BURNABY, B.C. — The United Steelworkers union (USW) says the B.C. government’s proposed Working Forest Landscape Model is a step in the right direction, but with forestry families facing continued closures and curtailments, implementation cannot wait.
“Our union and others have called for a clearly defined working forest for decades,” said Scott Lunny, USW Western Canada Director. “Government needs to move quickly to define the economic land base, increase the sustainable harvest and give workers and communities the certainty needed to rebuild our forest industry.”
The proposed model establishes three management zones: Working Forest, Multiple Use, and Conservation and Protection. It aims to stabilize an economic land base contributing to an annual harvest of 45 million cubic metres.
USW says establishing where B.C.’s working forest will be only part of the challenge. The province must also determine how access to fibre from that land will support domestic manufacturing and employment.
“These are public forests and a working forest needs to work for British Columbians,” said Lunny. “Greater certainty around the land base and fibre supply should mean greater certainty that those resources support mills, investment and good jobs here in B.C.”
Representing close to 10,000 forestry workers in B.C., USW says workers must be directly involved in developing and implementing the model.
“B.C. needs a balanced approach that protects conservation values, advances reconciliation and recognizes forest workers as essential to our province,” said Lunny. “A working forest is how we bring those priorities together.”
USW is also calling for a Forestry Jobs Protection Commissioner Act focused on preventing avoidable closures and preserving viable forestry jobs, along with action to reduce regulatory burden and improve competitiveness amid ongoing U.S. duties and tariffs.
“There is no time to waste,” said Lunny. “We need to secure a working forest, get fibre to local mills and pass a Forestry Jobs Protection Commissioner Act before we lose more mills and jobs. British Columbians deserve to benefit from our forests through good jobs, local manufacturing and strong communities.”
About the United Steelworkers union
The USW represents 225,000 members in nearly every economic sector across Canada and is the largest private-sector union in North America, with 850,000 members in Canada, the United States and the Caribbean.
Each year, thousands of workers choose to join the USW because of the union’s strong track record in creating healthier, safer and more respectful workplaces and negotiating better working conditions and fairer compensation – including good wages, benefits and pensions.
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