Forest union rallies to save jobs

 
Canada's largest forestry union is launching a national campaign demanding Ottawa act to protect industry jobs and pensions.

Forestry workers rallied in front of AbitibiBowater's Montreal headquarters May 15 and called for a national action plan and to talk strategy.

"Workers are not responsible for the crisis in the forestry industry but we are the ones facing demands for cuts to our wages and pensions," said Dave Coles, president of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers (CEP) Union of Canada in a statement. "It is totally unfair that a company like AbitibiBowater can use bankruptcy protection to avoid paying severance and making payments to the pension plan."

Coles said the Harper government has "blown off" the unions and forestry communities.

CEP is demanding that Ottawa "step up to the plate" with loan guarantees that will put a stop to permanent mill closures and that it protect jobs and pensions.

The demonstration is the first of many actions taken by CEP in the coming weeks including a June 2 demonstration in Ottawa.