Media Advisory - Unifor organizes industry-wide rally for fair softwood lumber deal

SAINT JOHN, June 16, 2017 /CNW/ - Unifor members will rally on Monday at Irving Pulp and Paper, Limited. to encourage the federal government to reach a fair negotiated softwood lumber deal with the U.S. that protects good Canadian jobs.

"The federal government's recent aid package for the industry was important, but the most important outcome is a negotiated softwood lumber agreement with the U.S. that benefits Canadian communities," said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. "With the right choices and strong action, Canada's forestry industry can continue to have a key role in our economy."

Unifor has organized this as one of five simultaneous events across the country. Forestry employers have been invited to participate in the rallies and join in the call for a fair trade deal that protects good jobs in Canada.

"We are pleased to see so many forestry employers throughout the Atlantic joining with us to highlight the importance of the sector to so many communities and families across the region," said Lana Payne, Unifor Atlantic Regional Director.

Where:		Irving Pulp & Paper, Limited, 408 Mill Road, Saint John (West side, near Reversing Falls)
When:		3:00 p.m., Monday, June 19

Speakers and Guests:   

Lana Payne, Unifor Atlantic Regional Director
Jim Irving, Co CEO of J.D. Irving, Limited
Ian Hutchison, Unifor Atlantic Regional Chair
Daniel Poitras, forestry worker; Daniel Poitras
Jerome Pelletier, Vice-President - J.D. Irving, Limited Sawmills and Chairman of NB Lumber Producers
Hundreds of Unifor members from across the Maritimes
More speakers to be confirmed

Forestry provides 202,000 direct jobs in 650 communities across Canada, including more than 20,000 in Atlantic Canada. Forestry supply and transport companies create thousands more jobs; and the economic activity generated by the spending of forestry workers creates even more. For every forestry job, 1.5 jobs are created elsewhere in the economy. In total, forestry is responsible for more than half a million Canadian jobs.

After imposing a 20 per cent countervailing tariff on Canadian softwood exports last month, it is anticipated that the Trump administration will add to those with "anti-dumping" tariffs on June 23.

For more information about the forestry sector's contribution to Canada, visit the Unifor campaign website at unifor.org/softwood.

Unifor is Canada's largest union in the private sector, representing more than 310,000 workers. It was formed Labour Day weekend 2013 when the Canadian Auto Workers and the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers unions merged.

SOURCE Unifor

please contact Unifor Communications Representative Shelley Amyotte at [email protected] or 902-717-7491.