Unions representing workers in Canada’s forestry industry are joining forces to fight forest policies introduced by the British Columbia government.
The Industrial, Wood and Allied Workers of Canada (IWA), the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada and Doman Industries Ltd claim the policies are leading to job losses and hurting communities. The unions have not ruled out the option of a strike.
The parties intend to start their fight on July 24 with a meeting in Port McNeill on northern Vancouver Island.
The policies, introduced during the spring, are aimed at streamlining regulation and lowering industry costs, especially on the coast where logging is expensive. They also try to address issues in the softwood lumber dispute.
Doman Industries is concerned about changes which allow sawmills to obtain Crown timber irrespective of where it is logged and the removal of 20% of logging rights from large forest companies to make more timber available to entrepreneurs and First Nations.
