Millworkers protest lack of action

More than 80 forestry workers gathered in the Port Alberni paper mill parking lot last Friday to raise awaremess of forestry issues, and discuss the future of their industry.

With Domtar dependent on a dwindling market of fall-down chips from sawmills, Unifor local 592 first vice-president Ted Haggard says workers are pressuring governments to act.

“I’m not gonna lie, our future doesn’t look like sunshine rainbows right now, but we can change that with proper forest management,” he said.

Haggard says the development of the First Nations led Alberni Valley Forestry Coalition has helped pressure governments to improve forest rules and regulations and lower logging costs.