(The following article is from the September 1-15, 2007 issue of People's Voice, Canada's leading communist newspaper. Articles can be reprinted free if the source is credited. Subscription rates in Canada: $25/year, or $12 low income rate; for U.S. readers - $25 US per year; other overseas readers - $25 US or $35 CDN per year. Send to: People's Voice, c/o PV Business Manager, 133 Herkimer St. Unit 502, Hamilton, ON, L8P 2H3.)

The United Steelworkers (USW) is campaigning to inform consumers about struck wood products at Home Depot outlets across Canada. Steelworkers and their supporters were out leafletting in over a dozen cities and towns on Aug. 18 to convince consumers not to purchase wood products labelled by Western Forest Products, Interfor and Weyerhaeuser (Cedar One).

     Over 7,000 USW members have been on strike since July 21 against Western, Interfor and other employers over working conditions, including those affecting health and safety. Since 2004, many employers, backed by a BC-government-legislated collective agreement, have imposed work days of 12-16 hours, when hours on the job and travel time are factored together.

     Since January 2005, more than 65 BC forest workers have been killed. Last year a coroner's jury confirmed that unsafe shifts and contracting out have increased the likelihood of injuries and fatalities. The union says that a consumer boycott of the labelled products can help win a safer, better forest industry in BC, and one that provides quality products.

     Home Depot is the world's largest home improvement specialty retailer, with over 2,100 stores. Last year it had over US $90 billion in sales.

     Speaking in Port Alberni before the Home Depot actions, USW leader Leo Gerard, who flew in from the union's international headquarters in Pittsburgh, said "We need to win this battle by bringing this industry to its senses - not its knees." With no talks scheduled, Gerard warned the strike will be "long and bitter" if a settlement isn't reached soon.

     This is the first coastal forestry strike in B.C. since the Steelworkers took over from the Industrial, Wood and Allied Workers union (IWA). The dispute is focused on issues such as shift scheduling, overtime and severance pay.

     Bill Routley, president of Steelworkers Union Local 1-80, based in Duncan, has told the media that the strike may last until next year because the companies refuse to bend on scheduling. "We are on the opposite ends of the pole in terms of philosophy, and when you have an issue people are dug in on, there's just no way."

     The union says that the companies' right to impose schedules without consultation has robbed families of normality and created unsafe conditions and long hours in physically demanding jobs for workers. Putting profits first, the companies refuse to retreat on "flexibility to reduce costs".