HOUSTON, B.C., (Aug. 4, 2005) — Just as one trucker strike in B.C. slowly downshifts to a stop, another labour disruption to the north of the province is getting underway.

The Prince George Trucking Association, in association with the United Steelworkers, is taking action against “stump-to-dump” contractors working with Canfor Corp. in Houston and West Fraser Timber in Burns Lake, B.C. The truckers claim the company refuses to negotiate log-hauling terms, and will withdraw their services immediately.

The strike has been brewing for months. Recently, truckers in the Prince George region were successful in banding together with the Steelworkers’ union in an effort to negotiate improved rates for supplying area mills with raw logs. However, contractors in Houston are refusing to even recognize the truckers’ right to representation by the Steelworkers, the truckers say.

“Mills cannot function without the service provided by the log haulers,” said Steelworkers’ Local 1-424 President Frank Everitt. “The companies are doing well, the contractors are making money and the truckers deserve to be a part of that success. It’s time the other parties in the process came to realize that.”

The Prince George Truckers Association says it represents about 300 trucks in Prince George area and another 200 in the Burns Lake-Houston-Smithers area.

Both Canfor and West Fraser say they will be seeking injunctions from the B.C. Labour Relations Board to have the pickets removed.

Canfor says the company’s policy is to negotiate with logging contractors, who in turn deal with the truckers.