By Jim Selby, AFL Staff

[Edson] Members of the Communications Energy and Paperworkers (CEP) Union Local 447 shut down Weyerhauser’s oriented strand board plant in Edson early Monday, April 3, 2000.

The 120 workers went on strike to protest stalled negotiations. "Despite the fact that this plant is making very healthy profits, the employer has refused to meet new industry standards on pensions, and is insisting upon rolling back paid lunch hours for some of our members," said Local 447 President Rick Gardiner.

Gardiner was particularly angry about the attempt by the company to roll back paid lunch breaks for the day shift workers. "We have had a paid lunch break for 18 years now," he said. "The company demand would represent about a 7 per cent loss to day shift workers – that’s about 100 hours a year."

The union has been surprised by Weyerhauser’s flat refusal to improve pensions to industry standards. "I think Weyerhauser is trying to roll back the standards for other plants by playing hardball with us," said Gardiner. "But, our members are not prepared to accept inferior pensions – the company is way off base on this one"

Supported by a 78 per cent strike vote, the union decided to send the company a message about its hard-line bargaining tactics. "We’ve been without a contract since April1, 1999," noted Gardiner. "It’s time the employer started to get serious."

CEP National Union Representative Dan Comrie echoed that sentiment. "This company, in the few days this strike has been on, has already lost more profits than a decent settlement would have cost them," said Comrie. "I can guarantee them that they are going to have to reach a fair settlement sooner or later – and I advise them to make it sooner for their own good."