Question: As our collective agreement expired on June 30,
2009, can our employer do anything it wants to our wages and work
conditions?
Answer:
No. As long as there is not a lockout
or a strike, the current terms and conditions of the collective
agreement apply. [back]
Question: Can the employer cut me off of WCB benefits during
negotiations?
Answer:
No. If you are entitled to WCB
benefits and programs they apply at all times.
[back]
Question: Who is on the Bargaining Committee for my union?
Answer:
Your BC Interior Bargaining Committee consists of United
Steelworkers Wood Council Chair
Bob Matters and the local union presidents of
the five BC Interior local unions. They are Cranbrook-based Local
1-405 president Stan McMaster;
Kamloops-based Local 1-417 president Marty Gibbons;
Kelowna-based Local 1-423 president Bruce Gardner;
Prince George-based Local 1-424 president Frank Everitt,
and Williams Lake-based Local 1-425 president Bill Derbyshire.
[back]
Question: Why are there four major bargaining tables? Why not
just one?
Answer:
For historical reasons and because of
the decisions made by employers, there are 4 major bargaining
tables: CONIFER, the IFLRA, Canfor, and West Fraser. Employers are
freely allowed to affiliate with bargaining associations like
CONIFER and the IFLRA and may not choose to do so as well.
[back]
Question: What is a Master Agreement and what is a Pattern
Agreement?
Answer:
A Master Agreement happens when the
union reaches a major collective agreement with an employer
association. The employer association consists of numerous,
different employers. Pattern Agreements are based on the basic wage
and benefit pattern negotiated in a prior agreement. The prior
agreement can be established with an employer association or an
individual employer. [back]
Question: Do employers want to negotiate pattern agreements?
Answer:
The answer is Yes and No. Employers
who are part of bargaining associations negotiate the same identical
agreement. By their own association they agree to the same terms and
conditions they are able to negotiate with the union. Other
employers want to go on their own and some don’t like pattern
agreements – they want to break workers away from the pattern and
change the terms and conditions of employment to suit their needs.
[back]
Question: Why are pattern agreements important to workers?
Answer:
Pattern agreements are essential in
order to establish or maintain a level playing field in an industry.
The former IWA and now the United Steelworkers, are unions that have
fought to keep a level playing field in industries. Without master
and pattern agreements set by the union, there would be a race to
the bottom. Employers like to pit mill against mill within their own
company and with their competitors. Our union and many employers
believe that a level playing field is essential for a healthy
industry that breeds equality and innovation in the forest industry.
[back]
Question: What is happening with USW members on the Coast of
BC? When do they negotiate?
Answer:
The Coastal membership of the USW is
currently covered by collective agreements that expire on June 15,
2010. In 2007 the membership struck the industry for 13 weeks,
largely over the issue of shift scheduling and the health and safety
of the membership. Your Interior Bargaining Committee
representatives are part of the USW’s Provincial Negotiating
Committee, which includes representatives from the Coast locals.
[back]
Question: How do I keep up to date on BC Interior
Negotiations?
Answer:
You can keep up to date simply by
visiting this website. Or you can sign up by sending us your e-mail
address. Just click on this link. We
will send you periodic bulletins and any other important
communications. [back]
