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UTU works toward a solution

Softwood lumber trade dispute hurts workers on both sides of the border
A delegation of Canadian UTU members traveled to Washington DC to lobby for a quick resolution to the Canada / US softwood lumber trade dispute that is affecting the jobs of thousands of workers in the US and Canada.

Particularly concerned were members of locals 1778 and 1923 representing BC Rail conductors. Eight-six percent of BC Rail's freight originates in the forest industry and with mills along the line closing or threatening to close, UTU members on BC Rail decided to register their views in Washington in order to help bring a quick resolution to the dispute. With the assistance and support the Canadian Legislative Department, the BC Legislative Board and the UTU International Legislative Department, BC Rail members lobbied US legislators for a quick resolution of the softwood trade dispute.

Through the International Legislative office, the UTU can bring strong influence to bear on the most powerful political system on the planet. With the help of US Legislative Director James Brunkenhoefer and staff, and UTU state legislative directors from Pennsylvania, Minnesota and South Carolina, appointments were made with Congressmen and their chiefs of staff, Senators and trade representatives. Teams were assigned, and over five busy days in the US capitol, UTU members made their case.

Prior to departure, the UTU delegation was briefed in Ottawa by Canadian government legislative assistants and trade councilors. Also, the team met with trade councilors at the Canadian embassy in Washington.

The delegation consisted of Bob Sharpe (Canadian Alternate Vice President), Tim Secord, (Canadian Legislative Director), Don Tenant, (Alternate Canadian Legislative Director), Brian Gleason, (BC Legislative Board Chair) and local members Brad Burrows, Sylvia LeBlanc, David Moorhouse and Bill Whitton. State Legislative Directors John Smullen, Don Dunlevy and Jack Ramsey acted as "seeing eye dogs" for the delegation in the miles of legislative office hallways and tunnels on Capitol hill. The delegation was well received. Legislators indicated that it was refreshing to see labour representatives in their offices to get the message out personally and that a Canadian delegation on the Hill was rare indeed!

Background

The US needs our lumber. Canada supplies over 30% of the US lumber market, trading about US$10 billion worth each year. The softwood trade dispute has been going on for over twenty years. Actually, it's been around longer than that. The first act passed by Congress in 1789 was a tariff act which included lumber from Canada. It continues to be the number one trade issue today.

In 1982 the US used softwood as a NAFTA bargaining chip which set in place a system where Canada was prepared to pay a big price for access to the US market.

In 1986, the two governments negotiated a Canadian 15% export tax. In 1996 the tax was replaced by a quota system with a sliding scale on fees. In May 2002, the US imposed countervailing and anti-dumping duties on softwood lumber amounting to 27.77%. However, the latest duties have not had the desired effect. Canadian producers have increased production in order to lower their unit cost and therefore their dumping margins, which are based on production costs. This has lowered the price of lumber across North America.

Negative Effects

On the face of it, lower lumber costs sound like a good thing, but the increase in production can not be sustainable. Sooner or later, mills will no longer be able to afford producing at this level. Smaller, less efficient mills in both Canada and the US will feel the pinch first.

For each job in a mill there are at least thirty downstream-lumber brokers, handlers, builders and remanufacturers. This figure does not include transportation workers, who are also affected.

Home building is one of the few growth sectors in the US economy. Homebuilders find it difficult to operate in a lumber market disrupted and destabilized by the trade dispute. The price of lumber can swing wildly between the time a house price is quoted and the time ground is broken. This impacts affordable housing, adding between $1000 to $1500 to the cost of a new home.

Cedar, which is not even in direct competition with construction grade softwood is inexplicably lumped in with spruce, pine and fir. Already expensive, cedar is becoming unaffordable and hard to get. Cedar mills are closing.
Lumber exports to the US have decreased 6% over the same time last year. At the same time, lumber is being shipped in from Latvia and Scandinavia tariff-free. Swedish exports to the US are up 100%. Consequently, rail traffic patterns could shift from one side of the continent to the other, affecting crew logistics and planning.

What we did

The delegation approached legislators with the answers to questions we imagined they'd ask: Why should I care? What's in it for my constituents? What do you want me to do?
The answers for the first two questions can be found above, and we asked them to:
§ Press for a resolution through negotiation with the parties (Governments, industries, consumers)
§ Reconsider the 27% countervailing and dumping duties to more effectively address the artificially depressed pricing
§ Continue to move forward with discussions with Canada on processes such as the proposal for "Changed Circumstances Review" for forest management programs
§ Co-sponsor the Senate Concurrent Resolution 135 and HR Resolution 454 supporting fair trade
§ Raise this issue with the US trade representatives, the Department of Commerce and the Administration with a view to resuming negotiations to address the negative effects of the duties and moving the industry on both sides of the border closer to an integrated North American market.

What do we do now?
In the weeks ahead, the delegation plans to follow up on their visits with letters and emails to US legislators and with further news releases to the membership.

A picture gallery of the trip is available on our web site. Ed.

Where do your dues go?

Following a recent vote by the Canadian Legislative Board, assessments across Canada will increase by $2.50 per member, per month starting January, 2003. Coincidentally, local 1923 dues will rise by $5.00 at the same time, which will bring dues to the same level as local 1778. Union dues are fully tax deductible.

All dues paid by Canadian members of the UTU are used to provide benefits and services to members in Canada. Canadian dues are held in the main Royal Bank Branch in Ottawa.

Here's how your dues are apportioned:

General Committee

Assessments for the general committee pay for negotiations, arbitrations and other business that concerns both locals. General committee funding is determined by each committee across Canada, according to their needs. The BC Rail general committee assessment is lower than the national average.

International

Of the International assessment, $0.25 goes to the public relations fund, $.075 goes to the strike fund, $2.00 goes to the convention fund, $1.00 goes into the education fund and $1.00 goes to the maintenance of membership fund. The remaining amount pays for offices in Cleveland, Washington and Ottawa; full time counsel in both countries; salaries of officers and staff, per capita payments to the Canadian Labour Congress, and all operating expenses. Also, $2.00 goes into the Canadian Special Fund for projects in Canada.

Legislative Dues

These amounts go to operate the local legislative department and the Provincial Legislative Board in your province. The amount is set by the local legislative representatives, who are members of the Legislative Board. This legislative fund protects you on the provincial level by promoting policy and programs in regard to safety, sanitation, employment/pension standards and other job related problems, including WCB appeals.

Local Dues

Local dues are separated into two categories: Local dues and Local Committee of Adjustment dues. These dues support the costs of both providing representation at the local level and the costs of operating the Local, i.e., wages of the officers, rent, supplies, and any other appropriate expenses. The level of dues in each of these categories are set by a vote of the membership of the Local, and the Local Committee of Adjustment.

South thrives on confrontation

Another year has almost passed and the beatings are still continuing as obviously morale has not improved!

I find the contrast in management styles between North and South to be very interesting. In the South, we have a group that seemingly thrives on confrontation and the imposition if its' will. In the North, we have a group that is still attempting to be pro-active, regardless of the incident.

Employees in all terminals have attempted to work as safely as possible so as to ensure 100% compliance and for us to become the safest and most efficient railway in Canada (See joint statement between Council of Trade Unions and BC Rail). The impact unfortunately is productivity. We have had to slow down as the result of railway's demand for 100% rules compliance. By-passed draw-bars are the #1 reason for hearings in Prince George at this time. From what I can tell, the #1 reason for attending a hearing in the South is not following the instructions of a Supervisor. I would suggest that maybe we have a problem.

Maybe some of the supervisors should not be supervisors because I cannot for one minute believe that every crew these guys get in to an altercation with are at fault and need to be threatened. Maybe, just maybe, it is maturity and experience that are the culprits. It is a given that anywhere at any time on this railway someone may be doing something not quite right or being perceived as doing something contrary to the rules or instructions. It is incumbent on management to ask questions first and shoot later, not the other way around!

Does anyone here remember incentive switching? I do. It was requested by the railways many years ago to address productivity issues. Here are your lists. Do this and go home. Now we have management who has decided that we are paying for a certain amount of time so you must be here longer. The six hour rule was, supposedly, brought about to slow people down so as to minimize or eliminate accidents and incidents. Crews should be issued the same amount of work but just take six hours doing it. OK. No problem. So you slow down and comply and get hauled in for not completing your work assignment or the WOC decides that your crew has not done enough at the end of the sixth hour and tells you then that you are going to stay for eight!

If the railway wonders why they have problems, they don't have to look much further than their own managerial hierarchy and stop pointing fingers at the unionized employees who, in the vast majority of cases, take their obligation to this railway seriously. If management would care to remember, it is they who developed the "team" concept.
Obviously, some of us are not "team" players and are being singled out for special treatment!
Please, on behalf of Local 1923, have a safe and "compliant" Holiday Season!!!!!

Fraternally
D.G. Byron
Local Chairperson
Local 1923

A "New Era" Season's Greetings

By Gavin Hainsworth hainsworth_g@fc.sd36.bc.ca

The recent announcement that the BC government has asked Donner and Blitzen to take the early reindeer retirement package has triggered a good deal of concern about whether the Campell government will include the North Pole in its core revue.

Streamlining, said the minister responsible for corporatization, was appropriate in view of the reality that the North Pole no longer dominates the season's gift distribution business. It should be considered for sale to private interests. Competition and the shrinking dollar have diminished Santa's market share, and government cannot sit idly by and permit further erosion of the profit picture.

Rudolph's wages will be reduced to $6 an hour since he is junior to the sled team.
Cupid will have to find day-care for her calves and get a job.

The minister for Social Services denies, in the strongest possible language, that he ever said single mom reindeer "never did pull their share of the load." It was an unfortunate comment, made by one of Santa's helpers and taken out of context.

Comet will be taken out of foster care -- now that he's 17, he can bloody well look after himself and become a squeegee-deer.

Dasher and Dancer, who summered at the Harvard Business School, will get 30% leaner but will provide no discernible loss of service. The reindeer downsizing was applauded by the Fraser Institute.

In other news -- Effective immediately, the following austerity measures are to take place in the "Twelve Days of Christmas" ministry:

The partridge will be retained, but the pear tree never turned out to be the cash crop forecast. It will be replaced by a plastic hanging plant, providing considerable savings in maintenance.

The two turtle doves represent a redundancy that is simply not cost effective. In addition, their romance during working hours could not be condoned. The positions are therefore eliminated.

The three French hens will be deported. Clearly, they are illegal immigrants.

The four calling birds were replaced by an automated voice mail system, Henceforth there will be no possible way to reach the ministry, but you can leave a message. An analysis is underway to determine who the birds voted for, who they had been calling, and whether they ever talked to the media.

The five golden rings will be privatized. Maintaining a portfolio based on hydro power could have negative implications for American investors. And California needs cheap power more than we do.

The six geese-a-laying constitute a luxury we can no longer afford, particularly since they want their old barnyard back. A referendum for foxes, on the future of geese in BC, will be held in the spring. The ministry of goose affairs says 8 million dollars is not too much to pay to clarify the fox position that geese have no treaty rights but are welcome to .... um ... dinner.

The seven swans-a-swimming were obviously chosen in better times by a profligate former government. Turkeys will do. The current swans will be encouraged to find placements abroad.

As you know, the eight maids-a-milking concept has been under heavy scrutiny by the Medical Services Branch. The more militant maids complain that this a dead-end job with no upward mobility and that neither their training as milkers nor their milk is valued. Legislating the maids back to work has permitted them to consider career changes and relocation options. This has lead to a painless reduction of costs in the system.

Nine ladies dancing has always been an odd number. This function will be phased out as these individuals grow older and can no longer teach the steps.

Ten lords-a-leaping is overkill. The high cost of lords plus the expense of air travel prompted the compensation committee to suggest replacing this group with ten out-of-work forestry workers. While leaping ability may be somewhat sacrificed, the savings are significant because we expect an oversupply of unemployed forest sector workers this year.

Eleven pipers piping and twelve drummers drumming is a simple case of the band getting too big. A substitution with a string quartet, a cutback on new music, and no uniforms will produce savings which will drop right down to the bottom line.

Studies indicate that stretching deliveries over twelve days is inefficient. With translink reducing the number of busses and routes, and Campbell making sure there is less ridership (since fewer people will have work to travel to) service levels will be improved.

Action is pending regarding the lawsuit filed by the Law Society seeking expansion to include the legal profession ("thirteen lawyers-suing") and the Teachers' Association ("14 teachers-striking") but in these tough economic times their chances are slim.

Lastly, it is not beyond consideration that deeper cuts may be necessary in the future to stay competitive with slash and burn policies in other provinces. Should that happen, the Campbell Government will request that its deputy ministers scrutinize the Snow White Division to see if seven dwarfs is the right number.

Now that our workforce is more, how shall we say, "diversified", it's only been a matter of time before you open up the Meeting Point and find, yes, a recipe. Sylvia LeBlanc.

You have experience working for you

Elections of local officers are held every four years. At the same time, the General Chairperson is election by referendum ballot, which is supervised by the UTU International office. In accordance with the constitution, nominations were held in September for General Chair and in October for both locals' executives. All positions were uncontested. Elections of legislative representatives will be held in 2003.

The membership of local 1778 welcomes John Holliday as the new local chair and Brad Burrows as trustee. They also extend their thanks to Brian Gleason for his hard work serving as local chair for the past year. The membership of local 1923 welcomes Sylvia Leblanc and David Lamarche as trustees, and they extend their thanks to David Leamon and Harry Ulch for their past service.

The executive and local committee will take office Jan. 1, 2003.

General Chairperson

Bob Sharpe (604) 434-8075 Cell (604) 220-3488

Local 1778

President Erik Lonne (604) 986-1248
Vice President Terry Sawchuk (604) 984-2047
Secretary / Treasurer David Moorhouse (604) 984-6030
Trustee Willy Skorberg (604) 984-0669
Trustee Kelly Burke (604) 985-3641
Trustee Brad Burrows (604) 792-0646
Delegate Terry Sawchuk
Alternate Delegate David Moorhouse
Local Chairperson John Holliday (604) 984-7337
Vice Local Chairperson Greg Couch (604) 926-2071

Local 1923

President Darryl Smith (250) 564-7056
Vice President Pete Olson (250) 964-9362
Secretary / Treasurer Walter Atkinson (250) 962-2720
Trustee Sylvia Leblanc (250) 563-3634
Trustee Clyde Sharpe (250) 563-8530
Trustee David Lamarche (250) 963-7466
Delegate Dennis Byron
Alternate Delegate Cyndi Ralston
Local Chairperson Dennis Byron (250) 964-1532
Vice Local Chairperson Chris Gaudet (250) 562-4648

Remember the Birkenhead

John Holliday

In the year of our Lord 1818, an agreement was signed between Great Britain and the United States. This agreement divided the Dominion of Canada and the United States of America, from the Great Lakes to the Rockies, by the 49th parallel. This boundary was extended to the Pacific Ocean in 1846 by authority of the Oregon Boundary treaty.

Alexander Anderson was employed by the Hudson's Bay Company, at this time, and was commissioned to establish a new fur trade route from Fort Kamloops to the Pacific, so that the Okanagan Trail [fur brigade road from Kamloops to the mouth of the Columbia River] could be de-commissioned.

Shortly after leaving Ft. Kamloops, Anderson received word that his cousin Major Seton had perished in a shipping disaster. Anderson named a lake after his cousin, and further south a lake and river [Birkenhead] after the boat which sank, after striking a rock, killing Seton and 445 others.

On her last voyage in 1852, in the middle of the night, panic griped the passengers and crew as the ship floundered on the North Atlantic. The crowded ship carried almost 500 soldiers, and over 50 women and children.
A command was given to the soldiers to "Stand fast", and for the first time the order for "Women and Children First into the lifeboats."
193 survived, and for the next 200 years when ships are in danger, people are implored to "remember the Birkenhead drill."

New local chair grew up on railway bread and butter

My name is John Holliday, the new local chairman for 1778.

We have a decent job, and an excellent collective agreement thanks to the hard work of Brian, Greg, Steve, Bob, Clyde, and a host of others [Glen Bowles, Henry Reimer, Fred Rudell, to name a few] who made damn-sure that the railway provided safe working conditions, and fair wages.

My dad worked for the railway for over 30 years, so I grew up on railway bread and butter. Being somewhat familiar with the railway, the politics, the camaraderie good times and bad, and the bullshit, I hired on fresh out of high-school. I was 18 years old, only wanted to see some of the track that I had worked on as a sectionman during summer holidays, and make a bit of money until I figured out what I wanted to do with my life. Well guess what? That was over twenty years ago and I still don't know what I am going to be when I grow up, except grown up.

Until that time, I realize that it is time for me to share some of the responsibility, and get involved in some of the forces that control my destiny. I intend to maintain the decent agreement we have, fight like hell for my brothers and sisters, our families, and for myself.
Merry Christmas and I look forward to serving you as local chairman in the new year.

Little Bones

By Junk Yard Dog

Lat 49,18',72"N
Lon.123,05'14"W

"Shiver me timbers, where did summer go?" "Arrr well, 'av a wee nip a the nectar of the gods, an put a little stagger in yer swagger."

Like last week, when Moondog staggered aboard, cursin' 'bout the government an frothin' at the mouth.

"Moondog," I says, "Av' ye gots rabies again?"

"No JYD," he muttered, "Im steamed at the government fer deep sixin' all the piggybacks, the passenger liners, an fixin' te sell the outfit. The premier needs a good keel-haulin', an half his crew needs te be slapped in irons fer the piss-poor treatment of the province an her citizens."

Moondog is rather long-winded, can go on all day, an' he did. However in the best interest of brevity, I only 'ave one more thing te say.
The pen is mightier than the sword, but keep the sword handy in case the pen fails!

JYD

What business will BC Rail sell next?

Bob Sharpe, General Chairperson, GO759

Brothers and Sisters:

In November a delegation of UTU members from Locals 1778 an 1923 (Brad Burrows, Dave Moorhouse, Sylvia LeBlanc and Bill Whitton) along with Alternate UTU V.P. Bob Sharpe, Canadian Legislative Director Tim Secord, Alternate Canadian Legislative Director Don Tennant, and BC Legislative Chairperson Brian Gleason traveled to Ottawa Ontario and Washington D.C. to lobby for a resolve to the Softwood Lumber Dispute. We met with many government officials and politicians during this trip. With the help of U.S. UTU Legislative Director James "Brokenrail" Brunkenhoefer, UTU State Legislative Directors Don Dunlevy (Pennsylvania), Jack Ramsay (South Carolina), John Smullen (Minnesota) and all the staff in the UTU Washington office, this was a very successful endeavor. We were well received by all the people we met and it was refreshing to see how many supported the fair trade position. All of this was made possible as a result of a meeting with UTU International President Byron Boyd at the Region Meeting in New Orleans last summer. It was truly amazing to see how many doors that our international union could open for us in both Canada and the United States. We also noticed the respect the politicians had for the United Transportation Union and its elected officers. I felt we accomplished what we set out to do, and all of us have committed to follow up on these efforts to hopefully see a negotiated resolve to the Softwood Lumber Dispute.

On November 22nd the Council of Trade Unions on BC Rail (CTU) and BC Rail met to exchange proposals and set dates for collective bargaining. By the time you read this newsletter all sectors will have completed an initial round of trades bargaining. At this time no further rounds of trade talks are scheduled. Any issues not resolved will be moved to the main table bargaining which will start on January 27th, 2003. The Running Trades Sector (UTU and CUTE 1) met from December 2nd to December 6th. We had lengthy discussions on all the issues tabled by both BC Rail and ourselves. We were only able to agree on one issue (MBR rest was increased to 14 and 2 from 10 and 2). All other issues will go to the main table. We will be sending out updates as main table negotiations progress starting at the end of January.

As most of you are aware, the ongoing issue of BC Rail and what our shareholders (Provincial Liberal Government) are doing with us continues to be a hot item. As of this date it still appears that the Fort St. John/Fort Nelson Subdivision issue is ongoing between BC Rail and Omnitrax. We are now completely out of the passenger business, a follow-up to getting of the intermodal business, and who the heck knows what business BC Rail will be getting out of next.

On November 21st a meeting was held in Prince George regarding BC Rail and its future. Premier Gordon Campbell and Minister of Transportation Judith Reid arranged this meeting. All the major railways were invited along with mayors, councilors and shippers from towns along our line. The only sector it appears they wouldn't invite was labour. The CTU tried very hard to get a seat at this meeting but was denied. As a result we leafleted the meeting asking "why was labour denied a voice?" There was apparently lots of discussion about the future of BC Rail but I don't think we will know anything until this government announces the results of its never-ending "core review". Prince George City Council has organized a further meeting about BC Rail for December 16th and has invited labour representatives to speak. I will be attending. Also someone from the Prince George District Labour Council will be speaking.

The UTU submitted a resolution to the recent BC Federation of Labour Convention regarding the privatization of BC Rail.

Continued from page 10The resolution said in part, "therefore be it resolved that the BC Federation of Labour work with local governments, labour councils, BC Rail unions and concerned businesses and citizens to stop the privatization of BC Rail and restore full passenger service". This resolution was well supported during debate and was passed unanimously by the delegates. The BC Federation of Labour has also set up a meeting for December 18th with various unions to see how we continue this fight. I think we would all like to see a resolve to this issue and start growing the business in the New Year. I would certainly be nice to see all our members back at work.

Both Local 1778 and 1923 have completed their elections as well as the General Chairperson's election. All offices up for election were filled unopposed. My congratulations to everyone elected.

Early in January there will be three members from each local going to the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) Pacific Region Winter School. I am looking forward to putting their new knowledge and skills to work for the membership.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone and the families a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Passages

Following the arbitrator's material change decision in the matter of the elimination of passenger service in North Vancouver and Lillooet, the following members elected to take the early retirement provisions offered:

Don McGregor
Ed Dewhurst
Rene Pigeau
Roy Liden
Tom Bruvall
Gerry Kingsbourgh
Wayne Sidsworth
Jim MacNeil
Russ Fralic
Jack Stubberfield
Mario Agliani
Joseph Hickey

We wish all these members a long and happy life enjoying their new-found freedom!

On a much sadder note, we have just learned at press time that long-time member Marvel Gammon has passed away following a short illness. We extend our sympathy to family and friends and await information regarding funeral services, etc.