Statement of support issued for NB forestry plan

MONCTON, NB, June 13, 2014 /CNW/ - Unifor has issued a statement in strong support of New Brunswick's provincial forestry plan saying that investment in the sector is vital for communities and good jobs across the province.

"The forestry industry has undergone a huge transition over the last decade and we saw a third of the jobs in this sector disappear across the country," said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. "The forestry industry plays a vital role in the New Brunswick economy in particular. If we are serious about growing the local economy, creating and maintaining good jobs, and having a stable and sustainable industry, we have to think strategically about our resource management and we believe that's what has been done here."

The statement is signed by presidents of local forestry unions across the province as well as the local and federal leadership at Unifor. It addresses issues of sustainability, industry investment, environmental protection and the balance that was achieved between various stakeholders by the forestry plan.

"This plan opened the doors to investment in our industry that hasn't been seen since the early 1990's," said Ian Hutchison, president of Local 601N in Saint John. "We are proud of the work that has been done by our union leadership with industry and government to invest in our livelihoods."

To read the statement, please visit http://www.unifor.org/en/whats-new/briefs-statements.

Unifor was founded Labour Day weekend 2013 when the Canadian Auto Workers and the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers unions merged. With more than 305,000 members, Unifor is Canada's largest union in the private sector.

SOURCE: Unifor