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Angry mill workers pack meeting
'I feel like I'm being thrown out like a sack of garbage,' says 26-year mill worker
By Jennifer Moreau
Record Reporter
Frustrated and angry mill workers crowded into Queensborough Community Centre Wednesday night to hear local politicians and union representatives speak on an upcoming mill closure.
Nearly 300 employees will be out of work when Western Forest Products closes its Queensborough mill in February. Approximately 200 workers showed up to hear a panel of speakers express support for the mill and criticize provincial and federal government over the softwood lumber agreement and forestry issues.
New Westminster MLA Chuck Puchmayr, MLA and forestry critic Bob Simpson, Mayor Wayne Wright and Burnaby-New Westminster MP Peter Julian sat next to employee and union representatives in front of a packed gymnasium.
Julian told the crowd they had been let down by the government and the "softwood lumber sellout." He called the agreement a "job killer" and criticized the provincial government for not addressing the forestry crisis. The mayor also promised more support from council in the near future.
Les Veale is the union servicing representative with United Steelworkers Local 1-3567. He outlined the history of the mill before calling for an export tax on raw logs to curb shipments south of the border.
New Westminster resident John Peacox has worked in the mill for 26 years. He represented the employees on the forum and offered a "personal perspective" on the closure.
"We met or exceeded all the production and safety rules that Western Forest Products said we had to achieve in order to ensure our survival," he said, adding that workers were shocked when they found out the company was closing the mill permanently.
"Basically, I feel like I am being thrown out like a sack of garbage," he said reading from a letter. "I used to feel proud to be the backbone of this province but now I feel shame for this government and the forest company executives."
"After 26 years of service with a new family, I am being rewarded with no job, a bad back and almost no pension. That's what I worked for in the forest industry for 26 years."
Peacox personally addressed Western Forest Products CEO Reynold Hert, who stood at the back of the gymnasium.
"I hope you're hearing every word I say and I hope you're taking it to heart," he said, concluding his speech as the audience stood and applauded.
Simpson blamed the provincial government for the shortage of logs that led to the mill's closure. He backed up the company's stance that it is struggling to find logs on the open market and encouraged the audience to speak out.
"Keep your voices heard. Be vocal but be grounded in reality."
Tension mounted as the floor opened to audience members and Hert took the microphone but before he could answer questions, a disgruntled employee took centre stage.
"I gave my life for this company and you want me to sign it off," said Lindsey Ewart referring to his severance package while approaching the panel and removing his shirt. "This is what I gave," he said referring to a large gash in his shoulder sustained from an injury in the mill. The 35 year-old-worker got "sucked up into a rubber conveyor belt" and held there for 45 minutes while working alone at night.
"The supervisors are berating us, belittling us and your management types aren't even there," he said addressing Hert. "They can't even afford to give me a kick in the ass out the gate."
Hert invited others to come forward with complaints, "If it helps anybody else to get it off their chest, I don't mind. Go ahead. I would rather do that than answer your questions and be interrupted," he said.
Jim Sinclair from the B.C. Federation of Labour also made an appearance and spoke from the audience.
Coun. Bill Harper called the situation "quite criminal" as he stepped up to the microphone.
"We're seeing the exporting of good jobs to the U.S.," he said adding the city of New Westminster will lose $500,000 each year in taxes from the closure. "Everyone in New Westminster will pay the price," he said.
Hert said his company runs nine mills and doesn't have enough wood to keep all of them operating.
"This mill is going down. We are on faint hope," he said. "I don't want people walking out of here with false hope."
published on 01/20/2007
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