Share
Members of the Forestry Sector Council Executive Committee and Unifor leadership met in the Unifor National Office March 27–29 to share bargaining updates and discuss the state of the industry.
National President Lana Payne joined the council for a frank discussion about Unifor’s fight to put forestry on the national agenda and the efforts to implement a national industrial strategy for all key economic sectors: “It was very important that Unifor be a part of the Canada Forest Transformation Task Force. We have a dedicated focus on forestry right now and we need see real action to protect the forest industry today and for the next generations.”
Council Chairperson Stephane Lefebvre led discussions about the failure of governments in every region to properly re-build the supply chains that are on the verge of collapse. Committee members received an update about the recent federal lobby week where Unifor leadership and members from across the country met with federal ministers and MPs from all parties to call for improved Buy Canadian rules and strong worker-centred industrial policies. Forestry council members also and discussed their own efforts to communicate Unifor’s forestry sector goals to local and provincial government representatives.
Quebec Director Daniel Cloutier addressed the council remotely and pledged his ongoing support for the sector council’s campaigns and shared some of the work being done in Quebec:
“Forestry is at the heart of our regions and our economy. Workers aren’t asking us to manage decline—they’re calling for a real industrial strategy that protects jobs, adds value to our resources, and builds a future for our communities.”
