“Forestry Solutions Now” campaign: Dave Coles, Kamloops, June 27. “We’re going to take back out resources – even if that means taking back the mills.” With that statement, CEP President Dave Coles kicked off the CEP, “Forestry Solutions Now” campaign at a rally in Kamloops, B.C.

“After hundreds of mill closures and the loss of thousands of forestry jobs,” Coles said, “we’re fed up with lobbying Ottawa and Victoria to help these communities .. they refuse to do it. We’re going to help ourselves. We’re taking back the resources.”

Coles said the campaign will spread to other forestry communities across Canada this summer and early fall. He said it will be a tough battle and will continue as long as is necessary to re-establish solid, long-lasting jobs in the forest industry.

JOBS WORTH FIGHTING FOR!

CEP is working to support forest workers and their communities. The union is proactive in proposingefficiencies to employers. When a mill shuts down, we try to find a buyer who will modernize the mill or produce a new value-added product. We are a powerful voice that pressuresgovernment to adopt policies that are beneficial to workers and communities.

FORESTRY SOLUTIONS NOW!

Forestryis one of our most important industries, providing jobs, directly and indirectly for 900,00 workers. The sector is facing the worst crisis in its history, as we face unprecedented economic, trade-related and environmental challenges. The federal government has an important role to play in revitalizing the forest sector. Yet, the Harper government is not living up to its responsibilities.

ITS TIME TO TAKE BACK OURFORESTS!

CEP has launched a new campaign aimed at putting pressure on federal and provincial governments across Canada to take action. Kicking off the campaign June 27 in Kamloops, B.C., CEP President Coles said, “we’re going to take back our resources – even if that means takingback the mills”. The campaign will involve local unions and community groups across the country, working together to save Canada’s forest industry.

WOOD WASTE FIASCO EXPOSED!

Tens of thousands of usable treesare being left on the ground to burn or rot in British Columbiaasforest companies cashinon the pine beetlebonanza. It is estimated that 40 percent of existing pine trees in British Columbia have been wiped out by the beetle and it’s expected this loss will increaseto 78 percent by 2015. Meanwhile, the provincial government has given the okay for forest companies to clear- cut infested areasand cherry-pick the best trees, leaving behind wood that could be used for chips, fence posts or log home building. It is estimated that coastal B.C. could have created5,700jobs if the wasted wood and exported raw logs had been processed inthe province.

CEP is calling on the B.C. government to immediately impose tough new utilization standards that require companies to bring all useable wood into communities for processing. We are alsodemanding that forest companies be required to make minimum levels of investment innew or existing milling facilitiesinexchange for continued access to public timber.