, stated that it is truly unfortunate that WFP has put corporate greed over members’ right to have safe and secure jobs.
“It is clear to the union that WFP’s refusal to move on a single issue dating back to November is at the centre of the mediators’ withdrawal,” stated Nelson.
“WFP’s contracting out and other concessions are added to their repeated refusal to address our members’ serious health and safety issues related to WFP’s fatigue-inducing alternate shifts. As well, WFP continues to insist on subjecting workers to a drug and alcohol policy that workers strongly believe is discriminatory and stands far apart from the policies adopted by other companies in the forest industry. The combination of these issues we believe will lead to serious injury and death if they are not resolved in bargaining.”
Nelson stated workers have the right to a safe and secure job.
“This is paramount for any worker and our members are no different,” he stated. “The union believes that no worker should be subjected to this increased risk of serious injury or death that comes with how WFP schedules and treats its workforce.”
Butler stated the local union remains prepared and committed to the bargaining process every day and is open to meeting with WFP’s bargaining committee at any time in order to reach a fair collective agreement.
“The union will be reaching out to WFP’s new bargaining committee to see if they will agree to resume bargaining,” stated Butler.
