As laid off Tolko Industries workers demonstrated in front of 
the company’s downtown Vernon corporate headquarters on Tuesday, the company was turning its attention to the federal government.Regional manager Jim Baskerville said that the government had set aside $400 million in May to help millworkers laid off because the pine beetle had devastated the lumber industry. Six months later, there is no avenue for the laid off workers from their Kelowna plywood plant to access that money, he said.“We have gone to the federal government on behalf of our employees,” Baskerville said. “Clearly this is a situation that would merit some funding.”About 30 workers picketed outside Tolko’s corporate headquarters in downtown Vernon demanding the severance, they said the company owed them. Chris Savoie, an 11-year veteran of the plywood plant said that he will have to start working in Alberta now that he has been laid off. He said the company owes him about $15,000.“We’re here to let everyone in the company and in Vernon know that you could be (laid off) next,” he said.Another 11-year veteran Brent Sander said he had purchased a house just before the layoffs were announced. He said he needs the 
severance to make sure his family is cared for.“Life changes are acceptable but when you’re hit with a financial burden, no severance and nothing to ease the financial burden – that’s tough to take,” he said.However, Baskerville said the union had negotiated itself out of the severance agreement in favour of better wages and benefits. He said the company offered $1.2 million, as a voluntary gesture to help the workers get back on their feet.“I think at the end of the day our interest is that our employees get factual information,” he said. “Unfortunately that’s not the case so far.”Okanagan-Shuswap MP Colin Mayes said he has talked to natural resources minister Gary Lunn to get some help for the unemployed workers. Mayes said Tolko has asked the government to match the company’s $1.5 million offer to the workers.“I have asked Minister Lunn to access the pine beetle money,” Mayes said. “The (funding) guidelines haven’t been formalized yet, that’s the unfortunate part about it.”Tolko had not heard from the minister by press time and Lunn was unavailable for comment on Tuesday.
the company’s downtown Vernon corporate headquarters on Tuesday, the company was turning its attention to the federal government.Regional manager Jim Baskerville said that the government had set aside $400 million in May to help millworkers laid off because the pine beetle had devastated the lumber industry. Six months later, there is no avenue for the laid off workers from their Kelowna plywood plant to access that money, he said.“We have gone to the federal government on behalf of our employees,” Baskerville said. “Clearly this is a situation that would merit some funding.”About 30 workers picketed outside Tolko’s corporate headquarters in downtown Vernon demanding the severance, they said the company owed them. Chris Savoie, an 11-year veteran of the plywood plant said that he will have to start working in Alberta now that he has been laid off. He said the company owes him about $15,000.“We’re here to let everyone in the company and in Vernon know that you could be (laid off) next,” he said.Another 11-year veteran Brent Sander said he had purchased a house just before the layoffs were announced. He said he needs the 
severance to make sure his family is cared for.“Life changes are acceptable but when you’re hit with a financial burden, no severance and nothing to ease the financial burden – that’s tough to take,” he said.However, Baskerville said the union had negotiated itself out of the severance agreement in favour of better wages and benefits. He said the company offered $1.2 million, as a voluntary gesture to help the workers get back on their feet.“I think at the end of the day our interest is that our employees get factual information,” he said. “Unfortunately that’s not the case so far.”Okanagan-Shuswap MP Colin Mayes said he has talked to natural resources minister Gary Lunn to get some help for the unemployed workers. Mayes said Tolko has asked the government to match the company’s $1.5 million offer to the workers.“I have asked Minister Lunn to access the pine beetle money,” Mayes said. “The (funding) guidelines haven’t been formalized yet, that’s the unfortunate part about it.”Tolko had not heard from the minister by press time and Lunn was unavailable for comment on Tuesday.
No comments:
Post a Comment