Wednesday, November 28, 2012
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Volume 92 - No. 13
Enbridge VP makes pitch in B.C.; Black Press reporter interviews Janet Holde. p3
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www.ldnews.net
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$1.34 HST inc.
Drinking and driving down; credit given to tough new laws. p7
WAGE PARITY SOUGHT IN BURNS LAKE CUPE Local 4951 members and supporters on strike outside of the Burns Lake College of New Caledonia campus in Burns Lake on Nov. 20, 2012. No classes were held during the two day strike which ended on Nov. 22. The union is looking for the same two per cent wage increase given to university support staff and has been without a contract since 2010. They had accepted a two year wage freeze for 2011 and 2012. The end of the strike and the return to work does not mean that the union has reached an agreement with the College of New Caledonia. “There is no agreement in place at all,” said local union president Lily Blachand. Talks continue this weekend. Walter Strong photo
Burns Lake mill rebuild anticipated Many former employees face the end of EI benefits before Christmas
WALTER STRONG According the Steve Zika, Chief Executive Officer of Hampton Affiliates, the company is proceeding with plans for the rebuild of the Babine Forest Products mill as if the mill is going to be rebuilt, even though the final decision of the board will not be made until a Dec. 3 board meeting.
“Besides clearing off the old mill, we have been doing some excavation, laying some fire pipe, restoring power and beginning some limited rebar, concrete and foundation work on a small part of the sawmill site,” he said on Nov. 7. “We are proceeding like the mill will be rebuilt, but the final decision will still be made on Dec. 3.”
This is positive news for former mill employees and their families. “The local union has been having regular meetings with the company [Hampton] and have ensured all our members retain their seniority rights in anticipation of a positive announcement in December,” said Boota Johal, the United Steelworkers local 1-424 business
Retrain and Remain!
agent for Burns Lake. But even with a positive outcome of that meeting, there will remain a large number of unemployed mill workers who shortly face the end of their unemployment benefits. Even if the rebuild begins in early in 2013, it will be at least a year before the mill is operating an ready to hire back former employees.
“Our members who are still unemployed and with employment insurance running out are in a difficult situation,” Johal said. Burns Lake Band (BLB) Chief Albert Gerow has been staying in touch with Hampton Affiliates to keep track of how things stand with former employees of the mill. Of 233 hourly employ-
ees, 102 where First Nations. According to Judy French, Employment Coordinator for the Burns Lake Band, three BLB members worked at the Babine mill and one has found other employment. Gerow related the most current numbers that he had from Hampton regarding More on page 2...
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Phone: 250.692.1700 • Fax: 250.692.1750 • Toll Free: 1.866.692.1943 545 Highway 16 West • PO Box 5000, Burns Lake, BC • V0J 1E0 Email: lksdist@cnc.bc.ca • Website: www.cnc.bc.ca/lakesdistrict