British Columbia Federation of Labour

Vancouver—Financial aid for laid-off forest workers is a must, say labour leaders, including Jim Sinclair, President of the B.C. Federation of Labour, Steve Hunt of the United Steelworkers and Jim Britton of the Communication, Energy and Paperworkers Union. 

“Job losses in the sector have now surpassed 20,000 and layoffs continue to be a weekly occurrence.  BC’s forest communities are in crisis,” the labour leaders wrote this week in a letter to Premier Gordon Campbell. 

“It is well past the time for your government to act.  Forest workers had hoped that perhaps your BC Forest Round Table might have provided answers to the problems of skyrocketing raw-log exports, declining investment, a deteriorating manufacturing sector, massive high-grading and waste, lack of training opportunities, declining worker safety and the need for reforestation measures.  Unfortunately, nothing has been delivered.” 

“Ensuring crisis does not become catastrophe requires immediate action.  We urge your government to take direct action to aid forest workers and their communities by: 

• Implementing a provincial extension of the Employment Insurance (EI) program to address thousands of forest workers facing exhaustion of EI coverage;
• Building an effective forest worker-training program that provides up to two years of income replacement and tuition for skills upgrading that will help workers remain in the industry and in their communities;
• Developing a silviculture and reforestation plan that will employ laid-off forest workers and invest in the long-term health and sustainability of BC’s forests; and
• Providing direct financial assistance to resource-based communities facing shrinking tax bases, so communities can participate in infrastructure programs offered by senior levels of government.”

“Contributing close to 40 percent of BC’s exports and 25 percent of our GDP, it is only fair, reasonable and just that British Columbians through their government join hands to assist workers and communities in that sector as it endures bad times.  We believe a strong, sustainable forest industry can continue to be a vital component of our economy.” 

For more information contact:  

Evan Stewart, B.C. Federation of Labour Director of Communications (604) 430-1421
Karen Cooling, Communication, Energy and Paperworkers Union (604) 682-6501
Scott Lunny, United Steelworkers (604) 683-1117