Saturday, July 4, 1992 @ @ Saturday, July 4, 1992 Scott David Harrison EDITOR As the province-wide pulp strike enters its 19th day, a war of words is beginning between the Pulp and Paper Industrial Relations Bu- reau and its striking unions. PPIRB president Eric Mitterndorfer said Thursday the unions refuse to accept the fi- nancial truth about B.C.’s sagging industry. Mitterndorfer says the Pulp, Paper and Wood- workers of Canada and the Canadian Paper- workers Union are squeezing the life out of the industry by refusing to budge. “The strike is a very small disaster com- pared to the lack of competitiveness in our in- dustry,” Mitterndorfer said, adding that high transportation, labor, fibre and taxation costs have put the pulp industry in the red. “I’ve been ringing that bell from the very begin- ning, but no one wants to listen.” Saying the media is preocgypied “with us beating each other over the Mittern- dorfer said the industry is at the end of its fi- nancial rope just trying to keep up with mar- ket changes. PPWC President Stan Shewaga dismissed Mitterndorfer’s claims as “another red her- ring.” He said the industry wants the unions to pay for its mistakes. “They were told some time ago that things were changing, but they didn’t do anything,” Shewaga said. “If we gave the industry every- thing they wanted, they still wouldn't be com- petitive because they didn’t make the changes needed to keep up with the demands of the market. “That’s not our fault, we were always push- ing for improvement. They didn’t listen.” n CLASS DISMISSED Why rent?... . WITH 5% DOWN AND EASY MONTHLY PAYMENTS YOU CAN OWN YOUR OWN HOME! We have a good selection of new and used mobile homes. Pads available in family and adult parks. BELAIRE MOBILE HOMES 1525 Columbia Ave., Castlegar - 365-8077 WE "SELL, BUY OR TRADE" Liberals want end to strike @ Forest critic says B.C. has too much at stake with pulp shutdown Scott David Harrison EDITOR Wilf Hurd wants B.C.’s pulp industry to get back to busi- ness. The Liberal Forestry Critic says communities like Castle- gar are being destroyed by the province-wide pulp strike. He says it’s time the two sides hammered out a deal. “It’s a punishing strike for the province’s economy,” Hurd said Thursday. “Especially when you start looking at places like the Kootenays.” Pointing to Pulp and Paper Industrial Relation Bureau- released figures that state provincial and municipal gov-. ernments are losing $1.1 mil- lion a day in sales, fuel and capital taxes and stumpage fees, Hurd thinks it’s time the two sides took another shot at mediation. “My concern is that the union and industry are dig- ging their heels in for a long one,” he said, “and I don’t know if the province’s econo- my can handle that type of blow. “It has a snowballing ef- fect,” Hurd continued. “This strike is hurting so many in- nocent people, especially in places like Castlegar where you see the (Pope and Talbot) sawmill closing down.” Pope and Talbot closed its Castlegar operation Friday af- ter stretching the most out of its supplies following a walk- out by Celgar’s 325 Pulp, Pa- Local lumber producers reeling Neil Rachynski NEWS REPORTER Local lumber producers are not taking kindly to a 6.51 per cent U.S. countervailing duty on Canadian softwood lumber. The International Trade Commission voted June 25 that Canadian lumber is sub- sidized and injures the Amer- ican lumber industry. Bob Sloper, sales manager for Atco Lumber Ltd. in Fruit- vale, says the U.S. rulings have hurt the company right from the start. “It’s very costly to us. Our objective is to pass it on to the U.S. customers,” Sloper said. -He says Atco sends at least 90 per cent of its lumber to the States. ' Slocan Forest Products i us 1s not any happier with the ex- “The (B.C.) industry point of view is that any tariff is in- appropriate,” production su- perintendent Ralph Tomlin said. Tomlin says SFP sends be- tween 75 to 80 per cent of its lumber to the U.S. market. And he says not everyone on the other side of the border supports the ruling. “Ultimately it’s costing U.S. customers more,” Tomlin said. “Those involved in construc- tion and real estate will find their costs going up.” The ITC is an American agency made up of six ap- pointed members. Their ruling will go to the U.S. Federal Register and be officially filed on Monday. The Canadian contingency will then put the issue before the bi-national panel, seeking as- sistance from the Free Trade per and Woodworkers -of Canada Local 1 members on June 9. “What really concerns me is that both sides appear to want this strike,” Hurd said. “That will hurt the province’s small- er communities.” Hurd said Liberal leader Gordon Wilson asked the union to get back to the bar- gaining table, only to have that request rejected. “Right now, I don’t think the government understands the seriousness this shutdown is having on the small communi- ties of the province,” Hurd said. “We wanted to see bar- gaining resume after a cool- ing-off period, but we were es- ~ sentially told to butt out. “I guess that’s what hap- pens when you're in opposi- tion.” iyi The Fireside Restaurant OPEN DAILY FOR BREAKFAST LUNCH & DINNER FROM 6:30 A.M.-9:00 P.M CASUAL LOUNGE ¢ COZY FIRESIDE DECOR e FULLY LICENSED ¢ AFFORDABLE PRICES” FOR RESERVATIONS CALL: i 365-2128 After more than two decades as a school teacher, Hazel Kirkwood is handing in her chalkbrush to sample retired life. 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