As Labour Day approaches, the union leader representing mill workers in the Nanaimo area is reflecting on what union members have been able to achieve together.
Western Forest Products workers were behind picket lines from July 2019 until February 2020, fighting to protect benefits, said Brian Butler, United Steelworkers 1-1937 president. The stoppage ended with a five-year deal, retroactive to June 2019.
“Obviously, we were fighting for improvements to our collective agreement … I believe they had 21 concessions that they’d tabled on a variety of issues including our pension plan, vacation pay, just a range of issues which stripped away years of negotiated rights,” said Butler.
Ultimately concessions were withdrawn and “a good collective agreement was reached, which was over and above” what others in the forest industry achieved in bargaining the year before.
Unions have as much value presently as they had in the past, according to Butler. He pointed to developing countries that have only rich and poor classes and don’t really have a working economy because of a lack of a middle class, he said.
“You look at any First World country, there’s one thing they have that others don’t and that is actual freedoms of association for people that join unions and raise living and working standards, health and safety standards, through their collective action,” said Butler. “That’s what built the middle class and that’s why we have one today. It’s a constant struggle because there’s always people pushing back and trying to erode those rights that have been gained over many decades.”
Butler said unions’ efforts have not only bettered employment standards for members, but non-members too, as unions fight for rights of every worker.
“It takes constant work for workers to maintain and improve upon those rights, which we try to do daily … fair compensation for workers and a safe work environment will always be key to all working people regardless of whether you’re union or non-union,” he said.
In related news, Nanaimo Duncan and District Labour Council will hold a picnic on Labour Day, Sept. 5 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at Transfer Beach in Ladysmith.
RELATED: Forestry workers vote for new deal, end 8-month strike
reporter@nanaimobulletin.com
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